I said I wasn't going to ride this horse but this post directs me to the very question I ask every time I know of a company using this excuse.
If companies are so concerned about a person not being able to control the vehicle at state or federal set highway speeds, say for example 70 mph, why dont they (Central) just make everyone drive 10 mph?
I mean, when the speed limit was 55 mph, they were cutting the trucks back to 50. Now, its 70 & they are cutting them back to 57 or 60 or 65. If it really doesn't have anything to do with fuel mileage, but has everything to do with not being able to control the vehicle at speeds that are legal... if they are so worried about somebody not being able to control the truck due to speed, why not just set the truck to 10 mph & let their drivers run in 5th gear all the time. It just really galls me that companies feel like no matter what the speed limit is, its too fast.
(Personally, I think it is due to them wanting to save pennies on fuel but, I also know its about safety. But when... & at what speed is it safe to be out there? I think going very much slower than the posted speed limit is hawg wash.)
over speed policy ( central drivers )
Discussion in 'Central Refrigerated' started by tangerineGT, Apr 9, 2014.
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Lol ,
I was on a hwy few weeks ago posted speed was 80 , I am 18 mph slower then traffic .
that to me sounds like a safety issue as well .
better yet , can't trust people at the speed limit , chose who you hire a little bit better .Raiderfanatic Thanks this. -
Speed violation is another matter ... That is exceeding the governed speed. The only way you can exceed a governed speed is to let the speed run out while going down grade. At that point physics takes over. Company trucks are governed at 62, you're riding it out at 70, you're starting cede control of the truck. -
That's really hard to do, controlling your downhill speed with nothing but cruise control and an engine brake.
But I never seem to have a problem with it. I just back the cruise speed down 4 MPH as I crest the hill and I never get over 64, unless I am over 40k on a pretty steep hill.
Then I tap the brakes every now and then to keep my speed in check, or shift down one gear and let the engine brake hold me at 55 if I had to brake too much.
Unless the truck speed limit is lower, in which case I select the proper gear and kick back.
Rocket science, I know.
And you are not Central drivers anymore.
You are employed by Swift, and have to abide by their rules. -
Please read first post , I understand .
the statement / question was more to kinda of clarify what everyone else got out of that video.
good god..
The way the video words it there is a allowance built in , but now seems like thats not the case.
Truck still says Central on the side. Lol
and I put ot like that because I knew what it would have turned into . -
tangerineGT Thanks this.
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To me it's not tha big of a deal. But I'm never in the mountains. But I'm sure they'll be that one time I'm trying to change lanes. Or watching the dumb a texting passing me. And I'll go over it. I just try to look ahead and look for down grades.
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And there is leeway.
You can hit 66 or even 67 for very short periods before the alarm goes off, and if you have the cruise set.
Let it go for too long and it will get flagged, as it will be even sooner if you are not on cruise control.
Mentors and O/O's have a couple more MPH above that.
But it's just a few seconds, not a minute or more. So don't try to gain time by speeding down the hills.
And by speeding I mean what the company allows - not the actual speed limit.
I see a lot of drivers that just blow off the speed limit (actual, or company) and go as fast as they can down the hills.
Some of them end up in a ditch because they ignore the FACT that all that weight and inertia is far less controllable with gravity working against you.
And it's not a linear effect, it's progressive. Meaning that every MPH faster you go has more effect than the previous increase of 1 MPH did.
You could always experiment a bit.
Take the same hill just 1 MPH faster each time you go down - just to save you that minute or five overall.
I'll bet you reach a point, if you don't chicken out first, that you don't ever do that again.
Or anything else, for that matter.
No Fear?
That is a concept truckers should NEVER embrace!MysticHZ Thanks this. -
I have had a few alerts, but never on a mountain. Its always on rolling hills when I'm dealing with traffic or other "distraction." (Can it be a distraction when its your primary safety concern at the moment?). I admit that I run at the governed speed, but its not rare to get a load wher I have to run that fast. On some occaisions, if I can't make 620-650 miles in a day, its going to be late. This may indeed be the issue that makes me quit.
tangerineGT Thanks this. -
tangerineGT Thanks this.
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