When truckers see a ghostly black dog crossing the highway, they know exactly what to do
Many of us have been there: we’ve been driving for hours, trying to reach a far-off destination without stopping. While most Americans only experience the hurried internal whispering (Rush, hurry, rush) in one-off road trip scenarios, we can only imagine driving a large rig hundreds or even thousands of miles at a time, day in and day out, with the same urgency each time. For many truck drivers, though, it’s a way of life. Since it’s a way of life, then, can expect spooky urban legends to come through. This one’s called the “Black Dog.”
Driving is so much a part of trucking that working with a decent amount of sleep can be very difficult. Drivers must hustle their whole shift to get where they’re going, as “a late load is a dead one.” What’s more, roadside or truck stop noise and activity can make grabbing some good shut-eye tough.
In fact, a 2024 study linked semi-truck driver fatigue (stemming from long working hours and sleep deprivation) to all kinds of trouble on the road, including preventable accidents.
Have you seen the “Black Dog” while driving?
Truckers often describe the black dog as a large, feral, shadowy animal-like figure crossing the road in front of them. Oddly, it usually appears when you’ve been driving at length without rest.
Unfortunately, some drivers have actually turned sharply to avoid the dog…and end up crashing.
If they can’t avoid the figure, while they’re braced for a gnarly impact, they quickly realize they can drive right through the canine. It’s all an illusion, after all.
Figures aren’t limited to dogs, either. Truckers also mention human or even non-human shadows crossing in front of them.
Whatever you see, know that if you’re fatigued, it’s a sure sign that you need to stop driving immediately.
If you see a strange black dog while driving, pull over ASAP…and get some sleep
If you’re very tired and what you’re seeing out there on the road seems too weird to be true, it probably is. After all, the Cleveland Clinic says sleep deprivation causes visual and tactile hallucinations and impaired judgment.
Anyone – especially truckers – should be careful to avoid swerving if they’re fatigued and seeing shadows. This can cause an accident. Drivers should fatigue-check themselves and take any shadowy figures on the road as an urgent call to find a safe place to rest.
