The RV does'nt own the road, But truckers DO!

[Johno02]

As she knows that we drive a RV, My daughter, driving a BIG truck, privately posted this to my facebook. So for all others, be warned, do NOT EVER mess with a tired, sleepy female truck driver!!! Here is her post:

"I'm only going to say this once. Unless you like being visited by your friendly state trooper and threatened with arrest for a federal offense, do not park your little cheap ass motor camper beside a reefer trailer in a truck parking lot. If you chose to do that, do not bang on this driver's door at 0400, demanding that I shut my reefer off because its keeping you and your girlfriend awake. Then when I POLITELY (yes, I even amazed myself with that) advised you that you might want to find another parking spot and close my curtains, do not let me peek back in my mirror and see you staring at my reefer control panel. I will, and did, call the Kansas State Police. Guess you didn't know there was a Trooper in the service plaza getting coffee at the Dunkin Donuts. Thank you, unknown trooper, for explaining to the dumbass about the federal laws regarding the interference of tampering with an interstate commerce vehicle, carrying frozen food. And since it contained food for human consumption, had he successfully messed with the controls or load in anyway, that got into a domestic terrorism act through homeland security. Oh, and since this driver was on her federally mandated rest break, that the rv driver disturbed, well, he was quite sure there was probably a federal statute that applied to that as well. Now, please move your RV and remember these lessons, thank you very much.
Sometimes I love Karma. I asked the Trooper if I could buy him a coffee. He said no, but thank you, so I hand him one of my Milos sweet teas. I rarely part with those for anyone so I hope he understood what that meant!"

BE WARNED!! BTW, we are proud of her, and what she does. Many do not realize that her attitude is the only thing that makes the truckers life bearable, and we would all starve to death without them!

[drsteve]

Trekkar wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
valhalla360 , Here I go defending the truckers again, but they DO Pay (A LOT) for the roads, and they DO pay for parking in most but not all, truckstops. The amount that one truck pays each year in road taxes,(added to fuel costs) special licenses, and road/bridge tolls far exceeds what most drivers and RVs will pay in their entire driving life. BUT, that is a minor thing, what is major is that all these taxes and expenses are added on top of what WE (all of us) pay for food and other goods. Its is called transportation costs, and is a good part of the prices we pay every day. Especially for food products. Ever consider how much just salad stuff is consumed in somewhere like New York City?? And where it comes from?? (California and Mexico), and hot it gets to the consumer from the field?? Yes, the truckers pay for the roads and parking lots, and all the rest of us are lucky that they even let us use them. BTW, when the original interstates were proposed and built, they were NOT for public transportation, but for military and materials transport in a timely manner. Check your history!

The Interstate system WAS developed for the public: Some of the reasons were in fact military, but not many. HOWEVER: The trucking industry DOES NOT pay their share for the roads! Trucks cause roughly 99% of the road damage, yet only provide about 35% of funds to repair and maintain.

Especially true in Michigan, with it's 164,000 lb weight limit.

[Trekkar]

Johno02 wrote:
valhalla360 , Here I go defending the truckers again, but they DO Pay (A LOT) for the roads, and they DO pay for parking in most but not all, truckstops. The amount that one truck pays each year in road taxes,(added to fuel costs) special licenses, and road/bridge tolls far exceeds what most drivers and RVs will pay in their entire driving life. BUT, that is a minor thing, what is major is that all these taxes and expenses are added on top of what WE (all of us) pay for food and other goods. Its is called transportation costs, and is a good part of the prices we pay every day. Especially for food products. Ever consider how much just salad stuff is consumed in somewhere like New York City?? And where it comes from?? (California and Mexico), and hot it gets to the consumer from the field?? Yes, the truckers pay for the roads and parking lots, and all the rest of us are lucky that they even let us use them. BTW, when the original interstates were proposed and built, they were NOT for public transportation, but for military and materials transport in a timely manner. Check your history!

The Interstate system WAS developed for the public: Some of the reasons were in fact military, but not many. HOWEVER: The trucking industry DOES NOT pay their share for the roads! Trucks cause roughly 99% of the road damage, yet only provide about 35% of funds to repair and maintain.

[discovery4us]

Johno02 wrote:
BTW, when the original interstates were proposed and built, they were NOT for public transportation, but for military and materials transport in a timely manner. Check your history!

Not exactly correct. Yes they were to aid in defense and timely evacuations if needed but also for easing congestion and making travel easier. I believe the number one selling point was safety and the last selling point was defense/military.

As far as fees it is a pay as you play system. The more you use them the more damage you are causing therefore the more fees you pay.

