I remember as a kid doing the horn motion to truck drivers, n it's happened to me 3x since driving a truck. Brings a smile to my face every single time!!
I had a dot officer tell me about 20 yrs ago.. if a driver approaches his scale and he sees ur dash littered with trash he knows that your logs are trash also so he would pull drivers in for inspection. Have pride in yourself and your rig. When u think u know everything it’s time to get out of trucking before u kill someone. Great vid sir
Dave, your remarks about attitude are spot on. I get so ticked off at people whining on about the "young people today". I'm in my 60th year and can say for a fact that age has nothing to do with it. I've seen co-workers with decades of experience and knowledge be the greatest puppy mills ever - always bitching about the job, their health, how bored they are and looking to do the least work and cut every corner they can get away with. Some young people are the same kind of useless and will never get it. But I find that if you work with the younger guys as a mentor, teach them the tricks of the trade and demonstrate a good work ethic that they'll learn that attitude. And I'm not at all ashamed to say that I've learned some things from the newbs - sometimes they can look at a problem from a different perspective and come up with a great solution that was staring me in the face. It's all about attitude - take pride in your work, treat others with respect and never, ever, stop learning.
A statement my father used to say.."Never drive like a fool", may he rip, he was a long haul trucker his whole life since early teens, he always took pride in his trucks & line of duty and professionally for many years and always taught me about courtesy on the Rd. May u all Be safe out there. ✌️
I was fortunate enough to work with drivers that had 3, 4 and 5 million safe miles. They taught me how to be professional at all times... inside and out of the truck.
29 years, 4 million miles accident free here..u are on point on every issue once again. I pay for my own blue beacon truck washes every week for my company truck(no company reimbursement.. file with my taxes though). it’s as spotless outside as it is inside. And I am extra respectful on the road... but trucks are getting so disrespectful. I am never ever in a hurry....that load gets there safely. I have 1 thing to add... DRESS PROFESSIONALLY.. I see 90% of drivers who look like they have worn the same clothes and never showered for weeks. I wear a uniform from the company but not paid by the company.(OTR) PRIDE IN UR RIDE..PRIDE IN YOURSELF.
You nailed it Dave. Please take pride in your work, it shows. And please be professional and take the time to park your rig BETWEEN the lines. Safe driving all!
Hi Dave, It's december 24, 2021 and this video came into my feed, and I knew I had to see this one, since it's tailor made for what I aspire to. And that's to be a Professional Transport Operator. Another good video with valuable tips. I really appreciate the good word for us Rookie drivers [ I haven't earned the title of "Trucker" yet ]. I work for a big carrier in Prescott Ontario. I started back in July of 2021 and I've only been on my own a little over 3 months now. I share a day cab with another driver and of course I have the grave shift [1700 to 0200 hrs]. I do try to be professional, and courteous to everyone, double check my equipment, sometimes even 3 times. I also have my own cleaning supplies and rags, and before I start my pre-trip and get on the road, I always spend 15 minutes cleaning whatever I can in that time. And the next evening, I'll clean something else. I also have a portable vacuum cleaner I use to get the gravel off the floor and dust from the dash and stuff. I also make sure all my mirrors are spotless and the cabs front and side glass are the same. I also got a great idea from another truck driver that uses a numbering stamp for his bills of lading. It's a great time saver when you have multiple pages for one trip, and it's a big help to the accounts payable department when it comes time to reconcile the trips and helps you get paid faster too :) I have 2 stamps actually. One is just an 8 digit self ink number stamp, and the other one has two lines; fist line is; TRUCK #: 1 2 3 4 , and the second line is; ORDER # ________ . I just use the 8 digit number stamp with the current job number I'm on and stamp all the pages for the trip. The trip numbers are always legible especially if you have to write this 7 digit order number 6 - 7 - or 10 times. I always take my time with my pre trips, and I always do my air brake tests each time as well. My trainer told me to always make sure to get along with the Shunt Drivers at the places you go to, because that's their turf. It's already paid off for me once when I was having a hard time parking one night in a yard around Montreal. Benoit just told me "no problem Mike, just put it over there [an easier spot] because I have to move those trailers anyway". That was a load off my mind since I'm not good at backing up and that would have taken a while. Like you said, it always pays to be courteous. I'm always friendly and polite with the shippers and receivers too because you never know one day when you're late but they squeeze you in anyway because they know it's you. Makes you feel like a somebody :) One day I was at a smaller dock in Montreal, and this young guy comes in with a Volvo sleeper cab pulling a 53'. He was having some trouble so I offered to guide him. He still wasn't getting it so he asked me if I could do it for him. I was only 3 weeks on my own at the time but what he needed to do is WHAT I SPENT ALOT OF TIME practicing on. So I did it for him. I have to tell you I felt pretty darn good after that. He thanked me many times over and I just told him all you have to do is pay it forward. . . Have a Merry Christmas Dave, and to your family as well. And don't forget, "Keep the rubber side down, and we'll see you on the backhaul" 🤘😎🤘
Nowadays with all the cameras and other nonsense, helping out a lady on the side of the road could result in something negative going on your DAC. Trucking has become pathetic.
