Reflecting On My Last Two Weeks Running Solo...

So no ****, here I am, shut down on the side of the road in SC. Normally I make it back to my terminal at night, but this is one of those nights that didn't happen. Gives me time to look back on what has happened over the last couple weeks.

Learned lots of things this week. Everything from what gears my truck likes the best when pulling a load up a grade with a tank, how to judge weight when loading, trip planning and HoS regs. For the most part, its been pretty smooth.

Only had one scary moment. Had a lady on 95 cut me off last week right as it started to pour hard. She ended up spinning out in the road right in front of me. Remembering what I was taught (not to swerve with a load), I layed into the brakes, fully expecting to punt her into next week. Fortunately, she ended up sliding off the road just in time for me to miss her. However, right about the time I got hit with the surge from the tank, I noticed I could now see all of my driver side tandems. I supposed I lucked out, as I hit the trailer brakes lightly and it slid back into place on the wet pavement. That had the potential to be very ugly. Had it been dry, I might have rolled the tank. I think I loaded my drawers on that one!

The biggest thing I learned this past couple weeks is that 4 wheelers don't respect you...or your space, at all, at least for the most part.

Dave, it sounds like you missed a close one there - Congratulations on some good driving!

It just reminds me of the one thing that I think is most critical for new drivers to keep in mind, and that is your following distance. I realize this is a situation where someone actually cut in front of you, but as soon as that happens you should back off a little. I seriously think that an improper following distance is the cause for most of the preventable accidents that rookies get themselves into.

As a 4 wheeler still looking at this career after some medical tests (sigh, they finally cropped up...), I wanted to reply to this:

"The biggest thing I learned this past couple weeks is that 4 wheelers don't respect you...or your space, at all, at least for the most part."

I try my best to respect every rig on the road, whether that's proper following distance, giving you guys room to get where you gotta go, thinking how my light braking would impact you, etc. Don't include all of us in that statement - but yes, the vast majority sure don't care that you're loaded 75k, they're the king of the road! Hopefully my actions help you drivers rather than hinder, I'd sure hate to be that 4 wheeler getting talked about on the CB by trying to be respectful! Haha.

I seriously think that an improper following distance is the cause for most of the preventable accidents that rookies get themselves into

I agree 100%. If I were to make a list of the most important defensive driving strategies, number one would certainly be to keep a large following distance at all times. I would probably expand on that to say keep a wide cushion on all sides of you at all times whenever possible. I hated having anyone alongside me. You want to be following from far enough back that you can stop in time but you also want to be able to move side to side just in case.

I seriously think that an improper following distance is the cause for most of the preventable accidents that rookies get themselves into

I agree 100%. If I were to make a list of the most important defensive driving strategies, number one would certainly be to keep a large following distance at all times. I would probably expand on that to say keep a wide cushion on all sides of you at all times whenever possible. I hated having anyone alongside me. You want to be following from far enough back that you can stop in time but you also want to be able to move side to side just in case.

im with you Brett. when a 4 wheeler gets along side me and stays there I turn my turn signal on to move them along lol... works all the time..

Steven, I didn't include all of you. I said, 'for the most part'. Some people are really good about not 'invading' my space around me while I'm driving. However, most people don't seem to care, and some amaze me at how lousy they are at it. I don't expect it to dawn on someone who has never driven a tractor trailer to understand these things like a truck driver does. Common sense would tell any driver to leave more space, but common sense isn't all that common anymore either. That's why there are signs and diagrams on the back of my tank that say this. I guess some people don't read those either.

Yes, it also annoys me to no end when people just ride along side me. Sometimes it's almost like they do it on purpose. I started using my turn signals too for that as well. I'm always looking to have an out.