rude drivers nope. rude TRUCKERS... 1935

Brink intoned thusly

Forgive me for snipping a bit for the sake of brevity. I don't intend this to be about trains, 4-wheelers vs. truckers or anything other than what was posted by the OP, Brink.

I've read most of the subsequent posts and what I'm hearing is a lot of justification for either faction. I believe that there is 'cut off' and there is 'CUT OFF'. I don't feel that just because one is motoring along on a multi-lane highway that there should be any reasonable expectation that one shouldn't need to adjust one's speed or lane usage to avoid either being in some faster traffic's way, or that some other vehicle may be in our way. I've not read anywhere that any clbutt of use- except emergency vehicles under code- has right of way over any other. Most states post 'Keep Right Except When Pbutting' signs either entering the state, or somewhere along the highways. Now, this will necessitate faster vehicles pbutting slower ones. This can cause problems, especially in states that post different speed limits for different clbuttes of vehicles. If a pbutting vehicle(1) moves into the left lane to pbutt in front of another vehicle, (2) care must be taken that the overtaking vehicle(3) not have to take evasive action to avoid a collision. This should not be construed to mean simply backing off the accelerator. My guess is that if a police officer observed this, he'd give the citation to the tailgating vehicle(3) barring evidence that vehicle (1) swerved in front of (3) without signals.

For many years I've read-heard professional driver this and that, and frankly, I think it's bunk. A 'professional' takes years of training and a degree. S-he is respected, and their time is valued. And paid for. I prefer the term 'commercial driver' It denotes a fairly send craft, and a willingness to serve in that capacity for pay. But we all know that crafts persons are not created equal. Even though there are minimum published standards, truckers are among the largest group of unsupervised workers. There will be differences in quality. Some will consider their time more valuable than the time of others. Today, I, on a 200 mile trip by 4-wheeler cruising at about 80 (in a 75) was forced to follow a truck who chose to pbutt 3 other vehicles at 66. It took him 12 miles. I also followed an RV who pbutted 2 other RV's in 8 miles. The Commercial drivers had a 4 mile disadvantage on the RV. All in all I was delayed about 2 minutes. No horns, fingers or paint was exchanged.

I think this thread has gone far enough, and I'm killfileing the rest.

Best wishes. . .Jim