Have a friend that's a driver that has no idea about any aspect of trucking. Just sits and drives. Uses Google maps for directions and always coming to a low bridge. Can't tell him nothing. He knows everything about trucking. Been telling him to get out of trucking it's not for him.
Great video!!! As trucking Professionals we should never stop learning and we should never become complacent!!! You are so right!!!! Help each other out and bring back the unity of trucking amongst truckers!!!!👍👍👍
Another thing to take into account is try to look like a professional. NO FLIP FLOPS. Remember you look like a professional, you will feel like a professional, causing you to act like a professional, then you will be a professional.
Speeding transports are my issue... I've been told I'm not a good driver because our company has a policy of not speeding. My answer? "You're not a better driver because you can drive faster, I'm a better driver because I know I don't need to". Speed kills!
Dave: How about pride in your appearance! I expect my doctor, lawyer, accountant, pharmacist to appear professional as well as the auto parts counter person. I wear a company safety shirt, nice pants (not blue jeans) or shorts in the summer.. I also wear safety shoes in and out of the truck. Crossing an international border every trip I think it helps to look professional and not someone who just stole a truck and trailer. It also gets you respect when you walk into a travel center. I have seen drivers wearing flip flip sandals, nylon pants, t shirt. I think: Do they take pride in their career or even themselves? Probably not. I don't dare mention it to them as well as I probably won't get a professional answer.
There is no telling how many people you have helped, and I do completely agree with what you say. The shipper and that stop light, isn't moving anywhere, so no need to panic. In the end, the receiver will be happy to have their load in one piece. Yeah anyone can move fast, and then that load will move as well.
“Blow your horn when kids do the motion” this guy knows what it’s about, when I was 10 I took my snowmobile to the ditch by the highway and sat there for an hour to see how many semis I could get to honk in a row and I got 43
Excellent hand/eye coordination,depth perception , peripheral vision, patience ,nerves of steel and a pair of big brass balls..not everybody is cutout to steer 80 thousand pounds at sixty five miles an hour surrounded by cars
When I was younger in the 60s trucker where the gentleman of the road. Now I see them as bullies of the road. Don't know what happen. I am in CDL school now and my instructor told us to treat the cars around us as if it was our mother, sister, brother, grand-daughter driving the cars. He said they may not be your family but there's someone family and they love them.
I agree one 100% but with the gps in these trucks if company driver would stop to help the lady change a tire you will be writing up for stelling company time. I am company driver and I try to keep my truck clean because I spent a lot of time there.
Thanks for support for us here in Louisiana. Love all of your videos! I've learned a lot from you and I'm always learning something new about my Pete. God bless and keep the rubber side down 😁
The difference between a professional driver and a steering wheel holder: 1. The professional knows about the equipment and paperwork. 2. The professional uses the SMITH method when driving. They pay attention on the road. 3. Trying to help everybody on the side of the road isn't the smartest thing to do today. It's not 1952..
Even for company guys it doesn't hurt to keep your ride clean. I disagree, I'm a company guy and my company doesn't pay for truck washes. I'm not paying 50 bucks everytime I think the truck needs to be washed. I keep the inside clean bc I live in there but I'm not paying my hard earned money to keep someome else's truck clean.
Always makes me smile when someone asks for my horn, papa taught me to ask the trucks for their horn because it made their day just as much as mine and he was right! He drove for 55 years, he was a Professional Driver!
Great lot lizard story! I suspect that a reason the lot lizard stories are so popular is because of the mystique that OTR driving had 25, 35, 45 years ago. Not a trucker, but I grew up on the old, "Smokey and The Bandit" movies and, to a child, they made trucking seem like a 'fun' job. The whole "Wild, wild, west" image, truck stops in the days before chain restaurants were everywhere, the open road, in the days before ridiculous traffic, road rage, 'Big Brother' surveillance cameras, and all that.
i kind of agree with the speeding thing, i personally think there’s nothing wrong with going fast but i’ve heard from many drivers and even a few troopers that the biggest safety hazard and dead give-away is when people go in between lanes, and the pride in your ride part is very true, think about your truck as a rolling billboard for yourself
It’s funny we did a segment just like that on a channel that I used to belong to. Stating it doesn’t matter if you knew where you’ve been behind the wheel for four years. The object of this career is to never stop learning. Thank you this was a great segment.
Right on Dave as usual!!!! Good rules to truck by and live by. Safety first always! "Do no harm" befor and above anything else! I used to run with an old timer that would always say " if they want that load bad today they will want it twice as bad tomorrow ! I always look at the people on the side of the road that need help as if it was my wife, daughter, son or brother. I would damn sure appreciate one of the good guys helping them out! And they have!!! I'm 64 years old and I've been stopping all my life, always been prepared for anything, seen a few interesting things but never had any real trouble. Cell phones have changed a lot of the dynamics today but you still see a lot of things that you know you can help with! I've always been rewarded plenty by someone helping me or mine out in a time of need. Thanks for the advice! It's always good for us gray beards and pups alike! Keep up those story's! About the time I think you've told one that cant be topped you bring one out that blows it out of the water. Keep on trucking!
The speed thing is a big deal. It kills us when we become complacent. When we develop the attitude of "I know this road, I can just kick back, no big deal!" I'm grateful beyond words that some of my first truck bosses were people that stressed to me that there would never be a load that I would haul, that would be worth my own life, or someone else's.
