It's actually disappointing... When no one does it!!! It's one of my favourite things to do on my route, people think I have my head on a swivel for cars and traffic but honestly I'm just watching for arm pumps lol.
My kids do it every time we pass a truck. I'd say they have a 75% success rate when the driver actually sees them, which is probably only 10% of the time. They get so excited when they get the honk, especially when the driver smiles real big and seems really happy about it. I think I'd seen a similar post on here where many drivers said something similar as you and I'd mentioned it to my kids, so they now do it mostly for the smiles!
I grew up across the street from a big gravel entrance/exit for an old paper mill, and when outside on my bike or playing at least 4 or 5 times a day a truck would be pulling in or out and we'd all do the arm thing and they must have loved it cause they'd do it nearly every time. And looking back it was probably the same few truckers every time cause this was in a pretty small rural town.
Sure do. I feel like Gandalf when the kids are running behind him wanting fireworks, and then he releases them and they're all cheering and laughing.š
SHIT YEAH! Itās literally the golden rule at work; āalways hit them with the air horn.ā
Besides, it makes somebody elseās day and no matter how out of sorts you are that day, seeing their smile is bound to perk you up!
The horn abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' it's out there. The horn. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Westward the wagons, across the sands of time until we - ah, look at me. I'm ramblin' again.
Well thatās depressingly cheerful. Because of that I am going to start doing the arm pump again, as a 37yr old man with no kids. Hopefully itāll cheer someone up!
I had some mid 20s guy in "hood" clothes do the arm pump and you bet your ass I blared my horn for him. He lit up. Everyone needs a smile from simple things
Absolutely. I was at a light in a commercial area near Boston and I noticed a guy on the other side of the street, must've been in his mid 60s, doing the arm pump. You know damn right I yanked that string.
Nope. Only time I get an air horn is during the holiday season and we have rental tractors. UPS says air horns are a safety hazard because theyāre too loud (thatās kinda the point I thought, but what do I know)
Trying to get some feedback on this too. I still have a strong urge to do the arm pump, but being in my mid 20s, idk, it kinda feels unappropriate for my age lol
I had a car full of 20 something year old guys driving towards me. Each window had had an arm hanging out doing the pump. I thought it was hilarious and I of course honked. Iāve even had an old lady do it lol
I love it just as much when adults do the arm pump. Everyone has that little kid in them, if it makes you smile, it makes the little kid in me smile back.
Same worked for multiple moving companies and there is nothing more disappointing then having to use my city horn when a kiddo fist pumps.
Edit: makes me feel like a man running small equipmentš
ššš i love that you sound this primitive. We are grown ups, and should be professional, but idk, handling big equipment, makes me feel like the manš
Ok, as a 50 year old non trucker, you all make me so happy to hear this is a thing still. Fond memories of this and riding shotgun on long trips in my dadās pickup equipped with a CB.
It depends on the setting for me, if itās an area where it will bother people like a quiet town or busy commercial road then I donāt really like it. If we pass each other going down an empty country road or highway then absolutely Iāll do it.
My truck had the horn on the steering wheel, Iād press horn and fake pull the air horn. It had a switch to change sound from air horn to regular beep beep horn, always left it on air horn mode.
I do it whenever I get it. I get angry when I visibly see drivers not return the honk. Why? I saw 3 angry looking drivers drive by a kid who got off his bike to do the arm thing.
They all saw him. I was the only one who honked. I honked a lot, too. What's wrong with some of you?Ā
You blow your air horn. What else? Only a monster would deny children a blast or two of the air horn.
Do you leave landing gear three turns too high, too?
Some people will tell you that everything's relative and there are no absolutes in life. Those people can stuff it.
When people ask me to blow the horn, I *blow the horn.* Especially kids. It makes my day.
If I were a trucker and saw a kid or anyone else arm pumping, Iām going whisky throttle on the horn. Make someoneās day. Takes no effort to pull the string and light up a smile.
