Murphy's Law For Truckers.

Raptor wrote:

Courtesy among other truckers is almost gone. They are going to pass you even though they don't have the power to do so. Or they pass you and as soon as your front bumper is clear, they pull right in front of you. Happened twice this morning before 5am mdt.

Raptor

I think there is more courtesy than you may realize, but agreed there could be a whole lot more of it. We all need to do our part.

The biggest issue with the situation Raptor described is perhaps a lack of experience (ignorance otherwise) and at times a bit too much testosterone. Many of the newer drivers do not know their trucks, and it's capabilities; "it's not a car". It takes a while to realize when is the "best time" to execute execute a passing maneuver, when it's "not the best time" the effects of weight vs. gravity. It also requires a reasonable level of common sense to-do the right thing and learn how the truck responds to different situation.

Loaded? I can usually overtake and pass a slower truck going downhill with ease. However if it's a short down hill that immediately transitions into an uphill grade, quite possible the passing truck becomes "stuck" in the left lane unable to get over to the right. This is especially problematic on a rolling interstate , like I-78 from PA-61 to I-81. My rule of thumb on this stretch of road (and other like it), set cruise on 62 and stay out of the bunching that regularly occurs.

Empty? Just the opposite of the above can occur. A loaded semi topping out at 79,000 pounds is going to pick-up speed descending even a moderate grade, far faster than I can when empty.

That said; When I see a truck attempting to pass me, I will gradually reduce my speed 5-mph slower than when I actually took notice of the approach. Enable their attempt, don't challenge it.

This accomplishes two things:

- Allows the other truck to pass sooner, providing a much safer and less risky situation

- Potentially reduces the possibility of the other driver becoming impatient when their passing attempt is requiring far too much time and becomes a turtle race

Courtesy works both ways. I expect and anticipate things like this...all the time and do my best NOT to escalate a routine event by flashing my high-beams.

Like I said, we all need to do our part...

The one I always cringe at is dispatch saying “the customer will take you when you get there”. NOT. At least in my experience.

I think this guy "Murphy" was a terminal rat. Always pessimistic, always negative. Lol

Discovered a new one going through Denver traffic today:

3. Cars will cut you off at a distance that displays an utter lack of knowledge of your braking distance.

Thankfully I was going slow in traffic and had a light load.

Bingo! Denver you say? Delivering or just passing through?

Bingo! Denver you say? Delivering or just passing through?

Camped next to 270 for the night. We will be dropping the load off tomorrow.

So, I am just a newbie learning the ropes, but so far I have already discovered a couple Murphy's Laws for truckers. What are some laws you more experienced folk know?

The ones I have learned so far are:

1. There will always be road construction on every trip, no exceptions.

2. That car/pickup WILL try to pass you on the right. Even if your turn signal is on to return to that lane.

Plan for that stuff but every once in a blue moon you'll get a day like I had today.

660 miles. Six scale houses. Got a CLOSED or a BYPASS on all of them. No traffic, no accidents, no cops, no equipment failures. It was WEIRD!!

Total run time with a 45 minute break was 11hrs and 40minutes.

On a Friday. I'll take it.

Plan for that stuff but every once in a blue moon you'll get a day like I had today.

660 miles. Six scale houses. Got a CLOSED or a BYPASS on all of them. No traffic, no accidents, no cops, no equipment failures. It was WEIRD!!

Total run time with a 45 minute break was 11hrs and 40minutes.

On a Friday. I'll take it.

Had about 610 yesterday, lots of road construction though and a major thunderstorm for about 400 of it. For a newbie driver, going up and down hills when it is raining and hailing so hard that you can't see much and dealing with 20mph gusts of wind and hydroplaning can be pretty nerve racking. Luckily I have plenty of experience in adverse conditions in personal vehicles and my trainer was right next to me guiding me through it all. He told me if I got scared at any point to pull over and he would drive, but I knew I could handle it and could use the experience. Most of the thunderstorm stretch was just rain and light winds though.

On a straight, more or less empty 2-lane road, an oncoming car will meet you near the only parked farm tractor on the road, forcing you to slow down so all three vehicles aren't lined up together.

And:

If you don't have any idea about which way to turn, you will turn the wrong way.