Semi truck drivers..lack of concern ??

[JCR-1]

Many excellent drivers out there and have safety concerns for others, but I have come across a few AH's from time to time. Most recently crossing the Mississippi River at Memphis the bridge is so old and designed back in the day that the lanes of travel are so narrow that they barely accommodate the width of todays trucks.I was crossing doing about 55mph when a semi decided to pass me doing 65 and the passing wave of wind nearly pushed me into the side railing which is only a foot or two away. No concern for the other rig . On a narrow bridge I would think extra caution should be emphasized and cowboy driving at 65 mph is reckless.If you are one of those take it off cruise and use your head when on a narrow bridge and passing a trailer in tow.

[westend]

I've heard this voice before but from someone else...

[Bird_Freak]

JCR-1 wrote:
I guess many of the folks on here do not understand aero dynamics. Just watch a nascar race and you will learn something , I am not talking down to anyone. The bridge is very narrow and just adequate for two vehicles but when a semi truck is doing 65 plus and whips out and passes another box doing 55 there will be a force that pushes the vehicle outward , then a suction pulls it back into the truck. Not about being nervous , not about a woman, its about a courtesy of a truck driver. If I'm driving a truck I will gradually overtake a truck towing a trailer so that my wake does not disrupt anyone radically in my wake. I would be concerned that a novice , ie perhaps a gal might over react and cause a spin out . Now wouldn't that be nice.. A tie up on the narrow bridge during rush hour..just what everyone needs to have. Just a little courtesy and understanding how to overtake another vehicle especially on a very narrow corridor with no escape is what I am referencing. Just as in Nascar racing wind and pressures cause vehicle oscillations.Get it, got it.. Hope so !!!

Well you do talk down to everyone. You act like everyone here is a total idiot and you are the teacher. Nuff said! :S
By the way. I bet there are a number of women here who could teach you a lot about driving.

[JCR-1]

I guess many of the folks on here do not understand aero dynamics. Just watch a nascar race and you will learn something , I am not talking down to anyone. The bridge is very narrow and just adequate for two vehicles but when a semi truck is doing 65 plus and whips out and passes another box doing 55 there will be a force that pushes the vehicle outward , then a suction pulls it back into the truck. Not about being nervous , not about a woman, its about a courtesy of a truck driver. If I'm driving a truck I will gradually overtake a truck towing a trailer so that my wake does not disrupt anyone radically in my wake. I would be concerned that a novice , ie perhaps a gal might over react and cause a spin out . Now wouldn't that be nice.. A tie up on the narrow bridge during rush hour..just what everyone needs to have. Just a little courtesy and understanding how to overtake another vehicle especially on a very narrow corridor with no escape is what I am referencing. Just as in Nascar racing wind and pressures cause vehicle oscillations.Get it, got it.. Hope so !!!

[Heiny57]

JCR-1 wrote:

Heiny57 wrote:

cbshoestring wrote:
How can you get a CDL without knowing how to back a rig???

How can you get a class A without knowing how a 5th wheel works, or how to drive a manual transmission??? Truck driving schools taking advantage of high unemployment and the high demand for semi-drivers, that is how!!! By the way, FMCSA (the FED in charge of truckers), has recently caught on, so now those CDL's come with a restriction from driving manual/5th wheel without testing on equipment that has it.

Still wonderig if the OP cares to comment on the posted speed limit???

Just because the OP got nervous, does NOT mean the trucker did anything wrong. Was the truck driving near speed limit? Did the truck stay in THEIR lane. Just because it made you uncomfortable, doesn't mean that driver was doing something unsafe, or something that they were not totally comfortable doing.

You may think it is scary going 3 wide up the curvy hills on the PA turnpike into the Allegheny Mountains....I've done it so many times with a tractor-trailer on either side of me that I barely raise an eyebrow unless there is lane encroachment. I'll share the highway with anyone...I refuse to share MY lane.

You state the side railing was "only a foot or two away". Assuming you where in the center of the lane--you where also a foot or two from the white line that seperates the two lanes. Even if that truck came onto the white line, it was still a foot or two away. Sorry, sounds as if that railing scared you, you were "hugging the zipper"...which put YOU closer to him.

