What are some good offensive driver techniques?

If nothing else works you could throw the hazards on so you can catch the eye of all the 4 wheelers doung their makeup ans texting. Or get a train horn on your truck. That’ll get some 4 wheeler’s attention

 

One time I was making a turn at a Baltimore Dairy called Greenspring off the Falls Rd Area. (83 downtown) 5 people promptly backed up to give me room. (Thank you kindly.) One did not. So there I was with a entire intersection fubared and now 3 roads worth of people telling Mrs Stubborn mule to back the #### thing up. oh no no no.. etc.

I pulled Mr Pops put my feet on dash and sat with a new smoke waiting for a beat cop to get there. A few minutes later he did. By now things are truly epic mess. Mr Bear told Mrs Stubborn that she will either move back and let me and all these people go or he will call a BIG truck to pick her car up and move it with her in it then start writing tickets.

She moved. Such a mouth. yak yak yak.

It was a very long time ago I tell you. Some things you aint forget. It's a shame I did not get to put her into low range, lock my axles and gently move her back.

 

All while you have the 'Show Me Your Titties' sign stuck to the window.

 

I presume you drive for CR England. As what you have said is their mantra that they preach.

One of the most common mistakes made by many is driving at the speed the truck is governed at. IE if your truck is governed at 62, you should be driving at 60. The reasoning for this is that if you lose air on a steer tire, a driver is supposed to increase speed until the sidewall stabilizes. Then slowly merge to the right and bring the truck to a stop.

 

the best way to learn is after a few accidents/incidents jk never wish that

 

@AModelCat mentioned my thread about gunning it to keep my trailer (and my tractor) rubber side down when executing a buttonhook turn onto a narrow dirt road off a narrow 2 lane paved road. There's times when what I will call aggressive, rather than "offensive" driving IS the safest possible choice.

One typical situation is when the speed limit is 70 mph and I have my cruise control set at 70 mph overtaking a slightly slower governed truck. We are coming up on a freeway interchange, not an ideal time to pass, but there's a dozen "roller skates" (4 wheelers) charging up hard about a quarter mile back. Now is the time to own the hammer lane and consider getting into the throttle to get the pass done quickly and get back over so the roller skates can get on through.

THEN as you start getting into the pass you see a SLOW moving heavy coming up the uphill entrance and stuff is going to get jammed up for EVERYONE. You can either slam on the brakes and signal Mr. Mega to get over (and stack up a dozen roller skates behind you in addition to the dozen roller skates chomping at the bit behind the slow heavy)...

...OR you floor it and (GASP!) exceed the speed limit with room for Mr. Mega to get over behind you AND back in front of heavy AND let the roller skates take care of themselves.

When it comes to traffic I am always looking out for the well being of other trucks on the road with me. Roller skates can take care of themselves, they can accelerate faster (usually) and get through tighter spaces. I make way for faster trucks (or drivers that want to go faster than I do) and help block traffic when another driver needs room to change lanes or make a turn.

 

now i wish my truck isnt governed at 65 ! i only share the road for another semi when it is merging. 4 wheelers can brake and accelerate fast enough and dont need my help

 

I spend a fair amount of time driving trucks for customers, some governed as low as 62 mph. When driving a slow truck I adjust my strategy for safety radically. If safety requires I slow WAAAAAYYYY down and get into the 25 mph crawl behind that heavy, that's exactly what I do.

Safety sometimes means doing the "aggressive thing". In a governed truck it means you are forced into sometimes terrible options IMHO.

 

Google the Smith system, learn it, live it.