Correct etiquette for passing or indicating a truck in front of you can change lanes

I wouldn't know about the bottom feeder part lol! However, I'd much rather have some control on when that guy pulls into my lane than none at all. Its been said several times on this thread but its important enough to repeat, I do NOT like when somebody comes within inches of taking my fender, bumper, and spot mirrors off on a hunch.

As far as backing out of the juice....I agree with you 100%. My truck is set at 65 but I routinely set the cruise at 62. When Crete, Swift, Schneider, or Weiner, are struggling to get around, I back out of it 1-2MPH. Or for any truck with traffic backing up. That leads to one of my biggest pet peeves is the obstruction of traffic piece. I watched it all weekend coming out of LA back to Texas. In this case its not those who are unable to go fast enough to clear the lane, but those unwilling to do so. Today for example, a guy passed me pulling a step deck. I was running 62 and he was doing about 66 or so. He got about one truck length ahead of me and I flashed at him yet he remained out there. Cars were starting to build up behind him even as he opened up the distance further. I flashed a second time and I got a nasty response on a high-powered radio something to the effect of "I don't need your help you idiot." (but more colorful). He stayed out there about 1-2 more seconds and then right as the cars were starting to pass him in the right lane, he threw on the turn signal and changed lanes on top of a 4 wheeler. He put the car onto the shoulder and almost into the dirt.

Is this just a driver oblivious to other traffic or just doesn't care? Who knows. Sadly, I see it every day. It reminds me again of why so many advocacy groups and the general public tend to dislike trucks and truck drivers. We are our own worst enemy, rookies and veterans alike.

 

i dont NEED someone to flash me over..and even when they do, i dont trust them....i come over when I KNOW its safe...as for high beams in the mirror...i made it a habit NOT to look in the mirror about when i think they will flash me...i can see it out of my perefrial (sp) awww heck that side vision stuff...lol ..and then i wait a few more seconds and THEN look....

its called COURTESY...its how things were done back in the day....of course...this thread is a lost cause..cuz there are 20 more like em...and courtesy and respect are a thing of the past for the most part...

 

Some times I hit the highbeams by accident instead of the headlight interrupt switch.
Brain fart, sorry.

 

I know what you mean... I still can't get used to the dash layout in this '12 Freightshaker... my prior trucks were 05 and earlier....

 

Some companies have a policy where they don t want you to "signal"( meaning dim headlights or flash them) to let another driver over. In the world of lawsuits, most companies would let the other truck use their own decision when its safe to move back over. If I m getting on the interstate, and a slower truck gets over to let me on, I ll back out of it to let them over, then when its clear, I pass them and check my mirrors 5 to 10 seconds later and get over. Now the biggest pet peeve is when you re in the left lane running about 72-73 and a slow truck jumps out in front of you trying to pass a truck running 1 to 2 mph slower than the other truck, but that s another topic

 

Forgot to mention this...

id much rather someone flash the high beams at me, than pass and pull in front of me in the rain and snow. The spray and crap on the windshields is worlds worse than the high beams. If I pass some onion the rain or snow, I will put a truck length or more on them before I switch lanes.

 

so you're delayed a few seconds, you'll still get where you're going.

 

Assuming I am not passed with 1 click of a turn signal and left with a car-length between us, I'll go out of my way to be courteous.

In daylight, I'll watch the other driver's flat mirror to see them checking. Once they've reached a practical distance (situational) and I see them looking, I flash brights as my headlights aren't on (assuming it's not raining).

At night, I'll make the cumbersome reach for my headlight switch and turn 'em off to signal, as it's easier to see lights cease than slightly brighter lights, not to mention easier on the eyes.

I leave way more space to pass others when raining, as everyone hates truck roadspray.

If someone's just Barely faster than me and has people behind him, I'll slow down. Same for those ungoverned guys that decided to pass uphill and are now matching my speed, I'll still back it off even though the rest of my ascent may be slower... Rarely acknowledged but I like to think Karma works.
And yes, I'm in one of those 63MPH Swift trucks and I do appreciate it when someone does this for me as well.

Doesn't take much but it counts in my book. We deal with enough negative s*** out here, help out where you can.

 

Yup. I have a few extra mph in reserve (above my cruise speed) to pass. In the rare case that i pass someone at 1 mph faster than them, I wait til no one is around and I can do it without bothering anyone.

 

It's pure laziness just like parking in a fuel island or not turning off their cruise control to slow down in their lane instead of cutting in front of you and slowing you down.
10 hours of holding a Steering Wheeling with 1 hand and holding a 2 gallon Sippee Cup of Soda with the other hand wears you out don't you know.