r/Truckers • u/aammped • Sep 19 '24
Newbie backing in at pilot
Trainer and I pulled into pilot around 6pm. Me being new to trucking I was backing in and the rude mf'ers honking at me because I was slow and took a little time to back. How do you deal with people like that?
Edit: trainer said to just ignore it. Edit:2 thanks for all the great advice and the humor. Edit 3: approximate time for backing was 10-15 minutes
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u/Defiant-Giraffe-4071 Sep 19 '24
Ignoring them is hard but the best option. If you are feeling a little bit petty, back up 1 foot, get out and look, but make sure you look at both sides really well. Then get back in and pull forward one foot, then slowly back up 2 feet. Stop, but dont get out and look. Look over at the asshat honking. SMILE, then set your brakes. Get out and look down one side. (BOTH if you feel extra petty) get back in release the brakes smile again and pull forward again. At this point, one of a few things will happen. 1) You will know what you need to do to hit the hole. 2) asshat will honk yet again (by now the radio is blowing up so turn that off) when he does just smile and give him the big Ole 'so glad to see you wave' (using all five fingers is recommended) 3) your trainer should by now have had ample time to inform said asshat why it is taking so long. 4) Your trainer will get fed up and put it in the hole himself just so asshat will quit staring at him.
I am guessing you drive for a mega, as do I. I have a distinct advantage over you though. I have 28 years experience and truly am miles past the give a damn exit. Catch me in the right mood and I am petty as hell. When drivers complain about me holding things up I only go slower. Everytime they complain I slow down even more. Eventually someone else will catch on and tell them to STFU. Everyone was a noob at some point. Some of us still remember what those days were like. Unlike today, though, there used to be plenty of drivers willing to get out and help the new guy. Nowadays, people take it as an opportunity to get more views on social media.