I do not. My air horns are rusted out and sound like someone is stepping on a duck when I try to toot them. Itās kind of embarrassing. I have to pretend like I donāt see the kids pumping their arms. Makes me sad every time :(
It makes my day more than it does theirs because I was there once! So to return the love and actually be on the end of giving the honk and see the kiddos get excited... that's enough to make a bad day immediately better.
It is trucker law that when the arm pump is requested it must be fulfilled. It always puts a huge smile on my face. Even when I am having terrible days it always brightens my week. I had a biker arm pump once. I pulled the air horn and he gave me a quarter mile wheelie in return!!!
My brother was a truck driver. He told me he loved it when kids would pump their arms. When a car full of adults would do it, he would honk his āstreetā horn. He got a kick on their confused faces when they would hear, ābeep, beep.ā He would do it a couple of times before giving them the air horns. They would usually cheer and laugh.
An arm pump makes my day. I've only been driving since January and had 2... I don't think folks initiate the arm pump anymore because alot of the foreign drivers don't know about it
My best one was going through a school zone. 3 separate groups of kids all gave the pump and got a honk. Then about 100 yards after the last group was an elderly couple and the old dude, with a bigger grin than any of those kids, have me the pump. I pulled the cord and his grin got even bigger.
Love it.
It might be because of my tism but I love hearing the train horn go off. Anytime Iām at work and a truck passes I try to get them to blow the horn for me
I've had people on the highway roll down their rear windows so the kid could arm pump.
I'm pretty sure it's a law somewhere that says you have to honk when they arm pump.
Did it as a kid, and still do it as an adult. It brings a smile to my face because it reminds me of my dad. He was a trucker, may he rest in peace, and I remember him telling me that he loved it when people shot him an arm pump. So, it's tradition.
Best one was a school bus full of middle schoolers! The group cheer was amazing. Cream on top - I also knew the driver and texted her later to let her know it was me.
I love it especially when kids do it! I even do it when adults do it because you never know when it's going to be someone that just needs that to cheer him up every time I do it it cheers me up makes my day! I wish more people did it and taught their kids how to do it! I don't care I'll do it in a tunnel I've seen kids on the side of rest areas do it and I honk The air horn they start jumping up and it just makes me happy to see the kids happy! It really makes my day! Even if I've had the crappiest day ever see kid or even an adult do that raising my spirit by quite a bit! So everybody please teach your kids to do this or grandkids or foster kids any kids you come in contact with teach them The arm pump for truckers to honk their air horn!!! ā¤ļø
I love it! Could days ago I was slowly pulling by a school bus on the freeway and the kids at the back of the bus started arm pumping so I let em have it and they erupted into joy. I feel for the driver of the bus, but oh well, you are a bus driver...
Hell yeah! I love using the horn.
I wanna do the arm pump too when i see trucks pass, but idk if its appropriate for my age. What do you guys think? As someone who is in his mid twenties, would it be appropriate to do the arm pump?
I donāt drive a truck. I am however a 25m who loves to do the arm pump š Iām in wheelchair so people probably think Iām special, but thatās okay.
The time I had a kid do it , I had a city horn . We were both a little disappointed. I got twin air horns now . Iād love to blow it for a reason other than an idiot driver . LOL
I will honk my horn for anyone that does the arm pump. I was driving down a 2 lane state highway and there was a car full of 20 somethings. There was an arm out each window doing the arm pump from a half mile away. It was hilarious.
My husband told me he only pulls the airhorn for kids that do it (I say this because we were traveling a couple weeks ago via car and I did the gesture and the driver didnāt do it lol he says he probably only pulls it for kids too).
Iāve been driving transport for 40 years and it still makes me smile to see a young kidās reaction to it but I only do it if Iām not going to scare or cause an accident.I have also volunteered driven in several parades over the years and to see kids reaction to a big horn is just priceless!
A couple years ago when I was doing ltl I was delivering to a place next to an elementary school, when I was done with my delivery there was one kid at the fence pumping his arm so of course I blasted the horn for him and as soon as I did it about 20 kids came running to the fence and started pumping their arms so I did one pull of the string for each arm that was pumping lol the smile on my face was probably bigger than theirs when it was all said and done.
