It doesnt impact your paycheck, your children, the speed you're currently going, or your dog.
So, again, I ask, why do you care so much?!
Owner operators, ungoverned, 70+mph trucks, this isn't a question for you. In my year of experience in this trash industry, I have never had an OG long nose, in the right lane, pull this kind of stupidity. Its always the megas, the 2nd hand freightliners and volvos with the LLC printed out on paper and clear taped to the door, UPS and the doubles carriers, pulling this.
You all DO have my utmost apologies. 100%
To the governed crowd:
This BS happens in 80% of my passing scenarios. My truck is equipped with speed senors for the vehicle in front of me, so I have digital evidence that you are indeed driving below my governed speed for awhile before I decide to pass.
Why cant you just keep yourself sitting in the vaginal exam position (because in case no one told you, thats what it looks like with both legs on the dash) and let your adaptive cruise control guide you at 62mph, like you were for the last 10 miles. (I checked the whole time I was coming up on you)
Why cant you just keep texting or watching videos?
Why cant you keep eating?
What makes you HAVE TO step on the accelerator and match my speed, keeping me stuck in the left lane? For literal MILES.
I didnt magically appear at your drivers side door. I got here because you werent driving your truck, you were letting it drive you. Thats the difference between us.
You do realize this is why 4 wheelers drive erratically around us, because of people like you, right? Why there is zero respect for us, even though we are driving the same 80,000lb vehicle as the other guys.
Cruise control only maintains top speed if you keep your foot on the accelerator at all times. Not sure why y'all havent figured that out.
Please, stop doing this shit. Seriously. Me passing you is a temporary forward motion, and I will be maintaing my governed, pathetic, 68mph while in front of you. (hills being the exception)
I do not want to drive in a circus formation, like elephants, trunk to tail, and listen to the frustrating "you're too close to the clown in front of you" beeping warning while you giggle at the latest TikTok at 62mph.
Let me freaking pass!
I'm ungoverned but in situations like when I miss a speed sign that is higher and just realized now cruising under the speed limit, some governed truck start passing me, I'll let them, hell if they are slow ill even slow down then once they are back in the right lane, I'll just speed up and pass. That's how people should be. I may lose 15 secs, why does it matter...
I think it’s a defense mechanism, something they can focus on so they don’t think about their real problems for 11hrs. And people like that always have a LOT of real problems.
Best thing i ever did is get in my own truck, no governor and a lot less stress dealing with traffic. I set my cruise and if I'm coming up on someone slower the only limit to my speed is the inclines.
I don’t unless it’s in cattle shoots clearly marked no trucks in one of the lanes because there really isn’t the room for two trucks side by side. It’s not worth killing us both to speed through the construction zone.
I slow down a few mph when I see someone struggling to pass. Makes my day easier as well as yours. I wish more people had some sense of community out here
If it's just the two of us I'l ride it out, but if there is even 1 other vehicle with us I'll tap it down a couple mph. I'm in the hills all day so sometimes a struggling passer is just a matter of me being faster uphill or downhill than them. I drive the same highway every day so I know when there is a flat area coming up. if it's just beyond the next hill I'll just roll next to you until then then back down if needed there.
Yeah, I don't wanna be the guy trying to pass you for 15 miles.
But also I don't want to be the guy sitting next to that guy either. Accidents happen and I don't want to try to find room that isn't there. Backing off a little bit gets shit out the way.
One local driver to me and a good friend retired after 25 years of driving. Did routes to NYC all the time. Not sure how but he liked it. He quit and went to a local DOT office as he was sick and tired of all the drivers coming out with their piece of paper when it fact the companies will take anyone's money, English speaking or not, and make sure they pass.
I agree with a lot of what your saying in your essay but driver, there ain't no way in hell you have never seen 2 long noses going full blown ego mode on a 2 lane. I see it every fucking day on 71 in Kentucky. Don't matter what you drive, or who you drive for, there are a lot of shithead drivers out here.
I havent seen that yet? Maybe because I am governed, all the action happens up ahead of me? Lol.
Thats a fair race at least, and the entire world doesnt hate their existence. May the best driver win.
(The one who can drive a straight line without lane swerving, assess the road ahead and what obstacles they are coming up on, and either punch it or back down)
Its dawning on me that alot of folks dont know our swift trucks are governed at different speeds so they do this to us. Especially Jb Hunt. They will use the weight of their load and downhill momentum to try to stay infront. Then it goes back to flat or uphill road and they’re grinding their teeth because im infront now. Super ego never lets you pass as well obviously because…yh. Ive had owner operators pass me back and then slow down again and i pass them for a second time. Now its a game of cat and mouse them trying to keep up with me in traffic and end up losing me 4 miles in.
