Question for current or retired truckers

[Berner2]

We just returned from a 10 day trip and on the last night we spent the night in the back parking lot of a casino at Stateline, Nevada/CA. During the evening there was quite a bit of truck traffic, coming and going and subsequently a lot of related noise. We were discussing the noise and trucking in general and my significant other asked if maybe truckers hated motorhomers. I told her that I think generally they may get frustrated and occasionally downright pissed, but for the most part just take us in stride.

I had a commercial license for 30 yrs, not as an over the roader, but as part of my job working for a utility co., hauling long or heavy loads and just driving large trucks. I spent as much time in urban settings as I did on freeways and back roads and I am very aware of the lack of attention of some of the drivers on our highways.

My question to you truckers, local drivers and OTRs, is, how do you, as a profession, view us motorhomers who drive around, at times, like we're the only ones on the road? Sometimes with total disregard for the fact that you guys are working, you're on a tight schedule, you have log books and DOT inspections and if we slow you down on a grade you have a heck of a time getting back up to speed. We often times leave you little or no room to pass us one at a time and forget that you can't stop like a passenger car.

Please enlighten us all and help us make your job just a little easier!!

Terry

[Berner2]

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm glad to know we're not disliked by truckers in general. In my opinion they have a tough job, but the guys that do it seem to like it and for the most part are courteous to us amateurs and very forgiving. I really feel for them when they're sitting in stop and go So. Cal. traffic. On the open road I use them to gauge my speed, I set my cruise control at the speed they're travelling and go with the flow.

On this last little trip we had a couple with us that are new to RVing and I tried to remind them that following doesn't necessarily mean bumper to bumper. A couple hundred yards of space makes it easier for trucks as well as RVs and cars to pass and get back in the lane.

They'll learn, after all, they have "The perfect driver" for a teacher!! 😉

Thanks, Terry

[Bigdog]

msturtz wrote:
I have a Class B CDL, with a passenger and school bus endorsement. I also drive our MH. I have found in driving anything RVers in general are more courteous than the general driving population. I suspect that is primarily due to the large cost of the recreational vehicles. I have never done OTR trucking only occasional day trips for my company and some volunteer work however we have logged thousands of miles in our RVs all over the western US.

I ahve not driven OTR for a long long time, but drove a stepvan for an industrial laundry for 31 years and my route included 40 miles from Bremerton to pick up my truck and then 40 miles back to Bremerton for my route and then back to unload and reload and then home. Man the things I saw then on the highway. I drove a school bus for ten years in town and on a lot of trips out of town and the worst drivers were cars and not rvers or trucks. Now I'm back driving substitute school bus and charter bus once in awhile and again the worst drivers are autos.
When I had a TT,I used to be an active member of the weight police on here and I still watch folks that are pulling TTs w/o WD bars and sway bars and full size,not lites,with 1/2 ton p/us and wonder how they'll stop that thing in an emergency or when that baby starts to ooked up right.whip because it's not hooked up right.

[koda55]

I am retired from otr driving. When I fueled and a rv was beside me I always struck up a conversation with them. Now I drive the big rv and fuel at the truck lanes. Just a couple of weeks ago I had a driver ask if I wanted to swap. I am lucky that I have a button on my steering wheel that I can use to blink my running lights or my low beams off to let a trucker or another rv know it is ok to come over. The thing that bothered me at night was when someone flashed their high beams. For me I would loose my night vision for a few seconds. I never park in a truck spot when I stop. I will park out front where they have rv parking. Mostly I will stay at a Walmart or some other large shopping area. If I see a big rig trying to come on the interstate I have a tendency to slow down and give them a chance to get on. Once they are on I will speed back up and pass them. Most will let me back over but then there are those few that just won't return the courtesy.

[Mr_Mark1]

RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
Been driving trucks since 4/71. I have spent the majority of my time in the NW and rarely have a beef about the drivers of RV's. I see more stupid bone headed moves by truck drivers (me included) than RV's. Far too many of the truck drivers have this "I am more important than you attitude" and try to intimidate a smaller vehicle or less experienced driver.

As far as the light flashing, thanks but no thanks. There is nothing worse than getting a mirror of high beams when I come back over. Most of us know where our trailers are at. And on a four plus lane it is really not needed. If you dim you lights I will say thanks, but high beams not so much.

But remember everyone thinks they are the perfect driver.

So, you guys would rather us just dim our lights vs. high beams (during the day)?

