Big Rig speed limit 68MPH? NHTSA wants it.

[Ragain]

Long story short..... I have been an owner/operator all my working life (heavy haul). Hmmm... Used to be illegal to pass on the right.

Its just common courtesy to stretch on out a ways before coming back over after passing, just in case something ahead causes a hard braking incident, and allows the driver that was just passed room to react also. This isn't rocket science,... just common sense.

Someones crisis doesn't constitute an emergency on my end. I could care less if the feds reduced our truck speed to 45 mph... the economy will reflect as well. Yes, I am the guy doing 5 mph less than the motoring public in metro areas, and as long as the general public has a lack of respect to how a truck reacts in a panic situation, will continue to do so. Its all about covering my rear, because some people refuse to be held accountable for their lack of judgment!

 

[bmoeller]

Used to be illegal to pass on the right.

Its just common courtesy to stretch on out a ways before coming back over after passing, just in case something ahead causes a hard braking incident, and allows the driver that was just passed room to react also. This isn't rocket science,... just common sense.

It isn't illegal in all states. Just isn't enforced where it is. IIRC, it is illegal in IA, but not in IL. Not sure in other states.



Common sense isn't common anymore.

I could care less if the feds reduced our truck speed to 45 mph... the economy will reflect as well.

As economy goes, my truck gets better mileage at 70, than at 55. I have to run in direct to pull ANY hill at 55. Mileage goes in the toliet. I can run 65 in direct, but kills the mileage. Running in O/D at 70 is the sweet spot for my truck, at least if there isn't a bad headwind.

Yes, I am the guy doing 5 mph less than the motoring public in metro areas, and as long as the general public has a lack of respect to how a truck reacts in a panic situation, will continue to do so. Its all about covering my rear, because some people refuse to be held accountable for their lack of judgment!

Got that right. If the traffic is really heavy in a city, there is really no good way to go about it. As soon as there is a hole for the car to fit, they will, and take away your gap. Sometimes they hang there, sometimes they don't. Worst in stop and go traffic.

 

[JHardwick]

absolutely retarded...



what those statistics tell me is that since speed limits on our nation's highways are generally high enough to allow trucks to travel at speeds above 68mph, that only 20% of the accidents happen on the highway!



trucks that are governed to such low speeds cause dangerous situations... I pass those *******s on the right all the time when they're passing another truck and the other truck won't flash them over, so they try to put a couple truck lengths between them... I get impatient and pass on the right... happens all the time.



that's just ONE reason why it's dangerous and retarded

Passing on the right is just asking for trouble. I don't know how many times I've been passing a vehicle and just as I signal to return to the right lane, some idiot squeezes into the right lane behind me. I agree that all too often someone sits in the passing lane at the speed limit like they belong there, which some states are starting to ticket for. However, being impatient and squirting to the right lane to save a few seconds is asinine.



Do you know how to get a ticket on the Autobahn? Pass somebody on the right and see what happens. Left lane only passing is what keeps the Autobahn safe at the speeds they travel.

 

[BHaden]

absolutely retarded...



what those statistics tell me is that since speed limits on our nation's highways are generally high enough to allow trucks to travel at speeds above 68mph, that only 20% of the accidents happen on the highway!



trucks that are governed to such low speeds cause dangerous situations... I pass those *******s on the right all the time when they're passing another truck and the other truck won't flash them over, so they try to put a couple truck lengths between them... I get impatient and pass on the right... happens all the time.



that's just ONE reason why it's dangerous and retarded

My Brother-in-Law drives for Yellow Freight; He would LOVE to meet you sometime. To personally add you to the list of people he puts up with when he's on the road... ...

 

[RJOL]

... Passing on the right is just asking for trouble. I don't know how many times I've been passing a vehicle and just as I signal to return to the right lane, some idiot squeezes into the right lane behind me...

There are all kinds of truck drivers, just like there are all kinds of regular drivers. Most drivers I see on the freeway will be going at least 5 mph faster, and there is always some guy that will pass you no matter what speed you're going. Also, I never like to pass on the right, but there are plenty of drivers out there (both truckers, and regular drivers) that treat the left lane as their private road, and won't pull over for anyone. I know that "time is money" for the truck drivers, but the older I get the more I realize that the extra 5 mph is just not worth the problems. When I pull my 5th wheel I try to stay just under the speed limit, in the right lane, and let everyone blow past me...

