They need as much help out there as we do, and usually show their appreciation when you do them a favor. It pi$$es some people off when I don't run up to an intersection when I see a big rig trying to make a turn. If he's turning towards me, onto a two-lane road, he needs more than just one lane to make that turn. Traffic backs up behind him too, while he's waiting for someone to give him that break. Idiots also pull up beside them when they've tried to position themself to make a wide right turn (or left), and get up under their wheels into their blind spots. we've all seen it happen - we've probably all done that ourselves, without realizing, until too late, what the trucker was trying to do. People just can't put themslves in a trucker's shoes if they haven't ever been behind the wheel of a large machine like that. I look for opportunities to "block" for them here in town - there are a lot of industrial parks (and narrow roads) near the dealership along I-10.
On the Interstate, I just try not to be in their way, try to be visible, get by as quickly and safely as possible, and if necessary or possible, I may block for them then, too, if I see they need to make a quick lane change to avoid slower moving traffic in the slow lane. I don't mind watching out for them - they usually allow me plenty of right-of-way when they see me on the fly. I agree, I think that their "road awareness" is pretty keen. The professionals seem to be, anyway. We all need to be cool towards one another out there.