Very well said sir very well said about what is professional driver means. Its hard to keep up everything on equipment these days but i put my effort to make sure equipment is safe to drive.
Im a 6 mo experienced driver and I have been doing these examples from day 1. I have a lot to learn...I always listen to the older gentleman. They have do much experience. Hats off to show respect to you guys.
I would love to take Pride in my ride, but I drive a Volvo ;/ Bag over the face everytime I stop at a rest stop... And one of the stupidest thing I've heard from these "super truckers" are that you don't need to recheek chains and binders if they are still tight. Still bugs me.
Dave i'm not even a truck driver but already subscribed to your channels i enoy ALL of your videos old or new, long or short. Thanks heaven for youtube so people like you can share all of your knowledge and stories with us "the rest of the world" I would love to hear about close calls or dangerous moments,i saw few days ago a video about two truckers friends going downhill fully loaded When one of them couldn't brake and the hill did not have any "runaway ramp" anyway no more spoilers if was aired on Rescue 911 "runaway truck"
I always give the truck drivers respect when I drive my four wheeler, I will back off when they want to pass and I let them know when they are clear, and I give them plenty of space.
A peofessional is all the things Dave mentioned plus having a safty first mentality will reduce some of the stress that comes from this job.. It is experiance that teaches much of what drivers need to survive and prosper and I dont think three month of driver traing is enough.
Dave, I gotta say getting to listen to your stories makes me remember some of the funny antics my pop would bring up at supper time when I was a kid. Thank you for the info and the smiles you paint on all us drivers faces
YESSS, I remember I was on a field trip in grade 4 and a truck was driving beside our school bus. We all did the honking motion and the truck driver actually honked the truck. That was AWESOME
All truck drivers are steering wheel holders because that's mainly what we do all day, we hold the steering wheel to steer the truck where it has to go. We are also diesel dogs,gear jammers, and road runners.
I thought it was frowned upon by police to blow our horn in small towns when the kids do that thing.Im always terrified my horn will send some old lady speeding up into another car.
Dave that's a messed up situation , really?????? But I know if you said it you didn't make that up or dream it it must have really happened. Totally amazing. Have a great weekend brother.
Great story That’s a new twist on life. But you are so right you learn something new everyday. And you keep on learning till the one day you retire. Clean spotless trucks go a long way with the DOT guys. Generally speaking the ones that are getting inspected are the dirty raggedy , hillbilly looking trucks. A good looking appearance goes a long way, it pays off in time and money.
Some drivers are courteous, but I'll tell you this. When a driver pulls out to pass another trucker at 0.5 mph faster on a two lane highway and causes a 10-minute back up it absolutely ticks me off. Every time I hear a trucker talk about how great they are I think of this. Yeah, they're on a schedule. So am I. I'm trying to get to work, or to help a family member, or something else. When, as a 4-wheeler I go to pass someone I check the left lane. If there is a car/truck coming up behind me I'll let that person pass me before I pull out. If you're impeding traffic, you're doing it wrong. I enjoy your channel.
Those all sound like good commonsense tips and I thank you for them. See I'm 43 I just past my written test for combination vehicle permit and intend to get my class A I've wrenched on heavy equipment for last 10 years. I would appreciate any advice for a complete newbie to the open road, Thanks
Safety is the main goal if you're a professional. Safety ties into looking after your equipment. And you're right, why would you keep your interior a mess, who wants to live in a pigsty? One big problem is low trained, non English language speakers as drivers. If you leave a driving school please, be self aware enough to know that you know nothing. Drive slow, leave space ask questions. Put ego in check. I will still ask for ground guide if area seems tight or tricky. Have yet to bang,bump or hit anything. Love the channel. Hey, that dude gets points for original thinking. Technically though, he was hauling two loads at once
I’m a old school 38 year old owner operator in Manitoba yes started out at 20 in 2000 loved it Benny’s and not a care in the world that was it or west coast turnarounds . But it will never be the same ever it’s very depressing to see what’s happing to the trucking industry I would love to chat one day with ya Dave take care
One of the things that helped me the most in my first year was giving myself reviews. How did i do today? What what could i have done better? Periodically i still find myself dissatisfied with my performance and have to go back to the what could i have done better. Someday i will be a professional driver.
4 wheel driver here. I used to be the type to pull off the road whenever someone was stopped on the shoulder.i do not do that anymore however. two times I stopped to see if I could help and had knives pulled on me. thankfully I always carry a firearm so I was able to prevent myself from being robbed, so I just stop anymore and it makes me sad but like I said this has happened to me twice
Awesome information for new truck drivers, i myself call it double thinking and double safety.if you get into shit, its because you didn't think ,driving any rig on the road, is as good as handling a loaded firearm, and the moral of the story is, if you don't think what you're doing, it can have devastating consequences.
Love reminiscing your stories remind me of a time a while back, and we always said keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down 10-4 I'll be 10-10 on the side. God bless
As a company driver, I always strive to try and keep my assigned ride clean, inside and out. Problem is other drivers fill in with my truck when I’m off, and they don’t exactly drive slow in the quarry. Along with always scanning the truck when I’m sitting, im always listening for unusual noises that the truck might be making.