X2

OP never got nervous, and I guess you do not understand aero dynamics when a vehicle (box) overtakes another box at a slower speed there is wave of air similar to a boat wake at the bow. When this wave hits another box it pushes the box to the right and then if there is a trailer there is another dynamic. The cab is pushed outward from the trailer and when the truck passes there is a suction that pulls it back in. This can cause severe wiggle and if there is not enough lane to correct a hazard could be present, especially if an unexperienced woman is driving. Maybe you dont understand the principles of drafting and never noticed. I also know that some drivers are oblivious to the effects of drafting and road aero dynamics. Those drivers scare me because they assume a lot they dont know about.

I understand aerodynamics. I tow my trailer across that bridge frequently.And trucks pass me, and yes a little wobble happens. How do they know who they should, or should not pass?

[4X4Dodger]

JCR-1 wrote:
Many excellent drivers out there and have safety concerns for others, but I have come across a few AH's from time to time. Most recently crossing the Mississippi River at Memphis the bridge is so old and designed back in the day that the lanes of travel are so narrow that they barely accommodate the width of todays trucks.I was crossing doing about 55mph when a semi decided to pass me doing 65 and the passing wave of wind nearly pushed me into the side railing which is only a foot or two away. No concern for the other rig . On a narrow bridge I would think extra caution should be emphasized and cowboy driving at 65 mph is reckless.If you are one of those take it off cruise and use your head when on a narrow bridge and passing a trailer in tow.

You were on the "new" bridge I think since the "Old" bridge was only two lane.

I can remember going over that old bridge with my Dad in a tractor trailer back when I was 11 or 12. If two trucks were passing each other in opposite directions they had to pull in their driver side mirrors to get by...and all this time the sidewalls were scraping the cement curb of the bridge.

I think that old bridge is still there as you are heading East look over to your left and you will see a very old Steel Superstructure bridge...that's the old one.

It seems as far as the truck goes...he has a clear lane and he knows what he's doing and can keep his truck in the lane. That's not always the case for guys pulling recreational trailers.

[coolbreeze01]

Don't be an Adam Henry.

[beemerphile1]

JCR-1 wrote:
Many excellent drivers out there and have safety concerns for others, but I have come across a few AH's from time to time. Most recently crossing the Mississippi River at Memphis the bridge is so old and designed back in the day that the lanes of travel are so narrow that they barely accommodate the width of todays trucks.I was crossing doing about 55mph when a semi decided to pass me doing 65 and the passing wave of wind nearly pushed me into the side railing which is only a foot or two away. No concern for the other rig . On a narrow bridge I would think extra caution should be emphasized and cowboy driving at 65 mph is reckless.If you are one of those take it off cruise and use your head when on a narrow bridge and passing a trailer in tow.

I would imagine the professional driver's response would be that if you have inadequate equipment or are unable to control/drive it, you should stay home.

If they stayed in their lane and were obeying the speed limit, exactly what was it they did wrong?

[Bird_Freak]

JCR-1 wrote:

Heiny57 wrote:

cbshoestring wrote:
How can you get a CDL without knowing how to back a rig???

How can you get a class A without knowing how a 5th wheel works, or how to drive a manual transmission??? Truck driving schools taking advantage of high unemployment and the high demand for semi-drivers, that is how!!! By the way, FMCSA (the FED in charge of truckers), has recently caught on, so now those CDL's come with a restriction from driving manual/5th wheel without testing on equipment that has it.

Still wonderig if the OP cares to comment on the posted speed limit???

Just because the OP got nervous, does NOT mean the trucker did anything wrong. Was the truck driving near speed limit? Did the truck stay in THEIR lane. Just because it made you uncomfortable, doesn't mean that driver was doing something unsafe, or something that they were not totally comfortable doing.

You may think it is scary going 3 wide up the curvy hills on the PA turnpike into the Allegheny Mountains....I've done it so many times with a tractor-trailer on either side of me that I barely raise an eyebrow unless there is lane encroachment. I'll share the highway with anyone...I refuse to share MY lane.

