why are trucks driving in the middle lane(s)?

Thank You Gregg!

 

As a driver for Roehl Transport we are preached to about the "safe Seven" they are:
prepare to drive--------know where u r going
know what's happening---accidents? slow movin traffic? stopped traffic etc..
yield to others
slow down
stay back
protect others - and well my mind has drawn a blank since Dances with Wolves is starting-best movie ever made, umm anyway, I have drawn a blank here.

You see we are supposed to protect others even when they do stupid things because they have families to go home to too. It is not good public relations for truckers to run folks off the road or better yet run over them (though we all feel like it at times)gotta go watch Kevin Costner get friendly with the Sioux

 

Simple questions deserve simple answers not name calling, insulting each other and in general letting every one know how ignorant you are instead of making them wonder. I don't take sides in this "debate" I do say that everyone is too fast to insult each other when perhaps just ignoring them would have resolved the whole issue.

The answer to the question is because it is a safety issue. Short sweet and simple.

 

Well put MACK E, I did apologize for my rant - was out of line , I put myself back in line and am ok now that subject matter gets me wool in a tangle. Me fine now.

 

Here's what you're seeing: trucks are going slow and slowing you down... There are probably 2 good reasons for this: one is merging, which as been covered already. I don't think you read about how hard it is for big trucks to change lanes or slow down and speed back up. Not to mention the NASCAR training maneuvers four-wheelers seem to like making in order to get an extra two car lengths ahead...

Another thing, not covered so far, is dual speed limits. You might be allowed to go 70mph in your Honda, but big trucks might be restricted to 55 (ala Cali and Oregon). I don't know where you live, but look around for the speed limit signs and see what they say - for both cars AND trucks. A lot of foolish state legislatures have created dual speed limits. I know that this is the #1 reason I hate driving in California and Oregon, especially on 2-lane interstates/highways.

Ad to that the fact that every little hill will slow most trucks down (esp. those that're heavily loaded) and that morons in front of the truck might not be able to decide how fast they want to go (a common problem here in Utah)...

My sincere wish is that major cities would create "truck only bypass routes" that allowed trucks to go around or through that city on a road all for them - or even just a no-exit bypass route for all travelers, similar to an HOV lane. For every ten cities I have to wade through on my way somewhere, I'm only really interested in taking the exit in one (where my pickup or delivery is located). The left-lane for trucks idea someone threw out earlier is brilliant!

 

We can say the truckers are penalized cause 4 wheelers who do not know how to drive and breaking the law cause the law is after the big truck for more money, but that would not be right would it?

What your complaining about,, Truckers in the middle lane is not just for convenous, but for SAFETY of the so call inconvinous 4 wheeler.. In many places the law makers has passed laws that makes the Highways more dangerous and cause more traffic jams. The Right 2 Lanes restrictions are the worst laws I seen, split speed limits is also. Right 2 lanes restriction places the truck in the danger of merging trafic. Not only dangerous, but a cause of traffic Jams. Example. Once you could drive through Charlotte, NC with some what of a ease no matter what time. Then they came with the law of the right 2 lane restriction. Traffic went from ok to All Stop. Split Speed Limits. 70 MPH Car and 55 MPH Truck. No telling how many cars I seen in Ohio stuck under trailers on the interstate cause the car's driver rammed the slower truck. Does all Law's save lives? No, so the trucker is hit with Dam if you do and Dam if you don't.

 

One thing that was said on here that I believe was overlooked by everyone - it was said that squid doesn't understand driving a big rig. This is truer than he understands - I didn't understand what my husband does, or what a big rig is like until I spent a week with him in the truck. Alot of 4-wheelers don't think, but some just aren't aware of what or how a big rig is - maybe they should make it mandatory in police acadamy for a cadet to do a "ride - along" with a trucker, in city driving and on the highway - it would give them a better perception of what a truckers has to go through just to do his/her job. After going through the first big city with my hubby, I realized more than I thought possible. Maybe instead of most of you and squid (your not innocent in this) fighting, squid you should really think about a ride along with a driver, you'll find out they are VERY intellegent, and most of them are super nice. Some truckers may not have a college education, but they have alot of COMMON SENSE, something everyone could use more of.

Before you start yelling and saying some of the things you said, try putting yourself in their shoes. You say you were on your way to work, think - these people in the middle lane are AT work - most of them will be for 10-14 days out. You get to go home after 8 - 10 hours, they get to speak to their family on the phone when they stop. On the same thought, you worked just as hard to become a cop, they worked hard to become a driver.

Before you judge another trucker on the highway, please try and connect with one and do a ride along, I really think you'll have an all new outlook on the "life of a trucker".

 

I talked to some recent HS grads who were working the docks for the summer, and they were totally ignorant about gov'd trucks, limitations, etc. They are still NOT teaching them info about big trucks other than occasionally 'slamming' the truckers with inuendos. These kids come out of school believing that trucks should be in the right lane at all times!! They still will try to cram in to the truck's right-side to rt-turn when the truck has moved slightly left to make his/her rt-turn with blinker on! When possible, of course, we truckers shud not give them that option if we can block with angled trlr!! Some drvrs know that rt-turning may require us to go into on-coming lanes to make, and they back off to let us do---kudos to them and their driving experience! Even my father who took a 'Senior Course' in driving safety (insurance premium reduction) was taught about big trucks and the 'size'/limitations' they have and require more room in confined areas/intersections than the 4-whlr. Really, if anybody has been driving for any period of time, it shud just be 'common sense!'