Just returned from 4 month trip to Alabama coastal area to New Hampshire this week. There is definitely a change in the quality of OTR drivers out there. I retired in 2002 after 39 years as an owner-operator with about 3,500,000 million miles and no, I repeat,no accidents. Don't know why, but yup, watch those Fedex drivers. I suspect that it is partly the fact they are hauling short doubles and trying to emulate their air partners rate of speed. You will note that most other short doubles haulers who are traveling at closer to posted speeds are not as problematic. That said, I will tell you that I always dreaded the winter months when all the RVers and motor home travelers hit the road for their winter vacations. So many of them never drove anything bigger than an SUV, and are hitting the Interstate towing a 28-36 ft. trailer, or a 40 ft.motor home and dinghy. GIVE ME A BREAK ! Nothing will put the "fear of God" in a trucker like passing these folks weaving down the road at less than posted speeds, or sticking to that center lane for fear of falling off the road. Looking at the white knuckle death grip on the wheel and the wide eyed deer in the headlights look on their faces did not inspire confidence as I passed them.
Bottom line,pay attention and drive defensively..........