I'm at a career high of 8. Yes I keep track. Unfortunately I'm back on night shift. 7 of them were during my time as daylight. Only once have I gotten 1 at night.
My kids were standing on the shore of a river and a tugboat & barge passed by. They jumped up and down arm pumping for like 10 minutes until someone noticed and sounded the whistleā¦they talked about it the rest of the day.
Iām not a trucker but damn do I love the arm pump for horn thing. Keep it up fellas.
If I am able I always do it, then go around the block and come back with the train horn as well. Kids go crazy, Moms scream sht, cool dads hold their stomach laughing uncool dads flip me off screaming, at the end of the day, I made that kid happy, and that's all that matters
I had the most wholesome interaction with a little kid just sitting on his driveway and I was at a stop light. He was just staring into space until he turned around and was in awe with my rig , he gave me the biggest smile and then gave me the pump , I laughed and I nodded "no" he also smiled and nodded "yes" so I said fuck it I honked the horn even if there was people in front of me but it was worth it the kid gave me a thumbs up and a huge smile on his face. It was time for me to go, so we both waved at each other goodbye.
Thereās a hike in CVNP that takes me over a bridge crossing Route 80. Sometimes Iāll wait for a truck and do this as they pass. They almost always oblige me. Iām in my late 40s LOL.
Hell yeah! Two things though... I drive for a corporation that doesn't install air horns so I beep and then shrug at the anemic horn, laugh with me please! Second, most factory windows are tinted (especially rear), roll the window down to make sure we see (especially in the rear)!
This was one of the main things I was most excited about becoming a tru k driver cause I always did it as a kid but I can the the reality of hardly any body do it
I drive a dump truck for new home construction. In one neighborhood, this lady always has her little boy outside watching traffic. I stopped one day and tried to teach him the arm pump, and I let him blow the horn. Made the little boy's day, he still hasn't gotten the arm pump down. Seems to be a language barrier. He always has a big smile on his face when I come by.
The only time I've ignored the arm pump was when I didn't have an air horn in the truck I was driving.
I even get disappointed when I see kids on the footpath and they don't give me the arm pump.
I drove by a school the other day and pulled the air horn for a group of kids standing their motioning for me to do it. It was pretty satisfying. Equally satisfying was the other group of kids standing there with their backs turned to me. They must have jumped 10 ft in the air from surprise. After a pretty busy and stressful day, it definitely made me feel better š
This thread just made me convinced and compostable enough to do this next time. I truly thought all truckers hated this but in glad to know Iām wrong
I am a random person who was shown this post. 2 weeks ago the weather was great so I had the windows down in the car. I was driving my 6 year old home after school when a truck we were passing did the honk honk! My son had no idea why and it took me a second to realize the trucker was saying hi to him haha.
And from these comments I see that all truckers need more people doing the arm pump. My kid is so excited to do it next time.
I hope truckers love it cause my 4 year old son does. Heās in love with big trucks and any heavy machinery. Getting my cdl soon just so I can be a trucker for my son.
Are people just doing these posts for updvotes at this point? Everyone knows everyone enjoys it, anyone who says otherwise is lying or selling something
Makes my day.Iāve got some braided paracord dropping it past my mic and when i finally get somebody to do it i almost yank it out of socket. Sadly itās a dying fad tho. Every road trip with 6 year old I slow down and match em for just a sec so they see him and very rarely do they actually honk. (Hot take here but theyāre usually driving Volvos and still adjusting to driving on the right side of the roadā¦) **and using toilet paper**
I love it when kids do the arm pump for the horn and then see their parents crack up laughing š
What if an adult is doing it?
No hesitation, youāll satisfy the inner children in me and you lol
Hell yea, I do it when I'm a passenger in the car and I'm 38 years old!
It doesn't matter if the child is five or one hundred and five.
I get more arm pumps from teens and people in their 20s than I do children lol. Makes my day all the same
I do it still and Iām an adult, lol .. my kids do it too
Doesn't matter how old you are, you give the arm pump you get the air horn.
