ORIGINAL: GeezerGlider

I wish the same rules were applied to two semis - it drives me nuts when one semi starts to pass another, usually just as they start up an incline, and the two end up running side-by-side at a whopping 44 mph in a 65 zone, stacking up traffic behind. I can't prove it, but sometimes I think if I could see in the cab, the trucker would have a smile on his face at putting everybody abother 10-15 minutes behind schedule.... [sm=GrowUp.gif]

ORIGINAL: GeezerGlider

I wish the same rules were applied to two semis - it drives me nuts when one semi starts to pass another, usually just as they start up an incline, and the two end up running side-by-side at a whopping 44 mph in a 65 zone, stacking up traffic behind. I can't prove it, but sometimes I think if I could see in the cab, the trucker would have a smile on his face at putting everybody abother 10-15 minutes behind schedule.... [sm=GrowUp.gif]

ORIGINAL: Branded

Sorry to hear about your family but, I think what is trying to be made understood is dont get in the passing lane and run the same speed as the vehicle next to you. Be it a semi, car, pickup, bike what ever. Make your pass and get back into the right hand lane so as not to hold up the faster traffic around you. Most divided highways have signs stating, SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT!!

ORIGINAL: bubbas1

I was finisahing up work last night and was coming out of Milwaukee on the interstate. Minding my own business in the right lane and damned if 2 cycles decided they wanted to ride along my trailer. Not a good thing for them. So I thought I would post some rules that I go by when driving a semi. Mostly all apply to interstate driving.

1. My vehicle is bigger than yours and yes I know it. If we bump into each other you will lose every time.

2. There is a 3 blink rule when I want to change lanes (dosent apply in bumper to bumper traffic) See them lights along side the trailer flashing??? That means I am coming over. You get 3 blinks from them and I will then start to move into your lane. You will move ..see rule #1 for why. Just so you know I am not changing lanes for the hell of it. There is a reason. So...either speed up or slow down..dosent matter to me. Just dont hang out along side of my trailer. Ever hear a tire pop? Will scare you to death. Only had 1 person I couldnt pimp out of a lane. He was to busy mixing a cocktail to pay much attention to my turn signals.

3. When I go to pass you. Try not to speed up because you dont want to be passed. Most trucks have governors on them. I had enough speed to get around you before you realized you were going to be passed and decided to speed up and stay even with my trailer. See rule #2.

4. When we get into a construction zone and your lane is ending. I will not let you in my lane in the last 1/2 mile. You should have read the signs 2 miles back saying your lane is ending. Actually had a lady try to force her way into my lane like this one day in the city. I let about 3 vehicles over and then closed the gap. Next thing I hear is metal on metal. Was a 3mph hit but it opened up the whole side of her car. No tickets or anything for me.

5. If you are nice and let me over look for my 4 ways to come on for a few seconds ar all of my trailer lights to blink on and off. No..it dosent have a short. I am doing that as a way to say thanks.

6. In the city...the rule is if I miss your vehicle by an inch it may as well be a mile. Usually when I am turning a corner. A miss is a miss. I know exactly how much room I have to make the turn. Went to make a delivery one day and turned into a lot. Missed a ladys vehicle by an inch and she actually came up to me and asked if I know how close I came to her vehicle. I told her yep..thats why I didnt run into you.

7. If you insist on not doing the speed limit in the center /left lane on the interstate I will try to help you either speed up or move over. The reason there is a taillight on your back window is so I can get closer to you and still see when you apply your brakes. The closer I get the better the odds are that you will move over or speed up. Why?? See rule #1. I know you will not lock up the brakes to make me back off. I also have a better view of whats going on in front of you so if something is going on up the road that is going to cause you to slow down even further I am already on the brakes before you even think about it.

Thats about it. These rules do NOT apply if you have any children in the vehicle with you.
Except for last night I never have a problem with bikes. As long as your headlight is on (brights is better) I do everything I can to know where your location is at all times.

One last note..I would like to take this time to thank all of the ladys that wear short skirts and put there left leg up on the dash while driving. It makes my day.

ORIGINAL: bubbas1
4. When we get into a construction zone and your lane is ending. I will not let you in my lane in the last 1/2 mile. You should have read the signs 2 miles back saying your lane is ending.

ORIGINAL: orangecrush



I agree with all your rules except this one. I have good friends that are truck drivers and I go out of my way to block for them (if they're trying to get into a lane) or allow them room to move over.

However.... WTF difference does it make to you as a truck driver whether I get into the merging lane 2 miles back or I wait until the end??? The signs say move over, it doesn't say when.

As long as I'm not cutting you off, forcing myself over, causing you to brake, who gives a rat's *** when I actually move over. I personally used to hate it when people do it but as long as they're not driving in the shoulder (that REALLY pisses me off) or being rude, I don't really care when they move over.

I think it's more ignorant when you big trucks try to take up two lanes just so God forbid, someone decides to not merge when you do. That will be the ONLY time you'll see me drive in the shoulder... to get around a tractor trailer.

So you may want to show the same courtesy you expect to be given.

My .02 worth...

Mark

ORIGINAL: sctusa


If you can not figure out why you should merge ASAP then that means you do not have a clue as to what he is talking about. Idiots run that ending lane so they CAN cut in front of everyone else that observed the signs and did the correct thing and merged left or right into the open lane as the case may be. The more idiots that do it the more it slows traffic, but hey what do they care, they cut the line in front of everyone else that did the right thing!
People don't generally do that in a checkout line in a store when they have to be face to face with other people. They do it in vehicles because they think they are anonymous when in reality they are a$$holes.
A little courtesy goes a long way