Oversize haulers...give them a break.

I just did a 15' 8" wide load two days ago. I will say that most drivers were very courteous in passing. A few got a little close. Most of the issues I have with vehicles getting too close and not paying attention are the 4 wheelers. Sometimes when there is a lot of chatter on the CB I will run on a different channel with the pilot cars. We have to be able to hear them because they are our eyes when we can't see what's ahead.

 

we get a lot of these windmill trucks in Colo., especially on the plains you'll encounter the one's hauling some of the generator units. Most are 13 wide, but they are so heavy, the combo. will be 100' + in length with a steerable jeep on the back, and 3 pilots, sometimes even the local cops for escort. Those are the fun ones. Watched one in a little town making a left turn. Two of the pilot cars had traffic stopped so he could turn, CSP was sitting in a parking lot watching the whole procession, so ol' boy got impatient and cut through the elevator lot where I was loading and cut off the OS when he came out. The trooper didn't take kindly to that, I'm sure they had a looooooooooooong talk about that one.

 

The only OD loads I have problem with are local oil field haulers. Most are roughneck 1st and driver somewhere down the line. Speeding all the time. Most without proper lighting and strobes. But the make TX and other states a lot of money so they get away with more. And some are quite fine drivers.

 

The only thing i dislike is, When a pilot car(s) is Yapping about stupid crap on 19 with the OS nothing to do with the current event.

Then I get saying color of my truck is going pass ETC. Then those 2-3 continue on yapping about stupid crap. Then you have to hear them YAP till out of range.

 

I had to have a pilot car one time to cros little panhandle of OK from Stratford TX to CO. Guy never shut up. Turned him down and ###### if he did n't pull over on hill to see what was up. I kept going to top and stopped. Nice guy but shut up please.

 

This past winter I had a 13' wide load going through Colorado on I-80 in some heavy snow. As I was going through a tunnel this US Xpress driver was hell bent on passing everyone in the right lane, even though he was NOT supposed to pass. He nearly hit my load and I had to really hug the right side to prevent him from hitting me. In order to pass me he had to pass a line of other 18 wheelers. The way he was driving I was surprised that I didn't see him on his side or wrecked before I got to the bottom of the mountains.

 

I always give them extra room. I'll ride on the left shoulder if I have to. A few times I've announced on the CB to the OS truck that I was about to come around and pass them but then I realized the spotter in back has probably already told him.

What freaked me out one time was driving some WI back roads for Walmart in the middle of the night and coming upon an OS. I think in that case I pulled as far off on the shoulder as I could and stopped to let them pass.

 

I 59 South in Miss is bad for this. There's an outfit of Mobile Home Haulers that travel this road alot and they figure they own it. Jabber jaw continuous on 19 with their escorts and each other and sure as sin once the 3 or 4 go by you you'll find them parked in a bunch at some exit changing out blown tires. PITA big time.

As to escorts, I often see the "lead" a mile or two ahead of whatever they're scouting for; not apparently paying the slightest attention.

 

On the big roads...the "lead" escorts job is mainly watching for low clearances, narrow bridges, etc. They run a ways ahead to allow the OS driver time to react to any restrictions he may find. On the big roads...the rear escort has the more important job of assisting the OS driver with lane changes, watching the entrance ramps, and blocking people from passing when necessary.

On skinny roads...the front escort has the more important job...blocking traffic for narrow bridges, communicating to the OS driver what is coming back at him, etc...

Not all escorts are created equal...but most are quite professional, and good at what they do.

 

I run two way radios with a pretty good reach in all my pilot cars and if I've got something that needs a height pole I want them that far out in front of me gives me time to stop if they hit something. The thing that pisses me off on two lane roads is that you all can see my pilot car and then when you get to me your all surprised that something big is coming pilot cars aren't out there with all those lights just because they look cool. I do haul big stuff and I try to give as much room as I can, sometimes though I have to have it all. The other day I was 125 ft long 26 ft wide and 16 ft tall I had to have most of the road I had 4 police escorts and 6 pilot cars but people don't pay any attention.