 

[steved]

They {the cars} do anyways... ... ... .

And so do the big trucks... I see it all the time.



Trucker drivers should get off their "big trucks are perfect" highhorse as most of them today drive as bad as the 4 wheelers. There are a lot of safe drivers out there, but a lot are also impatient and in a big hurry without respect for the safety of anyone (including themselves). And, being one that owns a big radio, everytime I see a big truck do some stupid move, I get on their case... drivers are the first to criticise a car, they need a reality check sometimes and I give it back .



I see them tailgating to "push" people down the road. I see them running 80mph in a 55mph. I see them running close to 100mph where it is less patrolled (VA at night, MO at night, NM and TX all the time, those are just the states I run). I don't care that they speed, but there is a time and place, and in rush hour traffic chasing another truck isn't it...



I won't even begin to try to remember how many big trucks I've seen piled up... and it's funny because in the 400k I have driven crosscounty, I've seen more big trucks piled up than cars on the interstate... the best part is, there are more drivers having accidents in truckstops than anywhere... running into other trucks, into barricades, ripping mirrors off, etc... and then they run! Saw this happen in Columbus, OH not even a month ago. And the general public only sees the fact the big trucks are in accidents... not the cars.



While I don't agree with imposing speed limiters on big trucks or having split speed limits, BUT those drivers that continue to speed and drive recklessly are causing it. Remember that the next time the junior supertrucker passes you on the right, clipping your mirror, at 90mph in a 45 zone. IMO, it will happen eventually, unfortunate, but the unsafe (car and truck) drivers will be the cause of it...



And before anyone takes this as a personal attack, it isn't... just observations.



steved

 

[jelag]

One thing is for sure..... this is an open forum for your thoughts.....

There are several above that I agree with and others that I dis agree with... . its nice to know that's its OK to agree to dis agree... ...

I'm like a lot of you... . don't care for the low speed limits in CA, OR WA where 2 or 3 mph over the posted limit will get you stopped... . and for them allowing the cars to do 80 when your stuck at 55... ...

The guy who I see is at fault here is the car who moves into that safety zone you've set aside... . and yes when there is 3 or more lanes I don't drive in the slow lane... . to many vehicles leaving and entering the highway... . so I'm a little slower in the middle lane in the big cities... . like most trucks... .

And yes I do drive 5 mph under the limit in very heavy traffic... that slower speed allows for some open space in front..... and yes I do push it over the limit when there is little traffic and an open road... . and I'd rather sit it out in a motel than put on chains... ... so I do that... . I guess the value of the rig, and the load make an extra day on the trip very inexpensive in the long run... but I'm also not paid by the mile driven... .

We just bought a new used truck... the gov. was set at 56, it came out of CA... . we had to take it to the CAT dealer (cat engine) to have gov. turned off so we could run the 70 or 75 mph that is legal in AZ, UT, MT etc... .

All in all I'm pleased with this forum... . we all get to say our 5 cents worth and others get to listen... . but I hope this thread doesn't get out of hand. .

 

[BHaden]

Another side effect of passing on the right is that the truck that is there in the left lane (whatever the reason) has a hard time EVER getting back over; everyone just keeps coming by on the right which just aggravates the whole situation. Next time try flashing your high beams. This usually gets a response. Also make sure he can actually see you. It's not too hard to get "hidden" behind a big truck.

 

[steved]

Often times it is another truck NOT allowing the truck in the left lane back over... I drive the PA turnpike twice everyday from exit 298 to 312, and it is a common occurance. The trash trucks are the worst on that stretch of road...

I'm sure the rest of you have been stuck in a rolling roadblock of two slow trucks side-by-side for miles and miles... then when they finally get done playing, everybody behind them is in full on roadrage. High speeds, reckless maneuvers, etc all happen right after that... we all run on that "gotta be first" mentality on the road...