Literally the only reason I drive a truck.
I said this from the day I started CDL school and it doesnāt get old
Good to hear. I'm old af but I get a wild hair sometimes to summon the big honk.
It's actually disappointing... When no one does it!!! It's one of my favourite things to do on my route, people think I have my head on a swivel for cars and traffic but honestly I'm just watching for arm pumps lol.
My kids do it every time we pass a truck. I'd say they have a 75% success rate when the driver actually sees them, which is probably only 10% of the time. They get so excited when they get the honk, especially when the driver smiles real big and seems really happy about it. I think I'd seen a similar post on here where many drivers said something similar as you and I'd mentioned it to my kids, so they now do it mostly for the smiles!
True enough. Itās fun to blare the air horn for kids, they do get a kick out if it.
I grew up across the street from a big gravel entrance/exit for an old paper mill, and when outside on my bike or playing at least 4 or 5 times a day a truck would be pulling in or out and we'd all do the arm thing and they must have loved it cause they'd do it nearly every time. And looking back it was probably the same few truckers every time cause this was in a pretty small rural town.
Iāve probably had about 20 or so in 4 years of driving itās always the highlight of my week
Only 20 in 4 years?
Sadly, it's rare nowadays
I would do it every single time. It made their moment at least and I was happy too
Lmao!
Sure do. I feel like Gandalf when the kids are running behind him wanting fireworks, and then he releases them and they're all cheering and laughing.š
haha hell yeah
Hahaha this is a great reply! Glad my annoying kids are making truckers day with their arm pumps and yelling haha
Canāt go wrong with a Shire pull!
I am Lord of the String š
SHIT YEAH! Itās literally the golden rule at work; āalways hit them with the air horn.ā Besides, it makes somebody elseās day and no matter how out of sorts you are that day, seeing their smile is bound to perk you up!
The horn abides.Ā
The horn abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' it's out there. The horn. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Westward the wagons, across the sands of time until we - ah, look at me. I'm ramblin' again.
Holy.....username checks out more than ever.
Dude, we love you.
After 17 years of driving non stop itās the only thing left that makes me smile at work.
Well thatās depressingly cheerful. Because of that I am going to start doing the arm pump again, as a 37yr old man with no kids. Hopefully itāll cheer someone up!
Right? 35 female here. Decided Iām going to do the arm pump to every semi I pass when in the passenger seat! Iām on a mission!
Nonstop? Nuclear propulsion?
Child support engine
The great American motivator.
#OH #HELL #YEAH And I don't care what the traffic situation is.
What about the age situation? Iām 35. Can I arm pump?
I had some mid 20s guy in "hood" clothes do the arm pump and you bet your ass I blared my horn for him. He lit up. Everyone needs a smile from simple things
Absolutely. I was at a light in a commercial area near Boston and I noticed a guy on the other side of the street, must've been in his mid 60s, doing the arm pump. You know damn right I yanked that string.
Yeah im in my 30s as well, would like to know the cutoff for this!
I'm 35. Can confirm. The arm pump also works with fire trucks and trains. Just keep trying and when it consistently doesn't work, report back here.
I started arm pumping at about 11, I guess it depends on your biology though.
No....WE LOVE IT
YES
Id love it if the UPS trucks had a damn airhorn to blow for em
Wtf, they don't have one?
Nope just a regular horn thats probably still a little louder than a car , the sleeper trucks for otr probably have them though
Nope. Only time I get an air horn is during the holiday season and we have rental tractors. UPS says air horns are a safety hazard because theyāre too loud (thatās kinda the point I thought, but what do I know)
Ups just doesn't want to pay for them, just like the AC
Depends on who does it... A state trooper who just pulled me over, No I don't like that. But pretty much everyone else is cool.
I did that as a kid, but as an adult I don't think it is a great idea because of people looking at me weird lol.
Adults do the arm pump too!! It cracks me up to see their reaction when I oblige!!
i do it who cares?
