Trucker/Driving Etiquette

I think if you are entering the hwy and a truck moves left to make room for you, you should let them back over afterwards. I did this and there was a truck in front of me going about 61 and I'm governed at 62 and the truck that just entered pulled up beside me so I couldn't get back over and had to proceed to pass the other truck which took awhile and cars and other trucks stacked up behind me.

Now this happened to me today, not only with another truck, but also with 4-wheelers. You see them entering from the on ramp to merge and you know you have to get over to let them in. Then they pull up along side of you and you can't get back over.

About fighting the governor, that is an interesting concept. I may just try that for a week or two to see how it is.

Are there any other instances of trucking etiquette besides passing? Like in the truck stops or other situations?

One that annoys me in truck stop a is drivers that park in fuel lane to go in the store.. Especially when there's rows of trucks.

And even in the short time I've been in a governed truck driving for a major training carrier, I've come across truck's going slower, got over to pass and had them speed up and not let me, only to slow back down again and do the same thing if I got In the left lane to pass again. That's happened a few times. I don't understand the mentality of the drivers that do that. I assume it's because of the name on the wind damn, doors and trailer. But whatever.

I have seen this many times driving a four-wheeler. Many years ago I commuted 70 miles each way (140 total per day), mostly on an interstate (I-25 Colorado Springs to Denver and back). Most of the regular commuters drove 80 mph on that road, speed limit was 75. (I don't know what it is about Coloradans, but we love to drive fast. Long way to travel, I reckon.)

I have come to the conclusion that most people are territorial, and when they're driving, that territory extends to the entirety of their vehicle. Most people speed up when you try to pass them. If you want to get past them, the solution is to pass them faster than they're willing to drive. For the truly psychotic driver you want to pass, it helps in a four wheeler to never ever look over at them but rather sing to the radio and act nonchalant, as if they're not even there. That has worked for me to calm down many a roadrage-aholic over the years. It's kind of like avoiding looking directly into the eyes of an aggressive dog. (It helps a lot if you're driving a car that goes from 60 to 90 in about 3 seconds, like a '67 Chevelle.)

The thing that always struck me as ridiculous in those days were the truckers who would hog the hammer lane at 75, then speed up to 80 if you tried to pass them on the right, then slow down to 75 again when the gap closed. I mean, wtf? I want to go 80, you want to go 75, either move to the right or let me pass you on the right if you're worried about getting stuck there, a**h***. It's like it's a slight to their manhood.

I'm a lot calmer now, but man that stuff got to me when I was younger.

On a side note, do any of you make immediate judgments based on the type of car someone is driving? For instance, I know people driving Volvos (cars, not trucks...and especially the Volvo wagons) are going to do something stupid as soon as I see them in front of me. Same for people driving Muranos and Honda minivans. Occasionally I'm surprised...but not often enough.