[Johno02]

valhalla360 , Here I go defending the truckers again, but they DO Pay (A LOT) for the roads, and they DO pay for parking in most but not all, truckstops. The amount that one truck pays each year in road taxes,(added to fuel costs) special licenses, and road/bridge tolls far exceeds what most drivers and RVs will pay in their entire driving life. BUT, that is a minor thing, what is major is that all these taxes and expenses are added on top of what WE (all of us) pay for food and other goods. Its is called transportation costs, and is a good part of the prices we pay every day. Especially for food products. Ever consider how much just salad stuff is consumed in somewhere like New York City?? And where it comes from?? (California and Mexico), and hot it gets to the consumer from the field?? Yes, the truckers pay for the roads and parking lots, and all the rest of us are lucky that they even let us use them. BTW, when the original interstates were proposed and built, they were NOT for public transportation, but for military and materials transport in a timely manner. Check your history!

[Scottiemom]

Johno02 wrote:
Scottiemom, its all your fault, because you and Terry were the ones that were so nice to us on our first rally and camping trip to Elkhart, many years ago. We were the newbiew in the small Hurricane that Terry parked next to your rig so he could help us and teach us about to set up and run our new to us RV. If youo hadn't been so nice to us, we would have probably falled by the wayside somewhere. Thanks a lot, and we always enjoy hearing from the both of you.. Noel & Betty.

I knew I knew you from somewhere but had forgotten just where. Terry, however, remembers. He has that kind of mind. Those rallies were fun times, weren't they? I was still working back then, ugh. Been fulltiming now for 14 years. Thought we might have to hang up the keys this summer due to Terry's health, but it looks like everything's a go. So we will still be out there on the road. Spending the summer in Elkhart Campground. If you come through, let me know and we'll go out for dinner.

My Dad was a trucker for 35 years. Always loved the big trucks. I have a lot of respect for those drivers.

Thanks for the reminder! Happy Trails!

Dale

[cbshoestring]

Wow....

So it is ok if I knock on the door of your home/ RV at 0400 and ask politely for you to turn off the porch light? As long as I am mistaken as to why you have it on, oh, and I ask politely!!!!

Do you people hear yourself?

This RVer was 100% wrong.

No wonder why so many think it is ok to squeeze their 20 foot vehicle into the 10 feet of space the trucker leaves in front of him/her at merge points. Apparently truckers have no right to be ANYWHERE, and should wilfully accept rude behavior.

KARYNKJ mentioned a camera, so I will share a word to the wise.

Cars are at fault for 80% of accidents involving a big truck. Thanks to cameras, that percentage is on the rise. The days of darting in front of a semi, assuming it is their fault if they rearend you, are gone. When the video shows they were keeping proper spacing, and YOU made an unsafe lane change in to that space, that carrier will go after you for damage to the truck and freight. Cause a big enough catastrophe...criminal charges that once were filed against the driver, may rest in your lap.

Some insurers are advising truckers to HIT you. Sound cruel....not really. If the driver attempts to avoid you, rolls the truck, etc...you go on your merry way, oblivious of what you caused. Driver may end up dead. Keeping the truck upright and on the road...is the best way for a trucker to survive.

Again, this may sound cruel...but if your dumb a** put yourself into a situation, better you die than me.

Of course most drivers will still try to miss you...to much paperwork. However, I have seen multiple dash cam clips where ignorant cars have been pushed out of the way. In some cases, I think the driver could have done a better job at avoiding the accident....they didn't bother to because they got fed up with STUPIDITY. and felt no obligation to risk their truck/freight/LIFE in an effort to protect someone else from their entitlement attitude that disregarded the truckers safety.

Rant over...happy RVing.

Can't wait for the end off month vacay when I will happily be driving with TT in tow...
Wait, what....pull a trailer on vacation. What was I thinking!

[ford_truck_guy]

valhalla360 wrote:
I don't see any issue with the guy asking politely or her declining politely (comments about his appearance are just a cheap shot). She didn't pay for the road or the truck stop and doesn't own it any more than he does.

All the blather about terrorism and interstate trade charges and such is just that. While technically it's possible to pursue, in reality, they would likely get a vandalism charge if he actually did something (looking is not the same as doing) and if he was caught.

I can see being a little annoyed at being woke up at 4am but it comes with the job.

Being woken up at 0400 does NOT come with the job, UNLESS it is the receiver telling you where top go and get unloaded.

[valhalla360]

Karynkj wrote:
No, I'm not seal team six. But the Trooper was....

I wonder, if you think it's okay and part of the job for someone to wake me up to demand that I shut my reefer off because you parked beside it in a truck parking area, can I start parking in the campgrounds? I think it's only fair...

Trooper was likely trying to scare the guy and had zero intention of pursuing homeland security, terrorism charges or anything similar.

Did he "demand" or "ask"?

If he demanded and that is all of the story, getting a little snotty with him was probably appropriate.

If he mistakenly thought it was just a generator that you would turn off before going to sleep and he asked politely, you would be in the wrong to get snotty.

Of course, we weren't there and he isn't here to defend himself, so we will never know what really happened.