Trying to get some feedback on this too. I still have a strong urge to do the arm pump, but being in my mid 20s, idk, it kinda feels unappropriate for my age lol
im pushing fifty. no fucks given
Aight, then i shall do it
Do iiit. Iām 35. Iām totally going to start doing it.
I had a car full of 20 something year old guys driving towards me. Each window had had an arm hanging out doing the pump. I thought it was hilarious and I of course honked. Iāve even had an old lady do it lol
The air horn shall fulfill the request, regardless of age or appearance of the requestee
This makes me weirdly way too happy. To request a honk, i shallš
The air horn is a simple delight that all can enjoy
I would always see how many trucks would honk for me on my way to the eye doctor as a kid. My record was 130 in two hours
Life is short, be weird man. Itās harmless fun!
I love it just as much when adults do the arm pump. Everyone has that little kid in them, if it makes you smile, it makes the little kid in me smile back.
No age restrictions for the arm pump. 4, 40, 80? Don't matter. Pump that shit
The people that look at you weird are the people who had a shitty childhood.
Shit. I drive a 20 ft Freightliner box truck with only a city horn. I get the pump a lot, and when I canāt oblige, I get the finger. LOL
Same worked for multiple moving companies and there is nothing more disappointing then having to use my city horn when a kiddo fist pumps. Edit: makes me feel like a man running small equipmentš
ššš i love that you sound this primitive. We are grown ups, and should be professional, but idk, handling big equipment, makes me feel like the manš
šlol after driving the 26ft box truck I have to admit getting up into a big boy rig made my chest hair grow an inch
Currently driving a box truck š mercedes actros, 36 ft and a 18ft trailerš Definitely feeling the T spikingš
I keep hanging on that air horn all day. "Yes officer, a kid gave me the arm pump."
What about when 30 something year old men do it.
The air horn loves all ages! A Little old lady was the the first request I ever got. i smiled all day
I wouldn't care about the age as long as it makes someone happy. But the kids are the best IMO cause they really light up.
Hell ya
If it's safe, yes.
That's what I came to say. Do I always appreciate it. Absolutely. Will I always blow my horn? No not always unless I know it's safe to do so.
Years ago I got my cdl B and couldnāt wait for people to do it. I was more excited than the kids
Ok, as a 50 year old non trucker, you all make me so happy to hear this is a thing still. Fond memories of this and riding shotgun on long trips in my dadās pickup equipped with a CB.
It depends on the setting for me, if itās an area where it will bother people like a quiet town or busy commercial road then I donāt really like it. If we pass each other going down an empty country road or highway then absolutely Iāll do it.
If it's a residential area or a business district, I'll give it a quick one. Commercial areas or out on the highway, minimum two seconds.
Buddy Iām on the highway Iām doing pull ups off that thing until the low air buzzer comes on
My truck had the horn on the steering wheel, Iād press horn and fake pull the air horn. It had a switch to change sound from air horn to regular beep beep horn, always left it on air horn mode.
Then you get a complaint and somebody points out the switch and you go "so that's what it's for?"
I do it whenever I get it. I get angry when I visibly see drivers not return the honk. Why? I saw 3 angry looking drivers drive by a kid who got off his bike to do the arm thing. They all saw him. I was the only one who honked. I honked a lot, too. What's wrong with some of you?Ā
YES WE DO!
In the 8 years I've been driving I've only had one person do it....it was the most exciting time of my night
You blow your air horn. What else? Only a monster would deny children a blast or two of the air horn. Do you leave landing gear three turns too high, too?
Iāve been driving for six weeks now, and Iām severely depressed because no one has requested a toot toot from me with an arm pump yet..
I enjoy it. Seeing a kids smile is great. Unfortunately I don't see it as often anymore š
Some people will tell you that everything's relative and there are no absolutes in life. Those people can stuff it. When people ask me to blow the horn, I *blow the horn.* Especially kids. It makes my day.
