Worried about driving through cities

If you feel scared in Minneapolis, go try NYC. Even some of the bad ### truckers feel like little girls in there

 

Yeah I drove for a company out of Eagan, MN and was there pretty often. Far from being a bad city to drive in. On that note traffic is traffic if youre in LA or Houston so you take it one mile at a time.

 

Driving through cities and driving around IN cities are two different things. The main threat in driving through cities is the 90 - 0 spots were traffic is zooming along and everyone decides to come to an abrupt stop and usually for no apparent reason. Driving in cities and driving through cities have one single and necessary step TRIP PLANNING!!! Know where you are going, LOOK at the route on a REAL MAP and have an idea in your brain and on a written route plan on paper somewhere easily view able. In the old days of driving around San Francisco and Oakland. I would write directions to deliveries on my windshield with a grease pencil or china marker. In the cities know and write down the street names of the major intersection before your turn. This can help in setting up for turns.. Slowing down and getting traffic off your rear can help... BE IN THE WAY! DON'T CARE ABOUT BEING IN THE WAY! At intersections use all the room you need to make the turn. If someone is there.. you CANNOT make the turn.. so STOP!!!! STOP STOP!!! As of yet, there is nothing wrong, no damage, no carnage nothing but you in the way.. let the four wheelers figure it out.. If you get lost or find yourself in a dangerous no win situation STOP!!! Thrown on the four-ways and figure out what to do! CALL FOR HELP! Could you get a ticket? Yes! Is that better than destroying things including your career? YES!

 

Years ago I saw a video about driving a big truck like a "Stone in a Stream" when in heavy traffic.
If traffic is going 65 miles per hour you drive 62 - 64. It's less stessful, allows for continual space opening up in front of you. And other advantages. I've tried it and it works.

 

Oh yeah straddling lanes, always in a roundabout and always to get onto 35w n off Hennepin. That left turn is stupid as hell. The outside lane puts you on a side street so you have to cut off everyone to get on 35. Most cars know that’s what you’re doing though who drive there daily.

 

Rock in the stream, I kind of agree with that. I try to go with the overall flow as opposed to the up and down speed of those closest to me if that makes any sense.

Keep a lot of space in front and pick out a truck far ahead to pace. 4 wheelers, and some trucks, will go in an out of the space immediately ahead of you but you won't really lose any ground and you won't have much problem keeping a decent gap.

When it comes to the rock in the stream thing though I say do it from the granny lane. Doing it in any other lane just seems like you're trying to hold up traffic.

 

being frank with you, you will have so much more to worry about, this will become trivial.

When you get your CDL, don't just think you are road ready, go take a Smith System safety course and learn as much as you can about being aware of things around you so you can understand what to look for. City driving isn't hard for those who understand how to keep out of trouble, and one way is the Smith System.

 

Actually, I think they might be disappointed if you make that tight turn. If you tear something up it can go viral on YouTube.

Just sayin'....

 

For a nice burger? Just stop the truck on the road. Let them drive around. Any decent, doughnut eating, coffee drinking cop, would understand.