We just returned from a 10 day trip and on the last night we spent the night in the back parking lot of a casino at Stateline, Nevada/CA. During the evening there was quite a bit of truck traffic, coming and going and subsequently a lot of related noise. We were discussing the noise and trucking in general and my significant other asked if maybe truckers hated motorhomers. I told her that I think generally they may get frustrated and occasionally downright pissed, but for the most part just take us in stride.I had a commercial license for 30 yrs, not as an over the roader, but as part of my job working for a utility co., hauling long or heavy loads and just driving large trucks. I spent as much time in urban settings as I did on freeways and back roads and I am very aware of the lack of attention of some of the drivers on our highways.My question to you truckers, local drivers and OTRs, is, how do you, as a profession, view us motorhomers who drive around, at times, like we're the only ones on the road? Sometimes with total disregard for the fact that you guys are working, you're on a tight schedule, you have log books and DOT inspections and if we slow you down on a grade you have a heck of a time getting back up to speed. We often times leave you little or no room to pass us one at a time and forget that you can't stop like a passenger car. Please enlighten us all and help us make your job just a little easier!!Terry

I look at them with envy. Wish I was in my faith wheel.

Thanks Berner2 for your thoughtfulness to truckers. I have been an OTR trucker since 1970. I have hauled heavy loads (160,000#) and long loads (110') and up to 18' wide loads. Lots of state police escorts so maybe I have been the problem holding up the motorhomes! :BNow days most of the trucks have plenty of horsepower so passing on a grade is not an issue unless the traffic is heavy. Slowing down on a grade is just part of the job. I have never had a problem with a motorhome on the road. The only problem was when I was out of hours and had to pull into a truck stop or rest area to park. Unlike motorhomes, the trucks don't have a lot of options to park a big rig, especially oversized. It was a little frustrating to find spots taken by a motorhome when they had the option to go to a campground or even a Walmart parking lot. There is no problem sharing the road, just the parking spaces.

My dad was a trucker for 40+ years, I never heard him complain of MH, TT, etc... My husband & I own a machine shop and I am the 'trucker'. Small truck, I can only haul 3 tons of steel but I will spend many hours on the roads locally. I can honestly say, a MH, TT, etc has ever caused me problems. The ones that I have problems with are 'normal' commuters who believe their time is more important than mine. They tailgate and cut me off, etc. Again, it's only a small truck but when I have upwards of 3 tons on my rear, I'm not stopping on a dime, that's for sure and not only am I trying to stop safely, I am also watching the parts that I am hauling. I have complete faith in myself and the way I secure my load but one never knows what can happen with evasive driving.I'm sorry for my rant but it's a huge deal for me, I want to come home every night to my family.Thank you for asking though, again, no complaints here.....even if I'm just a 'baby trucker' (that's what my dad calls me)

36 years on the highway (13 in semis, 23 in long-haul buses), and motorhomes were never a specific complaint. It was BAD DRIVERS that made me wish every now and then that I'd had a different job. If you know how to drive your rig, no trucker will be cursing you. If you think that it's your right to go 20mph under the limit on a 2-lane road, well....

Haven't held a commercial ticket since CDL was implemented. I logged a lot of miles driving everything for a auto auction. The only thing that upset me was people texting while driving. I've seen many near accidents at interstate speeds that scared me to no end. I believe the first thing law enforcement should check is the cell phone for the last message time.

Question for current or retired truckers | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Berner2
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
Thanks for all of the responses. I'm glad to know we're not disliked by truckers in general. In my opinion they have a tough job, but the guys that do it seem to like it and for the most part are courteous to us amateurs and very forgiving. I really feel for them when they're sitting in stop and go So. Cal. traffic. On the open road I use them to gauge my speed, I set my cruise control at the speed they're travelling and go with the flow.

On this last little trip we had a couple with us that are new to RVing and I tried to remind them that following doesn't necessarily mean bumper to bumper. A couple hundred yards of space makes it easier for trucks as well as RVs and cars to pass and get back in the lane.

They'll learn, after all, they have "The perfect driver" for a teacher!! ;)

Thanks, Terry
Bigdog
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
msturtz wrote:
I have a Class B CDL, with a passenger and school bus endorsement. I also drive our MH. I have found in driving anything RVers in general are more courteous than the general driving population. I suspect that is primarily due to the large cost of the recreational vehicles. I have never done OTR trucking only occasional day trips for my company and some volunteer work however we have logged thousands of miles in our RVs all over the western US.

