80 MPH speed limit. Would you?

**A21CAV** · 06.01.2012

Going through the open country on I-10 in West Texas today I couldn't help but notice the 80mph speed limit signs. They begin roughly where the Hill Country levels out to a few miles east of El Paso.

Ignore for a moment we drive speed governed trucks and that fuel economy has significant importance for both L/O and company drivers. If there were no governors and fuel was a dime a gallon, but all other considerations were as they are now, would you run 80mph?

Frank

**NWMAXI** · 06.01.2012

depends if i needed to for any reason or not

but i don't think i would as most truck tires are only rated for 75mph i have seen a few that say 77mph

**lonewolf4ad** · 06.02.2012

Yup, would run 80mph all day long on ground like that, The only areas I would say it isn't safe with properly maintained equipment is in mountainous regions, highly populated areas, and winding backroads.

**MNdriver** · 06.02.2012

Long straight roads. Maybe.

Most of the stuff I run, I am happy to do 65 on all day long.

As me again come July/Aug though.

**CondoCruiser** · 06.02.2012

It changed to 80 on the tail end of my produce days. My truck was governed at 78 mph. Trucks always blew my doors off. It was common to take your time until you passed the Odessa scales and then it was hammer down time.

**jgremlin** · 06.02.2012

If the state was ok with it and my company was ok with it then I would run it. Trucks in the wrong hands can kill at 30mph just as easily as 90mph so I don't really see that as a factor in the decision.

**Cowmobile** · 06.02.2012

Came through there a few days ago, ran 85 the whole way....

**CondoCruiser** · 06.02.2012

Originally Posted by jgremlin

If the state was ok with it and my company was ok with it then I would run it. Trucks in the wrong hands can kill at 30mph just as easily as 90mph so I don't really see that as a factor in the decision.

I-10/ I-20 west TX is a whole different world from the rest of the country. The produce and bullhaulers have been flying for years and you don't hear anymore stories about wrecks than other places. It's wide open country with straight roads.

The only wreck I've ever seen due to speed was a UPS driver that topped a hill and there was a state road grader easing along in the granny lane. He nailed him and knocked him into the median. The UPS truck burnt to the ground as I got there. The driver broke his leg and the state worker only broke an arm. They were lucky.

Then there was a time I was east bound cruising one beautiful morning enjoying my coffee. Here come a bullhauler the opposite direction. The medians are huge there. Anyways the bullhauler veers off into the median and was coming straight at me full speed. Dust boiling everywhere. I was like

. I yelled on the CB, "WAKE UP DRIVER". He still came at me. I was ready to veer off at a 90 to avoid any collision. The guy locks em up at the last second and crosses the interstate right behind me and takes off into the desert on some beaten path. All I could do was laugh after I figured it out. He was some driver heading off to some remote cattle ranch.

**joseph1135** · 06.02.2012

No. Fuel is too high and what can go wrong at 65 and be an emergency could happen at 80 and become a catastrophe. I know that we are all professional but I like to be safe than sorry!