TRUCKS

We see them all the time and they are usually a pain in the posterior, cutting us off, hogging the passing lane, kicking up heavy spray with their 18 wheels, slowing down traffic on hills.

Travelling with trucks on I-40 in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma and Arkansas has been a different experience. The trucks outnumber the motorhomes and 5th wheel vacation trailers which in turn outnumber the cars. At least that's the pattern in October. The speed limits are typically 70 mph (120 km/hr) and trucks are sometimes limited to 65 mph. Ever been passed by an 18 wheeler while your driving up a long hill at 110 km/hr? The first few times it was a big surprise.

We have been impressed by the variety of makes, styles and colours of these long-haul rigs. So Roger started taking pictures. One driver asked why we were wandering around truck stops taking pictures. He thought Roger must be an insurance adjuster.

The traffic in October is no doubt better than the summer when more motorhomes, 5th wheels, tent trailers and cars would be on the highway. But in October it has been a real pleasure to drive with all these trucks. The drivers have been invariably good, courteous and helpful.


So this post is dedicated to them, with thanks for sharing with us.

Their highway seems to run to infiniti - both east and west as reflected in this stainless tanker.

The Pilot Fuels truck stop in Amarillo, Texas has 11 lanes for trucks to be fueled simultaneously, too many to capture in one shot. The first time we saw this stop there were 50 trucks fueling and another 100 parked for supper, sleeping or chewing the fat with other drivers.

Marie-Claire gets up close and friendly with an armful of trucks.

and with a huge Peterbilt. If you want to feel petite, stand beside one of these. The large stand-up sleeper behind the cab is the norm today in long-haul trucks in North America. It affords the solo driver or a team more privacy and more comfort.

Contrast these with cab-over, or tilt-cab, trucks that were common in Canada and the USA in the 1960's to 1980's, and still are widely used in Europe today.

Perhaps softer lines and colours are more appealing to you.

There is a lot of variety in the styles, shapes and windows of the sleepers.

How about a "stealth" truck in midnight black?

Or pick something in white - you even have a choice of sleeper style and windows. Who said trucks ain't beauuuuuutiful?

Choose some different graphics. Yes indeed all these trailers are 53 feet long - some are longer.

Maybe you'd prefer to drive a rig with twin trailers and 20 wheels perhaps for FedEx or UPS.

Maybe you'd like to deliver US built Yahama pianos. This guy is actually deadheading east back to the factory with an empty trailer.

By the way, they're definitely not all guys. There are lots of lady drivers out there.

If you're a graduate of McMaster University you might choose a maroon cab and sleeper and gray trailer. But if you're a grad of Mac you are hopefully making more than the 39-42 cents per mile that we see advertised.

Or a grey cab with an older style sleeper?

So the next time you see one of these giants give some thought to the man or woman piloting this mass of steel, fiberglass and aluminum at high speeds, fully loaded down the highway or in the congestion of city traffic. Don't tailgate them - it's true that if you can't clearly see their mirroirs, they can't see you. Don't cut in front of them; they're concentrating on keeping several tons of moving mass straight; and yes they do make wide turns around 90 degree corners -if their flasher indicates they're turning right and they veer into the left lane, don't pull up on their right side - it's a good way to get squashed.

Share the road, share the spirit.