I have found that the only guaranteed passing scenarios, amongst the megas is Raider Express. Those poor folks are governed at 62mph.
Wilson pulls Prime trailers now and they are 68mph governed, and I have noticed with Swift too.
Add in PassSmart and anyone who has it can stick me in the left lane.
I just cant understand why its so important, when they werent maintaining speed all along.
Yep. My company in the autos pedal down 65 cruise 69 coast as fast as you are comfortable. The manuals will all do 69 pedal down (my original truck which I'm getting back when I get back is a 2020 t680 with 10 speed and will do 69 in 9th gear no issues.) My current truck is a 2023 international that can't decide if it wants to go or not hate automatic.
“Oh you think you’re fast ? Let me show you what fast is” (goes 2mph faster than you) its ridiculous. I see you struggling to pass i let off and hopefully i dont see you again
I expect 4 wheelers to do this. Hell I'll even change lanes just to encourage the 4 wheeler whos draggin ass to get back up to speed.
But when other trucks do it. God man it makes me wanna pre trip a lot lizard.
Every day some idiot wants to pass me going up hill, but they can’t be bothered to downshift. Brother, I’m not losing my momentum on a hill so you can pull in front of me so I can slow down even more. I’m governed so I can’t go faster, but I’m not gonna go slower either. Get it together and pass like you mean it.
Right now I'm in a automatic. First thing I learned. When you start going downshift to hold if at all possible any speed and downshift again when going near so you'll keep holding little speed. Works good, my usual is a 10 speed manual which barely struggles even with heavy but I'll still downshift to 9th and lower when needed to keep speed.
Seven out of 10 times I’ll move to the left lane for someone to merge and I always get stuck in the left lane doing 64 and I’ll they’ll come up beside me and wait forever to pass me and then everybody’s behind them so I can’t get over. Drives me crazy.
I have found this to not be true. People will slowly pull up next to me, pretending they dont see the signal, staring straight ahead. Trapping me in the left lane while the douchebag drive next to me.
You can pass me all you want. It's the passing of folks, on an uphill interstate such as I-81, and taking miles to finally get by them. Happens too often out here and other truck driving friends of mine hate this as well.
Fr bro I gotta take 81 for half of my work week and it sucks In VA having traffic congest like crazy cuz Schneider decided he wanted to try and overtake JB Hunt at 55mph on an uphill 🤦
It happens all too often. I feel for any driver getting slowed down but get angry after you get up that long uphill in the right lane. Angry at your fellow brethren drivers.
77 southbound around mm 23 in va is really bad for this. Traffic is always like 35 through there because of truck trying to pass each other. Around mm 58 can be bad too.
I don’t care if you pass me.
But don’t fly up to less than 5 feet from my back bumper while you impatiently wait for an opening in the passing lane to make your move.
Which is why its important (at least to me) to gauge the traffic around me and make sure I am not blocking a faster truck before I start to pass. I will hang back and wait until the faster trucks get by, then start my pass.
If I’m getting passed I will let off..
But get the fuck outta the middle lane if I’m coming up behind you.. especially when the fast lane is ‘no trucks’
I watch my mirrors, constantly, and get out of the middle lane asap once I see a truck behind me. (4 wheelers can go around, and I dont bother moving over for them.)
We all gotta share the road. I try my best to be conscious of all the moving parts on the road around me.
I’m always driving slow. My trucks governed and yet I still get guys who will take five minutes to inch by and want to slide over five feet off my front bumper.
Hahaha this is so fucking true. The birthing position. Luckily I'm not governed. So when they do this I just think bitch you were getting passed then and you'll get passed now. But still dick moves. Idk why it's done. But I've noticed construction sites or speed drops or slow state limits that all the slow megas haul ass. I feel like it's because it's the only time they get to pass.
Not gonna lie, those states that have lower speeds for trucks while cars pass at 90mph piss me off and I *may* accidentally forget to drop the 5mph off.
There's plenty of shitbag drivers in ungoverned trucks doing this, too, or they're governed at like 75. I drive one of those of long hood Pete's. I very rarely ever talk about my setup, but I feel it's relevant here. I dont have a small motor, I run big horsepower cause I hate fighting my truck all day. I'm putting close to 700hp to the ground. I say that to point out that I still have to deal with these morons that like to speed up when I step out out to pass. I promise you, mr Chicago Volvo, that this will only take a few seconds. There's no reason to get peter envy all of a sudden and act like you won't let me pass you. I WILL pass you regardless. But they still like to play those stupid games even at 75 or more mph cause, TikTok......
