Lane Control

I've only been driving for 3 weeks, and that has been with a trainer. However, in that time I can tell you which companies do not have lane control as a major emphasis.

I'm not going to name them because that wouldn't be right. But I will say it's obvious. I can be moving up behind a trailer and almost guarantee it's one of about 3 companies if they are all over the place. And no, I'm not talking about Swift. Swift must focus on it because most of them hold their line rather well.

Anyway, it's just been 3 weeks. Maybe it's just a coincidence. Time will tell. Does anyone else notice this or is it just me?

Maybe it's just a coincidence. Time will tell. Does anyone else notice this or is it just me?

Bravo, I think it's a coincidence. Lane control is always important, so I dont think you can take three weeks of observation and start blaming the lack of it on certain companies. One of the things you're going to realize is that there are a lot of new drivers out there with you. Most of them are still developing their skills, some of them are just grateful they made it through their day without tearing something up again.

Just because you see trucks "all over the place" doesn't mean the company doesn't care about lane control. It usually means you've got a distracted driver, on his phone, checking how many likes he has on his latest facebook post, or maybe trying to make a sandwich while he's at the wheel.

Since you've noticed the Swift drivers are doing a good job if it, then we might just assume that the two way cameras in their trucks are causing their drivers to be hyper alert and making better drivers out of them. Now that's an idea to ponder!

I agree with OS on this topic. Lack of focus is not specific to one carrier. In fact overall I have observed far more unmarked, Plain Jane rigs unable to hold their lane. Many times this is a result of texting...the bane of bad driving habits.

Indeed I agree with what they guys mentioned above. It's not new drivers you're probably noticing weaving around in their lane. It's distracted drivers you're seeing and those are not normally new drivers. The newer drivers tend to be hyper-focused on what they're doing. It the guys who have been around for a little while that get too complacent and start doing dumb things like texting or reading their map while it's perched on the steering wheel.

Or doubles. My guess. Conway, FedEx and ups doubles. They are harder to control and I stay far away. Let them pass and move closer to shoulder. FedEx double hit me my first weekend on the truck.

This is driver not company. Swift just has more accidents because they have 20k trucks.

We / Swift actually have a lane alert feature built into our trucks. It's a buzzer that goes off and mutes the radio if you even get close to a freakin line. You can turn it off but it reactivates in like 15 minutes or so. PITA! LOL!

JJ

Mine actually got stuck in the on position but it quit buzzing. Then I had to take my truck into the shop and they fixed it. DANG! LOL

JJ

Brushing the edge of lane control is sometimes not the driver's fault, directly. The 53 foot x 10 foot sail on the back of the truck can cause issues.

An empty trailer, in any of the 'windy' states will force a driver to constantly make corrections in shifting winds.

If the wind is steady, you might actually have your left front drive wheel on the left side lane markers, while your right rear trailer tires are on the right side lane markers. This is called 'crabbing'

If you are crabbing that bad, you probably shouldn't be on the road, because if the wind shifts suddenly when you are heavily crabbing, you might overcorrect. Stopping for wind conditions is something I've never done, but I've only been driving eight or so months solo, and I've thought about it a couple times.

Ive never noticed any particular companys drivers having poor lane control but see it more often with newer drivers and rarely experienced fcktards who swing at female drivers in general. Never seem to have a problem with doubles or triples of course ill ride the edge of the lane when passing or being passed to make as much room as possible.