You state the side railing was "only a foot or two away". Assuming you where in the center of the lane--you where also a foot or two from the white line that seperates the two lanes. Even if that truck came onto the white line, it was still a foot or two away. Sorry, sounds as if that railing scared you, you were "hugging the zipper"...which put YOU closer to him.

X2

OP never got nervous, and I guess you do not understand aero dynamics when a vehicle (box) overtakes another box at a slower speed there is wave of air similar to a boat wake at the bow. When this wave hits another box it pushes the box to the right and then if there is a trailer there is another dynamic. The cab is pushed outward from the trailer and when the truck passes there is a suction that pulls it back in. This can cause severe wiggle and if there is not enough lane to correct a hazard could be present, especially if an unexperienced woman is driving. Maybe you dont understand the principles of drafting and never noticed. I also know that some drivers are oblivious to the effects of drafting and road aero dynamics. Those drivers scare me because they assume a lot they dont know about.

Do you talk down to everyone? I would put my wife ( A WOMAN ) up against you any day towing trailers!:R

[Bionic_Man]

JCR-1 wrote:

Heiny57 wrote:

cbshoestring wrote:
How can you get a CDL without knowing how to back a rig???

How can you get a class A without knowing how a 5th wheel works, or how to drive a manual transmission??? Truck driving schools taking advantage of high unemployment and the high demand for semi-drivers, that is how!!! By the way, FMCSA (the FED in charge of truckers), has recently caught on, so now those CDL's come with a restriction from driving manual/5th wheel without testing on equipment that has it.

Still wonderig if the OP cares to comment on the posted speed limit???

Just because the OP got nervous, does NOT mean the trucker did anything wrong. Was the truck driving near speed limit? Did the truck stay in THEIR lane. Just because it made you uncomfortable, doesn't mean that driver was doing something unsafe, or something that they were not totally comfortable doing.

You may think it is scary going 3 wide up the curvy hills on the PA turnpike into the Allegheny Mountains....I've done it so many times with a tractor-trailer on either side of me that I barely raise an eyebrow unless there is lane encroachment. I'll share the highway with anyone...I refuse to share MY lane.

You state the side railing was "only a foot or two away". Assuming you where in the center of the lane--you where also a foot or two from the white line that seperates the two lanes. Even if that truck came onto the white line, it was still a foot or two away. Sorry, sounds as if that railing scared you, you were "hugging the zipper"...which put YOU closer to him.

X2

OP never got nervous, and I guess you do not understand aero dynamics when a vehicle (box) overtakes another box at a slower speed there is wave of air similar to a boat wake at the bow. When this wave hits another box it pushes the box to the right and then if there is a trailer there is another dynamic. The cab is pushed outward from the trailer and when the truck passes there is a suction that pulls it back in. This can cause severe wiggle and if there is not enough lane to correct a hazard could be present, especially if an unexperienced woman is driving. Maybe you dont understand the principles of drafting and never noticed. I also know that some drivers are oblivious to the effects of drafting and road aero dynamics. Those drivers scare me because they assume a lot they dont know about.

Does an "inexperienced woman" react differently than an inexperienced man?

I have pulled RVs for many years. I have never experienced a situation with an "air wake" so severe that I was worried about being pushed out of my lane.

What was the delta of speed between you and the truck? What was the speed limit?

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

About the only time I really get POed at a semi is when they are obviously taking the little, curvy 2-lane road near my house because they want to avoid the scales on the freeway. They aren't making a delivery along that road. Those guys are dodging the scales for a reason and that makes me suspect they shouldn't be on the road in the first place. The only big guys that should be on that road are home delivery vans and logging trucks.

But, on the freeway I see far more bad stuff from car drivers than I do from the semis. At least the semis seem to respect my space and I, in turn, respect theirs. I know they are on the job and let them by when I can. And since I am hazmat trained, I know which semis to give a wide berth. Cars just go where they want and are sometimes hard to anticipate. I especially hate it when I'm hauling my horse. If I lock em with my RV, there's nothing in the trailer I can't replace. I can't say that for my horse and I have to really anticipate things. I've seen the aftermath of a horse that got caught under the wall of a trailer (trailer had a weakened wood floor) and it wasn't pretty. Horse survived, thankfully.

