Filed under: Etc., Safety, Commercial Trucks
How to drive a big-rig
It's rush hour, and you're late for work. Needless to say, you've got absolutely no patience for the trucker trying to merge onto the freeway, so you speed up to ensure you won't end up behind him. Later on, you cut another truck off to get into a faster lane... then slam on your brakes when the "fast" lane screeches to a halt.
This story seems to be played out every day we drive to work, but in addition to being jerks, we fools are being extraordinarily dangerous. Check out the link for Joe Hollingsworth's experience in driving a big rig for the first time. It doesn't sound like it's easy. You try changing gears nine times before you hit 45 mph. For the folks who cut off trucks, also remember that it takes them many times longer to stop than you do. For the guy who won't let the trucker merge, the truck is bigger than you and just might take the lane anyway. And if you hear a "whup, whup, whup," get out of the way -- that's the truck's tire about to blow off into your windshield. Check out the link for more tips on driving safely with trucks, and even driving a truck safely.
Also check out the AOL Autos forum where truckers have been invited to speak about their experience driving with us on America's roads. There are currently 41 pages of comments from truckers, so I guess they have some things they'd like us to know.[Source: AOL Autos]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
far jr 9:46PM (9/20/2006)
I have a commercial drivers license (CDL) and it has given me a different perspective of large trucks. I formerly did some of the stupid maneuvers above endangering myself and the driver.
I do not drive over the road for a living but occaisionally get behind the wheel of some large trucks. The brakes alone take some time to activate after you push the pedal to slow down. They are air operated not hydraulic like your car. Even though the big mirrors provide good views, truckers have alot more space to check before changing lanes/ merging and the blind spots to the rear and side is huge relative to a car (especially the drivers side front fender area) Give truckers some room they need it...literally.
There are some truckers who bully because they are big and for this they are jerks. But most are very respectable and just trying to make a living. Trucks can be a pain to negotiate on the road but be patient and cut them some slack... after all someone needs to deliver the frozen pizza to Wal-Mart!
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Fabulo 10:26PM (9/20/2006)
Goes both ways. Big Rigs tailgating people in the fast lane at 60 MPH? Check. Getting in the way when *you* try to merge? Check. Changing lane right in front of you? Check.
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Barney 10:30PM (9/20/2006)
I have driven class 7 trucks for twenty years. There is a lot of responsibility as well. There are a lot of blind spots that wet mirrors limit even more. Thank goodness for heated mirrors but they can't see 45°. I am always confused as what people are thinking, when they attempt to beat the truck upon a merge. Do they really think the truck will come to a grinding halt, slam it in reverse and allow them to use the lane instead? Even slowing a truck down will hinder the traffic behind. These rigs go from 0 to 60 in the time it takes to have a cup of coffee. Good luck at getting back to speed without bringing smooth flowing traffic to a halt. A lot of merge lanes on to highways don't run parallel to the highway and the mirrors don't give a good veiw of what's coming up. Give the driver a finger because "you were in the right" will convince the trucker he will quit giving breaks to anyone. After twenty years, I've seen it all but any trucker will think the same. Motorists constantly make that statement a farce. They always seem to find new rules for the highway. And always they abide by their own rules.
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bob 10:39PM (9/20/2006)
i guess the base assumption behind this article is that trucks that large should be allowed the same rules (or basically the same) as every other vehicle. pure and simple: wrong.
trucks should be confined to the slower lanes and lower speeds. the commercial drivers' licenses should have additional scrutiny than they do now. finally, trucks should be limited to certain hours of the day: there should not be cargo vehicles on the road during rush hour.
these steps would decrease traffic congestion, traffic fatalities, and fuel consumption.
truckers may protest, but they don't understand that this will create increased demand for driver-hours, increasing their pay and creating jobs.
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bobhater 10:49PM (9/20/2006)
well boob, i'm not gonna waste much time on you. suffice to say you are an idiot
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Barney 11:06PM (9/20/2006)
Responce to #4, Bob:
That would be great but no store/merchant or any other consignee will have their business hours accommodate delivery trucks. No trucker wants to be in rush hour traffic. That is not a choice given to them. Long haulers aren't going to find a place to park in most cities for one thing. Local carriers have to be at point B & C during those business hours. Personaly I prefered nights but that still didn't get me a dock. A lot of warehouses go by appointments. If they say be there at 5:15, they don't mean 5:20 nor 5:10. Switching lanes is another thing. The moment a truck signals his intentions people rush alongside to ensure the truck can't get ahead of them. You (the trucker) may set up a route in advance, as you should, but most cities still don't believe street signs should be visable. Miss your turn and you may be driving a while before you turn around and head back. Trucks can't take shortcuts. Most municipalities have truck routes. What do you do when your turn is comming up but nobody is letting you swith lanes? You do what you have to and get the finger or miss your turn and your appointment.
