lasttruck

Next time out keep yourself a good 4 seconds (not quick ones) at 55 to 60 mph behind the vehicle in front of you. Plenty of time to react to shreaded rubber. Safer than being next to the truck passing when the tire blows.

I am in no hurry and would rather enjoy the scenery than drive like an idiot trying to get there as fast as I can.

BJV269SS

Hey Ray, you must be a driver. Your the only one that knows what the scoop is on the trucking industry. My truck is governed to 62 mph. If we go over our hours allowed to drive they send a driver out to drive the rig back to the termial, the company has terminated drivers for running over hours. We have a tire company that comes to the terminal every Wednesday at 5:00 AM and inspects the tires on our trailers and tractors. They are replaced as needed. Every 3 months our tractors go for a PM and they are inspected for loose front end and suspension parts. Also the brakes are checked. Our trucks are probably one of the safest fleets in the country. We have somewhere around 10,000 tractors and 20,000 trailers. Granted not every truck or trailer is perfect but they are taken out of service if there is a problem that is saftey related. I could go on but I think this is a thread that will never be agreed on by all.

culater

Three reasons why I don't

1. The exhaust stinks
2. Can't see in front of truck to anticipate your actions
3. Can't drive 55

northeastFX4

Why do you keep saying 11?

ray h

Every company Ive worked for does exactly what you explained. Regular inspections, auditing logs, keeping track of driver hours, penalizing drivers for over speeds, ect.
I used to drive trucks, now I teach people to drive trucks. Better hours

ray h

He smartly edited his posts and bowed out when it went off topic.

snopro31

As soon as I catch one I pass. Around here they are usually hauling wood chips, animals or logs. Crap is always falling off and the stink from the animals is enough to not stay behind. Plus our shoulders are gravel and the roads are narrow. Rocks are flying and windshields and paint are more expensive then saving some gas.

xllxll_VIPER_llxllx

I think the correct and safe way to not waste gas is to keep your own truck properly maintained. Drafting is for nascar.

kb8rhu

yea just keep badmouthing the trucking industry. Just remember that when you go too any store of any kind and think... How did all this product get there... Hmmm maybe on a truck??. I just love it when people think the road is for cars only and trucks need too stay outta the way.. Half of the time my truck cost more then most of the vehicles these people are driving, but noe they are just too special to follow the common sense of leaving a little extra space for the big truck hauling goods to market ( so too spaek)

XPerties

I'm a Class A driver (for those that don't know what that is, I drive Tractor Trailers) and I've been driving for the last 8 years. I've driven across country for many years and have experience in all types of rigs...box, car carries, flatbed, dumps, walking floors.

If I can please just beg everyone who is reading this or for anyone who is stupid enough to try this....don't! Your family and your life is way more important than gas or anything else you could possible imagine. Unless you have driven a big truck you have no idea the type of stopping and weight that one of these machines carry. The blind spots are horrible and the other drivers that may or may not cut off that tractor in front of you which you may not see and which causes the tractor to have to lock up the brakes can cause a horrible ending for you and others.

It's just not worth it. I can't tell you the amount of wreaks I have seen over the years or the amount of wreaks I have pulled over to assist in. And when the story gets put together it 9 out of 10 times comes down to following to close or someone sees a tractor and has to get around them because they have no patience.