Windwalker |
02-05-2009 04:19 AM |
Professional Driver????
This past monday morning...
McDonough, GA...
Saw a couple of flatbeds going North on I-75. Both, loaded with coils of steel, banded to pallets. The coils were about 4' in Dia, and about 5" high, about 4 stacked onto a pallet. Can't say a lot about the first one, but the second one had exactly one strap on each pallet, and the back one had the strap far enough back to hold the edge of the tarp down. But, it sure did nothing to hold the pallet in place. (Most likely headed for a tubing mill somewhere in McDonough) First flatbed, followed by a dryvan, then the second...
In the center lane, I'm about to start passing them, and when I get my steers even with his front trailer tandem of the second flatbed, he starts to come over into the center lane. Fortunately (and amazingly), there were no 4-wheelers alongside me, and I was able to move over and hit the brakes to avoid my front fender being modified. I dropped in behind him, and almost immediately, he begins hitting the brakes. The first flatbed takes the exit, the dryvan comes to a complete stop because from the center lane, the second flatbed has to take the exit and cuts off the dryvan. Right lane comes to a complete stop, center lane is almost at a complete stop, and I'm braced to get rear-ended by the truck coming up behind me.
The whole thing took less than 30 seconds, but if this is an example of a professional driver... I NEED to get OUT of this business...
Know what exit you have to take. Know how soon that exit is coming up. Be in (and stay in) the proper lane to take that exit. Use the "DECEL LANE" to your advantage and do as little to disrupt other traffic as possible. And, BE ALERT TO THE OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND YOU.
Even a majority of 4-wheelers would hesitate to try this maneuver in front of a truck. I could not believe I was seeing an 18-wheeler doing it. All we'd have needed was a 4-wheeler behind us, talking on the cell phone, to have had a fatality. Mapping software, these days, are great. I won't say they are 100% accurate, but for the most part, they let you know what exit you need, if you will be going around a "pitcher-handle" or straight ramp. Even without GPS, you can still be prepared for an area that you have never been in before. Actions like this is not the way to insure the longevity of your career.
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