A wise old trucker I knew named "Walkie Talkie" Lex, KY. Told me he wasn't a professional trucker yet. All the professional truckers he knew where dead. So stay humble listen and be safe. That was 20 years ago. He was in his 60s then. And been driving truck since a teenager.
Hi there, I would like for you to make a video about cool truck stops that would give us newbies a break from the traditional 3 that we’re used to. I kind of explore on my own here and there but it doesn’t all goes well sometimes due to parking space or just not well kept facilities. Thanks again for the informative videos and the stories.
I only just found your channel and I'm enjoying your videos. I'm going to show my father in law your content as I think he's going to be a fan of yours. He's coming up on 77 but only retired at the beginning of the year and even though trucking in the UK I assume would be quite different from North America I've heard a lot of the things you say also said by him, calling trucking a way of life rather than a job for example. I'll be sure to let you know what he says.
One of the things I always though to be unprofessional and tacky and something I never ever did - heaps of papers, trash and various junk piled on the dash board from one side of the cab to the other. I even had a guy pass me once that had the passenger footwell and seat piled with trash & garbage? The guy was literally living in a garbage truck.
Even as an industry outsider I have to admit that you're absolutely correct that Trucking is going downhill quickly. When I was in college I put a Ton of hours behind the wheel of my little coupe. I saw a lot of things that impressed me with professional truckers. I eventually got a CB and started trying to learn the lingo. I quickly learned that as a 4-wheeler there was zero respect and everybody thought everyone else was an idiot or useless. Which kept me from getting into trucking when the getting was good. Now, I see more and more truckers being aggressive and showing zero respect for anyone on the road. I've taken to capturing their DOT identification or even calling their parent companies. I know my reports won't have much impact, but hopefully more of us on the road will do this. I've been tailgated by a big rig (quickie pink slip in my opinion, I just have to turn off cruise control and keep control when it hits my bumper). Anymore I'm CONSTANTLY getting road-blocked by truckers that think it's funny to delay a 4-wheeler. Whether it's speeding up to block the overtake, or even much riskier actions. I had a bob-tailed trucker jump the stoplight by nearly 8 seconds just so I couldn't out-accelerate him to get to the turning lane first. It's gotten to the point that I no longer let them in my lane, even if they're having to slam on their brakes because of a tractor or whatever in their lane, especially when they're not watching ahead to plan effectively. I used to slow down and flash the headlights. I've had truckers put on their blinkers as I approach from the rear, and then not change lanes when I slow. Even the 4-wheelers are quickly getting more aggressive in response. Keeping a safe following distance is just an excuse for the a-hole in the slow lane to decide their turn is only 3 miles ahead so they might as well advantage of the space.
Love the advice, some damn good pointers. It never acured to me that that's how some of these driver could afford their trucks. Makes sence but not sure that's something I'd do, but that's just me. Nice video Dave, thanks for sharing.....
To quote a Trucker I've known for many years who's wise FAR beyond his years, "These days there's a LOT of guys herding trucks up and down the highway,but there's DAMNED FEW TRUCK DRIVERS anymore."
It's really too bad that ethics and common sense can't be taught to the new blood coming out of school. Old or young, I see misconceptions on how to do the job properly almost every day. Great job on this video and channel.
39 years, 5 million safe miles. I learn something new every day. Overconfidence will get you dead.
I remember as a kid doing the horn motion to truck drivers, n it's happened to me 3x since driving a truck. Brings a smile to my face every single time!!
I had a dot officer tell me about 20 yrs ago.. if a driver approaches his scale and he sees ur dash littered with trash he knows that your logs are trash also so he would pull drivers in for inspection. Have pride in yourself and your rig. When u think u know everything it’s time to get out of trucking before u kill someone. Great vid sir
Dave, your remarks about attitude are spot on. I get so ticked off at people whining on about the "young people today". I'm in my 60th year and can say for a fact that age has nothing to do with it. I've seen co-workers with decades of experience and knowledge be the greatest puppy mills ever - always bitching about the job, their health, how bored they are and looking to do the least work and cut every corner they can get away with. Some young people are the same kind of useless and will never get it. But I find that if you work with the younger guys as a mentor, teach them the tricks of the trade and demonstrate a good work ethic that they'll learn that attitude. And I'm not at all ashamed to say that I've learned some things from the newbs - sometimes they can look at a problem from a different perspective and come up with a great solution that was staring me in the face. It's all about attitude - take pride in your work, treat others with respect and never, ever, stop learning.
10 mph max in parking lots. You see wheel holders come off the fuel island or out of the parking space grabbing 5+ gears.
Love the point, never drive like a fool to make an appointment. The only late load is one you put in the ditch
A statement my father used to say.."Never drive like a fool", may he rip, he was a long haul trucker his whole life since early teens, he always took pride in his trucks & line of duty and professionally for many years and always taught me about courtesy on the Rd. May u all Be safe out there. ✌️
I was fortunate enough to work with drivers that had 3, 4 and 5 million safe miles. They taught me how to be professional at all times... inside and out of the truck.
As a bedbugger, nothing makes me happier than the toot the horn for kids while driving 15 in their 25 mile an hour residental areas.
