Scared Sh*tless

Chris W wrote:

also switched lanes to let the tailgater pass

I still ask why?

If you were in the right lane, based on your description, stay put. Let them pass or continue to tailgate or whatever. Their bad behavior following you is out of your control and not your responsibility. Unless there are emergency vehicles on the shoulder or other obstruction, maintain your lane.

I'm in agreement with some others here. I see no reason to switch lanes. The safest way to deal with an aggressive tailgater is to slow down a little. They are probably about to exit anyway. Otherwise they would move on and get out from behind you. Did you notice when all your trouble started? Yep, it was right after you switched lanes.

You asked us how we calm ourselves down after such an event. I just stay calm all the time. I've had some terribly close calls over the years, but I'm usually confident I did the right thing in the situation. That confidence keeps me calm. You could have avoided this whole thing by slowing down and maintaining your lane. Let the idiots be who they are. They will move on and you will have far less issues with them.

Rumble strip and heavy braking caused a lot of friction burning my tires and some had to be replaced for safety

That's a new one for me and my father with over 30 years experience in truck maintenance....

Had to swap my local for a twin-screw one day to pick up some heavy rail trailers.

I pretrip the tractor and it looked fine. I'm driving around the yard at about 15mph and the tractor is feeling this wham .... wham....wham...wham...wham like I'm going over little humps in the yard.

I was like wtf? Got out and looked around the tractor again and what I saw was what I didn't catch the first time: whoever had this tractor before me hit the brakes SO HARD that two of the tires developed flat spots! Like someone had taken a giant iron and just laid it down on top of them.

Darndest thing I've ever seen.

I agree. The rumble strip saved my bacon few winters back. I’ve used it on a few occasions.

Rumble strip and heavy braking caused a lot of friction burning my tires and some had to be replaced for safety

That's a new one for me and my father with over 30 years experience in truck maintenance....

Rumble strip and heavy braking caused a lot of friction burning my tires and some had to be replaced for safety

That's a new one for me and my father with over 30 years experience in truck maintenance....

I was like wtf? Got out and looked around the tractor again and what I saw was what I didn't catch the first time: whoever had this tractor before me hit the brakes SO HARD that two of the tires developed flat spots! Like someone had taken a giant iron and just laid it down on top of them.

Darndest thing I've ever seen.

Chances are that was from brakes dragging. Not the rumble strip.

I switched because if I had to stop and they hit my trailer I am the one responsible for the freight until I drop it off. I didn't want to risk it by a tailgater. But I do see were you are coming from so I will start to maintain my lane l. Thanks :)

Chris W wrote:

also switched lanes to let the tailgater pass

I still ask why?

If you were in the right lane, based on your description, stay put. Let them pass or continue to tailgate or whatever. Their bad behavior following you is out of your control and not your responsibility. Unless there are emergency vehicles on the shoulder or other obstruction, maintain your lane.

your right. I wish that was the decision I made in the time. I just thought if I move and he passes I could get back over and everything would have been fine. I didn't expect this problem to occur when I got brake checked.

I'm in agreement with some others here. I see no reason to switch lanes. The safest way to deal with an aggressive tailgater is to slow down a little. They are probably about to exit anyway. Otherwise they would move on and get out from behind you. Did you notice when all your trouble started? Yep, it was right after you switched lanes.

You asked us how we calm ourselves down after such an event. I just stay calm all the time. I've had some terribly close calls over the years, but I'm usually confident I did the right thing in the situation. That confidence keeps me calm. You could have avoided this whole thing by slowing down and maintaining your lane. Let the idiots be who they are. They will move on and you will have far less issues with them.

Chris if you are hit in the rear, unless you cut someone off, you are not responsible for the accident or freight damage.

I switched because if I had to stop and they hit my trailer I am the one responsible for the freight until I drop it off. I didn't want to risk it by a tailgater. But I do see were you are coming from so I will start to maintain my lane l. Thanks :)

Chris W wrote:

also switched lanes to let the tailgater pass

I still ask why?

If you were in the right lane, based on your description, stay put. Let them pass or continue to tailgate or whatever. Their bad behavior following you is out of your control and not your responsibility. Unless there are emergency vehicles on the shoulder or other obstruction, maintain your lane.

That is correct. I just had a thread a few weeks ago. Got rear ended driving along I-90 in the right lane. Noting came from it. No tickets. His insurance called asking if I was okay and who to talk to in regards to the damage to the trailer. When encountering a tailgater live in your lane. Let them figure out. After driving for almost 4 years locally in the Chicagoland area. I expect to get cutoff, brake checked, tailgated, and flipped off on a daily basis. Just flat out ignore it. You’ll mental psyche and blood pressure will thank you for it.

Chris if you are hit in the rear, unless you cut someone off, you are not responsible for the accident or freight damage.

I switched because if I had to stop and they hit my trailer I am the one responsible for the freight until I drop it off. I didn't want to risk it by a tailgater. But I do see were you are coming from so I will start to maintain my lane l. Thanks :)

Chris W wrote:

also switched lanes to let the tailgater pass

I still ask why?

If you were in the right lane, based on your description, stay put. Let them pass or continue to tailgate or whatever. Their bad behavior following you is out of your control and not your responsibility. Unless there are emergency vehicles on the shoulder or other obstruction, maintain your lane.

oh ok.

I agree. The rumble strip saved my bacon few winters back. I’ve used it on a few occasions.

Rumble strip and heavy braking caused a lot of friction burning my tires and some had to be replaced for safety

That's a new one for me and my father with over 30 years experience in truck maintenance....

Rumble strip and heavy braking caused a lot of friction burning my tires and some had to be replaced for safety

That's a new one for me and my father with over 30 years experience in truck maintenance....

I was like wtf? Got out and looked around the tractor again and what I saw was what I didn't catch the first time: whoever had this tractor before me hit the brakes SO HARD that two of the tires developed flat spots! Like someone had taken a giant iron and just laid it down on top of them.

Darndest thing I've ever seen.

Chances are that was from brakes dragging. Not the rumble strip.

really?? UPS Really emphasized that once the trailer is attached then the responsibility is on the trucker. So would companies understand if the accident wasn't your fault?

Chris if you are hit in the rear, unless you cut someone off, you are not responsible for the accident or freight damage.

I switched because if I had to stop and they hit my trailer I am the one responsible for the freight until I drop it off. I didn't want to risk it by a tailgater. But I do see were you are coming from so I will start to maintain my lane l. Thanks :)

Chris W wrote:

also switched lanes to let the tailgater pass

I still ask why?

If you were in the right lane, based on your description, stay put. Let them pass or continue to tailgate or whatever. Their bad behavior following you is out of your control and not your responsibility. Unless there are emergency vehicles on the shoulder or other obstruction, maintain your lane.