Truck Driving Etiquette

I wouldn't characterize it as selfish for me to maintain my own speed which is the speed limit by the way while another truck driver is trying to overtake at 1-2 miles over the speed limit which is the epitome of selfish. When he looks over at me like I am the ahole for not slowing down, I'm thinking the same thing back at him, why be so selfish to hold up the fast lane behind you, run side by side with me which is dangerous if one of us blows a tire or what if there is a broke down vehicle that I need to change lanes for?

It is monumentally rude and selfish for a guy to jump out there and expect everyone to slow down so he can advance down the highway 32 seconds sooner to destination.

Loved the bit about the riding crop though lol.

 

Glad you enjoyed the riding crop reference!

Just to clarify - if you are pedaling down the highway at the posted limit for me to be out there going around you +1-2 mph IS selfish and stupid - as evidence by the Illinois State Police busting a car hauler going around me in a 60 zone last night. My reference is for those of us set under 65 when in a 65 or higher - thus the image of the two geezers at the old folks home. If I'm coming home from Chicago - those 2 miles an hour add up and there is no sense in me joining the parade of Prime, Swift, SNI, etc. just because they don't want to get passed. It is to them I say," I'm not the first guy to pass you nor will I be the last so, lift off and let me by."

 

I drive for a mega carrier too and have the same problem. No consideration at all.

 

Reading comprehension problem? I never said i passed at the bottom of a hill. You have obviously not pulled heavy loads. Not getting a run at a hill that is coming up, and by that i mean no more than 5 over can cost you more than seconds. Yeah i may get to the bottom of the hill at 65 maybe 5 seconds faster but had i stayed behind the truck doing 58 it could cost me 5 to 15 minutes of time depending on the hill. Running 200k you need the momentum. Do this over several hills throughout the day and you can lose as much as an hour or more. When you can only run daylight hours and have crane appointments you need all the time you can get for contingencies.

If being able to run the speed limit while your castrated truck cannot makes me a super trucker then i guess I am guilty.

 

Why expect something of someone that you won't do yourself?.

I live in the UK where *ALL* trucks are governed to 60MPH. On a 70MPH highway that often leads to "Elephant racing" scenarios with long lines of cars stacked up behind them. Sure it would be nice if the ever so slightly slower truck would lift off and let the passing truck by quicker, but I always view it as the passing truck had no business passing if they are going to impede other traffic for miles.

Would I lift?, yeah, sure I would, but it shouldn't be expected of me.

 

This is what I'm talking about. When they govern all the trucks to the same speed we will still have these namby pampby princess drivers who think they are entitled to pass just because they jumped out in the left lane. How dare the passee who is relaxed in cruise control not reduce speed for the guy who is going the same max governed speed?

I have heard people try to argue that the passer has the 'right of way' as soon as he jumps out in the left lane to pass and it is the responsibility of the passee to yield lol. I would say it is a courtesy only to back off to let the princess dude get in front. But he has options to call no joy and slow up and go back in line as well, it should never be expected or forced on the passee to change speed just because someone else wants to bully ahead of the pack .

 

Looks like I comprehend just fine - "I will go around you." Seems to me like you'll pass at the bottom of a hill knowing that you will, in turn, be immediately passed by the truck you just overtook. Either that or you will hold him up knowing that you haul heavy loads - hooray for you and screw everyone else.

 

Just like the media, only report what serves your agenda. If you look at what you even quoted, there is a comprehension problem. I will highlight it for you,

I am gonna be wide and heavy and if you can not or will not get up to the speed limit so that I can get a run at the hill coming up, I will go around you.

You have to read the entire sentence, that does not say I pass at the bottom of the hill.

I think that I see where the miscommunication is though, I am talking about the interstate and you are probably thinking 2 lane. There is not enough straight road for me to even think about passing on a 2 lane when running that heavy. Besides, on a 2 lane around here I will probably be slower than you are.

 

I totally agree, it's this whole sense of " entitlement " that seemingly floods the industry now. Drivers out in the passing lane not passing, sitting at the fuel pumps doing paperwork, pulling up throwing on the 4 ways and blocking trucks in because " they'll only be a minute ". Courtesy has gone by the wayside, not that there wasn't d...cks in the so called good old days, just that it seems more prevalent now with the track pant flip flop crowd.