The correct way to merge in a construction zone?

People need to leave room for others to make the merge. Because of my size, if I can let at least 3 cars merge in front of me, maybe others will try to do the same. Kind of like "Monkey see, Monkey do" in a good way.

 

"I found my spot, at the front of the line."

 

I do that, also. I stay at the trailer tandems of the truck so he sees I'm not out here to pass him. Then at the merge he makes room for me. It worked a lot better when more than 8 truck drivers in the state had a CB radio. I've got my radio on, and use it.

 

I'm just here for the inevitable -- ahem! -- "debate."

 

Zipper merge works in theory but in reality it's 7-8 four wheelers rushing to cut off a semi then hitting the brakes. That's not zipper merging.

Merging "rules" also vary state by state. Some states have do not pass signs yet people still rush to pass. Some states put out lane ends merge now signs so I merge then. PA recently has been putting trucks use left/right lane miles before the closure so only cars can zipper merge which seems logical but it just leads to trucks getting cut off.

There's never going to be safe efficient merging. Hell, I had a mini van try to cut me off right in front of a state trooper parked in front of the arrow board. I parked that van right behind him after they drove through two barrels. I already let 3 cars in learn how to zipper merge.

 

So today at an average speed of 68mph I was able to safely merge lane to lane in less than 1/10 of a mile repeatedly.
My truck also did not take a mile to slow from 68/70 to 55 when the speed limit dropped.
When we hit the merge right area 3/10 of a mile before hand I was able to drop back more than enough to let the other truck over with room to spare and not have anyone come up on my rear too close.
So let's talk about that mile ?
Are you one of them that stays out for a mile after making a pass?
Do you have to drop from 65 or 70 to 50 a mile before that nice long Ramp?
Still confused because even the few trucks that passed me didn't take a hole mile to do it and they didn't take a mile getting back into the right lane.

 

Truck drivers still arguing about the merge when 99% of the time we got it handled either way we do it. It’s the 4 wheelers you should be arguing with. Lol!

 

Key word you're missing is START.

A mile out a driver needs to be making his plan on how and when he will move over. If the gap is there, and he can move over without disrupting traffic flow, then he should move. Otherwise he should be looking at traffic to find his gap.

 

My God boy, if you don't already know what's going on around you at all times, you'll be lost out there.

On my second run today in about 1 and 1/10 of a mile. I had an other truck decide he needed my lane more than me just before my exit. Recovered from the burm downgeared for the tight ramp, dropped down to 5th hit a stop at the end of the ramp made sure everything was clear took the right lane filtered left over the single exit lane, grabbing gears and keeping it flowing, merged onto the expressway, hit my exit ramp first exit just at the end of on ramp, as I got squarely on the apex of the ramp had to avoid a 4 wheeler going the wrong way at about 45/50 Mph. Avoided that hollered on the cb to alert everyone coming behind that we had a suicide driver in the southbound daled 911 and started reporting it while still staying clear of everything and watching the lights and traffic at the end of the ramp. Cleard my right turn on the green arrow and dropped more gears as I came to a stop at the second intersection told 911 I couldn't stay on if needed they could call me back in 10 min. Abot 1 1/10 of a mile traveled today.
Stay alert keep an eye on everything all the time and always be prepared. Your plans sometimes get iterupted in surprising ways.

 

Yes I remember getting caught in a merge one day in a work zone, not sure why but I happened to be in the left lane for some reason and had to merge right, and like this topic discusses rather than just stop and hold others up I kept driving in the left lane hoping to merge right well easy said then done though. Yes I guess some must of thought oh this guys trying to get in front of us there's buckley's to no chance we're going to let him merge, so finally instead of someone slowing up a bit to let me in I was eventually forced to merge in front of another truck there must of only been inches to spare, needless to say that driver then resorted to mouthing off at me for doing so, I felt like saying hey bud how about doing something decent for once in your life and letting a fellow driver merge? What ever happened to good old fashioned decency? This was probably the same type of driver that would park up at a fuel station and make everybody wait for him.