Just to clarify on the camera thing too, I probably only ever touched it while moving, maybe once every couple days, Hell I almost always had a soda with me while driving, I probably reached for that soda in the cup holder once every 5 minutes!

Your fine Whammo. Carry on. Some of us are just burning out. That's all.

The OP just does not get it.... And that is the sad part.... Thankfully the OP did not kill or injure someone.

Somehow the OP believes he has the ability to make the correct and safe decisions for driving a CMV. But, as this topic and the other one regarding the OP proves otherwise..... :roll:

Only thing this and the other topic proves is that most of us have hard heads and arent going to budge on certain believes, do I think I have the ability to make safe decisions, yes most of the time, there are areas I might not be perfect at, I certainly dont have 30 years of experience yet to make decisions as good as 30 year driver would, but I do believe I make safe decisions most of the time, no one can say they make safe decisions 100% of the tme.

This kind of thing gets to me because back when I was in the military, I had a small fender bender in a goverment van, and backed into a telephone pole in my blind spot. That damn mistake cost me $500, and my reputation with everyone I worked with. Certainly not a lesson I'd ever forget, but that didn't seem to matter to anyone. Everyone had the opinion that I was reckless after that, and for the rest of the time I was in the military nobody wanted me to drive ANYTHING.

Since I have been out of the army, I've been driving a truck for about 6 months, and, god willing, have not backed into anything whatsoever. Most new drivers I've met can't say that, let alone a "reckless" guy like myself!

Mistakes learned the hard way are often the best teachers for all of us.

Well, i do agree with the vast majority of what was posted, I am just tired of seeing the same old thing, time after time after time...that's all.

I do agree, after an incident like this happens, he SHOULD be more receptive to advice given on here, but I'd almost venture to say that the majority of people get very defensive when attacked like this, and matcat's response is no different.

IMHO, in dense fog, only a damn fool would be staring at a computer screen, or even allowing it to be distracting him. Sure, someone's gonna turn that around and say only a damn fool would be doing 50 in dense fog...but we all see drivers do it ALL THE TIME...which bugs the CRAP outta me!

The biggest difference between the OP and all the other 'drivers' who drive waay to fast for conditions, tailgate, fly around corners, weave in and out of traffic, etc. is that Matcat LEARNED the hard way why not to drive too fast without KILLING someone. Most certainly a lesson he will NOT ever forget, and not a mistake he is likely to EVER have happen again, just because something like this happened.

Chalk it up to a learing experience, and move on.

Glad to see someone understands what I've been trying to say, and yes I will admit I have gone way too far trying to defend myself, feeling like a cornered rat it was the only way I could respond :) Believe me a lot of good pieces of advice have been said, and I appreciate all of it. So from this point out I wish this thread to be locked, lets call it a truths at this moment on, and if someone posts anything else in here that I may feel like replying to defensively, I am just not going too.

Might not be a bad idea Matt. I have one last diddy I'd like to throw out to you first.
Instead of using that dogged persistence of yours trying to defend yourself here. Why not close the laptop up for a while. And 1. Use that same persistence to find yourself another job. 2. Most importantly. Go out and use that unstoppable persistence to try and charm the pants off of a few unsuspecting Pennsylvania sweeties. Or.........at least wear 'em down till they tire of saying no. We'll cheer ya on in that case. OUT.

And.....oh yeah this is an edit. Matt, that photo to the left is a Photo shopped joke. Don't want you to get any big ideas!!! :oops:

Oh believe me I've been persistent, I've probably filled out more applications online in the last few weeks then I have in my entire life, there isn't a field on an app left that my browser doesn't have a pre-stored answer for now ;) As far as looking offline, I've probably visited every trucking company in a 30 mile radius. As for the chicks, Hell I'm too poor right now to buy a pack of cigarettes let alone going around trying to pick up any chicks :).

Actually on an interesting side note, I applied for this silly job listing on craigslist, computer instructor onboard international cruise ship, and interestingly they called me back! Needed me to email em some more info, I did, not driving but hell who doesn't want to go picking up chicks in the Caribbeans or the Mediterranean and get paid to do it! Some opportunities might night not be something you exactly plan for or think of, but when they present you don't ignore em ;) A chance to travel the WORLD is one I will try :)

Posting this just for the curious, I know it's a good reminder to me to be as damn careful as possible!

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...KACCIDENT1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...KACCIDENT2.jpg

Holy CRAP!!! :shock:

You said you probably only hit him at a ~3 MPH speed difference...how heavy were you?

That's an image to remember...I also drive a Columbia....