When the Safe 7 is unsafe

Discussion in 'Roehl' started by Preacher Man, May 24, 2014.

  1. Preacher Man

    Preacher Man Road Train Member

    2,930
    2,776
    May 31, 2008
    Mason City, IL
    0
    Long before Roehl came up with the Safe 7, or even existed as a trucking company there was a simpler system for driving known as The Smith System. From the time I was in drivers ed back in 1977 through my training to become a school bus driver and onto my beginnings in truck driving the 5 Keys were hammered into me. The Safe 7 is Roehl's answer to following the same system without having to pay the people at Smith for their program. The bottom line is that both are great systems for making you not only a safer, but more efficient driver. My issue is when someone sitting in an office tells you to do something that is inherently unsafe in the mistaken belief that it is safe.

    One of the things that I learned in the Smith System is indeed to watch the driver's as well as the car's behavior for signs of what they are going to do. Watch merging traffic, if they are speeding up then get off the pedal and allow them to enter the roadway. If there is an entire line of merging traffic, allow those ahead of you the chance to enter, but those beside and behind are going to have to fall in behind you. Expect a fourwheeler to do the wrong thing at all times. Keep in mind that in general the lane you are in is yours and people who want into your lane need to adjust their speed to fit into any opening available. Do not cause a wreck yourself by stopping, or trying to make an unsafe lane change. All of this goes with "Aim high in steering.", or "Get the big picture." You should already know what is happening before the event. Keep in mind another key to driving is to leave yourself an out. That is part of another key, "Stay back."

    Can I point out something for all you "hot rod, super truckers?" All the speeding, tailgating and rude driving won't give you enough extra miles to make up for the extra fuel used and you won't get even one more decent load during the week. You might arrive 10 minutes before me, but that is about all you will gain. Yes I am that 57 mph truck in the right lane that the cops don't even look at going down the road. I have a 75 mph truck if I need it to get out of trouble, but you can't outrun poor fuel economy. Yes it is aggravating to constantly get cut off driving through downtown Chicago, but not nearly as aggravating as getting in an accident would be.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Viking84

    Viking84 Light Load Member

    197
    86
    Dec 27, 2008
    Valdosta Georgia
    0
    Preacher, I sense a tad bit of exaggeration in your post.
    I have not received any such safety msg, so I cannot say what you received. bUt did safety honestly tell you to "STOP AT ALL GREEN LITES THAT YOU DID NOT SEE CHANGE" As I find that hard to swallow. Just the simple fact that many lites will stay green until a vehicle activates the sensor. So I could be sitting at a green lite for hours waiting for some car to come from the other direction to activate the lite change.
    I suspect that safety is just simply restating their years old policy that we need to be prepared for any green lites to change, and to simply allow merging vehicles access.
    I doubt that ROEHL is hinting that you come to a stop on an interstate highway to allow a long line of cars to merge in.
    I would like to see the actual message you received and how it was truly worded, and if it was worded as you said, then actually hear it from a safety person to clarify it.
    I suspect that you are mistaken in your translation of ROEHLs safety policy.
    However, I have been wrong in the past and maybe ROEHL does want us to stop at all green lites even if we have to wait a couple hours for some car to come along and activate the lite change..
     
  4. Dark Squall

    Dark Squall Medium Load Member

    557
    237
    Aug 11, 2013
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    0
    Far as interstate on ramps, I have one simple rule. Go or Slow. Merging your vehicle to the left to yield can be incredibly dangerous. Soon as you look left, you ignore the ramp. When your judging the ramp traffic, your ignoring your passing side. As you know, drivers never miss a chance to pass a slower vehicle, so they pass asap. Its likely as you think its clear and start yielding the lane, someone may try to pass on the left.

    A number of things to keep in mind, ramp design, traffic speed, traffic mood, and amount of traffic seeking to merge.
     
  5. Dark Squall

    Dark Squall Medium Load Member

    557
    237
    Aug 11, 2013
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    0
    Viking 84, there was a message this last week.
     
  6. Preacher Man

    Preacher Man Road Train Member

    2,930
    2,776
    May 31, 2008
    Mason City, IL
    0
    Both of these messages came from Sarah and sometimes she goes a bit overboard. A few years ago I slipped on ice at a customer who had not cleared the snow and ice from their dock area. I managed to get the bleeding stopped and dutifully called in in case we needed to do a work comp claim by getting stitches. She made me sit for an hour and then call in. After all, I might have a concussion. I'm a truck driver and this wasn't the first bump on the head I've had, nor the last. Anyway, I had to call in after sitting an hour, or she was sending and ambulance.

    My point in starting this thread is partly to poke fun and partly to remind drivers that driving safely is using your common sense and experience. Most of the people who sit in the office in any trucking company don't even hold a cdl so they only have theories on how to drive safely.
     
  7. Scott72

    Scott72 Road Train Member

    2,747
    1,758
    Apr 7, 2013
    0
    Good stuff right here. I'm the other 57 mph truck rolling down the road. My student today got 9.1 mpg driving at 55 mph with 42K in the box. I'll take that any time. Keeps us out of trouble too.
     
  8. Viking84

    Viking84 Light Load Member

    197
    86
    Dec 27, 2008
    Valdosta Georgia
    0
    I have gotten plenty of messages over the years from safety. But I have not gotten one that says we must stop at all green lights unless we actually saw it turn green.
     
  9. Viking84

    Viking84 Light Load Member

    197
    86
    Dec 27, 2008
    Valdosta Georgia
    0
    I am also a 56 mph driver. I really stress MPG to my students and point out how the difference in just a Half of a mile per gallon costs me about $130 a week in fuel.
    Just the simple thing of turning the truck off the moment you stop, before you unbuckle your seatbelt, raise the steering wheel etc.. and starting the truck after putting on your seatbelt, adjusting steering wheel etc... will save about 10 gallons ( or $40) a month
     
  10. Preacher Man

    Preacher Man Road Train Member

    2,930
    2,776
    May 31, 2008
    Mason City, IL
    0
    I don't remember the exact wording, but it was a jolt that we should consider stopping even though the light was green since it might change suddenly. I'm not going to argue about it, just like I'm not going to argue about yield to merging traffic even though you are in the through lane. I'm just pointing out that sometimes when they try to emphasis safety they advocate unsafe practices that can have the opposite effect.

    For almost 40 years I have always been taught, taught, heard and read the same thing about approaching a green light. Let off the throttle and cover the brake as you approach the intersection. When you reach the point you can no longer stop, if the light is still green accelerate back to speed and proceed through the intersection even if the light goes from green to yellow as you enter the intersection.
     
  11. gingersquatch

    gingersquatch Medium Load Member

    343
    228
    Dec 15, 2013
    Pittsburgh, PA
    0
    I got 5.6 mpgs yesterday and today trying to stick to the speed limit throughout my day with 46k behind me. Went through Chicago through traffic, down 65 and then down 75 through hills.

    But I'm also pulling a parachute behind me. I generally keep my foot planted unless of course traffic or speed limits or other situations dictate a slower speed and will average around 7.2 mpgs unless I have a very heavy, not very aerodynamic, or running hilly areas. And limited to 63, I don't get into trouble either. I make the move to my own truck, yeah, I'll probably be a 57mph driver as well. 1 mpg increase is $570 in my pocket.
     
    Beedubyah Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.