29 years, 4 million miles accident free here..u are on point on every issue once again. I pay for my own blue beacon truck washes every week for my company truck(no company reimbursement.. file with my taxes though). it’s as spotless outside as it is inside. And I am extra respectful on the road... but trucks are getting so disrespectful. I am never ever in a hurry....that load gets there safely. I have 1 thing to add... DRESS PROFESSIONALLY.. I see 90% of drivers who look like they have worn the same clothes and never showered for weeks. I wear a uniform from the company but not paid by the company.(OTR) PRIDE IN UR RIDE..PRIDE IN YOURSELF.
I'm a professional steering wheel holder!
You nailed it Dave. Please take pride in your work, it shows. And please be professional and take the time to park your rig BETWEEN the lines. Safe driving all!
Hi Dave,
It's december 24, 2021 and this video came into my feed, and I knew I had to see this one, since it's tailor made for what I aspire to. And that's to be a Professional Transport Operator.
Another good video with valuable tips. I really appreciate the good word for us Rookie drivers [ I haven't earned the title of "Trucker" yet ]. I work for a big carrier in Prescott Ontario. I started back in July of 2021 and I've only been on my own a little over 3 months now. I share a day cab with another driver and of course I have the grave shift [1700 to 0200 hrs]. I do try to be professional, and courteous to everyone, double check my equipment, sometimes even 3 times. I also have my own cleaning supplies and rags, and before I start my pre-trip and get on the road, I always spend 15 minutes cleaning whatever I can in that time. And the next evening, I'll clean something else. I also have a portable vacuum cleaner I use to get the gravel off the floor and dust from the dash and stuff. I also make sure all my mirrors are spotless and the cabs front and side glass are the same.
I also got a great idea from another truck driver that uses a numbering stamp for his bills of lading. It's a great time saver when you have multiple pages for one trip, and it's a big help to the accounts payable department when it comes time to reconcile the trips and helps you get paid faster too :) I have 2 stamps actually. One is just an 8 digit self ink number stamp, and the other one has two lines; fist line is; TRUCK #: 1 2 3 4 , and the second line is; ORDER # ________ . I just use the 8 digit number stamp with the current job number I'm on and stamp all the pages for the trip. The trip numbers are always legible especially if you have to write this 7 digit order number 6 - 7 - or 10 times.
I always take my time with my pre trips, and I always do my air brake tests each time as well. My trainer told me to always make sure to get along with the Shunt Drivers at the places you go to, because that's their turf. It's already paid off for me once when I was having a hard time parking one night in a yard around Montreal. Benoit just told me "no problem Mike, just put it over there [an easier spot] because I have to move those trailers anyway". That was a load off my mind since I'm not good at backing up and that would have taken a while. Like you said, it always pays to be courteous. I'm always friendly and polite with the shippers and receivers too because you never know one day when you're late but they squeeze you in anyway because they know it's you. Makes you feel like a somebody :)
One day I was at a smaller dock in Montreal, and this young guy comes in with a Volvo sleeper cab pulling a 53'. He was having some trouble so I offered to guide him. He still wasn't getting it so he asked me if I could do it for him. I was only 3 weeks on my own at the time but what he needed to do is WHAT I SPENT ALOT OF TIME practicing on. So I did it for him. I have to tell you I felt pretty darn good after that. He thanked me many times over and I just told him all you have to do is pay it forward. . .
Have a Merry Christmas Dave, and to your family as well. And don't forget, "Keep the rubber side down, and we'll see you on the backhaul" 🤘😎🤘
So pimpin was his side hustle 😂
Nowadays with all the cameras and other nonsense, helping out a lady on the side of the road could result in something negative going on your DAC. Trucking has become pathetic.
Have a friend that's a driver that has no idea about any aspect of trucking. Just sits and drives. Uses Google maps for directions and always coming to a low bridge. Can't tell him nothing. He knows everything about trucking. Been telling him to get out of trucking it's not for him.
I've got 450k miles with google maps...lol
I use google maps!
never got me in trouble.
Your friends apparently an idiot!
Great video!!! As trucking Professionals we should never stop learning and we should never become complacent!!! You are so right!!!! Help each other out and bring back the unity of trucking amongst truckers!!!!👍👍👍
All about the attitude. Truer words never spoken.
Another thing to take into account is try to look like a professional. NO FLIP FLOPS.
Remember you look like a professional, you will feel like a professional, causing you to act like a professional, then you will be a professional.
So true Dave if you love it you are always trying to get better that makes you a pro in any trade.🤠👍
Speeding transports are my issue... I've been told I'm not a good driver because our company has a policy of not speeding. My answer? "You're not a better driver because you can drive faster, I'm a better driver because I know I don't need to". Speed kills!
Dave: How about pride in your appearance! I expect my doctor, lawyer, accountant, pharmacist to appear professional as well as the auto parts counter person.
I wear a company safety shirt, nice pants (not blue jeans) or shorts in the summer.. I also wear safety shoes in and out of the truck. Crossing an international border every trip I think it helps to look professional and not someone who just stole a truck and trailer. It also gets you respect when you walk into a travel center.
I have seen drivers wearing flip flip sandals, nylon pants, t shirt. I think: Do they take pride in their career or even themselves?
Probably not. I don't dare mention it to them as well as I probably won't get a professional answer.