[ford_truck_guy]

I for one absolutely agree with the trucker.... I used to drive big trucks for 30+ years, back when we could run 2 comic books...

THERE IS NO REASON that the entitled RV'r should have felt is was the correct thing to do, IF you want piece and quiet, stop in a campground... IF you want a few hours of rest, use a truck stop...

I will not stop in a truck stop any more, since the feds started with the new ELD's, it is not a choice for them to go and find a different resting place for 8 hours ... Were we can decide to go to a different place that we FIT IN..

The RV'r in question needs to get out of their own world....

[Johno02]

Scottiemom, its all your fault, because you and Terry were the ones that were so nice to us on our first rally and camping trip to Elkhart, many years ago. We were the newbiew in the small Hurricane that Terry parked next to your rig so he could help us and teach us about to set up and run our new to us RV. If youo hadn't been so nice to us, we would have probably falled by the wayside somewhere. Thanks a lot, and we always enjoy hearing from the both of you.. Noel & Betty.

[Karynkj]

cbshoestring wrote:

Karynkj wrote:
Hi Rvers, I'm the daughter in question.

Welcome daughter in question.

I hope you understand my d#mn refer unit comments were in jest (maybe). Actually I did some refer and even heated trailers in my day. Now I park as far away as I can ??

If you see a gray 379 Pete pulling a flatbed...making sure he is waving with adequate appendage...that would be me.

Dang skateboarder. Think ya'll are special because ya'll play with straps, chains, and binders...only reason I park beside flatbedders is I'm lonely! Nobody wants to park beside us. I don't know why. I think the song of my people is quite peaceful, actually. And flatbeds make great grooming tables for my poodle!
I'll be looking for you! And I promise to leave at least one space between us (lol!)

[2012Coleman]

DutchmenSport wrote:
She sounds like she's emotionally angry to me and has some real issues. I certainly hope she's not this angry on the highways, claiming she has the only right to be on the road because it's federally controlled property, so everyone better get out of her way. Protecting your property is one thing, being a red-neck about it is something else. Hope you can calm her anger down before she runs over a Volkswagon Bug with 2 kids and a young mother in it, and claim they had no right to be on the road or something! ARG.... I'm glad I don't overnight at ANY truck stop. From my experience, most truckers I've associated with are pretty nice people!

This from the guy who revs his engine at people in gas stations - perceiving some imagined slight from the person in front of him who was there first. So they better get out of HIS way! LOL! Oh the hypocrisy...

[Karynkj]

No, I'm not seal team six. But the Trooper was informing the gentleman what could have happened had he touched the load. Fortunately, he didn't. I also have audio and video of all conversations and the one that is installed by my company. And I did press the submit so that the camera feed from that fed directly to my operations and safety people. They reviewed, along with our company's legal department, no problems with any of my or the trooper's interaction with the guy.
The trucking industry is regulated by federal law, not the states. The states maintain and administer cdl testing and records, licenses, registrations, and permits, but all under federal laws and guidelines. Different commodities have different laws pertaining to the protection of the cargo. Hazmats and food products for human consumption have laws just for them. Just in the past 5 to 10 years is when either of these two types of loads was classified by the Dept of Homeland Security as possible terrorism targets. Hazmat was actually right after 9/11 and food product was after someone was caught trying to poison a load of produce.
But, you can think what you want. After all, most people just think we are ignorant, rude, unsafe, crazed homicidal maniacs out here bent on tying up the roads and intent on making your life miserable. And that's not anger speaking, it's a fact of my business. I'm automatically presumed guilty of causing the problem, even if I just stop to help. Every day, I'm bombarded by ads and billboards with lawyers telling you how evil I am, driving my 40 ton death machine and I'm coming after you, poor innocent citizen. And I can go on. Most of you can jump in any size RV, with no special training or endorsements, and off you go. I have to, and do have, training and endorsements for combinations, air brakes, double/triples, and tankers. I'm considering testing for my passenger and I gave up my hazmat. Don't tell me that if I don't like it, get out of it. I love my job. Can't imagine doing anything else.

I wonder, if you think it's okay and part of the job for someone to wake me up to demand that I shut my reefer off because you parked beside it in a truck parking area, can I start parking in the campgrounds? I think it's only fair...

[Tvov]

This thread confuses me. Seems like some people are defending the RV'er... why? The RV'er was a jerk, he was wrong, and he makes other RV'ers look bad.

Well, back to Facebook!

😉

[Scottiemom]

We don't overnight in truck stops. We use campgrounds. I think your daughter handled the situation perfectly. It was the stupid RVer who needed a lesson. What idiot wakes up a sleeping trucker (or anyone else) to get them to shut their refer down? He's lucky he didn't end up on the business end of a gun. Some people think they are entitled to whatever they want. It was the RVer with anger/idiot issues, not the trucker.

Dale