Mile Marker 49 – George Quigley on Blind Spots, Safety Education, and a Crash That Changed Everything

We sit down with George Quigley, a veteran truck driver with decades of experience across North America as both a company driver and owner operator. George shares the personal story that continues to shape how he drives today, and why he has made it a mission to help everyday drivers understand what it really means to share the road with an 80,000 lb truck.

George is also a dedicated volunteer with a teen driving program, where he brings a full size tractor trailer and physically shows students and parents what a driver can and cannot see. He puts cars in the blind spots, walks families around the rig, then invites them into the cab so they can see the world from the driver’s seat. His message is simple and serious: the biggest danger is what the truck driver cannot see.

George discusses:

-His start in trucking, how the industry changed with the introduction of the CDL system, and what it took to go from company driver to building a business he hoped to pass on

-Why he volunteers at teen driving events, how the blind spot demonstrations work, and what he wants new drivers and parents to understand about space, stopping distance, and visibility around tractor trailer

-The crash that altered his life, how quickly it happened, what it felt like in the moment, and the long road back to driving again after the trauma

-Safety habits that apply to everyone, including using a dash cam for clarity and protection, checking tires and brakes, learning the normal sounds of your vehicle, and using active vision to stay alert and aware

This episode is a reminder that safe driving is not just about rules. It is about awareness, training, and respect for the physics of the road. George’s story and his mission are both hard to hear and important to share.

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