Trucks Passing Trucks...

When traveling on the highways as a four wheeler one of the most frustrating things I see is when trucks pass each other. Now don't get me wrong, in the short time I have been here at Trucking Truth and studying to get into Driving I have learned to look at what Truckers have to do in a whole new light. But at the same time it seems rather dangerous when two 80,000 pound trucks travel for several miles only a few feet apart, often getting a line of four wheelers so close to their back bumpers that a formal introduction should be in order.

I understand that the trucks are governed to a certain speed, and both drivers are probably giving it all they have. And I am sure they hate having to slow down because of time, fuel, and other things that I have probably never even thought about.

Wouldn't it make more sense for the truck being passed to back off a few miles an hour just long enough to let the passing truck get by? Or would that cause sort of a domino effect in that once he slowed down any truck behind him would then try to pass starting the whole process over?

This is an honest question. I want to be the safest driver I can be so I am looking for some opinions from the experienced drivers to help me understand.

Woody

You really answered it yourself so to speak. You are understanding the different things that drivers have to deal with. It is all based on the actual situations. Yes, the driver to the right could slow down in some cases just to the driver pass. Often times we do that.

But, it depends on if you are on a flat road or getting ready for a hill in the distance, and then you have to factor in the weight of the load. The driver passing may have a lighter load. If so then he should be respectful too of the driver he is passing, for his load may be very heavy. That was were the CB radio came in handy years ago. We used to talk to each other about that very thing. I would maybe ask a driver ahead of me what he was hauling. When he told me I knew if it was heavy or not. I would let him know I was lighter and coming around him. It was all in out judgments most times. You will learn to look at the back of the trailer of say a dry van and be able to tell how heavy his load is, looking at where his tandems are, the spacing between trailer apron and tires, and even how close to the ground his DOT bumper is. And if you see a drivers trailer bounce a little while you are behind him that is a good indication of not only a heavy load, but a possible unsecured load. Or the worst thing and that would be a bad air suspension.

Drivers in trucks can be just like those in the four wheeler. I hate to say that too. There was a time when their was a distinctive difference. You get hot rods out there to that just want to show off. You get guys who speed up just to make it hard on you when you are passing. And then you do have the guy who just doesn't have the horse power to get the job done and he is doing the best he can to get that load to its destination. That's the guy I really give respect too, because he is working hard. We all are really. We just have to remember that.

Safe, professional and courteous drivers are what we should all strive to be. With time you will learn different things that will help you to understand what is happening, with your truck and the other guys as well. The fact that you are thinking about is great. Your mind is open to learn. I believe you will be all three.

Hope that helped.

Woody, it's a funny thing out there on the road, once you get kind of settled in and you've got your cruise control set you just don't want to slow down if you can possibly avoid it.

The things Tracey mentioned about weight are important factors too. I remember one night I played leap frog with another truck for hours. I was loaded heavy and he was light. Both our trucks were apparently governed at about the same speed, but every time we'd start going down the slightest incline I'd start gaining on him. So, if I had enough room, I'd go ahead and pass so I didn't have to shut off my cruise control and reset it later. Well, consequently as we began to climb up an incline he'd start gaining on me, and pass when he got the chance. It may sound silly to you, and I'm sure the four wheelers on the road with us that night thought it was ridiculous, but it's just the way I roll, if I can keep my momentum going I will, but on a night like that one I would have been just as well off to just stay behind him and slow down and speed up with him. The thing about it is that if you aren't familiar with the highway you're on you might not realize what is ahead. If I had realized we were going to be back and forth all night I probably would have just hung back and waited it out. Often times though I would have just kept gaining on him and eventually I'd be miles ahead by just keeping my roll going.

You got some great advice from two pro's. I'll try to give you another.

Now, you need to take into consideration that you get paid per mile. As a company driver, I don't pay for fuel so I really don't care about my mpg. So the faster I can drive = the more miles I am able to do that day. I also must mention that even though I am governed at 62 mph doesn't mean that I am the slowest moving vehicle on the road. I usually am, but you cant assume. Some 4 wheelers go slower than that and a lot of Prime drivers are government at 57 mph (mostly the lightweights).

