Am I driving unsafely?

Alerting traffic behind you of a pending stop by tapping the brakes and managing your speed through town to keep rolling and limit stopping are very good things. Not unsafe at all. Anytime you can keeping rolling, even at reduced speeds, versus stopping and starting, will greatly improve fuel mileage as well. Good job!

 

I would consider being able to stop that thing more important than going fast enough to make it through the next traffic light on stale yellow. I have always made it my mission to never cut a tanker off too close, since i would not want to be in your shoes during a panic stop.

 

I just punch the flashers once if someone is ridiculously close , they back off when i do that

 

Sounds fine you seem to keep your rig under control but why even use your jakes at all going thru towns to slow down?

 

Not a fan of " brake checking" a tailgater. I just let them go. If you feel the need to get them off you tail , in stead of touching the foot valve , try turning your marker lights on & off really quick. They see the lights come and assume that it's your break lights. Just an idea. I completely understand your point , but what happens if a brake malfunction happens and they lock-up. Like I said just an idea.

 

Or if there is a gravel shoulder, drop a few wheels off, the rocks pelting the front of their vehicle will back them off.

Remember, it's the vehicle following you, it's THEIR responsibility to maintain a proper following distance, you need to keep paying attention and looking ahead. You're doing a good job driving like that, too bad more with your experience level can't figure that out.

 

Ya, as others here said you are doing fine just keep plenty of following distance in front of you and take account the surge in your tanker, if you see traffic up ahead or can't tell wants going on put your hazards on momentarily, to alert traffic behind you, other than that you are doing great.

 

What are you driving? By that I mean how loud are your jakes?

I am not a fan of drivers using jakes in well populated areas. Just like I am seriously not a fan of super loud Harleys!

It may be saving you money on brakes, but it is continuing the poor image of truckers in the eyes of the public.

Regarding slowing to catch the green light as opposed to having to full stop. That is the ideal driving method, as mentioned. As long as there is another lane for traffic to get around then there should be no "retaliation" from traffic. But if you are in a single lane situation, they jut won't understand.

Mikeeee