Yeah, with the advent of cell phones truckers aren’t really expected to stop and help stranded motorists any more.
There is no telling how many people you have helped, and I do completely agree with what you say. The shipper and that stop light, isn't moving anywhere, so no need to panic. In the end, the receiver will be happy to have their load in one piece. Yeah anyone can move fast, and then that load will move as well.
“Blow your horn when kids do the motion” this guy knows what it’s about, when I was 10 I took my snowmobile to the ditch by the highway and sat there for an hour to see how many semis I could get to honk in a row and I got 43
Excellent hand/eye coordination,depth perception , peripheral vision, patience ,nerves of steel and a pair of big brass balls..not everybody is cutout to steer 80 thousand pounds at sixty five miles an hour surrounded by cars
Funny story, you are true mentor in trucking!
Been in that 76 many times back in the mid 90’s. Good crazy times always. Thanks, hammer down!
When I was younger in the 60s trucker where the gentleman of the road.
Now I see them as bullies of the road.
Don't know what happen.
I am in CDL school now and my instructor told us to treat the cars around us as if it was our mother, sister, brother, grand-daughter driving the cars. He said they may not be your family but there's someone family and they love them.
He's right! Sadly lots of them don't drive very well. Did he mention that?
@@SmartTrucking no he didn't mention that
I agree one 100% but with the gps in these trucks if company driver would stop to help the lady change a tire you will be writing up for stelling company time. I am company driver and I try to keep my truck clean because I spent a lot of time there.
Thanks for support for us here in Louisiana. Love all of your videos! I've learned a lot from you and I'm always learning something new about my Pete. God bless and keep the rubber side down 😁
The difference between a professional driver and a steering wheel holder:
1. The professional knows about the equipment and paperwork.
2. The professional uses the SMITH method when driving. They pay attention on the road.
3. Trying to help everybody on the side of the road isn't the smartest thing to do today. It's not 1952..
I was a class 8 commercial vehicle operator. I was just one of the best. Bossman said so. I treated my equipment as if it was my own.
Even for company guys it doesn't hurt to keep your ride clean. I disagree, I'm a company guy and my company doesn't pay for truck washes. I'm not paying 50 bucks everytime I think the truck needs to be washed. I keep the inside clean bc I live in there but I'm not paying my hard earned money to keep someome else's truck clean.
Totally agree, I enjoy driving more when my work area is clean n tighty.
I would be looking for another company to work for.
If they don't care about their rig enough to keep it clean, they also don't care about you either.
I was at the 76 way back, had to throw my tarps and chains on the ground and run the duals on them so no one could steal them.
Always makes me smile when someone asks for my horn, papa taught me to ask the trucks for their horn because it made their day just as much as mine and he was right! He drove for 55 years, he was a Professional Driver!
Great lot lizard story!
I suspect that a reason the lot lizard stories are so popular is because of the mystique that OTR driving had 25, 35, 45 years ago.
Not a trucker, but I grew up on the old, "Smokey and The Bandit" movies and, to a child, they made trucking seem like a 'fun' job. The whole "Wild, wild, west" image, truck stops in the days before chain restaurants were everywhere, the open road, in the days before ridiculous traffic, road rage, 'Big Brother' surveillance cameras, and all that.
i kind of agree with the speeding thing, i personally think there’s nothing wrong with going fast but i’ve heard from many drivers and even a few troopers that the biggest safety hazard and dead give-away is when people go in between lanes, and the pride in your ride part is very true, think about your truck as a rolling billboard for yourself
Dave that's the difference between an operator and a truck driver. Good point good video, you and Kathy have a good weekend👍👍👍👍
I rarely see lot lizards around anymore. Maybe 1 per year in a bad area. Mostly just see homeless guys around now looking for $ or to polish wheels.
Polish you knob
Been trucking for a few yrs and so far only one has approached me, an old meth head chick. Had to laugh in her face and roll my window back up.
It’s funny we did a segment just like that on a channel that I used to belong to. Stating it doesn’t matter if you knew where you’ve been behind the wheel for four years. The object of this career is to never stop learning. Thank you this was a great segment.
Right on Dave as usual!!!! Good rules to truck by and live by. Safety first always! "Do no harm" befor and above anything else! I used to run with an old timer that would always say " if they want that load bad today they will want it twice as bad tomorrow ! I always look at the people on the side of the road that need help as if it was my wife, daughter, son or brother. I would damn sure appreciate one of the good guys helping them out! And they have!!! I'm 64 years old and I've been stopping all my life, always been prepared for anything, seen a few interesting things but never had any real trouble. Cell phones have changed a lot of the dynamics today but you still see a lot of things that you know you can help with! I've always been rewarded plenty by someone helping me or mine out in a time of need. Thanks for the advice! It's always good for us gray beards and pups alike! Keep up those story's! About the time I think you've told one that cant be topped you bring one out that blows it out of the water. Keep on trucking!
The speed thing is a big deal. It kills us when we become complacent. When we develop the attitude of
"I know this road, I can just kick back, no big deal!"
I'm grateful beyond words that some of my first truck bosses were people that stressed to me that there would never be a load that I would haul, that would be worth my own life, or someone else's.
Now there's a top tip for those struggling to make a decent living on low freight rates, become a part time pimp. Great story.
