Why to truck drivers drive in the middle lane?

I don't know enough about that to answer your question. I first came into Arkansas with a big truck in about 1990-1992 time period. Left lane was wide open as was split speed limits in effect. You could literally bypass the split limits by hopping onto the state two lane roads and RUN.

Further back before that on the east coast I would be with a herd of bulk tankers in the two left lanes crossing the American Legion Bridge on 495 into Virginia from Maryland at 100 plus. The first 5 of us to Arlington Pentagon ready mix got a extra unload for the day pushing a 350 dollar gross pay day to around 480, speeding tickets started at 45 dollars and maxed at 75 dollars and a point anything over 90 was automatic arrest. So you could carry a number of speeding tickets in maryland with a big truck and not worry about suspension until 8 points was reached.

Things changed in the 1994 time period. And not too longer later the split limits were removed. But Governors were imposed as slow as 55 in one company I worked for Regional Southeast with DM Bowman out of WIlliansport. We had 55 mph trucks with a automatic firing should that thing ever see 68 or faster. It ws a time of terror as you stayed far to the right as everyone else zoomed by at 70 plus.

 

If we're in the right lane we have to deal with 1) merging (and slower) traffic both on and off and can be a hazard for us and 2) can often find ourselves in lanes that are ending or become "exit only" lanes. If we're in the left lane, we're bigger and slower and can block traffic/the passing lane. The middle lanes usually the best choice for us. If you want around, the hammer lane is still there.....pass and go on about your way.

 

And, today, you'll still find DM Bowman rolling roadblocks on I-81. Although they're not nearly as bad as the JB Hunt Intermodal guys. Most of the Bowman guys are decent though, and will move over as I approach them.

 

Better not catch you doing that in California. California right only and left to pass and go back.

 

Now I know...the high ballers think that middle lane is reserved for them.Personally,I stay out of it AMAP.,however consider this: An "Old Dinosaur" I used to work for we'll not really...he was a Tough ole sob really.Ex Navy Seal with over 3 million accident free miles.He always drove the speed limit (for fuel economy) and he always bogarted the middle lane.Anyway ((while riding with him) I said"No disrespect sir,but "Why are you always in the middle lane Peeing off 4 wheelers? He replied "The middle lane gives you 2 ways of Escape!" He said also it keeps you outta the path of "the bone heads that don't know how to merge/yield onto the freeway.

 

Just think if everyone that was a citizen of these here united states had to do 2 years military training along with some tractor trailer training would do for the whole transportation sector of the united states it would be just heaven on earth,oh well I can dream can't I?

 

It is heaven on earth for the right people. I thought it was for the most part. In my time many new high school graduates were stuck in higher schooling or god help them trapped in offices being micromanaged with tasks hardly worth doing in same. Trucking was a form of freedom with a particular job to do and real consequences for failing to do that job. As long the money was good and you were on or ahead of schedule for the load, whatever you chose to do that day or night is totally up to you. Example instead of enduring crappy food in a bad place you could go to where the food was good quality with decent people.

I came out of a deaf school graduated from same (It really does not matter because I also aged out of the system... long story) and when I was in Frederick on a 10 hour sleeper break or taking a meal passing through, I noticed that some of my ex classmates were still stuck doing dishes. There is nothing wrong with doing dishes but when you are coming up on 30 years old your life, work place and so on has to progress much further than doing dishes. I bet you some of them will still be doing dishes even today. At least they are doing something. But they probably are not free. Not like I had and am. Ive been married, fought cancer, been a home owner etc many things in life. However I never forgot that there are some of us who probably will pass through all the years of living with just a simple dish work in life. LIfe is much more than just doing dishes. I consider myself one of several who managed to escape such a life such as it is. But not everyone gets to say that.

As a further clarification, the Maryland Deaf System was built under Law during the 70's to expand capacity for the expected several hundred to a little over a thousand people who were victims of German Measles of the 60's paying a price being born deaf and so on. A portion of that number were specifically assigned to what we called transitional schooling on campus, around 200. But these are the people who will require medical care, 24/7 care givers, subsidized housing if not full blown insitutional housing etc for life. These are not the ones who will graduate and live life as you and I do free to marry, have children, raise same own homes and do things we enjoy doing. I never forgot them. Which is why I enjoy the freedom a bit more than most.

Trucking can be good provided you get something out of it and it keeps the USA going. How else are you going to get food on the table in many areas of the USA such as NYC every day? Without trucks, the USA stops and then within a short time (Say roughly 10 to 20 days at most) will descent into societal anarchy requiring a military occupation to restore order.

 

I am a rock in a stream.

 

Master Shake, I will try to answer your question without all the sarcasm and such. I didn't take the time to read every response to this thread, but it really isn't relevant, my 2 cents probably isn't going to be the same as most of today's "new breed" truckers. Truckers travel in the middle for a variety of reasons, but in an effort to not be too long winded i'll try to keep it short.
The main reason is in the middle lane we are for the most part out of the way. The right lane for exiting and entering traffic. The far left lane for passing or if we are prohibited from traveling in that lane such as around Atlanta, and for the most part on any interstate on the east coast. I'm sure if you think about it you've probably seen the tv commercial of a car merging on an onramp and have a semi bearing down on them like some maniac. I forget what car manufacturer did that, but I know one of them did.
The other main reason was mentioned in the previous paragraph. A lot of states don't allow trucks in the far left lane for some reason.
Hope this answered your question with facts instead of bs.

 

I'll just add that in my particular urban area, trucks are banned from the left lane so if I don't want to be unsafe by constantly changing lanes every time I encounter an on-ramp while going through a metro area, I will get in the middle. [edit: oops, didn't see the above post before I wrote mine.]