What Speed to Exit a Highway for an Off-Ramp

This issue has also caused some problems at scales too. Lots of scales now will close up for a few minutes if trucks are backed up on the breakdown lanes. I want to remember North Carolina actually had a fatal accident with this at their I 85 Scales near Charlotte about 25 30 years ago. These new "supercoops" were designed to get trucks in and out until some moron scalemaster decides to do log checks on the static scale.

My comment reminds me of a night many years ago while headed west in Alabama on I 20/59 and I kept hearing about the scale master asleep at the Mississippi West Bound Toomsuba scale. I was just about to cross the State line when a guy screamed in the CB oh Hell Warner just hit his Horn and the scalemaster started stopping everybody and checking logs. The backups went a ways back into Alabama. This was in the early morning hours and I am still shocked some 4 wheeler did not fly under one of those parked trucks.

 

Here in Washington state at least, if the sign says to exit, but trucks are backed up to the main line, you're allowed to bypass the scale for safety reasons. That way, no trucks end up on the breakdown lane (or shoulder, same difference), creating the unnecessary hazard.

 

It has been over 3 years now since I drove a CMV. Your comment jogged my memory. I think most places now allow this bypass.

 

Don't worry about anyone behind you. Yes it's good to keep an eye back there, but that Decap bar is their reward if they screw it up. Not your problem.

I disagree with ramps marked for 18 wheelers, I would have rolled a thousand times or gone off if I hit em at rated speeds the way we are loaded. (Usually meat or coil)

 

I find that very interesting because my trainer told
me that the posted speed limit on off ramps are "only a suggestion" and he would get upset because I would slow down, telling me that in a posted 35mph, he would
be 45 or more.