re: I drive a semi truck. Ask me anything.

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a CDL is worth it's weight in gold


1 ounce?

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it in many cases is better than a college degree. Many college degrees don't pay too much. 4/5 years of schooling to make 40/50k and that's not bad at all. But a CDL takes 4 weeks to 3 months of classes and training to get a basic cdl with no endorsements depending on the school you attend. Add another week of studying/training for let's say a hazmat endorsement(I have mine). That took me about 10 days to study for test, get finger printed and go to dmv and take test there also. A hazmat endorsement will up your pay considerably for a job that requires it. Right now a tanker/hazmat job with Dupree out of lafayette area pays around 80k and home every day just for example with experience as a first. Many larger trucking companies will take rookies to start and gain experience to move onto a better , higher paying jobs later.

So really yeah cdl's are a proven solid money maker. Even my ole lady can come ride along when she is off work. There is a bottom and top bunk in my cab. I have a fridge/microwave/plenty of storage for food/clothing/bathroom stuff. Semi trucks are nice these days. I drive a frieghtliner if anyone was curious.

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STAY THE frick OUT OF THE LEFT LANE

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I do 99 percent of the time. 3 lane roads I drive middle lane unless it's just deserted then I drive right lane. I get it, trust me. Many other drives do. Most truckers are very courteous, we all know many also are douchebags. We drive killing machines and any driver who understands this are the safe ones.

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Where are the worst drivers you've encountered and why do you think it is Baton Rouge?

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I can tell you that BR is fuk'd because of the bridge and the splits on both ends. Most other places you know on smart states have loops . A loop going around BR would cure the issues of i10 out there.

Absolutely worst effin place I've driven was Austin, top and bottom on 35 was the absolute worst. Keep in mind i don't drive the northest and most truckers will tell you that's the worst area and inside New York(many drivers won't drive NY). I've been to houston/dallas/Atlanta and Austin, the drivers there are effing insane. The flow is moving way above the speed limit on that stretch of 35 and I've clocked at least 30 drivers doing over a 100mph each time I have to pass thru that forsaken area. Racers, angry drivers etc. I take the 130 toll and miss Austin any time I can. You get to see the Tesla factory(pretty amazing building) on the 130 anyways. Beautiful area down that way. Most all company semi truckers have nationwide free toll passes.

Why do yall hate the idea of zipper merge so much.


Do you think that if DOT put several signs about zipper merge that it would increase the # of folks who bought into it, so that those that want to do it arent considered assholes

I don’t care what anyone posts about zipper merge, it is a dickhead move.

I salute the heroes in big rigs who put these assholes in the ditch or guardrail.

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I don’t care what anyone posts about zipper merge, it is a dickhead move.

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why? if everyone did it, it would just be normal. It speeds up the flow of traffic and effectively uses all the area of the road. If you have a 30ft area, why would you only use 15ft of it?



second question to the our resident trucker. Do you think retreads should be banned. Seems dangerous for all the normal drivers on the road

Do you ever pee out the window? I would

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I feel like a nationwide law should be in place to make all trucks 1 speed.

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As a driver myself I've also considered this as a solution. Two problems are it breaks down anywhere there are hills/bridges with loaded vs unloaded trucks, and it doesn't work with inattentive drivers that don't set cruise control.

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you hit your steer tires with a tire thumper?

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all steers/drives and tandems I check with rubber hammer. I learned from a state trooper who dot'd me. I've learned that you can tell when a tire is firm or not. For ex. only 50 percent inflated tire which is actually considered flat(who would drive on a low tire tbw right). Sometimes Ill find one on inner drive that's hidden. I check repeatedly(daily) my tires. If I need some air I'll go straight to a truck stop if I'm not already at one. Worst stretch of interstate to get air issues because of construction is from Vinton to Winnie, TX. I hate that stretch of 10. Nails, shrapnel, etc. So many wrecks. So many road workers. They will stop traffic during the day in Beaumont construction just to fill small pot holes or sweep and traffic is backed up or stopped for 45 minutes. shite that can be done at night you would think.