Sharing the road with semi trucks
10-09-2010, 07:21 PM
#61
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
Originally Posted by bearisgray
I am surprised at how many forum members drive big rigs - or have close family members that are drivers.
10-09-2010, 07:22 PM
#62
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: AZ and CT
Posts: 4,898
I shudder to think what would happen if all the truckers suddenly couldn't drive their trucks any more. Life as we know it would END! They have a difficult job, and just about ALL of them do it very well. As others have said, it's usually inconsiderate or stupid or DRUNK drivers of cars that cause truckers to have accidents.
By the way, no one in my family is a trucker - so I'm not tooting a personal horn.
By the way, no one in my family is a trucker - so I'm not tooting a personal horn.
10-09-2010, 07:23 PM
#63
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,199
These are good points, but #2 gets me though. Why do they pass if they can not see? We were almost ran off the expressway by a trucker. We were passing a semi and he decided he wanted to pass. Good thing we were way on the inside lane (the expressway was several lanes across) and we had a shoulder. But I have seen accidents with people killed they have caused wanting to pass when someone is passing them. If they can't see they shouldn't be passing. Perhaps another mirror would help.
Originally Posted by bearisgray
I rode with DH for about a year in his "big truck" -
After that, I realized that there are some things that "four-wheelers" should know.
1) If you can't see the driver's mirrors, he/she can't see you.
2) If you are right beside the unit (tractor and trailer), the driver can't see you. (Even if you can see the mirrors) You are below where the driver can see you.
3) Don't tailgate. A tire can blow and end up in your face. Or the driver might need to make a sudden stop. And you might end up under the back of the trailer - and you might end up decapitated.
4) Most truck drivers do not want to be involved in accidents. It's extremely inconvenient to have one.
5) They need to make wide swings when they turn corners so the trailer goes where it's supposed to.
6) Don't try to sneak by on the right side of a truck when it's trying to make a right hand turn. It's near the middle lane so that when it turns the trailer won't be on the sidewalk.
7) If a truck cuts you off (pulls into the left-hand passing lane) when climbing a hill, it's because he/she is reasonably sure that he can overtake the other trucks in front of him/her. It is easier for a car to maintain or recover speed than it is for a truck to recover. You might think the driver is #1, but that's why.
8) Do not park in front of a run-away spot. There are very few places that a run-away truck can get off the road. And they are hard to spot.
9) Avoid being where a driver is unsure of your intentions. If he/she needs to pass or take evasive action, don't need to worry about someone being in the left-hand lane right on one's tail.
10) If necessary, some of the rigs can travel quite fast. It's more economical to run them at a steady speed in certain RPM ranges. (Depends on the tractor, engine, transmission, etc. etc.)
11) Some loads have to stop for railroad crossings, etc.
12) Strong side winds can whip an empty trailer around.
13) If/When possible, don't crowd a truck.
After that, I realized that there are some things that "four-wheelers" should know.
1) If you can't see the driver's mirrors, he/she can't see you.
2) If you are right beside the unit (tractor and trailer), the driver can't see you. (Even if you can see the mirrors) You are below where the driver can see you.
3) Don't tailgate. A tire can blow and end up in your face. Or the driver might need to make a sudden stop. And you might end up under the back of the trailer - and you might end up decapitated.
4) Most truck drivers do not want to be involved in accidents. It's extremely inconvenient to have one.
5) They need to make wide swings when they turn corners so the trailer goes where it's supposed to.
6) Don't try to sneak by on the right side of a truck when it's trying to make a right hand turn. It's near the middle lane so that when it turns the trailer won't be on the sidewalk.
7) If a truck cuts you off (pulls into the left-hand passing lane) when climbing a hill, it's because he/she is reasonably sure that he can overtake the other trucks in front of him/her. It is easier for a car to maintain or recover speed than it is for a truck to recover. You might think the driver is #1, but that's why.
8) Do not park in front of a run-away spot. There are very few places that a run-away truck can get off the road. And they are hard to spot.
9) Avoid being where a driver is unsure of your intentions. If he/she needs to pass or take evasive action, don't need to worry about someone being in the left-hand lane right on one's tail.
10) If necessary, some of the rigs can travel quite fast. It's more economical to run them at a steady speed in certain RPM ranges. (Depends on the tractor, engine, transmission, etc. etc.)
11) Some loads have to stop for railroad crossings, etc.
12) Strong side winds can whip an empty trailer around.
13) If/When possible, don't crowd a truck.
10-09-2010, 10:41 PM
#64
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
Originally Posted by Matilda
These are good points, but #2 gets me though. Why do they pass if they can not see? We were almost ran off the expressway by a trucker. We were passing a semi and he decided he wanted to pass. Good thing we were way on the inside lane (the expressway was several lanes across) and we had a shoulder. But I have seen accidents with people killed they have caused wanting to pass when someone is passing them. If they can't see they shouldn't be passing. Perhaps another mirror would help.
Check out the blindspot on your car. Trucks have blindspots on the side of their vehicles as well as in back of their vehicles. Their blindspots are larger than the ones on your car. I've almost hit people who slipped up beside me in my small car, so it probably was the same with the trucker. He didn't see you. That's one reason you should NEVER EVER pull up next to a truck and sit there - either pass him or drop behind him. Make sure your car is slightly (five or so feet) in front of the truck if you're in the lane next to him. If you're driving and your's even with the cab of the truck he may not see you if he pulls into your lane.
