a lot of drivers do that crap. it's not just a swift problem. i was refueling at a t/a in santa nella, california during the summer time. it was about 0200 on a sunday morning. the truck in front of me had been there a total of 15 minutes with no driver in sight. i go in to get the receipt, ask a cashier to holler on the intercom about the stupid driver blocking the pump, and then the driver comes out the woodwork. lo' and behold, it's a raging bull-dyke with a power mullet. i didn't care and told her to stop f----ing flirting with the female cleaning the showers and move the truck because i had work to do. i hate it when [idiot] drivers lack common sense and courtesy by blocking the pump and/or the way out.

as for patrol units being unmarked, there's a wonderful variety that the scottsdale police department uses, as well as the highway patrol along loop 101, 202, and parts of us60. i've seen unmarked impalas, neons, cobras, some rice rockets that were confiscated from drug dealers, and once a fully decked & blacked out navigator. that navigator almost popped me a couple years ago as i was jamming along the 60. i slowed down due to the way it was following behind me. it sparked some paranoia in my head. good thing my force senses were working that night!

 

I'm sorry but that is completely ridiculous, sitting in the fuel aisle and getting a subway sandwich is in no way a safety issue, and the fact that you would actually call safety on someone for it is just wrong. No, I do not condone sitting in the fuel aisle for long periods of time, but its not a safety issue, period.

 

You’re right it’s not a safety issue, I was simply calling one of those “how’s my driving” numbers and got no response. The point that I was trying to make to this fools company is that they need to educate their drivers on proper etiquette and professionalism when they’re on the road, causing unnecessary delays for other companies drivers is not the way to do it. I tried to find the driver first, he ignored me, he also ignored the fuel desk pages until they said he’d be towed. It was during this time that I tried to contact his company, perhaps the truck had been abandoned, it wouldn’t be the first time.
When it comes to Swift drivers I’m probably the most lenient guy out there, I’m betting that most are just naive about their company and the etiquette and training that many so clearly lack, as proven by the inconsiderate driver(s) who blocks the fuel island and waits in a long line to get his lunch when the parking lot is only at 20% capacity.
Swift has not been the only company to do this, I’m sure even someone from my own company has been guilty as well.
When a message needs to be made sometimes diplomacy works, sometimes getting in ones face (at your own risk) others are best delivered by a drivers boss.

 

Ok with more of the story, I agree a little bit here, if this driver actually ignored a direct confrontation, as well as ignoring repeated pages over the intercom, then I would agree the person is just plain an idiot and should be reported for unprofessionalism, but not safety in this case

 

I usually stop off at exit 10 at the Pilot in Ohio to get a sandwich. If there is a parking spot I'll back in and eat my Subway there. If there are no parking spots available (usually there are), I'll pull up to the line past the fuel island, go in and get my sandwich and eat it in my truck. But if there is someone that is done fueling behind me and needs to go, I'll leave the T/S and finish my sandwich on the road. I think it goes without saying, you don't just park at the fuel island and sit there with no regard for those that have to fuel and go.

 

Yeah for me the maximum I will sit in a fuel aisle is about 5 minutes, just long enough to use the bathroom, and get a soda or something, which is often just about what it takes for someone behind you to fuel anyway. Only time I will possibly sit any longer in a fuel aisle is if its completely dead and there are a bunch open, THEN I might take 10 or so min to order from the fast food joint.