By Len Souza (04/02)
Big Rig drivers speak out about RVers-- an up close look at the world of Big Rig drivers and their encounters with RVers out on the highways.
RVers and Big Rig drivers share two important things—the highways and a concern for safety while traveling across the land. RVers are very wary when they encounter those 18-wheelers as they pass in close proximity to their RVs. Sometimes the physical separation is not as great as we would like. It can be very nerve racking, especially in construction zones where there are detours and the lanes seem to narrow down between those cones and concrete “K Bar” barriers. This sensation can be felt hundreds of times a day when traveling cross country, as there seems to be thousands of trucks out there using the same highway that we are. These episodes don’t do much to enhance our enjoyment of the RV experience, especially when you throw thousands of “four wheelers” into the fray.
On the surface, it would appear that RVers and big rig truck drivers co-exist peacefully. These two entities don’t have a great deal in common; however each must share the highway and each wants to reach their destination safely. One thing that they do share in common is the fact that both drive vehicles that are much larger than automobiles. There are some significant differences between truckers and RVers. A trucker is paid to by the mile and they have a time critical schedule. RVers travel for fun and enjoyment; many are retired. A commercial truck driver must pass a rigorous written exam and have periodic (every two years) medical exams. They must also pass a very technical driving test and convince the examiner that they can indeed handle these large trucks. On the other hand RVers need only have an automobile driver’s license to drive even the biggest RVs. (California has addressed this area with its new “over 40 feet” special licensing requirements).
I have always wondered what big rig drivers think about RVers out on the highways. I also wondered if we couldn’t learn more about their environment with and eye towards improving our co-existence and making life more enjoyable for all of us! (My interest in safety around big rigs was “heightened” when an 18 wheeler backed into the front of my new motorhome at a rest stop a few years ago.) I decided to try to arrange a “ride along” with one of the drivers of these bemoths.
To accomplish this I contacted someone in the trucking interest that I had met at a RV rally in Pomona, California, This led to a call from the American Trucking Association (ATA) in Alexandria Virginia. When I informed them that I wanted to gain some experience and data for an RV article, they were only too happy to arrange a ride along for me. In short order, I was meeting up with Lyle G. Favreau, a driver for Crete Carrier Corporation. (Crete operates 2,300 trucks across the U. S.) We rendezvoused in the Los Angeles area where he had just arrived at after a run from Florida. It turned out that the Lyle wasn’t just any driver; he was a “Road Champion”, an honor bestowed on only 12 drivers every 2 years. They serve as ambassadors for the trucking industry. To qualify as a candidate, you must be nominated by your employer and you have to have driven over one million miles with no accidents or traffic citations.
For the next 4 days I would spend 10 hours each day in the cab of a huge red Freightliner tractor that was pulling a 53-foot trailer van as we drove east. The combination was 71 feet long and 102 inches wide. The new load of freight that was picked up in the LA area was destined for Omaha, Nebraska. 1,600 miles away. The semi tractor had a large “condo” sleeping quarters integrated into the rear of the trucks cab. It provided all of the comforts of home and I slept in it on a bunk bed over the driver’s bunk for 3 or the next 4 nights in route. We took our meals and showers in trucks stops along the way.
While the driver effortlessly and flawlessly chauffeured this monstrous truck along the Interstates, I asked him a lot of questions about his job and about his perception of RVers. I also used the opportunity to interview a dozen other big rig drivers that I encountered at fuel stops and trucks stops all along our route. They were all very candid and forthright in addressing my inquiries; they all knew that I was gathering information for an article in a RV magazine. There was one other interesting activity that I observed as we drove along; from my perch high up in the cab of this big rig I was able to observe many RV rigs as we came upon them. Many of the drivers seemed intimidated by the presence of this huge diesel semi-truck. Occasionally an RV driver would swerve to the right when we came along side; to me this was an indication that he had probably not been monitoring his rear view mirrors and was taken by surprise!
Here are a list of questions that I posed to the drivers and a composite of their answers.
Why do some truckers pull up close and ride on the rear of another vehicle? Ans. These are unsafe drivers and the industry is trying to get rid of them. Do drivers sometimes operate their trucks without proper rest? Ans. Yes, some do even though drivers are required by the DOT to maintain a logbook and drive no more than 10 hours per day and no more than 70 hours in an 8-day period. What is your personal opinion, in general, of the RVers that you encounter out on the road? Ans. All of the drivers said that they really do not view RVers as a problem; many said they envied them and stated they would like to try it someday when they retire. How do you feel about the skills and licensing of RV drivers? Ans. Almost every driver that I talked to said that they think that the drivers of large RV should under go some specific training in order to qualify to operate their large RVs. They said that just as operating a large truck requires special skills they think the same applies to large RVs. What are some of the things that you see RVers do that bother you? Ans. 1. Driving at speeds less than the posted limit and gawking around or sight seeing while going down the highway; not paying enough attention to their driving and their surrounding environment of other vehicles. 2. Not pulling their RVs entirely off of the road when they stop alongside of the highway. 3. Driving in other than the slow lane and thereby impeding traffic. Should an RVer signal with his lights when it is safe for a trucker to pull back into the lane after he has passed the RV. Ans. Yes, it is appreciated, especially when the passing truck has other vehicles following him during the pass.
During this trip I discussed with my driver the rogues out there that drive very fast and display, at times, very bad road manners and are even downright discourteous. He acknowledged that they exist; he called them “Billy Big Rig” drivers and he said that you could usually spot them easily. He said they are the ones that have dozens of amber marker and clearance lights draped all over the front and sides of their “tricked out” rigs. They are independent “owner operator” drivers and he stated that “company drivers”, such as him, could never get away with the driving style that a lot of these guys display. (My practice is to give these cowboys a wide berth.) The majority of the commercial truck drivers resent the actions of this small minority just as we do.
I believe that if RVers look out for the big rigs, their drivers will look out for us. I believe that the majority of today’s big rig drivers are still the “Knights of the Road”. And finally as Favreau said, “Don’t judge truck drivers by the garbage you sometimes hear on your CB radio. Favreau feels that the advent of the CB radio is one of the worst things that ever happened to the trucking profession. (He kept his turned off until he spotted another Crete Carrier truck; he would then chat with him.)
This article is excerpted from an article that I wrote and was published in the October 2000 edition of Trailer Life Magazine.