Question For The North East Drivers, And G-town

For Prime I've picked up and delivered in the buffalo and west Seneca area quite a bit.

BTW you van go home during TnT...not PSD. So basically you could be out about four to six weeks before going home. After you go solo as OTR you van do three days every four weeks or every other weekend as NE regional.

I thought about ignoring this, but with a little time to think, I decided to use this as what Old School refers to as a "teaching opportunity". Brace yourselves...

Jeremy wrote:

You have your points (safety-fuel economy) I also have mine.

Jeremy those are not my points or even my opinions, they are facts. Based on how you responded to me, facts that you don't really understand. In any of the larger carriers, if they increase their fuel mileage by 1%, that saves millions of dollars in annual fuel cost. The "6 mph" difference you referred to requires the engine to work harder. If for no other reason pushing the wind at a higher engine RPM, thus increasing fuel consumption. I want my company to be profitable so I can continue working for them. If governed at 62-63mph helps that, I have zero issue with it and understand the fiscal responsibility successful corporations must manage.

The major trucking companies also know exactly how much the risk increases as the governed speed increases. They also know, based on their mix of drivers (experienced vs. in-experienced), how that too affects their risk. Statistics do not lie, but serve to support smart and safe operational decisions. At any given time there are several hundred thousand rookie truck drivers on US highways. If they're all enabled to run unlimited like you are, I would retire from driving, learn how to fly a helicopter with the intent of hiring on as a Medi-Vac pilot. Because the demand for that job would dramatically increase. Granted that's a bit of an exaggeration, however my point; a rookie driver's skills are still being developed as is their experience safely handling evasive action. At 69mph things can come unraveled very, very fast. To be blunt, I do not want to drive next to countless untested rookies (like you) with 3 months or less experience, running their truck unlimited. Now that's an opinion, one that is likely shared by other experienced drivers on this forum.

I read your previous posts Jeremy, 4 months ago you were seeking the help of the forum to find a company to train you. If you were an experienced hand two things would have occurred; you would have offered tangible reasons why it's not unsafe to run at 69 (or 70 or 72, whatever speed you are really driving) late at night with a clear path ahead of you. You also would have indicated that you understood the additional risks and how to manage them. You didn't do that. Second, I would not be responding to this at all if you were an experienced driver.

This was your primary counter-point:

The extra 100 miles i can run in my 11 hour window makes the difference of an on time delivery or using a 8 hour sleeper time to get the last bit of the trip finished which also allows me to get more miles.

Your math is a bit skewed, assuming you actually can maintain 69mph average for 11 hours, you would cover at best 66 more miles than I can governed at 63, not the 100 miles you claim. I too drive in the Northeast and would argue it's virtually impossible to maintain that speed for 11 consecutive hours. Traffic, posted speed limits far below 69, construction, and hilly terrain should and most likely will lower your average. For instance, if you are loaded "heavy" you are not cresting a 1/4 mile 3% grade at 69mph, not gonna happen. I would also argue that in order to average 69, you are running much faster than that to make up for the aforementioned impediments. My point to you: no one typically misses a delivery for the sole reason of governed speed. My guess? You run at 69, or 70, or 72 whatever your speed actually is because you can and because you want to.

Jeremy doesn't see:

I personally don't see what's unsafe about being 6mph faster than you on an empty 3 lane interstate but your entitled to your opinion as I am

That statement alone tells me all that I really need to know. Your safe stopping distance increases by 80-100 feet. You are also 6mph closer than I to the maximum 75mph speed rating of your steer tires, that's assuming they are properly inflated and you do not exceed 69mph. So please, ask yourself this question. Do you honestly think you could safely handle a steer tire blowout at 69 mph under 42k of lading? Remember, in the NE you spend an equal amount of time descending grades as you do ascending them. Just a bit humbling? I honestly hope so. If you responded to my previous reply with; "I increase my following distance by an additional 150 feet to compensate for the increased stopping distance and spend extra time checking my steer tires for any damage and proper inflation temperature. I also reduce that speed depending on road conditions.", I would have thought, okay he knows what he is doing. I didn't "see" any of that... So yes, I indeed respect your opinion, but reserve the right to respectfully disagree with you. Continued...

Continuation...my response to Jeremy:

Most of the times when I've had to take evasive action due to another driver's bad decision, was at night, good weather, with relatively light traffic. I actually bump my vigilance during those conditions. I know many million plus mile drivers; with zero accidents. They all basically sing the same song when asked; "how'd yah do that?" They drive at a prudent speed adjusting for conditions, proactively manage the space around their truck, and luck. Yes luck. They know better than I...

Three things are King in truck driving; knowledge, experience and learned driving skill. It never stops. Jeremy I am not going to tell you what to do or not to operate at 70mph. However as a rookie driver with limited experience, limited knowledge, and developing skills you might want to take pause and at least rethink what you are doing. If I was driving an ungoverned truck, I'd not purposely exceed 67mph, ever. That's me. Seen too many things happen that speed played a devastating factor in.

That... Was.... Very.... Informative!

Professor G-town has taken us to class.

But on a serious note. That just makes me more confident in my top 3 choices for companies.

Thanks Stay safe

I drove log truck without pup trailer for 17 yrs with my fathers logging business the only thing rookie is the length ive had my class a Im certainly not gonna argue with anyone i drive my truck my way safely and it shows in my performance to my company and my peers that no me im going to tap out of the site and live my life good luck to you all. 18 yrs accident free is a good enough commercial driving accomplishment for me

I drove log truck without pup trailer for 17 yrs with my fathers logging business the only thing rookie is the length ive had my class a Im certainly not gonna argue with anyone i drive my truck my way safely and it shows in my performance to my company and my peers that no me im going to tap out of the site and live my life good luck to you all. 18 yrs accident free is a good enough commercial driving accomplishment for me

Jeremy you had a Class B. You got your Class A maybe 4-5 months ago. In one of your posts seeking input, you stated you were no expert but had some confidence headed into your first job. After 2 months on your current job you were looking to make a move because your truck with over 1 million miles continuously breaks down.

Okay. So you probably have really good skills because of your logging experience. However you are working for a small company, driving a truck, tractor trailer of questionable mechacical stability at or above 69mph under a load. How is that safe?

The significance and importance of what I wrote in my last reply is not diminished and is directed at everyone, not just you.

I responded with facts and rational common sense logic and suggestions, not looking for an argument. You posted information that is iladvised for other rookies and I suggested you consider everything before operating your truck at 70mph.

If you want to ignore what I wrote, write it off because now that you consider yourself an expert, that's on you. I hope at least it does give you pause, cause there is no way I'd operate that truck at 70, no way.

Good luck.