I see trucks on the other side will use their high beams to signal a driver over.

Maybe I'll just do nothing.

MM.

[fcooper]

RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
....text deleted.....

But remember everyone thinks they are the perfect driver.

I think you're correct on this one. LOL.

Fred

[RedRollingRoadb]

Been driving trucks since 4/71. I have spent the majority of my time in the NW and rarely have a beef about the drivers of RV's. I see more stupid bone headed moves by truck drivers (me included) than RV's. Far too many of the truck drivers have this "I am more important than you attitude" and try to intimidate a smaller vehicle or less experienced driver.

As far as the light flashing, thanks but no thanks. There is nothing worse than getting a mirror of high beams when I come back over. Most of us know where our trailers are at. And on a four plus lane it is really not needed. If you dim you lights I will say thanks, but high beams not so much.

But remember everyone thinks they are the perfect driver.

[whporwil]

Last summer an 18 wheeler run me down to tell me I lost a wheel on a 5th wheel. A second trucker also stopped to say it was the funniest thing he ever saw. Never knew it happened and never found it. Both nice guys!

[edm3rd]

Brian, just put that 2 mph down as "speedometer accuracy error".

Totally agree with you on drivers who do not merge safely.

[supercub]

When I'm travelling, I usually just get in the right lane and put the cruise control on about 57mph...........(speed limit here in CA for towing is 55mph, whoops I'm over by a couple) 57 or there about seem to be the typical speed of traffic in the right lane.
As far as other drivers.......as a whole, most truck drivers are good, there's always the exception though, I've seen some really bad ones out there..........of course I've seen some really bad motor home drivers too. I've seen truckers doing 70 plus and motor homes towing doing 70 plus, but they are rare.
Keep in mind, that some states have much higher towing speed limits then here in CA, so I assume there's always the possibility that the odd motor home or trucker from out of state is unfamiliar with our 55mph limit.
My biggest complaint with AUTO drivers is they don't have a clue on how to merge into traffic. They don't look, will match you speed and just nudge up too........unaware that you can't get over because of traffic, plus they're the ones, that are suppose to adjust their speed to blend into traffic. I don't play games with them, and will try to adjust my speed, but sometimes that's difficult in heavy. traffic.
Brian

[tinkerer]

I am not a trucker, but I always look forward to fueling up with the truckers, we usually have some interesting conversations. Being both of us have big rigs we have to work together dealing with some idiots driving cars. I always watch the truckers who are trying to change lanes or trying get onto the highway and I use my MH to block traffic so they can do what they want to do. They usually return the favor. In my years of driving my MH I have only one trucker whom you could tell he didn't like Mh's.

[mdamerell]

Been driving semi's for 19 years. Most times I see an RV it makes me wish I had mine and headed for some quiet time at a CG. I do get annoyed at drivers who drive 45 mph in a 55 mph zone because they are sight seeing or uncomfortable driving their rig on a 2 lane road. Parking is a major issue for a CDL driver. With electronic logs it's pretty black and white and to the second. It's frustrating to pull in and find parking spaces full and there are RVs in some spots. The RV has many more options then we do, please use them.

[Carvin_Marvin]

MH's driving together so close to each other it is impossible to pass. Apparently they are afraid they will get lost.

[J-Rooster]

Thanks, I retired in 2010 with 44-1/4 years OTR! I drove sets of doubles 95% of my career, and I worked Graveyard 95% of my career. I've logged just a little over 4 million miles and never had a charged accident in my career. It was rare for me to see a RV at that time of night. The few I did see for some reason were driving under the speed limit? When I found a safe place to pass they would speed up and not let me pass. So I would fall back still driving under the speed limit? I couldn't speed up fast enough to pass due to my speed was computer programed at 65 MPH max. I could press down on the throttle all the way to the floor and 65 was it. Take Care, Rooster

[Mr_Mark1]

The last thing I want to do is get in the way of an 18 wheeler who is working for a living. I stay right and out of the way the best that I can. I will flash the trucks over as they pass so they can get over safely.
A few will blink their lights in appreciation but most don't.

I'm not on a schedule and realize that these guys are trying get where they are going as quickly as possible, time is money for them.

I try to be patient but when I'm in my regular car and a trucker starts to pass another truck on a hill at 1 inch a mile, it gets tiring. Why pass if you can't do it quickly or reasonably? I don't show any aggravation but it makes me scratch my head.

Safe travels,
MM.