65 mph here we come....

Where were you might I ask? Ever since I started and got put in a 65mph truck I been #####ing on the reg. Haven't had that complaint in over two years. Was stuck in more dangerous situations than not at 65mph. Running 73mph now and its the best thing ever. Last companies were also governed at 72-73mph. What took me 3 or 2 hours more round trip at 65mph I can cut that in half or better. Why would someone want to try an pass another truck both governed at 65mph on hills etc with doubles and sit there holding up traffic in the left lane I will never know. I have less cars passing me that then get in front of me and slow down like a retard as well being stuck at 65mph. I stay out of large packs to if at all possible. Less worry of someone running into my trailer doing 90mph while I am trying to merge over at 65mph and pass another truck at 65mph. Anyone who turns their trucks down for a little cost in fuel savings is creating a larger danger to the driver in my up most honest opinion. With that being said, if said truck cannot do or run the posted speed limit, get off the road.

 

LOL. I was doing 75 in South Dakota and My doors got blown off... Trucks are still wide open...

 

I personally think all trucks would be at least 68. Where I'm at, we do 66-69 and it feels great to blast through sometimes.

 

It's flat and South Dakota. Why wouldn't you run 75 or 80 if ya want? Assuming weather conditions permit.

I guess it all depends on your location/terrain/Experience/Weather. Where I am, I can bump it to 70 with the downhill momentum in a 55 for a short time, but by the time I hit the hill I am back down to 55mph or less keeping my momentum and burning less fuel. Their are also a lot of switch back curves. Speaking of, a pick up I saw last night pulling cars on my way back down completely went over the embankment and through the guardrail. First responders were already on the scene. It's a bad curve for anyone who doesn't know the road. That is just one in particular. I also know the roads in my area. Deer are a concern to. Took out two of them my first week pulling doubles. First time actually nailing a deer. Was to late for me to do anything but get on the brakes and take it out at 55mph or less.

Anyway, their are a lot of things and factors to consider. From time spent in driving sims from an age of 16, to driving a truck in real life and owning a sports car I hope no one UN-experienced would drive or attempt to ride like me.

At 65mph for the first time since I got my CDL in 14, I found my self "AGAIN" constantly being passed at 65mph. It's so stressful sitting there twiddling your thumbs waiting to see what stupid occurs next in front of you, behind or what ever. I can perfectly ride next to the sweet spot on the old white line in areas where pavement permits me to do so smoothly, yet someone behind is speeding up with their brights who then just rides behind my truck or in the hammer lane with their brights causing me to not see. You constantly have people riding next to or on the corner part of your trailer in the hammer lane. It's unsafe due to facts of, tire blowouts, any mechanical failure, wild life and merging traffic allowing you not be able to signal and merge over. People have or hardly give you any chance to switch lanes to let merging traffic, merge. You might even have someone on your bumper too, so risk hitting the brakes to let such guy merge and a person to rear end you? NO THANKS!!!! Not let them merge "Be an ###" so they hit your truck and then risk of an accident? No thanks.

How about a week ago I had two big trucks getting ready to merge off to the Petro. I had plenty of gap. Now here is the kicker. A driver that is passing me, empty with his flatbed who speeds on by then jams his brakes dead in front after he cuts me off and ducks in behind the other two trucks already on the off ramp, at this point he didn't even have room to fully get over on the off ramp because the other trucks were taking their time on this off ramp. It's not a bad off ramp either, straight shot. Regardless, it put me in a situation to jam my brakes and swerve to the hammer lane. Luckily, with being able to see cross traffic at night easily with lights and good habits checking my mirrors, I already knew no one was behind him. So, I was able to do what I did and avoid any accident. Other wise I would've rear ended the moron.

Needless to say, I kept telling boss man about it etc and how I like this other particular truck. IE it runs faster. Now, I am running 72-73mph like I was with previous companies and accident free. Jinx knock on wood. With all that said, I never allow my self to get put into situations like this. Occasionally, I will have some dumb 4 wheeler cut me off by getting off at the next exit, but less than I normally would. I can stay in the hammer lane and pass people with out stressing out over traffic behind me building up, all to pass a single truck running slower for what ever reason, hills, weight etc and having to do it all over again later. They get so impatient sometimes they jump in the right lane and pass you, while you are still holding up traffic after having passed that slower said truck. I can simply maintain my speed/momentum and get it done the first time, then merge back in the right lane until miles ahead if i come up on another truck. Assuming by that point no one will be around me more than likely. Matter of fact, I have noticed since I am back in a truck that can run 72-73mph in a 70mph zone that most traffics tends to realize it and doesn't even attempt to speed to catch up an pass me. Those that do, more so than not are actually paying more attention driving and not pissing about with their cell phone or what have you. If they are, then they are generally a good driver, driving with curtsy all while they have a conversation on the phone. Maybe they, focus on their driving to get around you before completing a text message or what ever.