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Talis 11:31PM (9/20/2006)
Bob, next time you FedEx something, or go to the store and buy fruit, or if you ever wonder how anything you have was delivered to you, think trucks. If your logic was followed, then FedEx would have no over night shipping, Fruit would be subject to seasonal growing (again), and you would have to wait longer to get anything else you can think of.
I am friends with a truck mechanic who also has a CDL and at times must drive a rig on the open road. He has been telling me since I was a kid how to drive WITH large trucks, and not AGAINST them. If you do a few basic things, you will make driving with trucks a lot easier.
I would suggest:
-Do not tailgate a truck. I know some people like to draft trucks, but you are stupid for trying and should not be on the road.
-Do not cut off a truck. Like the article says, trucks take a LONG distance to stop and will crush you if you need to stop short.
-when passing/merging, clear the truck's front by several feet (about two or three car lengths) during which you have your blinker on telling the driver you are going to move into his lane. When you do move into the lane, continue accelerating or maintain your speed. Do not slow down! This will keep the truck from tail gating you.
-If a truck IS tail gating you, move over and let him pass. If you cannot move over, go a little faster (not too much) to allow for a little space between you and the truck.
Remember, the view of a trucker is much different than the view in your car. I know some people who drive SUVs like the higher view, but you are still lower, and softer than a Peter Built or a Mack or a Volvo big rig, so just be careful.
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eeed 11:53PM (9/20/2006)
I agree with Bob.
It may not make a difference in Arkansas, but here in the Northeast, it does.
I live near a quarry, and it's trucks are directly responsible for two snarled intersections every weekday morning, along with two clogged interstate onramps, thanks to the sharp curvature of the ramp and slow acceleration of the trucks. They can cause real headaches for us 4-wheelers trying NOT to get sandwiched behind the dump truck in front of us, doing 35 at the top of the ramp, and the 18 wheeler bearing down behind us as we try to merge. It's simply NOT a safe situation, but it's not the truckers fault, they can't change the laws of physics.
Now I realize it's not gonna happen, but one can dream, right? And I don't think truckers would mind a free hour in the mornings to enjoy a cup of joe, do some paperwork, load up, or whatever.
But like I said, it's not this simple...
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Jeff Pollak 11:57PM (9/20/2006)
Just want to make a living? How about the Trucker who purposly blew my car off its jack when I had a flat?
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fawgcutter 12:03AM (9/21/2006)
bob "truckers may protest, but they don't understand that this will create increased demand for driver-hours, increasing their pay and creating jobs."
Sounds pretty selfish.
Almost everything physical that winds up in your possession has probably been trucked in to your retailer, contractor, gas station or place at work. Restricting road access to truckers will only result in increased transportation costs that will be passed on to you, as the consumer. Then we'll see a Consumer Reports article or Sixty Minutes expose telling us how this regulation is costing the consumer and how it's fleecing America and lining the Teamster's pockets.
In my experience on a motorcycle, which includes three cross-continent trips, almost all of the long-haul truckers (note the adjective) I've encountered are the most courteous drivers on the road. Ever so much more so than those testosterone-adrenaline junkies in their rice burning cages. All they expect from other drivers is a little patience, respect and SPACE.
Now if we could do something about those short-haul urban truckers (maybe they are the ones driving those rice burning cages between hauls)..;)
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Barney 12:12AM (9/21/2006)
reply to Jeff Pollak re #9: I'm sure he told you that personaly or you must have been standing in the center lane to see that he could have changed lanes or at least lock up his brakes to pass you slowly. Perhaps he created the draft on purpose. On his behalf, I apologize for the driver. Not all drivers can be God.
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Chris 12:34AM (9/21/2006)
I have a lot of respect for truck drivers, but most of them behave ridiculously on the road. Tailgating me for no reason? Pulling out infront of me so they can take 5 minutes to pass a single car, then watch as the car goes by them on the next hill? Truckers need to practice the same "courtesy" that they expect drivers of cars to give them. I have never, ever cut off a truck, pulled infront of a truck, tailgated a truck, or passed and then slowed down infront of a truck...but I can use up all my fingers and toes counting unsafe or rude driving techniques I see truckers undertaking on a daily basis.
Truckers need to stay in the right hand lane, stop racing cars so that they can get to that next rest area 500 miles away three minutes faster, and always use their blinkers. Isn't that like a trucker's biggest pet peeve, Drivers not using their blinkers? I don't know how many times I've had to downshift and go full throttle because a truck decided that he wanted my lane when I was a car length behind him and going 15MPH faster. I'll be damned if I'm going to wait 5 minutes behind him when the jackass could have correctly timed his pass and my movements so as to not disturb any traffic.
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Keith 1:10AM (9/21/2006)
I never have issues with trucks, I give them the room they need, and trucks around here (Nevada) usually stay out of peoples way and everyone co-exists.
Just share the road, you will be fvcked if you get in an accident with a truck (as in, dead), so just do what you can to get along.