Very well said sir very well said about what is professional driver means. Its hard to keep up everything on equipment these days but i put my effort to make sure equipment is safe to drive.
10 Lot Lizards didn't like your story.
As always, quality stuff. Really enjoy watching them.
Im a 6 mo experienced driver and I have been doing these examples from day 1. I have a lot to learn...I always listen to the older gentleman. They have do much experience. Hats off to show respect to you guys.
I would love to take Pride in my ride, but I drive a Volvo ;/ Bag over the face everytime I stop at a rest stop...
And one of the stupidest thing I've heard from these "super truckers" are that you don't need to recheek chains and binders if they are still tight. Still bugs me.
Thing those super truckers don't realize is that you won't know they're not tight if you ain't checking them.
Good video Mr. Dave . I agree with you, some drivers don't give a s$$$ about the Equipment. 🙏✌👌👍👏
Dave i'm not even a truck driver but already subscribed to your channels i enoy ALL of your videos old or new, long or short.
Thanks heaven for youtube so people like you can share all of your knowledge and stories with us "the rest of the world"
I would love to hear about close calls or dangerous moments,i saw few days ago a video about two truckers friends going downhill fully loaded
When one of them couldn't brake and the hill did not have any "runaway ramp" anyway no more spoilers if was aired on Rescue 911 "runaway truck"
I always give the truck drivers respect when I drive my four wheeler, I will back off when they want to pass and I let them know when they are clear, and I give them plenty of space.
A peofessional is all the things Dave mentioned plus having a safty first mentality will reduce some of the stress that comes from this job.. It is experiance that teaches much of what drivers need to survive and prosper and I dont think three month of driver traing is enough.
The professionals went the way of the dinosaurs
I've always appreciated truckers professionalism and courtesy. Totally agree and appreciate you guys. We need you big time and some us even know it!
Dave, I gotta say getting to listen to your stories makes me remember some of the funny antics my pop would bring up at supper time when I was a kid. Thank you for the info and the smiles you paint on all us drivers faces
YESSS, I remember I was on a field trip in grade 4 and a truck was driving beside our school bus. We all did the honking motion and the truck driver actually honked the truck. That was AWESOME
Thanks for the shout out to Louisiana. I’m not a trucker, but I love your advice and stories. Who knows I may have found my “career after retirement”.
All truck drivers are steering wheel holders because that's mainly what we do all day, we hold the steering wheel to steer the truck where it has to go. We are also diesel dogs,gear jammers, and road runners.
I thought it was frowned upon by police to blow our horn in small towns when the kids do that thing.Im always terrified my horn will send some old lady speeding up into another car.
He reminds me of a guy named Dave. Incredible how they share the same name and talk.
That driver was working all the angles. ;)
Admiring his kenworth huh?
Dave that's a messed up situation , really?????? But I know if you said it you didn't make that up or dream it it must have really happened. Totally amazing. Have a great weekend brother.
Can't believe all the loose chains and straps I see.
Great story That’s a new twist on life. But you are so right you learn something new everyday. And you keep on learning till the one day you retire. Clean spotless trucks go a long way with the DOT guys. Generally speaking the ones that are getting inspected are the dirty raggedy , hillbilly looking trucks. A good looking appearance goes a long way, it pays off in time and money.
Pride in your ride. Yep my dad spent hours weekly polishing Crome and his aluminum wheels
Some drivers are courteous, but I'll tell you this. When a driver pulls out to pass another trucker at 0.5 mph faster on a two lane highway and causes a 10-minute back up it absolutely ticks me off. Every time I hear a trucker talk about how great they are I think of this.
Yeah, they're on a schedule. So am I. I'm trying to get to work, or to help a family member, or something else.
When, as a 4-wheeler I go to pass someone I check the left lane. If there is a car/truck coming up behind me I'll let that person pass me before I pull out. If you're impeding traffic, you're doing it wrong.
I enjoy your channel.
Great as always Dave and truck stop story was interesting.
Those all sound like good commonsense tips and I thank you for them. See I'm 43 I just past my written test for combination vehicle permit and intend to get my class A I've wrenched on heavy equipment for last 10 years. I would appreciate any advice for a complete newbie to the open road, Thanks
Safety is the main goal if you're a professional. Safety ties into looking after your equipment. And you're right, why would you keep your interior a mess, who wants to live in a pigsty?
One big problem is low trained, non English language speakers as drivers. If you leave a driving school please, be self aware enough to know that you know nothing. Drive slow, leave space ask questions. Put ego in check. I will still ask for ground guide if area seems tight or tricky. Have yet to bang,bump or hit anything. Love the channel. Hey, that dude gets points for original thinking. Technically though, he was hauling two loads at once
I’m a old school 38 year old owner operator in Manitoba yes started out at 20 in 2000 loved it Benny’s and not a care in the world that was it or west coast turnarounds . But it will never be the same ever it’s very depressing to see what’s happing to the trucking industry I would love to chat one day with ya Dave take care
One of the things that helped me the most in my first year was giving myself reviews. How did i do today? What what could i have done better? Periodically i still find myself dissatisfied with my performance and have to go back to the what could i have done better. Someday i will be a professional driver.
