July 19, 2004
Howdy Driver,

Well, it's RV and road construction time again, and the temperatures are rising. There's not much I can say to you that's new about these two subjects, just that we all have to share the roads out here.

I really have trouble understanding how a professional driver can justify tailgating an RV at all, much less an RV in a construction zone. Most RV'ers are senior citizens trying to enjoy the few years they have left, after spending 50 to 60 years of their lives working. Then along comes Mr. or Ms. professional truck driver that tailgates them through a construction zone. (Or even on the open highway)

The fact of the matter is that the average construction zone will only cost you 1 minute and 40 seconds of additional time lost. Ask yourselves, is that loss worth scaring the RV driver half to death, and/or causing an accident or maybe someone's LIFE??????? Please give the thought to the fact that RV drivers are someone loved ones, maybe your own, and that they are probably traveling unfamiliar roads and may be going slower than us due to that fact. They certainly don't have the driving experience that we do as professionals, so give them a BRAKE. 2 minutes or so isn't worth scaring someone into an accident, or maybe a fatality just so a load can be on time. As a 24 year veteran driver, I know that any shipper or receiver would readily agree. Especially if avoiding causing such an accident would happen just by reducing your speed.

Remember we as professionals are the ones who have to live with the results of any accidents, or even possible killing someone.


Fred is an OTR driver who has 24 years experience hauling a multitude of freight including dry van and refer. He has trucked in all 48 States as well as every province in Canada. Trucking as both a company driver and an owner operator, Fred brings to the GTA the kind of success story many drivers would like to experience including the last 15 years trucking with his own rig.
If you have a question for Fred just forward it to him through the contact page on the website.

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