Again, we are talking like the cars are always at fault... there are just as many reckless truck drivers.

steved

 

[DogDiesel]

Will be bad for 4 wheelers

For the southern states with 70 or faster speed limits, this will likely cause heavy left lane braking and traffic jams for cars while the 18 wheelers pass, now even slower. Oh, yeah, they will still get out into the left lanes to pass, now it will only take longer to pass. Even if the truck speed limit was 55, there would be rigs passing each other. And I wouldn't be surprise, if such rulings passed, that truckers silently protest while cautiously holding up traffic. #@$%!

I've been in truck stops, saw truckers leave out in bands of 3 to 5, and pass each other off and on for the next half day, only to pull into another truck stop together...

I spend a lot of time on the 4 lane, and it seems (here in the southeast) that every traffic bunch-up I run into, there is a truck passing, contributing to the jam.

While I agree, that in theory, this should make freeways more safe, I doubt it proves out in reality. Why?

No teeth. Laws are worthless, and rules are worthless, unless enforced.

"There is no crime, if there is no penalty... "

My 2 cents.

Wayne

 

[DBF]

The states that have dual speed limits (one for cars, one for trucks) are a pet peeve of mine. Ohio, for instance, on I-70 has 65 for cars, 55 for trucks. Where the road is four-lane, two each side, that results in a solid string of trucks in the right lane doing 60-ish, and a solid lane of cars in the left lane doing 62 because that's what some yokel up front is doing as he passes a truck.

Jeez, folks, at least let us all do the same speed.

Regards, DBF

 

[Ragain]

I hated to see it happen... in an effort to be profitable, the trucking industry has allowed their standards for driver experience to drop to dangerous levels. Rather than holding out for better rates, some are willing to sit anyone in the drivers seat that can climb in for lower wages. a lot of us "old school" drivers have moved on to other careers rather than be associated in this industry's dropping level of respect. What we are seeing is the "New Breed" drivers that are being allowed to operate on the roads today. I have been keeping my digital camera handy in my ol' Pete to snap photos of poor driving practices some drivers exercise. Some of these photos get sent to their company safety directors for them to view first hand!

 

[bmoeller]

Often times it is another truck NOT allowing the truck in the left lane back over... I'm sure the rest of you have been stuck in a rolling roadblock of two slow trucks side-by-side for miles and miles... then when they finally get done playing, everybody behind them is in full on roadrage.

Had a pair of JB Hunt trucks "racing" today. :-{}

Again, we are talking like the cars are always at fault... there are just as many reckless truck drivers.

I still think there are more idiot car driviers than big truck drivers. I've seen plenty of stupid stuff done by truckers, but, by far more from the cars. Especially the more potentially deadly stunts, on a nearly daily basis. Today was no exception. The least of which was girl reading a book while driving a car down the road.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

The speed limit should be the same for 4 wheelers and 18 wheelers and should be the same in every state. Most 18 wheelers if not all have on board computers that record their speed and hard breaking. Also how long they are stopped. Truck drivers are not supposed to drive over 10 hours without an 8 hour break. It is not an easy job no matter how it looks. For the most part truck drivers are safe drivers, it only takes one to make the rest look bad. As you drive around town or on the highway observe for yourselves that the average person is by far too IMPATIENT. I see it in the parking lots, people blowing their horns with the get the hell out of my way attitude. We all have things to do and places to go but when we allow impatience to control our driving we are headed for trouble. Drive like hell, you'll get there. REGARDS

 

[sheldon]

I learned and got my class A license in California where the limit is 55 mph. I learned what 80,000 pounds of rolling wieght is not something to be careless with and it is amazing what damage it can do when the truck hits something. Higher speeds multiply the danger. As far as I'm concerned 68 mph is already too fast for large trucks.....

 

[RVTRKN]

I think we need to reflect on how this country works politicaly, mandated speed limiters will slow down truckers and don't you think they will go after your auto as well? Just think of the red tape and the new burueocracy or the green wacko's who then want to slow you down to 45mph because the noise will interfear with the mating calls of nat's. If truckers will not try to pass on steep grades going 1mph faster than the other rig or the auto trying to squeaze through or not letting a trucker merge because that means you will have to wait until you can pass then maybe we wont need the BS.