I notice a lot of things out here. 72-73mph is a perfect speed on the east coast for an experienced driver. Haven't been stuck out west too often when I did OTR, but I would probably bet that 80mph would be a good speed west of Decatur, IL where it better permits in some areas. I personally wouldn't run faster than that though in a big truck. To each his own I guess. Those who want to be stuck at 62mph-65mph and not say anything where the posted speed limit is 70 in areas with hills where 72mph can help dramatically keeping momentum, more power to you. I'd rather be able to get up the road and be less stressed everyday.

Anyway, nuff of my rant. Freight is slow while I wait for the nightly call. "Waits on peak Season"

 

they still hammer down here in the midwest.

 

I leave out every morning about 3-4 am headed 55 north out of Jackson Ms. all the FedEx owner ops meet at a place right down the street from me and swap out. Since it was announced, several have cut it down to 65, but there are just as many running 70+. I got behind one today on a two lane, and he was set on 55.

 

I run VA/Carolina mainly. Do a swap in WV between MD/VA or a Swap near Charleston and a live unload in TN. Haven't been to our hubs in TN yet. I can run 73mph in a truck I have particularly been in after having been in another stuck at 65mph complaining not only to my ladie about it, but telling the boss man how dumb that rule really is who agrees entirely, but also depends on said driver. The trucks running any more then 65 are usually team trucks or Amazon trucks because that freight has to move and if its a team truck, then it probably runs out west where its flat 65-70mph. Utah, TX and some places its posted at 80mph.

I had people intentionally speed up on me at 65mph already, so I got behind them a ways and they slow down intentionally again and have slammed the brakes from 65mph to 15mph for absolute no reason. Other truck drivers cut me off to get off at a truck stop intentionally etc. Cars sitting there for miles riding next to my set of doubles regardless if I slow down or not. It's the stupidest thing running at that speed. People driving with their brights on in the hammer lane next to my truck or behind me where I cannot so much as see anything but white light in my mirrors. Ya cannot get up to flow of traffic speed to merge into hammer lane and pass another said truck/car or what ever. It's Dangerous! People riding next to you while others are merging, your signals on, yet no one will let you over temporarily. It's retarded and unsafe.

Running 77 the other night to 81 for a TN run I saw some Florida !@#! with their brights on pissing off this other truck driver. Then intentionally went in front of him then started going slow. I am assuming he could only run 65mph in a 70. He couldn't do anything to get away. I felt sorry for the guy because just weeks prior I was stuck in that same situation with some people. Needless to say, that truck driver was swerving around getting pissed off, flashed his lights at the car an they were being total dicks. Once I came up onto that truck, the car finally sped off knowing I could catch up to them. They then got in the left lane a few miles up the road and approaching more truck traffic I was in the hammer lane. We passed them all and the car was still a good half mile ahead of me like they were trying to run away from me. Sure enough after all that traffics passed, they coast down to 40mph or brake with no brake lights and I had to jam the brakes a bit. Mind you, the right lane is clear at this point and the traffic is behind us half a mile, but still more traffic ahead in the right lane so I just maintained mine.

People are douches out here. I was told by countless drivers both company and O/O, if its comes down to it. Take them out instead of putting truck in said ditch killing your self or w/e simply so you have evidence. Boss man said the same thing to me recently. I said, that would be the intention. Needless to say, I ended up passing that car, stilling riding around with their brights on and never had any other issues all night long once I got their brights out of my mirror trying to pass other said trucks with a set of doubles safely.

 

@Green_20
I recently bought something that would make them reconsider riding with their bright lights on me. It's the Fenix pd35 tactical flashlight. I carry it everyday in my work bag. It comes with two lithium ion rechargeable batteries, a charger, and it's 1000 lumens on high. It will blind you so easily that it is unbelievable, and it fits in the palm of your hand. Cost about $90, has five brightness settings and a strobe function. It's awesome. It is so bright I can light up an entire truck and trailer across the interstate median.

 

Looks like someone may have just lost their contract!
Double semi crash shuts down eastbound Interstate 10

 

I read that too and I have yet to see a single contractor fedex ground doing 65