Trucking is a tough job. Truckers have grueling schedules, high expenses, and truck accidents are an everyday occurrence on our nation's highways. It's a wonder why anyone would take this job, but the men and women that do it claim to love the work despite the many things that they hate out on the roads.

TAILGATING
When we're driving our passenger cars we hate it when some joker gets on our back bumper and decides to stay there. We fume and curse as the miles roll by and out ‘partner' stays right there, tailgating away. Why is it then that so many of us will get on a big rig's bumper and ride there without a thought? Truckers hate this and claim it leads to more accidents that you would guess. When you're that close there's no way to avoid hitting the truck if it slows suddenly and the trucker has no idea you're there because they can't see you in the mirror.

SIDE RIDING
Chances are you've done this and aren't even aware of it. Side riding is when you stay right beside a truck out on the open highway. Obviously there are times when this can't be avoided, but if you're not in congested traffic or in the city there's no reason to do it. It might not seem like a big deal until you look at it like the trucker. If for some reason the truck has to make a move to the side to avoid a hazard you're going to be taking away the truck's only escape route. If they stay in their lane there's an accident and if they swerve there's an accident. Although the trucker is the victim in both scenarios they're likely to be written up as ‘at fault' even though they had nowhere to go.

WEIGH STATIONS
Weigh stations don't cause accidents, but they do cause headaches. If you've made a long trip you've likely seen weigh stations at state lines. If you paid any attention you might have noticed a long line of tractor-trailers waiting for their turn on the scales. Not only does this take up valuable time that could be spent rolling by some miles, but find your truck just a few pounds overweight and you're likely to be parked until someone can come and take part of your load.

THE D.O.T. MAN
D.O.T. stands for Department of Transportation. Every state in the nation has their own D.O.T. as does the federal government, and their job is to levy as many fines as possible. Actually that's not their stated purpose, but for the trucker stopped by one of these supped-up state troopers it seems that way.

FUEL PRICES
Nobody likes to shell out nearly $3 per gallon at the gas pump for ten or fifteen gallons of fuel. Imagine how you'd hate it if you were paying closer to $3.50 per gallon and had to fill up two 75-gallon tanks? Then think of doing that two or three times every time you take your rig out on the road. Now you know what truckers face at the pump, and that alone is enough to make you wonder why on earth they chose their profession.

Truckers have a tough go of it. Whether it's bad drivers sharing the road with them, high fuel costs, or the constant fear of a truck accident there's plenty to challenge the professionals that pull the loads up and down our highways. The next time you're around a truck on the highway do your part to make it a little easier and safer on the driver. You might not be able to lower fuel prices, but you can do your part to share the road.