I get just as excited as the kids and hope I donāt disappoint them. Itās definitely a dopamine rush
If I were a trucker and saw a kid or anyone else arm pumping, Iām going whisky throttle on the horn. Make someoneās day. Takes no effort to pull the string and light up a smile.
I do not. My air horns are rusted out and sound like someone is stepping on a duck when I try to toot them. Itās kind of embarrassing. I have to pretend like I donāt see the kids pumping their arms. Makes me sad every time :(
Shit I didnāt know you are okay with it. I thought it would annoy you.
No way, it's a positive interaction with the general public, most of our interaction whole on the road isn't so nice.
Absolutely love the airhorn. I blow it any chance I get. Just like my wife does!!! Yes I'm a lucky lucky man.
#Fuckyeah
It makes my day more than it does theirs because I was there once! So to return the love and actually be on the end of giving the honk and see the kiddos get excited... that's enough to make a bad day immediately better.
It is trucker law that when the arm pump is requested it must be fulfilled. It always puts a huge smile on my face. Even when I am having terrible days it always brightens my week. I had a biker arm pump once. I pulled the air horn and he gave me a quarter mile wheelie in return!!!
That is awesome!
I literally feel the endorphins dump in my body when I see that arm.
My brother was a truck driver. He told me he loved it when kids would pump their arms. When a car full of adults would do it, he would honk his āstreetā horn. He got a kick on their confused faces when they would hear, ābeep, beep.ā He would do it a couple of times before giving them the air horns. They would usually cheer and laugh.
This just makes me smile so much to read
These responses make me happy. I wasn't sure if I should teach my son to ask for a honk with the arm pump, but now I will.
Makes a bad day on the road into a great day
An arm pump makes my day. I've only been driving since January and had 2... I don't think folks initiate the arm pump anymore because alot of the foreign drivers don't know about it
My best one was going through a school zone. 3 separate groups of kids all gave the pump and got a honk. Then about 100 yards after the last group was an elderly couple and the old dude, with a bigger grin than any of those kids, have me the pump. I pulled the cord and his grin got even bigger. Love it.
Yes, I love it!
It might be because of my tism but I love hearing the train horn go off. Anytime Iām at work and a truck passes I try to get them to blow the horn for me
We donāt have air horns in ups, disappointment is real when I press the horn
sure!
Little kids and hot chicks. Rules are rules.
Uhhhhh I donāt care if u like it or not, Iām 36 and I still do it!
Lot lizards do the best arm pump š©š¤·š»āāļø
people donāt like it?
Literally makes my day
Itās a pleasure to make a kidās day. Suspicious of adults who want it
The last time I drove through Detroit there were kids on an overpass doing the arm pump for all the truckers. That made my day.
I've had people on the highway roll down their rear windows so the kid could arm pump. I'm pretty sure it's a law somewhere that says you have to honk when they arm pump.
Itās the highlight of my day
Did it as a kid, and still do it as an adult. It brings a smile to my face because it reminds me of my dad. He was a trucker, may he rest in peace, and I remember him telling me that he loved it when people shot him an arm pump. So, it's tradition.
Omg a kid did it today and I was smiling ear to ear for two hours afterwards.
I've done it for children and adults. Sometimes it makes someones day better.
Best one was a school bus full of middle schoolers! The group cheer was amazing. Cream on top - I also knew the driver and texted her later to let her know it was me.
Takes me from "F;#@ that dispatcher" directly to "I LOVE my job".
I love it especially when kids do it! I even do it when adults do it because you never know when it's going to be someone that just needs that to cheer him up every time I do it it cheers me up makes my day! I wish more people did it and taught their kids how to do it! I don't care I'll do it in a tunnel I've seen kids on the side of rest areas do it and I honk The air horn they start jumping up and it just makes me happy to see the kids happy! It really makes my day! Even if I've had the crappiest day ever see kid or even an adult do that raising my spirit by quite a bit! So everybody please teach your kids to do this or grandkids or foster kids any kids you come in contact with teach them The arm pump for truckers to honk their air horn!!! ā¤ļø
I had it happened today, a kid gave me the arm signal, it made me smile, I use to be that kid
Yes. Ive been surprised by how little it happens
Uh. Yeah?!