[stevemorris]

I try to remind myself that those guys are working, trying to make a living. we're on vacation, no schedule that matters

so give them space to get their job done

be courteous, let them in your lane if the're trying to change to pass, flash your lights to indicate this(don't use the high beams)

same with letting a semi back in after passing you, flash your headlights twice slowly when its safe for him to reenter your lane

watch his turn signals as you come up beside him, let him in if you can, flash your lights

just remember, it takes a long time for a semi to get up to highway speeds compared to us and he doesn't want to loose that momentum

[JCR-1]

Heiny57 wrote:

cbshoestring wrote:
How can you get a CDL without knowing how to back a rig???

How can you get a class A without knowing how a 5th wheel works, or how to drive a manual transmission??? Truck driving schools taking advantage of high unemployment and the high demand for semi-drivers, that is how!!! By the way, FMCSA (the FED in charge of truckers), has recently caught on, so now those CDL's come with a restriction from driving manual/5th wheel without testing on equipment that has it.

Still wonderig if the OP cares to comment on the posted speed limit???

Just because the OP got nervous, does NOT mean the trucker did anything wrong. Was the truck driving near speed limit? Did the truck stay in THEIR lane. Just because it made you uncomfortable, doesn't mean that driver was doing something unsafe, or something that they were not totally comfortable doing.

You may think it is scary going 3 wide up the curvy hills on the PA turnpike into the Allegheny Mountains....I've done it so many times with a tractor-trailer on either side of me that I barely raise an eyebrow unless there is lane encroachment. I'll share the highway with anyone...I refuse to share MY lane.

You state the side railing was "only a foot or two away". Assuming you where in the center of the lane--you where also a foot or two from the white line that seperates the two lanes. Even if that truck came onto the white line, it was still a foot or two away. Sorry, sounds as if that railing scared you, you were "hugging the zipper"...which put YOU closer to him.

X2

OP never got nervous, and I guess you do not understand aero dynamics when a vehicle (box) overtakes another box at a slower speed there is wave of air similar to a boat wake at the bow. When this wave hits another box it pushes the box to the right and then if there is a trailer there is another dynamic. The cab is pushed outward from the trailer and when the truck passes there is a suction that pulls it back in. This can cause severe wiggle and if there is not enough lane to correct a hazard could be present, especially if an unexperienced woman is driving. Maybe you dont understand the principles of drafting and never noticed. I also know that some drivers are oblivious to the effects of drafting and road aero dynamics. Those drivers scare me because they assume a lot they dont know about.

[Vintage465]

It used to be sort of a rule of thumb that the big rig drivers were the best drivers to be had. Unfortunately I believe that the Class A drivers now days are no different than the rest of the drivers...............more bad than good.....

[STBRetired]

Have had WAY more problems with AHs of the 4 wheel variety than of the 18 wheel sort. Do get a bit nervous around the"training" outfits like Swift, Prime, and C. R. England until I get a chance to hang back and see how they are doing. There are bad drivers for every classification of license, but plain old 4 wheelers seem to have the highest percentage.

[jake2250]

After a long career of driving truck I will offer you this,, It is easier to just go around an apprehensive or cautious (over cautious) then to stay behind them. Have seen to many times an Rv trailer,Motor home or any large RV with a person behind the wheel that is not sure of them self or the vehicle ride the brakes,swerve or slow down way below the speed limit crossing bridges,construction choke points, merge lanes ETC.
When you see an rv put their 4 way flashers on when crossing a bridge you kinda figure its time to go around them.. They evidently do not want to cross that bridge.
Then as you are passing them to get away from the danger,,you get the horn and the finger flying up in the air!!
So next time you are getting passed by a Semi, A: your are going to slow.
B: you are a danger to yourself or others.
Or C: Your the AH not the professional driver who see's this on a daily occurrence!