A Lesson From a Truckers LifeOnce again, a lesson from a truckers life strikes home. So today I was leaving Nashville going east on I 40. There are 3 lanes going down to 2 within sight about 1 mile away. In the far right lane is a convoy of militaryunits about 4 tractors with no trailers and 2 other straight trucks going about 63 mph. JB Hunt was in the middle lane going about 65mph. I was in the left lanegoing about 68 or 69 mph. The speed limit was 70. Because they turned our trucks down so that they won't go faster than 70 mph (Supposedly to conserve fuel) I wasn't going to be able to pass JB hunt in time before that far right lane ran out. I slowed down to JB Hunts speed so that he could come on over in the left lane and let the military convoy could get out of the far right lane before it ran out of highway. After flashing the light a few times and then flashing it like a mad man without JB taking action to come over, I grabbed themicrophone. I said JB why don't you come on over now instead of waiting until the last minute so that everyone isn't trying to figure out what everyone else is going to do. Take action now so I won't wonder if your coming over and the convoy won't wonder if your going to move over and you won't be wondering if I am going to speed upand if the convoy is going to cut you off or run over you. JB never responded but he did finally come over into the left lane and the convoy moved over into the middlelane just in time before the right lane ran out. Now this kind of thing kind of gets to me because its the difference between making traveling a smooth ride and creating avoidable confusion on the highway (never wait till the last minute to take action you plainly see needs to be taken. Observe, analyze and take action in a timely fashion) so I was already trying not to saying anything else on the radio for fear of letting my mouth say more than needed to be said but guess what? This ordeal was not even over... After JB got in the left lane going about 65 he slowed down to the speed of the convoy which was about 63 mph. Now of course the 2 or 3 mph really isn't the biggest problem in the world, its not going to make or break a record. What really got to me was the principal, why on earth do you see the need to slow down to their speed just cause you are in the left lane. The speed limit is 70 mph you are not gonna get a ticket. You don't have to be scared.So politely the convoy slows down to 60 so that JB can go by and what does JB do? Guess! JB slows down too! (Some of yall know what I am talking about cause I have seen other four wheelers and big truck drivers do it too, it really bothers me)I just doesn't make sense. The convoy speeds back up to 63, 64, 65 and of course JB speeds up too. By this time the traffic behind me is getting frantic and running all over the left line like it's me holding them back in the 70mph zone. The military convoy slows down again to 63 and JB slows down. The convoy just holds it there and finally JB eases up to a speed slightly greater than the convoy. It took a while but JB finally got around the convoy and jumped in the right lane. Once JB got in the right lane. It took all I had to pass him. Yes that means he sped up way faster than he was going the entire time he was in the left lane to pass theconvoy. Do you know how irritating that is. Well, my first impulse after all this was to get on the radio and let him know how much of a aaaaahclown he was. Then I thought (and don't ask me how I managed to pause to think) you know this whole thing is over now, whats the point and further more, that guy could have just gotten out of driving school yesterday. If thats the case, then you can't really expect him to drive like a proffessional 100 percent of the time. Then I said out loudto myself in quit a stern voice,"You been driving for 10 years and you don't drive perfect 100 percent of the time." I hate when I talk junk to myself, but i was right, I don't drive perfect 100 percent of the time. I quickly calmed down and just rode on by JB waving and smiling. But I was smiling at myself not him and I still was shaking my head from side to side like, unbelievable, asI passed by. HEY, I am still working on it too. So there was 2 lessons there. 1. DO NOT WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO TAKE ACTION, IT CREATES UNNECESSARY CHAOS. ON THE HIGHWAY IT CAUSES CONFUSION AND AT HOME IT CAUSES EMERGENCIES. 2. WE MUST PRACTICE PATIENCE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAYS. YOU ONLY KNOW WHAT YOUR SITUATION IS, YOU NEVER KNOW THE SITUATION IS FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE OR PERSON INVOLVED. JUST TAKE DEEP BREATHS AND COUNT TO 10. BESIDES MASTERING PATIENCE WILL PAY OFF IN SO MANY OTHERASPECTS OF LIFE, WHY MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW! This is not the first and it won't be the last lesson from a truckers life. A lesson from a truckers life Top of Page>
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