http://tubearoo.com/articles/80799/M...kup_Truck.html I think you need a bigger truck, I was on the fire dept when a pizza delivery guy went up to the mines in a pickup truck and didn't pay attention to what he was doing. Same thing ended up happening to him.
I think feeling safe should be more along the lines in confidence in your driving and awareness of others. Size can help or hurt depending on the situation you find yourself in. I have been in situations that if I was in a car instead of a bike I would be hit and if I was in anything other than a fully caged race car I would have been seriously messed up. So drive what you want just be aware of it's limitations and what you can and can't expect it to do and you will be fine.
But if something is going to happen bad it really doesn't matter what you drive a truck can get splattered as bad as a car by a illegally overloaded semi crossing the center lane. I have seen both situations happen and it never is good for the non coal truck passengers.