Adaptive Cruise Control - Beware!

The good thing about a slowly governed truck is that there is no need for cruise control. If it only does 62-65-68-70mph, the floor board is your cruise control. Plant that left foot, get comfy & ride.

In 4 years at USX the only time i used my cruise was in Ohio, Illinois, or a 2 lane. Other than that you had a 65+ mph speed limit so i didn’t need it. At least Indiana you could get away with 65 lol.

 

Back when I had a truck with adaptive cruise control the same thing happened to me repeatedly. My wife and I called it getting “Primed”.

 

The whole drive nanny setup is an ulcer waiting to happen. Truck A going 60 mph. Me going 65 but 75 mph cars coming in left lane. Can't get close to truck A before pulling out because of ... Oh! Help! Distance alert! So then I'm either blocking left lane for 2 miles or else truck A controls my speed and my whole day goes downhill. What a crock.

 

Can't you just turn it off and pull up as close as you want using the throttle pedal? I don't have it

 

Yes but then 2 things happen. I can only go 62 on throttle and the box tattles to Big Brother that I'm following too close.
Fyi..I really like this particular job and most megas have same set up so I put up with it and drink lots of Milk of Magnesia.

 

I bought a new tundra that has that crap and it’s frustrating as hell. Between the bruise and the lane departure and the self braking it’s down right crash proof.

I can deal with everything but that cruise pisses me off. Someone cuts in front and the truck slows to the speed of that vehicle. Plus it seems to scan the road like at least a 1/4 mile ahead.

 

Just the whole day? Gee, that's not bad.

I was thinking about ACC with some distaste. I would not want to spend my life in a gilded cage with my destiny already predetermined and limited. There is no glory in it anymore.

What's next? Dismissing drivers because they weight too much in favor of cargo capacity and fuel mileage?

 

I’m fortunate in that our fleet is programmed to allow the driver to adjust the ACC “following distance” parameter (seconds) up or down from the programmed default. (assumes the default every start)

It helps keep things a little more manageable when approaching slower vehicles. And the audible and visual alert is very subtle and not obnoxious.

 

I didn’t know 4 wheelers and pickups from the 90’s had a nanny cruise

 

I like to slip in behind a bull hauler or a grain hauler. Then set the acc to 67 then give it a few bumps up to 70. When trailing the bull/grain haulers this will keep me right at 67 or 68.