My goal in the end of the day is to get from point A to point B in the safest, fastest, and most efficient way possible. I could travel at 55 mph and get to my point B hours later than I would have gotten there if I drove at my 62 mph. If I can get to my point B 1 hour early that means I can potentially use that extra hour to make more money. I can use that extra hour to clean up my truck, get a trailer washout or sweep my trailer, and a million other productive things. That puts me 1 hour ahead of my schedule, which is huge!

So lets say I drive for 10 hours at 59 and at 62. At 59 mph my miles will be at 590. At 62 my miles will be at 620. Assuming I take a minute per mile, I would have gotten to my point B 30 minutes earlier just because I opted to drive at my maximum speed which is 62 mph.

So let me be clear about this. I am not encouraging anyway to drive like a maniac. My #1 rule is safety. But if the weather permits, I am driving at 62mph to make the most of my day. If someone is slowing me down too much I will pass- if it is safe to do so. If someone is going a hair faster than me and I know that it will take me years to pass them then I'll gladly drive behind them.

I know from your viewpoint that it seems extremely dangerous for trucks to be passing trucks but its really not difficult. You get used to being a foot apart when you drive in the Northeast.

Sometimes, you're on an extremely tight schedule and you don't have the time to be in the back, you need to be haulin'.

I refuse to wait behind another truck going slower than me if Its not necessary. Its safer for me to just passem then to crawl up hus butt every few miles.

Woody, it's a funny thing out there on the road, once you get kind of settled in and you've got your cruise control set you just don't want to slow down if you can possibly avoid it.

The things Tracey mentioned about weight are important factors too. I remember one night I played leap frog with another truck for hours. I was loaded heavy and he was light. Both our trucks were apparently governed at about the same speed, but every time we'd start going down the slightest incline I'd start gaining on him. So, if I had enough room, I'd go ahead and pass so I didn't have to shut off my cruise control and reset it later. Well, consequently as we began to climb up an incline he'd start gaining on me, and pass when he got the chance. It may sound silly to you, and I'm sure the four wheelers on the road with us that night thought it was ridiculous, but it's just the way I roll, if I can keep my momentum going I will, but on a night like that one I would have been just as well off to just stay behind him and slow down and speed up with him. The thing about it is that if you aren't familiar with the highway you're on you might not realize what is ahead. If I had realized we were going to be back and forth all night I probably would have just hung back and waited it out. Often times though I would have just kept gaining on him and eventually I'd be miles ahead by just keeping my roll going.

I wonder if I was playing leapfrog with you. I was having a blast playing that game with another driver. We kept count of each time we passed each other and flashed it when we drove by. It made the miles go by so much faster. I was actually sad when I had to pull over to get gas.

Pull over to get gas ???? Rookie mis-spoke !!!!!

GOTCHA !!!!

Woody, it's a funny thing out there on the road, once you get kind of settled in and you've got your cruise control set you just don't want to slow down if you can possibly avoid it.

The things Tracey mentioned about weight are important factors too. I remember one night I played leap frog with another truck for hours. I was loaded heavy and he was light. Both our trucks were apparently governed at about the same speed, but every time we'd start going down the slightest incline I'd start gaining on him. So, if I had enough room, I'd go ahead and pass so I didn't have to shut off my cruise control and reset it later. Well, consequently as we began to climb up an incline he'd start gaining on me, and pass when he got the chance. It may sound silly to you, and I'm sure the four wheelers on the road with us that night thought it was ridiculous, but it's just the way I roll, if I can keep my momentum going I will, but on a night like that one I would have been just as well off to just stay behind him and slow down and speed up with him. The thing about it is that if you aren't familiar with the highway you're on you might not realize what is ahead. If I had realized we were going to be back and forth all night I probably would have just hung back and waited it out. Often times though I would have just kept gaining on him and eventually I'd be miles ahead by just keeping my roll going.

I wonder if I was playing leapfrog with you. I was having a blast playing that game with another driver. We kept count of each time we passed each other and flashed it when we drove by. It made the miles go by so much faster. I was actually sad when I had to pull over to get gas.

Pull over to get gas ???? Rookie mis-spoke !!!!!

GOTCHA !!!!

My stomach hurts! That is still funny.

Yah...I usually pull over to get RID of gas....or do I? Inquiring minds want to know.