Originally Posted by chichimamma
I don't think that is quite fair, the bigger vehicle gets the right of way-not if it's not his. It's already impossible to get anywhere on good time, I know we need them, but I often wish they had their own roads.
Everything you eat, wear, have in your home, drive, and use is there because a trucker brought it. Without them you'd still be weaving your own fabric with wool or cotton you grew, carded, and spun. You'd also be eating only food you grew or could buy from someone within a mile or so of your home.
Being cheerful about letting someone who's trying to make your life convenient and comfortable have the right of way on the road occasionally is a small price to pay.
By the way, highways are paid for by gas taxes. Gasoline taxes (fed and state) average about 40 cents a gallon. When you fill up with 20 gallons you pay $8. That 20 gallons will last you probably a week or two, depending on your travelling distances and fuel efficiency. The trucker fills up with 200 to 300 gallons, driving an average of 2500 to 3000 miles a week, getting about 6 miles per gallon. That 2-300 gallons will last the trucker about 1200 to 1800 miles (he fills up about twice a week, averaging $160 to $240 in gas tax - every week). There is also a "road use" tax truckers have to pay (about 5 cents a mile average). Then there's the tax on tires (all 18 of them) which is about $15 or more per tire. All of these taxes go for highway maintenance and construction.
So, in the most part the truckers are the ones who pay for the highways and we pay very little for using them.