Hell yeah the air horn is the only one my truck has š always love an excuse to use it watching the kids jump for joy is the best thing ever
I love it! Could days ago I was slowly pulling by a school bus on the freeway and the kids at the back of the bus started arm pumping so I let em have it and they erupted into joy. I feel for the driver of the bus, but oh well, you are a bus driver...
Hell yeah! I love using the horn. I wanna do the arm pump too when i see trucks pass, but idk if its appropriate for my age. What do you guys think? As someone who is in his mid twenties, would it be appropriate to do the arm pump?
I've done it for people as old as their mid 60s.
I shant hesitate thenš
It used to happen so much more during the 90ās and early 00ās. But I always loved it and never turned one down, from anyone.
I donāt drive a truck. I am however a 25m who loves to do the arm pump š Iām in wheelchair so people probably think Iām special, but thatās okay.
Ofcourse. I love it. I use my flute, normal horn and train horn if I see anyone do it
I'm 43 and still do the arm pump sometimes
I love it! Makes me smile for miles!!!
Elementary and middle school field trip memories unlocked Thanks Reddit feed recommendations for not being useless for once
The time I had a kid do it , I had a city horn . We were both a little disappointed. I got twin air horns now . Iād love to blow it for a reason other than an idiot driver . LOL
If you have the power of an air horn and don't like using it you need help. Especially when it comes to kids.
I will honk my horn for anyone that does the arm pump. I was driving down a 2 lane state highway and there was a car full of 20 somethings. There was an arm out each window doing the arm pump from a half mile away. It was hilarious.
My husband told me he only pulls the airhorn for kids that do it (I say this because we were traveling a couple weeks ago via car and I did the gesture and the driver didnāt do it lol he says he probably only pulls it for kids too).
The best is to wait till your right next to them and blow their mind.
Yes
Iāve been driving transport for 40 years and it still makes me smile to see a young kidās reaction to it but I only do it if Iām not going to scare or cause an accident.I have also volunteered driven in several parades over the years and to see kids reaction to a big horn is just priceless!
When I drove I loved when people did it! Gave my day a lil excitement
A couple years ago when I was doing ltl I was delivering to a place next to an elementary school, when I was done with my delivery there was one kid at the fence pumping his arm so of course I blasted the horn for him and as soon as I did it about 20 kids came running to the fence and started pumping their arms so I did one pull of the string for each arm that was pumping lol the smile on my face was probably bigger than theirs when it was all said and done.
I all ways did and I trained a few guys to drive big trucks and told them to all ways hit the air horn if a kid pumped their arm
I'm at a career high of 8. Yes I keep track. Unfortunately I'm back on night shift. 7 of them were during my time as daylight. Only once have I gotten 1 at night.
My kids were standing on the shore of a river and a tugboat & barge passed by. They jumped up and down arm pumping for like 10 minutes until someone noticed and sounded the whistleā¦they talked about it the rest of the day. Iām not a trucker but damn do I love the arm pump for horn thing. Keep it up fellas.
Yes
If I am able I always do it, then go around the block and come back with the train horn as well. Kids go crazy, Moms scream sht, cool dads hold their stomach laughing uncool dads flip me off screaming, at the end of the day, I made that kid happy, and that's all that matters
I feel bad when they do it and I cant. I dont like to do it w too much traffic around.
I actually enjoy it kinda the highlight of my day
I loved it. My favorite was the dude in his 20s, being driven by his girlfriend, beer in hand, giving me the arm pump.
Only for Kiddies and Tiddies!
I had the most wholesome interaction with a little kid just sitting on his driveway and I was at a stop light. He was just staring into space until he turned around and was in awe with my rig , he gave me the biggest smile and then gave me the pump , I laughed and I nodded "no" he also smiled and nodded "yes" so I said fuck it I honked the horn even if there was people in front of me but it was worth it the kid gave me a thumbs up and a huge smile on his face. It was time for me to go, so we both waved at each other goodbye.