10-10-2010, 12:08 PM
#66
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,199
Well we were not sitting there we were half way into passing him. You are right their blind spots are larger and therefore they need to be more cautious.
Check out the blindspot on your car. Trucks have blindspots on the side of their vehicles as well as in back of their vehicles. Their blindspots are larger than the ones on your car. I've almost hit people who slipped up beside me in my small car, so it probably was the same with the trucker. He didn't see you. That's one reason you should NEVER EVER pull up next to a truck and sit there - either pass him or drop behind him. Make sure your car is slightly (five or so feet) in front of the truck if you're in the lane next to him. If you're driving and your's even with the cab of the truck he may not see you if he pulls into your lane.[/quote]
Originally Posted by catmcclure
Originally Posted by Matilda
These are good points, but #2 gets me though. Why do they pass if they can not see? We were almost ran off the expressway by a trucker. We were passing a semi and he decided he wanted to pass. Good thing we were way on the inside lane (the expressway was several lanes across) and we had a shoulder. But I have seen accidents with people killed they have caused wanting to pass when someone is passing them. If they can't see they shouldn't be passing. Perhaps another mirror would help.
10-11-2010, 05:39 AM
#67
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 475
It all comes down to respecting each other. I too know about Big trucks for we own a trucking company. Have been very fortunate that none of our drivers have been in any accidents, although it seems that if a four wheeled vehicle and semi have an accident you Never hear that it was the four wheeled fault. I know that one from experience. NO one was hurt but the other car lost control on a off ramp coming onto main interstate and plowed into right side of our semi. Over $5k damage done and no work while truck was being repaired. No ticket for failure to control under conditions. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. So please be courteous of each other and respect those big trucks because the smaller guy usually will lose more.
10-11-2010, 05:54 AM
#68
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,442
One more thing...city driving....if you're approaching an intersection and have to stop...a big truck is turning onto the street you're on, if at all possible, stop a little further back from the intersection, or back up if you can to give him/her a little extra room... some cities/towns have streets that are really narrow and it's *almost* impossible to get a big rig around the corner without going into the oncoming lane...
I think one of the funniest stories from when we were trucking was taking a load of potatoes to a small Russian store in old downtown Chicago...we pulled up and parked on the street, and the store owner came out to greet us. These are VERY narrow streets, because when they were built, nothing was very big! The store owner tells William, with a heavy Russian accent, "My brother and I, we stop the traffic, you pull into that alley over there and back into the parking lot. But you be quick about it, cuz these people, they gonna get pissed!!" :lol: He was right...it took William all of MAYBE 1 minute after traffic was stopped to get the rig backed into the parking lot...and horns were honking, people were yelling, MAJOR upset!
I loved it!
I think one of the funniest stories from when we were trucking was taking a load of potatoes to a small Russian store in old downtown Chicago...we pulled up and parked on the street, and the store owner came out to greet us. These are VERY narrow streets, because when they were built, nothing was very big! The store owner tells William, with a heavy Russian accent, "My brother and I, we stop the traffic, you pull into that alley over there and back into the parking lot. But you be quick about it, cuz these people, they gonna get pissed!!" :lol: He was right...it took William all of MAYBE 1 minute after traffic was stopped to get the rig backed into the parking lot...and horns were honking, people were yelling, MAJOR upset!
I loved it!
10-11-2010, 06:04 AM
#69
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 25,208
If any of you have any toy semi-trucks that your kids and/or grandkids play(ed) with - set up some "streets" and try going around corners.
The tractor (front part - power unit) has to pull that trailer far enough ahead and over so that when the turn is made the trailer stays on the street.
The trailer is just that - a trailer - and it's being pulled/towed/dragged around curves and corners.
When you see a big truck "hogging" the street when making a turn - it's so the trailer will go where it's supposed to.
Again - drivers vary from awesome to @#$%^ - and experienced and skillful to "how in the world did you get a CDL?"
The tractor (front part - power unit) has to pull that trailer far enough ahead and over so that when the turn is made the trailer stays on the street.
The trailer is just that - a trailer - and it's being pulled/towed/dragged around curves and corners.
When you see a big truck "hogging" the street when making a turn - it's so the trailer will go where it's supposed to.
Again - drivers vary from awesome to @#$%^ - and experienced and skillful to "how in the world did you get a CDL?"
10-11-2010, 06:09 AM
#70
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
Charlee, that's funny.
My late husband was backing across a street - broad daylight. Thank goodness his trailer was high and he had a bunch of wooden pallets loaded underneath the trailer. A guy in a pickup truck was coming down the road and ran underneath the trailer. The only thing that kept his head on his body (literally) was the fact that the pallets stopped the pickup from going completely underneath the trailer.
Fortunately, he got the ticket - and caught H because his MIL had just bought him the truck to go to work - seems he had had a few and wasn't paying attention. Like, how can you not see a 40 foot trailer?
My late husband was backing across a street - broad daylight. Thank goodness his trailer was high and he had a bunch of wooden pallets loaded underneath the trailer. A guy in a pickup truck was coming down the road and ran underneath the trailer. The only thing that kept his head on his body (literally) was the fact that the pallets stopped the pickup from going completely underneath the trailer.
Fortunately, he got the ticket - and caught H because his MIL had just bought him the truck to go to work - seems he had had a few and wasn't paying attention. Like, how can you not see a 40 foot trailer?
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