Everyone is telling these horror stores, but I have never had an issue with large trucks in CA, NV, OR, etc. - it just seems like mutual respect.
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Dana Pellerin 1:19AM (9/21/2006)
I'm with Kieth, I have never had a problem with trucks in CA. But then again, my dad and both my brothers drive so maybe I have a little better understanding of what a trucker has to deal with on the road, and I give them extra courtesy.
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Nr9 3:41AM (9/21/2006)
my experience is that american trucks are very uncourteous and impatient.
in taiwan, big rigs will graciously slow down if they see someone in front of them using their turn signal to get into their lane.
in the US, they actually speed up cuz they don't want to get cut off.
trucks are so damn slow, so just let the faster car pass damnit!!
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cowboy bob 6:11AM (9/21/2006)
Seems to me that there are some good truck drivers, and some bad ones. Just like cars. Imagine that. If you are a 4-wheeler, and you don't "give" a little to these big rigs, it won't matter to the undertaker that you died "in the right". I don't like trucks in the fast lane. I don't like being behind one on the freeway at 45 mph. I don't like a lot of things, but I also don't like being dead. Live with it, and be sure the trucker has those moments as well. Remember that in any argument, bigger most always wins, and "right" is in the eyes of the beholder.
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PiCASSO 7:24AM (9/21/2006)
I have been driving for nearly 15-years and through out those years, I've given respect to all trucks, buses, and any other vehicle that requires more than 2-minutes to accellerate to 100km/h.
But what I can't stand to see are trucks who pass each other at 1 km/h intervals. Truck A, travelling at 105 km/h with cruise approaches Truck B who is doing 104 km/h. Regular traffic on the 2-laned highway is passing these two trucks at the usual 115 to 120 km/h speeds. Truck A doesn't feel like breaking to match Truck B, so Truck A cuts into the 115-120 km/h traffic. All cars now slam on the breaks behind truck A, is it passes Truck B for the next 10-15 minutes. All you can see is a trail of cars behind Truck A who could bother to increase his speed to make the pass of Truck B faster.
What's even worse is when there are 6-8 trucks driving in a convoy. Each of them passing each other one at a time. No respect for the regular traffic that wants to pass on the left with the 115-120 km/h speeds.
My 2-cents.
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bob 7:55AM (9/21/2006)
Fawgcutter: "Sounds pretty selfish... Almost everything physical that winds up in your possession has probably been trucked in to your retailer, contractor, gas station or place at work."
first, thanks for the diplomatic response... those have been lacking on autoblog in recent months.
however, I have heard this comment time and again, and i would challenge the premise here: the assertations that commerce would stop-- i would never get a fedex or taste fresh fruit again. this is clearly alarmist. the market would adapt to new regulation in a very short period of time.
I'm not calling for a ban of trucks or truckers. I am calling for common sense graduated traffic regulations... the idea that a 18-ton big rig has the same speed limit as a 350lb motorcycle is absurd. the expectation that a truck is going to be able to handle rush-hour traffic without creating significant risk of injury is not realistic... the largest trucks should have reduced speed limits, reduced lane access, and limitations on hours of operation during peak travel periods (7-9AM, 5-7PM). i also think that SUVs should face increased regulation in a similar manner, but that's for a different post.
Fawgcutter: "Restricting road access to truckers will only result in increased transportation costs that will be passed on to you, as the consumer. Then we'll see a Consumer Reports article or Sixty Minutes expose telling us how this regulation is costing the consumer and how it's fleecing America and lining the Teamster's pockets."
Agreed. I never suggested this would be a perfect solution. i was merely suggesting a way to save lives and make the roads more livable for all.
I respect truckers, and i respect what they do day-in and day-out. However, as a former sailor, i've had my activities regulated to specific times and activities throughout my career. However, my ship was still able to complete assigned tasted with increased planning and a 24-hour a day schedule.
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JackOfShadows 7:58AM (9/21/2006)
I'm 65 years old with a lot of driving behind and perhaps some in front of me.
I have "never" met an unprofessional "big rig" driver.
Use your turn signals, give the big guy the right of way simply because it's the smart thing to do, keep plenty of distance between your vehicle and the truck and all will be well.
I never understood how stupid 4 wheel drivers are until I accompanied my truck driving son in law on a trip. What an eyeopener that was.
So all you drivers keep those big wheels rolling.
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Tina 8:03AM (9/21/2006)
To all of you that are complaining, your'e looking at it the wrong way. Drivers are the eyes and ears of the road. Whenever we travel on the interstate, we take along our CB. Drivers let us know where the BEARS are, which lane to be in if there is a accident, which route to take to avoid any problems, if there is any horrible weather ahead. Honestly they are a wealth of information that we value. My husband also loves to hear about which vehicle has the "hot babe." So to all you 4 wheelers take it easy and enjoy the ride.
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