how can a 4 wheeler best help an 18 wheeler?

You're taking it entirely the wrong way. Yeah, there are some 18 wheelers(although that term really isnt as politically correct anymore as it once was with the growing usage of super singles) that are #######es but the fact still remains that there are way too many 4wheelers and other vehicles that haul the other things you stated that either dont know or dont care how to coexist with big trucks on the road. What bigtrucks haul and dont haul is not the issue. Its the weight and the size along with the blindspots that are the issue. I dont consider myself on a pedastal and I dont think anyone else thinks they are, either. Yeah, theres rants, but alot of those rants are way more than just whining. I see it everyday. Well, night. I dont drive during the day if i can avoid it. Its not that we hate 4-wheelers, we just wish they'd show a little more common sence since big trucks arent nimble like cars are. We cant stop on a dime. We cant accellerate to 70 miles an hour in 7 seconds. We cant take a hairpin ramp at 50 miles an hour and when theres a steep hill, we're gonna get slowed down rapidly whether we like it or not. If four-wheelers would take the time to listen to the advice given on here, there wouldnt be issues.

 

1 thing that drives me crazy whether im in a 4 wheeler or a rig

im on an on ramp, up to speed, and theres an idiot behind me

and right when i get the chance to merge into traffic the idiot behind me goes first and drives right past me so i have to wait on him to get out of my way....and sometimes they will ride right next to you

i dont speed but i dont drive that slow either

 

Hey Bogey, not to pick a fight with any "other" types of truckers, but if I had to say there was a specific group of trucks that were the most (agressive/fast/loud/reckless) I'd venture it's the 12 wheel 4 axle dump trucks.

Most of these guys are local, so they know the roads they're on and haul ###. And it seems like 90% of them are either customized and/or running bull pipes. And it seems like there is no restriction on what they put under the hood, so if they're only half full, they can pull like a GTO.

With there being less and less O/O OTR rigs out there (and the company trucks being ruled by the legal department with their governors, uniform look, emissions compliance, and satilite tracking), The company trucks seem to run in the range of 55-70. With everyone jockeying for that last 2 mph.

 

Get up to highway speed before merging into highway traffic.
Don't pass me on the right when I'm in the left lane because there is a
driver working on his truck on the shoulder.

 

don't hang out in the blind spot, don't tailgate, and DIM YOUR FREAKING HIGH BEAMS AS SOON AS YOU SEE THOSE RED TRAILER LIGHTS IN THE DISTANCE! we/i can see them from that far away and just wait until you're in front of me. i've got some of those wonderful halogen high beams waiting for you.......

 

some idiot schneider driver tried to merge in front of me on a 2 lane interstate at 40mph today...i had nowhere to go

some people are just stupid

 

"AMEN" to both points. When I started this job I was really surprised at how many motorists out there have absolutely no idea of the proper way to merge. It's not really your responsibility to "let them in"; it's actually their responsibility to match up with the traffic already on the interstate. Same darned law in all 50 states, but everyone acts as if they've never heard of it.

And that thing about passing on the right when you're trying to avoid someone on the shoulder: usually the opposite happens to me. When I see someone on the side of the road up ahead, I immediately look in my mirror and see 4 wheelers passing to close for me to get over - and it used to happen every single time!!!

Didn't take long to realize what was happening: those 4 wheelers see the same vehicle on the shoulder and, since they know I'll slow down if I can't get into the next lane, they see it as the perfect opportunity to "beat the big truck". There are lots of times when, upon seeing the parked vehicle, I'll immediately look at my mirror and see the car automatically floor it before I've even put on my turn signal.

These days I don't wait to move over: the second I see the hazard up ahead I immediately move into the left lane before they get a chance to cut me off. They get so impatient that they fail to realize that, in a second or two, I'm just going to move right back into the granny lane, and they can have the left lane all to themselves once again.

 

He prolly thought you were gonna let him in regardless. When it happens to me, I mainly get pissed at the fourwheelers for not lettin me over for the merging truck to come over. I know to some people it may sound selfish but people need to realize that trucks don't accelerate like cars do. That's really the main reason I don't move over for cars is because there's no excuse for them to not be up to the freeway speed long before the ramp ends.

 

For a truck driver, the current CDL training is to manage the space around your truck. That means in front, beside, and behind. If a four wheeler hangs around a big truck, while they may have good intentions, they can be distracting. Distractions take attention away from other things.

I prefer when a driver drives with the flow of traffic and does not drive erratic. Get in a lane and stay there. Plan your drive and drive your plan. Plan and set yourself up for exits well in advance, 1/4 mile when possible. Remember to signal for 3-5 seconds before starting your lane changes. It is very helpful when a four wheeler is predictable. AVOID DISTRACTED DRIVING PLEASE.

Unfortunately, there is only a small portion of four wheel drivers that have the slightest clue as to how important their task at hand is.