4 wheel driver here. I used to be the type to pull off the road whenever someone was stopped on the shoulder.i do not do that anymore however. two times I stopped to see if I could help and had knives pulled on me. thankfully I always carry a firearm so I was able to prevent myself from being robbed, so I just stop anymore and it makes me sad but like I said this has happened to me twice
Awesome information for new truck drivers, i myself call it double thinking and double safety.if you get into shit, its because you didn't think ,driving any rig on the road, is as good as handling a loaded firearm, and the moral of the story is, if you don't think what you're doing, it can have devastating consequences.
Thanx for the wealth of information and the wealth of experience that you share
The last time i stopped to help a "lady" change a tire she had an adams apple
Love reminiscing your stories remind me of a time a while back, and we always said keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down 10-4 I'll be 10-10 on the side. God bless
As a company driver, I always strive to try and keep my assigned ride clean, inside and out. Problem is other drivers fill in with my truck when I’m off, and they don’t exactly drive slow in the quarry.
Along with always scanning the truck when I’m sitting, im always listening for unusual noises that the truck might be making.
A wise old trucker I knew named "Walkie Talkie" Lex, KY. Told me he wasn't a professional trucker yet.
All the professional truckers he knew where dead.
So stay humble listen and be safe. That was 20 years ago. He was in his 60s then.
And been driving truck since a teenager.
Why would anyone give a thumbs down to this. Probably 35 or so “super truckers!”
Truth be known He had half a dozen Lizzard's in that sleeper. lmao !!!
Hi there, I would like for you to make a video about cool truck stops that would give us newbies a break from the traditional 3 that we’re used to. I kind of explore on my own here and there but it doesn’t all goes well sometimes due to parking space or just not well kept facilities. Thanks again for the informative videos and the stories.
We've got one where we check out a really cool Petro 2 in St Cloud MN. Check it out!
Straight on point driver...
Well put advice Mr.
I only just found your channel and I'm enjoying your videos. I'm going to show my father in law your content as I think he's going to be a fan of yours. He's coming up on 77 but only retired at the beginning of the year and even though trucking in the UK I assume would be quite different from North America I've heard a lot of the things you say also said by him, calling trucking a way of life rather than a job for example. I'll be sure to let you know what he says.
“The hurrier one goes...the behinder one gets...”
Slow down and enjoy what you do.
Well said.... It all starts with ONE to make it all better or a real hell out there
Do you remember Bruce's Truck stop on 99 down close to Stockton on the left going south?
Sure do! A favourite large car hang out in my day.
One of the things I always though to be unprofessional and tacky and something I never ever did - heaps of papers, trash and various junk piled on the dash board from one side of the cab to the other. I even had a guy pass me once that had the passenger footwell and seat piled with trash & garbage? The guy was literally living in a garbage truck.
She goes out and makes some money and the next day we are on our way🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thank you Mr. Dave!👍👍
Love the humbleness in that lizard story. Lol! memories.
That KW driver is a progressive entrepreneur
After I went local I learned why otr company drivers get called steering wheel holders..
Louisiana in the house
Even as an industry outsider I have to admit that you're absolutely correct that Trucking is going downhill quickly. When I was in college I put a Ton of hours behind the wheel of my little coupe. I saw a lot of things that impressed me with professional truckers. I eventually got a CB and started trying to learn the lingo. I quickly learned that as a 4-wheeler there was zero respect and everybody thought everyone else was an idiot or useless. Which kept me from getting into trucking when the getting was good. Now, I see more and more truckers being aggressive and showing zero respect for anyone on the road. I've taken to capturing their DOT identification or even calling their parent companies. I know my reports won't have much impact, but hopefully more of us on the road will do this. I've been tailgated by a big rig (quickie pink slip in my opinion, I just have to turn off cruise control and keep control when it hits my bumper). Anymore I'm CONSTANTLY getting road-blocked by truckers that think it's funny to delay a 4-wheeler. Whether it's speeding up to block the overtake, or even much riskier actions. I had a bob-tailed trucker jump the stoplight by nearly 8 seconds just so I couldn't out-accelerate him to get to the turning lane first. It's gotten to the point that I no longer let them in my lane, even if they're having to slam on their brakes because of a tractor or whatever in their lane, especially when they're not watching ahead to plan effectively. I used to slow down and flash the headlights. I've had truckers put on their blinkers as I approach from the rear, and then not change lanes when I slow. Even the 4-wheelers are quickly getting more aggressive in response. Keeping a safe following distance is just an excuse for the a-hole in the slow lane to decide their turn is only 3 miles ahead so they might as well advantage of the space.
Love the advice, some damn good pointers. It never acured to me that that's how some of these driver could afford their trucks. Makes sence but not sure that's something I'd do, but that's just me. Nice video Dave, thanks for sharing.....
I enjoyed your story Dave, yeah I always enjoy your stories
To quote a Trucker I've known for many years who's wise FAR beyond his years, "These days there's a LOT of guys herding trucks up and down the highway,but there's DAMNED FEW TRUCK DRIVERS anymore."
Never was late on a load they still take it when you get there
It's really too bad that ethics and common sense can't be taught to the new blood coming out of school. Old or young, I see misconceptions on how to do the job properly almost every day. Great job on this video and channel.
Common sense = knowledge + experience. Ethics either you got or you don't.