I hate truck drivers! Shit like this is why so OP, even though you're still a newbie, not much has changed. I've been out here 20+ and its still the same old shit
I appreciate all you OG drivers, as I rarely have an issue when we share the road. Lots of respect for you.
I am glad that I'm not here forever, just until my parents no longer need financial assistance.
Safe roads to you! ✌️
When i ran flatbed it was a lot of fun being the only prime driver in the left lane empty flying up a hill because it’s the only time i know i can pass other trucks 🥲 but yeah, the ego isnt worth the headache and some steering wheel holders only ride the left no matter what’s going on and it even pisses me off.
Bro. If you're creeping up on a truck just slow tf down a little. Newsflash: if he's going 64, but you can go 64.5, you trying to pass him is just piling up traffic and pissing people off. Let me explain it this way:
(Read all the caps in a pissed off Sam Kinison voice)
Theoretically, in a 10 hour driving shift, you can get exactly HALF A MILE FARTHER...IN TEN FREAKING HOURS!!! BACK TF OFF A LITTLE AND STAY BEHIND! HE'S PROBABLY GONNA GET OFF SOON TO PINCH A LOAF AND GRAB ANOTHER LOVE'S CHILI CHEESE DOG ANYWAY!!
IT REALLY DOES TAKE YEARS AND YEARS TO FIGURE OUT HOW NOT TO BE A CLOWN ON THE ROAD! AND THATS WHY VETERAN DRIVERS JUST SHAKE THEIR HEADS AND LAUGH AT THE NOOBS!
You're right. But it doesn't matter. Because the one passing is gonna make an extra piss stop, and they're both gonna arrive at the exact time same place at the exact same time. Hell, the slower truck might get there first. None of these slow ass trucks are getting anywhere any faster.
But I am doing a steady 68mph and they are using adaptive cruise at 62mph, 64mph, 60mph, 64mph. 62mph, 64mph, 65mph, 60mph ...., so there is actually a lot more mileage lost than you are taking into account.
On hills, approached at 68mph, i am usually doing 62mph at the top on tough hills. Similarly, Adaptive Cruise Boy is doing 64mph approaching, and then stumbling at the top at 50mph.
I have pulled over, taken my mandated 30min break and got back on, only to pass Adaptive Cruise Boy shortly after getting back on the highway.
Repeat this all day long, and add up the mileage for the true facts. It cuts into MY paycheck, hugely.
I took this job to help support my elderly parents, who worked their entire lives, only to now be forced to choose between buying food or whatever medication they need. I will be damned if I let some unobservant, lazy, idiotic steering wheel holder cut into that.
I feel you on this one OP.
Some of these assholes will literally risk getting sent off a hill/mountain if it means stopping me from passing.
Was going down a mountain where the speed limit for trucks was 40mph and cars was 65mph. Attempted to pass a 40mph truck at 45 and he sped up. I get behind him and he slows down again. I do this route everyday so I knew a curve was coming up and I made an attempt again as we approached the curve and bro sped up again and then flew into the emergency lane once we hit the curve since it was a tighter curve. He slowed down but still almost went off the mountain. Just to stop me from passing 🥲
I'm governed and can only do 65 unless trying to pass then it will let me go 68 for a short time. If they go 62 and speed up, I wait it out at 65 in the left lane until the moron forgets and goes 62 again, or I speed it up to 68, get right in front of him and force him to slow down or pass me at 65/66. If they were going 65 the whole time, I would never catch up as I cruise at 65.
Oh my gosh yes. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been stuck behind a slow truck (usually a white Volvo) for miles and miles, then I go to pass and they magically find their accelerator. Luckily my truck isn’t governed, but it’s aggravating to be going slow (usually well below the limit) then all of a sudden have to floor my accelerator to get in front of the truck that is inevitably going to slow down once again. Trucking needs to go back to the old days when drivers were true professionals who looked out for each other.
I hate passing and being passed only because it's annoying having two trucks right next to each other for too long. Im a mega driver and always have been, but I ALWAYS hit my brakes and let them pass because I don't wanna sit there and stare at each other. I hate it. Recently, I had a truck up my ass for no reason... he straight up wouldn't pass me even though he was driving 5 feet away from my trailer. I had to force it! I slowed down slowly, and he FINALLY passed when I got down to 55mph. He then proceeds to ride up a 4 wheelers ass. Wtf??? Y'all crazy stupid out there.
No matter what industry I have worked in, whenever someone is doing something stupid or self-destructive, the reason almost always boils down to their fragile ego.
It's a job with a super low barrier to entry. It takes all kinds and most of them wouldn't be capable of doing much else.
Their entire world is in the cabin of a truck.
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