passing on the right

Yep, learned that long before I stepped into a big truck. Actually, not slower but steadier is what I try to do. While everyone else is racing ahead and then checking the brakes I pick a vehicle far ahead and pace them.

It's easier on me, easier on the truck and nicer on my fuel bonus doing it that way. It's also easier on the line jumpers because they keep thinking they are getting ahead by filling the hole in front of me. Of course that hole opens up when they jump again and I usually end up going right by them.

I remember one big truck driver who looked so intense as he raced by me and as I cruised by him, oh probably a dozen times or so in the space of a few miles. I thought his head was going to explode, or atleast his eyes pop right out, as I waved when cruising by him in the right lane for about the 10th time.

 

Exactly ! I flip my right signal on to emphasis to the traffic stuck behind me what an inconsiderate driver he is.

If you speed up, trapping a fellow driver out there, why do you do this?

 

I can't figure out why they do it either. It screws things up for everyone. I back off and let them over when I see them struggling and I could outrun them if I wanted to. Why's it so hard to reach over and flip off the cruise for a few seconds? I guess they think jamming up the whole highway for miles is funny.

 

there is a black longnose swift truck that refuses to drive faster or slower than 62, who will start cussing you out on the cb for doing that. I do the same thing, hehe...did it to him twice, omg, i laughd my ### off the second time..first time, i was soooo pissed....

what a #######.

 

Yeah you keep on with all your 4 yrs of driving experience there bud .

 

After 32 years I like to reflect back to the so called good old days of truck driving. You all know back when your daddy or you remember when truck drivers were men. I try to forget the night when someone stole fuel from my tanks, yes we had the low life stealing fuel back then, and I failed to realize this and ran out of fuel in CO and it was 5 below. After 20 to 30 trucks passed by one old timer stopped and help me get going, even back then we had drivers in too big of a hurry to help. Or the time in Ashland, VA that the starter went out of my truck and I asked 5 drivers to give me a lift down the road maybe one mile because I needed to be at the parts store before they closed and finally one driver give me a lift and the sad part only a Canadian would stop and help. After all of the stories you hear about the good old days. Let me tell you that these good old days are drivers dreaming about what drivers should be and very few will be.

Back in the good old days I would run two log books, get maybe 4 hours of sleep every night and get on the average one ticket a month and paid for them out of my own pocket. The company was nice enough to give me more hot freight to try to make up for the money lost while they made more money off of my ignorance. I ran hard in the left lane and was mad at all drivers that got in my way because I was hauling hot freight and was trying to live a million dollar life style on $40,000 a year.

Some where about the 20th year of trucking hard I realized that I was making the company more money then I was making and at the same time putting my self in a early grave. As a O/O I realized I was wasting my fuel, wearing out my tires and getting tickets that was increasing my insurance rates and the company was making more money off of my ignorance. This may be a shock to some but your company don't care about you only about making money off of you. I know they tell you that your best driver they have and wish they had a whole fleet of drivers like you. It's because your the one making them the most money at a a loss to you.

Fast forward to today and the subject of this thread. I'm the one in the center lane flowing with the traffic up to and including the speed limit but no more. If the traffic flow goes above the speed limit then I'm the one in the right lane watching you large cars speeding by and wondering how long it will take before you realize your company or broker is using you like a two dollar whor#. Cheap rates and fast freight. You all can tailgate me and call me all names you want and more then likely I will not respond or may not even have my CB turned on but I will always laugh at your ignorance of how to drive a truck and make a fortune. I will be the one stopping to help you on the side of the road or giving you a lift to get parts for your truck because I don't haul hot freight and I have time to enjoy life on the road and help fellow drivers. If the company fails to ship the freight on time then that is not my problem. I will tell them when I will arrive and the rest is their problem not mine. I'm sorry if I'm in the way of your large car, either in the middle or right lane, but at the same time I feel sorry for you for letting your company tell you how to drive your truck. If your tailgating me then your not tailgating a four wheeler with a family trying to enjoy life and as a tailgater your stupid enough to put their lives at risk because of a load of freight. I always wondered if a stupid trucker would tailgate his own family.

You all quote the law about moving over for slow traffic while at the same time breaking the law by speeding. Ambidextrous drivers. It's not I don't care about you "gotta go fast" drivers but it's just I will not join your ignorance any more. Enjoy trucking, slow down. This may be hard for some to comprehend but you can actually clear more money at the end of the year by slowing down and planning your trips and your life then by just going fast all of the time.

 

There are too many drivers like this one out here. They lack any ability to look in the mirror having little if any self awareness. They constantly blame others for their problems. They are quick to jump on any and everybody ### for the slightest issue but when they are doing something to irk someone they are totally silent in admitting any guilt about themselves. HMMM.

 

I'm no auto engineer, but believe best mileage is while being in highest gear while holding rpm at peak torque. For my pickup, that's about 40mph. But, I'm not crazy enough to risk my life by doing 40 in 80mph traffic just to save a few dollars. There's a breakeven point between saving money and survival.

 

If the cop is stupid enough to ticket someone for not moving right for a speeder, then I think that driver should just stop in the #### left lane to get his ticket!

 

Sounds more like wishful thinking than fact. I've been out here a while, and have rarely heard drivers say they were cited for improper lane usage. I've heard dozens say they got it for speeding.