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

Kennedy64
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
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)
NeverHome2
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
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! :B

Now 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.
Mfan
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
I look at them with envy. Wish I was in my faith wheel.

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