 

[Ragain]

Sometimes I have extra time on my run, and just as a silent protest in states with split speeds (CA, OR, OH, IL, etc. ) I set my cruise @ 2mph above posted MINIMUM speed. Staying in the granny lane of course. Slower is not always better. Just ask Texas. They had enough common sense to know that split speeds were doing more harm than good. More accidents/fatalities were being caused by persons not restricted by the truck/towing speed limit and trying to pass vehicles that were restricted. I am not advocating faster truck speeds, but rather equal speeds for all.

Can any of you remember 2~3 years ago when CA. D. O. T. had a big push to heavily enforce truck speeds? They spent big bucks buying several GM "F" body (Camaro) pursuit vehicles to specifically target commercial traffic. WHAT A JOKE! Anyone knows that a YUGO could have done the job just as well. And CA. cannot understand why their state is going broke?

 

[DogDiesel]

Trucking Industry not Fed DOT

The NHTSA is not the states or Federal govt.

While I concur with what most posts about how this will affect traffic, it has also been highlighted that few too many truckers are not professional, and that also they do assinine things. The NHTSA would be better to focus back on quaility training and standards for drivers, promote disciplined and professional behavior, and better rates and pay, and get the cheaper paid half-shot drivers off the road. :-{}

Industry puts a lot of money into trucks, the quality of riggs has went up and up. Focus on drivers. Oo. I'd like to see more 1-800 # to report unlawful drivers, and not split speeds.

IMHO

Wayne

 

[bmoeller]

The NHTSA is not the states or Federal govt.
While I concur with what most posts about how this will affect traffic, it has also been highlighted that few too many truckers are not professional, and that also they do assinine things. The NHTSA would be better to focus back on quaility training and standards for drivers, promote disciplined and professional behavior, and better rates and pay, and get the cheaper paid half-shot (A. K. A steering wheel holders) drivers off the road. :-{}
Industry puts a lot of money into trucks, the quality of riggs has went up and up. Focus on drivers. Oo. I'd like to see more 1-800 # to report unlawful drivers, and not split speeds.
IMHO
Wayne

Right on Wayne. DING! DING! We have a winner.

The real problem is, I don't think the gov't is really interested in better training. I think some of it is a control issue on their part, or just plain politically biased just to shut up a minority group (after being handed money under the table, of course). The way tree huggers are cowtowed to is a good example. Personally, I'd tell those types of people to FO. It's like the quote I have in my sig. Their "good" intentions cause more problems than they solve.

Speed limiters won't solve a dang thing. Your suggestions WILL make a difference. But, it also helps if the trainee gives a rats rearend in the first place. Some just don't, like a spoiled brat.

Better pay would be nice (did get a 2ct/mile raise this week ), but it won't exactly make a person a better driver. A lot of drivers get paid plenty more than I do, and they are still crapy drivers. I care how I drive, to look out for myself, the livestock, and the other drivers. I think my driving record is a good indication that.

 

[jnelson]

I hated to see it happen... in an effort to be profitable, the trucking industry has allowed their standards for driver experience to drop to dangerous levels. Rather than holding out for better rates, some are willing to sit anyone in the drivers seat that can climb in for lower wages. a lot of us "old school" drivers have moved on to other careers rather than be associated in this industry's dropping level of respect. What we are seeing is the "New Breed" drivers that are being allowed to operate on the roads today. I have been keeping my digital camera handy in my ol' Pete to snap photos of poor driving practices some drivers exercise. Some of these photos get sent to their company safety directors for them to view first hand!

You hit it right on the head. But one correction, they are not a new breed of driver, they are "steering wheel holders".



Wait till our mexican friends get their opportunity to drive their trucks over on this side. I drove in Mexico for 2 years delivering molten sulfur to a chemical plant in Matamorros. I dont care if I am given the opportunity to drive over there - I WILL NOT drive over their anymore. Did it make me a better driver, sure it did. It's worse now than it was 9 years ago. The era of the American Trucker is coming to a dismal end. It is sad.