I ahve not driven OTR for a long long time, but drove a stepvan for an industrial laundry for 31 years and my route included 40 miles from Bremerton to pick up my truck and then 40 miles back to Bremerton for my route and then back to unload and reload and then home. Man the things I saw then on the highway. I drove a school bus for ten years in town and on a lot of trips out of town and the worst drivers were cars and not rvers or trucks. Now I'm back driving substitute school bus and charter bus once in awhile and again the worst drivers are autos.
When I had a TT,I used to be an active member of the weight police on here and I still watch folks that are pulling TTs w/o WD bars and sway bars and full size,not lites,with 1/2 ton p/us and wonder how they'll stop that thing in an emergency or when that baby starts to ooked up right.whip because it's not hooked up right.
koda55
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
I am retired from otr driving. When I fueled and a rv was beside me I always struck up a conversation with them. Now I drive the big rv and fuel at the truck lanes. Just a couple of weeks ago I had a driver ask if I wanted to swap. I am lucky that I have a button on my steering wheel that I can use to blink my running lights or my low beams off to let a trucker or another rv know it is ok to come over. The thing that bothered me at night was when someone flashed their high beams. For me I would loose my night vision for a few seconds. I never park in a truck spot when I stop. I will park out front where they have rv parking. Mostly I will stay at a Walmart or some other large shopping area. If I see a big rig trying to come on the interstate I have a tendency to slow down and give them a chance to get on. Once they are on I will speed back up and pass them. Most will let me back over but then there are those few that just won't return the courtesy.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
Been driving trucks since 4/71. I have spent the majority of my time in the NW and rarely have a beef about the drivers of RV's. I see more stupid bone headed moves by truck drivers (me included) than RV's. Far too many of the truck drivers have this "I am more important than you attitude" and try to intimidate a smaller vehicle or less experienced driver.

As far as the light flashing, thanks but no thanks. There is nothing worse than getting a mirror of high beams when I come back over. Most of us know where our trailers are at. And on a four plus lane it is really not needed. If you dim you lights I will say thanks, but high beams not so much.

But remember everyone thinks they are the perfect driver.

So, you guys would rather us just dim our lights vs. high beams (during the day)?

I see trucks on the other side will use their high beams to signal a driver over.

Maybe I'll just do nothing.

MM.
fcooper
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2014
RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
....text deleted.....

But remember everyone thinks they are the perfect driver.

I think you're correct on this one. LOL.

Fred
RedRollingRoadb
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Been driving trucks since 4/71. I have spent the majority of my time in the NW and rarely have a beef about the drivers of RV's. I see more stupid bone headed moves by truck drivers (me included) than RV's. Far too many of the truck drivers have this "I am more important than you attitude" and try to intimidate a smaller vehicle or less experienced driver.

As far as the light flashing, thanks but no thanks. There is nothing worse than getting a mirror of high beams when I come back over. Most of us know where our trailers are at. And on a four plus lane it is really not needed. If you dim you lights I will say thanks, but high beams not so much.

But remember everyone thinks they are the perfect driver.
whporwil
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Last summer an 18 wheeler run me down to tell me I lost a wheel on a 5th wheel. A second trucker also stopped to say it was the funniest thing he ever saw. Never knew it happened and never found it. Both nice guys!
edm3rd
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Brian, just put that 2 mph down as "speedometer accuracy error".

Totally agree with you on drivers who do not merge safely.
supercub
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
When I'm travelling, I usually just get in the right lane and put the cruise control on about 57mph...........(speed limit here in CA for towing is 55mph, whoops I'm over by a couple) 57 or there about seem to be the typical speed of traffic in the right lane.
As far as other drivers.......as a whole, most truck drivers are good, there's always the exception though, I've seen some really bad ones out there..........of course I've seen some really bad motor home drivers too. I've seen truckers doing 70 plus and motor homes towing doing 70 plus, but they are rare.
Keep in mind, that some states have much higher towing speed limits then here in CA, so I assume there's always the possibility that the odd motor home or trucker from out of state is unfamiliar with our 55mph limit.
My biggest complaint with AUTO drivers is they don't have a clue on how to merge into traffic. They don't look, will match you speed and just nudge up too........unaware that you can't get over because of traffic, plus they're the ones, that are suppose to adjust their speed to blend into traffic. I don't play games with them, and will try to adjust my speed, but sometimes that's difficult in heavy. traffic.
Brian
tinkerer
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
I am not a trucker, but I always look forward to fueling up with the truckers, we usually have some interesting conversations. Being both of us have big rigs we have to work together dealing with some idiots driving cars. I always watch the truckers who are trying to change lanes or trying get onto the highway and I use my MH to block traffic so they can do what they want to do. They usually return the favor. In my years of driving my MH I have only one trucker whom you could tell he didn't like Mh's.