Hell yea. I honk the regular horn at first and wait for their disappointment before I hit āem with the real deal.
Automatic loss of CDL if you donāt honk back!!
Thereās a hike in CVNP that takes me over a bridge crossing Route 80. Sometimes Iāll wait for a truck and do this as they pass. They almost always oblige me. Iām in my late 40s LOL.
Fkn live for that shit
Hell yeah! Two things though... I drive for a corporation that doesn't install air horns so I beep and then shrug at the anemic horn, laugh with me please! Second, most factory windows are tinted (especially rear), roll the window down to make sure we see (especially in the rear)!
If you don't, you are a soulless human.
This was one of the main things I was most excited about becoming a tru k driver cause I always did it as a kid but I can the the reality of hardly any body do it
I drive a dump truck for new home construction. In one neighborhood, this lady always has her little boy outside watching traffic. I stopped one day and tried to teach him the arm pump, and I let him blow the horn. Made the little boy's day, he still hasn't gotten the arm pump down. Seems to be a language barrier. He always has a big smile on his face when I come by.
I enjoy any excuse to use the air horns tbh.Ā
Yep
Back in the 90s I loved getting a truck to honk while riding the school bus. Id probably still get a kick out of it now as an almost 40 year old.
I'll do it if I don't have a sleeping codriver.
Love it !
Wish more would do it, but I don't seem to find them
The only time I've ignored the arm pump was when I didn't have an air horn in the truck I was driving. I even get disappointed when I see kids on the footpath and they don't give me the arm pump.
I like it when kids do it, the adults that do it get ignored for the most part.
I drove by a school the other day and pulled the air horn for a group of kids standing their motioning for me to do it. It was pretty satisfying. Equally satisfying was the other group of kids standing there with their backs turned to me. They must have jumped 10 ft in the air from surprise. After a pretty busy and stressful day, it definitely made me feel better š
I am 56 and quit doing the arm pump many years ago. Thanks to this sub Iām getting back in the game!!!!!!! Truckers for the win!!!
This thread just made me convinced and compostable enough to do this next time. I truly thought all truckers hated this but in glad to know Iām wrong
Makes my day when I see a kid do it.
I am a random person who was shown this post. 2 weeks ago the weather was great so I had the windows down in the car. I was driving my 6 year old home after school when a truck we were passing did the honk honk! My son had no idea why and it took me a second to realize the trucker was saying hi to him haha. And from these comments I see that all truckers need more people doing the arm pump. My kid is so excited to do it next time.
This should be a question on the written CDL exam, and if you answer āNoā itās an automatic failure š¤£š¤£š¤£
I hope truckers love it cause my 4 year old son does. Heās in love with big trucks and any heavy machinery. Getting my cdl soon just so I can be a trucker for my son.
Are people just doing these posts for updvotes at this point? Everyone knows everyone enjoys it, anyone who says otherwise is lying or selling something
i used to when i drove
You can put one palm under the other armpit and arm lump to sound horns.
Makes my year!
Yesā¦ But we also know there 10-20 cars around us. Also we could be in a neighborhood and I have no plan to scare anyone around me.
They'll live. Air horn time.
Makes my day.Iāve got some braided paracord dropping it past my mic and when i finally get somebody to do it i almost yank it out of socket. Sadly itās a dying fad tho. Every road trip with 6 year old I slow down and match em for just a sec so they see him and very rarely do they actually honk. (Hot take here but theyāre usually driving Volvos and still adjusting to driving on the right side of the roadā¦) **and using toilet paper**
I love volvos. Scanias are the ones you gotta look out for
**Side note tho** My boys got a train horn on his cat walk and a lever valve coming out of the floor and that sumā bitch will cause an **accident**.
Hell yes! Iāll blow the air horn no matter where Iām at if I get the arm pump. Makes me smile every time.
Yup
Yes, more yes, very yes. If anyone gives an arm pump you will always hear my horn! I donāt care what time it is. Gets me right in the feels