| These days, trucking companies will let just | | | | |
| about anyone train a new driver. As a result, | | | | 4. Yield. |
| there are more and more drivers who know less | | | | |
| and less about the common courtesies truckers | | | | If traffic is coming up the entrance ramp, |
| are supposed to extend to each other. To | | | | it's their job to yield. But truckers just |
| combat this problem, we've come up with a | | | | don't have the get-up-and-go that four |
| list of trucking rules that used to be common | | | | wheelers have. So if you see a trucker coming |
| knowledge. Maybe if we all start following | | | | up the entrance ramp, try to help him or her |
| them again, we can all just get along! | | | | out. If you can move over a lane to allow |
| | | | some space for the trucker to merge into, |
| 1. Flash to Pass. | | | | great. If you will be behind the truck, slow |
| | | | down and let it on. Otherwise, if you have |
| When another driver passes you, it's often | | | | the power to do it, speed up and get out of |
| hard to tell from just looking in the mirrors | | | | the way. We understand that you can't always |
| if he or she has cleared you yet. It's common | | | | help another driver out in this situation, |
| courtesy among truckers to flash their lights | | | | but it's common courtesy to do your best. |
| at the passing driver once he or she has | | | | |
| cleared them. This does NOT mean to flash | | | | 5. Backing Up. |
| your bright lights if it's night time. It | | | | |
| means you turn your lights on and off a few | | | | In recent years, more and more drivers are |
| times. If you flash your brights you're | | | | honking their air horns before they back up. |
| liable to temporarily blind the other driver | | | | We suppose it's a good idea in theory, but I |
| at night. | | | | doubt the guy trying to sleep in the bunk |
| | | | next to you will appreciate it. Some things |
| 2. Thank You. | | | | you'll definitely want to do when you're |
| | | | backing up are: |
| Whenever the situation calls for it, truckers | | | | |
| should say thank you. To do this, you can | | | | * Get out and look before you back up. |
| flash your four ways, turn on the opposite | | | | |
| turn signal (or do a little right turn | | | | * If other drivers are waiting to get past |
| signal, left turn signal maneuver), or use | | | | you, let them by if you haven't already |
| your marker interrupt switch. Different | | | | started or if you're taking a while. |
| states have different laws and the legality | | | | |
| of the thank you methods is questionable, but | | | | * Turn on your cb radio- there's a lot of |
| the chances of getting a ticket are slim. | | | | bologna, but if there's a hazard you can't |
| Times to say thank you: | | | | see, it just might save you from a claim. |
| | | | |
| * When another driver lets you over into his | | | | * Roll down your window- if someone blows |
| or her lane. | | | | their air horn to warn you of a hazard, |
| | | | you'll be more likely to hear it. |
| * When another driver flashes his or her | | | | |
| lights to let you know you've passed. | | | | * Turn on your four way flashers to let other |
| | | | drivers know you're backing up. |
| * When another driver says something nice to | | | | |
| you on the radio and you can't get to your | | | | And if you see someone backing up, be patient |
| mic. | | | | and wait on him or her. If it's dusk or dark, |
| | | | turn off your head lights so you don't |
| * Anytime it would be appropriate to say | | | | interfere with the other driver's night |
| thank you in decent society! | | | | vision. |
| | | | |
| 3. Move Over. | | | | 6. Double Turn Lanes. |
| | | | |
| If you've ever been broke down on the side of | | | | Truckers are supposed to turn from the right |
| the road, you'll appreciate this one. If you | | | | lane in all double turn lanes. That means, in |
| see another trucker on the shoulder of the | | | | a double (or triple, or quadruple…) |
| freeway, move over a lane to allow some space | | | | left turn lane, we are supposed to turn from |
| between you if you can. You should do this | | | | the furthest turn lane to the right. That |
| for anyone who is on the shoulder- cars, | | | | also means that in a double right turn lane, |
| people walking, construction and utility | | | | we're supposed to turn from the furthest turn |
| trucks, and definitely for police and rescue- | | | | lane to the right. If, for whatever reason, |
| it is even the law to do so in many areas. If | | | | you choose to make the turn from a different |
| there is traffic on your left and you just | | | | lane, you should yield to the guy turning |
| can't get over, at the very least, slow down. | | | | from the furthest lane to the right. |