Driving in construction zone on I 35 from Dallas to Houston

It's the thingie you can't see from the driver's seat on a slope nose....(Might be an old guy/gal in a wheel chair, a slow pedestrian, or a traffic cop.)

What part of Mexico were you in when you saw this?

 

All you can do is control your vehicle and anticipate what your experience tells you to expect. One of the hardest things about trucking is the fact that the idiots can cause an accident to innocent people and them not receive a scratch.

Use your fuel points to get a dashcam. Don't drive any faster than you feel comfortable even if some people don't like it. You are the captain of your ship and will be held responsible for what you do.

 

You sound like someone who cares about what they are doing and wants to improve. Keep that attitude and you will be a better driver in time.
Keep at it driver!

 

@2CORIN521

First, if you can avoid I-35E then do so. If I take the split in Denton I go I-35W to Fort Worth. Avoid the heavy construction zone in Fort Worth by taking I-280 to I-20 eastbound. Catch US-287 running southeast to get on I-45.

Second, LANE CONTROL. You already rubbed against two trucks. It rarely matters if other truck drivers have poor lane control if yours is perfect.

Some have suggested lining up the hood ornament (if you are driving a Mack), but I have a much better way to visualize perfect lane control that I taught new drivers:

Figure out the center of your truck. In a truck with a split windshield, like a Cascadia, the center seam of the windshield is the center of the truck. Now figure out how far from the center of the truck to the bridge of your nose, the center of your perception. Let's assume it's 2'3".

Now pick a line in the lane that is 2'3" left of the center of the lane. Pretend there is no truck and you are floating 8' above the ground flying on that line 2'3" left of the center of the lane.

Once you have perfected the ability to stay perfectly centered in your lane, start sneaking a peak in your rear view mirrors to double-check the accuracy of your lane control. NOW experiment with moving over and leaving only an inch from the right edge of your passenger side tires to the fog line. Get a KEEN sense of your position in the lane, the line YOU are flying, versus that radical position next to the fog line.

Do all that practice in normal lanes. The next time you are challenged by construction zones with concrete barriers on both sides, you can confidently KNOW you are in complete control moving over within inches of the concrete barrier to give as much room as possible for another potentially subpar, terrified driver to get around you safely.

You NEED to be in total control of your lane. Move over when passing or getting passed. I routinely get over to the yellow fog line on the left when passing another truck, even if there is no shoulder. As you get better you will notice how POOR other truck drivers are keeping their line. They weave all over the lane and then some. Don't be like them. Hone your skills.

 

Shoot, it seems most of the ones passing in construction zones are in 65mph trucks. They pass up everyone just to cause a back up once we get out of the zone. But that's another story, I guess.

 

Good FOR ya, man. You're finally getting it.

 

ps: Check this post from Dave... don't be THIS Swifty.... :

https://www.thetruckersreport.com/t...u-do-when-road-is-closed.429228/#post-6077851