| There's just something about trucking that you | | | | stop or in the parking lot, we'll nod. Just like the |
| don't find in other fields. | | | | wave, it's an acknowledgement. It's a way of |
| There's camaraderie. Some would argue, with | | | | saying hello to a fellow driver. |
| validity, that in recent years, that feeling of "us" | | | | We truckers also have a code we live by. If you |
| has dissipated. But there's still an "us" in the | | | | belong there, you're likely to be safe at the truck |
| trucking world that an outsider just doesn't get to | | | | stop. That doesn't mean you shouldn't lock your |
| see. We're all out here doing the same job- | | | | doors or pay attention to your surroundings. But |
| trucking, flat bedding, car hauling. Essentially, all | | | | the truckers aren't the ones you should be afraid |
| kinds of truckers are out here traveling, away | | | | of if you're walking through the parking lot on |
| from our homes and families, and rarely | | | | your way to the truck stop. And the truckers are |
| appreciated for what we do. You may hear two | | | | the ones you can count on if you do find yourself |
| truckers arguing on the c. b. radio and threatening | | | | in a dangerous situation. If you've got your hood |
| to fight, but, as the trucker stories go, those two | | | | up, your tools out, grease on your hands and a |
| are likely to get out of their trucks in a rage and | | | | frustrated look on your face, another trucker is |
| wind up headed in to the truck stop restaurant to | | | | likely to offer a hand. And if we see someone |
| grab a meal together. Some of the things that | | | | trying to break into your truck, we're likely to put |
| make trucking special are our language, our way | | | | a stop light on the thief or step in and put a stop |
| of acknowledging one another, the code we live | | | | to it. |
| by, and our appreciation of common courtesies. | | | | We truckers appreciate courtesy. If you're patient |
| We truckers have a language. Sure, computer | | | | and paying attention, truckers will be more |
| programmers and physicians have their own | | | | courteous on the road. If you continually try to |
| language, but you can read up on and study those | | | | pass, flash your lights to tell the trucker to "get |
| topics to learn the lingo. In trucking, to learn the | | | | over" when he's trying to pass, or drive without |
| lingo, you have to live the life. The words aren't | | | | regard to safety, the trucker is going to make |
| everything; it's the way they are said and the | | | | some assumptions about you- whether you're in a |
| depth of their meaning- and all the jokes and | | | | car or another truck. And those assumptions are |
| humor that go with them. C'mon beek! | | | | not going to inspire him to let you get on by. But |
| We truckers have a way of acknowledging one | | | | if you see a trucker's turn signal and flash your |
| another. When we pass by each other, we give a | | | | lights (off and on, don't use your brights) to let |
| wave- whether it's one truck passing a slower | | | | him over, or if you move over a lane to make |
| truck, or two trucks headed different directions | | | | room when the trucker needs to merge onto the |
| on a two lane road. The wave isn't excited or | | | | freeway, or if you stay back when you know the |
| even particularly friendly- it's just an | | | | trucker is going to have to swing wide to make a |
| acknowledgement. We've also got a nod. When | | | | turn, that trucker is more likely to extend |
| we walk by one another, whether it's at a truck | | | | courtesy to you, too. |