I feel like doing this is unprofessional and shows a fragile ego

Posted by legollama88@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 315 comments

I feel like doing this is unprofessional and shows a fragile ego

Traffic is stopped and it is because there is a lane blocked up here. So obviously only one lane is open. Only reason i bring this up is because over my time driving i have witnessed guys in rigs specifically use their rig to block people from driving where they want to. Do i get the concept? sure. Reminds me of children at school getting pissed because someone “cut” line. But here is the thing. Why do you care? I mean these guys are ready to jump out on anybody cars including because how dare someone “cut in line” since they were waiting first. i specifically remember this dude in a 387 at like 20mph absolutely cut over so hard on this single audi WAY before the traffic merged. and he literally rode in all the lanes to prevent this guy and other’s from passing him. like i said i get it. but at the same time are you seriously gonna cut off someone just because you don’t want them in front you?

Reply to Post

Reply

315 Comments

[-]

Marcus_Brody@reddit

Not a truck driver but was taught to drive by them, so I try to be conscientious of my driving impacting you guys, but this is something I really don't understand and feel like it's a newish thing, possibly only a southeastern thing. Why are people trying to merge a mile early? Is it because you guys know people won't let you in so you start trying early, and then people mindlessly line up behind you? Ive seen signs popping up in construction zones saying Continue to Merge point specifically targeting this trend. So idk what's right anymore but if I see a mile of open road before a merge I'm going to use it.

Reply

[-]

FishermansPlatter@reddit

That’s ego- that’s selfish, that’s is the problem, like your so special you get to use the magical free lane? Why are you even here?

Reply

[-]

Marcus_Brody@reddit

What magical lane? It's an open, unblocked lane of traffic leading up to a merge. I am genuinely asking why it's seemingly frowned upon to merge at the merge point? It's surely not illegal, it's not blocked off, so is it courtesy? If people filled in that mile of lane, wouldn't the traffic jam theoretically be shorter? Is preventing people from using the "magical lane" purely at their whim not ego driven too?

Reply

[-]

throwed-off@reddit

>If people filled in that mile of lane, wouldn't the traffic jam theoretically be shorter? Distance-wise, yes, but that doesn't mean that traffic would get through any faster. In fact the opposite is usually true. The entire reason for merging into the through lane early is so that you can do it without having to slow way down, which you will have to do if you charge up ahead of the line to the merge point.

Reply

[-]

Marcus_Brody@reddit

That is the essence of zipper merging and really merging in general. And if that was done, theoretically, the traffic would keep loving. But if one lane is dead stopped and the other is open for a half mile because of the self-appointed merge police, at this point just use all the lanes afforded right?

Reply

[-]

throwed-off@reddit

The essence of zipper merging is to shorten the physical size of traffic backups by sacrificing time and speed. If everybody would merge early they could do so at speed and there would be no need to slow down at the point where zipper merging is supposed to occur. By contrast, zipper merging by its very nature requires traffic in the through lane to slow down to allow traffic to merge in from from the ending lane - traffic that has almost always slowed down greatly below highway speed if not almost at a complete stop.

Reply

[-]

FishermansPlatter@reddit

Get in line like everyone else

Reply

[-]

Marcus_Brody@reddit

So you're the one blocking the lane.

Reply

[-]

holynightstand@reddit

They should do the passive aggressive thing and pass you with their signal lights on or hazard lights on - another words to say “ you are the hazard “ lol also are you a JB hunter because you will fall off the edge, nobody else falls off but you will, and if you go in the climbing lane on a hill nobody will let you back into the normal lanes

Reply

[-]

Due-Technician3715@reddit

Slow down let them pass

Reply

[-]

lethalkitten2@reddit

I'll only lane block when it is like 300 feet from the lane closure because ill see cars zoom up the open lane right before the cone then trying to jump over at speed and I know that puts the crews at risk espically when they are right there working.

Reply

[-]

Particular_View7717@reddit

Right b4 the merge

Reply

[-]

SilverKing8869@reddit

Car driver here, hes doing right, im the asshole that'll sneak on by bcs i dont want to be behind yall.

Reply

[-]

Overall_Reputation83@reddit

in a perfect world I'd agree with zipper merging, but this is not a perfect world.

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

Same. I happen to be one of the childish truck drivers that the guy is talking about, but I actually do the zipper merge. (Even if Im the only one doing it) I get into the lane that is ending and pick a truck or car next to me. That is the vehicle I will merge behind. Then I ride that all the way to the merge even though there is plenty of space in front. If everyone did that, choosing a car to merge with and rode it all.the way, there would never be any stopped traffic.

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

That's not zipper merging. You are eliminating the lane at your arbitrary mark early instead of allowing it to be used up until its actually closed.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

wrong. That is forcing a proper usage of the zipper merge. the entire point of proper zipper merging is that people DON'T merge until the single merge point. Then everyone gets through in roughly a first in, first out basis. The issue is people merge early, a lot, and it backs up the through lane while others do go on up. Speed matching the through lane in the ending lane is how it should be done. You just want your speed lane to cut in front of everyone...

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

He's talking about blocking both lanes early and just driving along side his merge all the way until the merge point.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

Yes, I am fully aware of what his point is. Zipper merge doesn't mean one lane zooms past the other. Zipper means everyone should merge at the same spot. So speed matching in the other lane sets the zipper up correctly.

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

You clearly dont understand.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

Don't understand that you like zooming by a bunch of people? No, I get it...

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

My goodness. I see why this never works in real life. Even the people that say they get it are too brain dead to see they don't. it doesn't matter if you ZOOM by them. they have free will too and can get into the empty lane to use empty space in order to facilitate flowing traffic. Its only ZOOMING by if you're going insanely fast. Go a few miles per hour faster and its safe.

Reply

[-]

throwed-off@reddit

>Zipper merge doesn't mean one lane zooms past the other. But that's **exactly** what people do and then claim they're doing it in the name of the zipper merge.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Is it a zipper merge if you leave the lane open and a hundred cars merge in between the five trucks between you and the "official" merge point? 🤔

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

You aren't supposed to leave the lane open... thats THE WHOLE POINT of zipper merge.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Ok so should I zoom ahead of forty cars in the continuing lane? Everybody else merged early so I'll just take advantage right?

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

It's not taking advantage. They should be split into both lanes. All you're doing is merging early and wasting space and building traffic up more.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

So if nobody merges early, the lanes should be moving at a mostly equal rate of speed, and there should BE no empty space for me to zoom ahead in. But they all merged early. So now there is empty space. So should I zoom ahead and use it as a passing lane and pass forty cars, many of whom should have still been in front of me if they hadn't merged early? Or should I attempt to speed match the continuing lane so I can merge into the same space I should have merged into if nobody had merged early?

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

I normally just go 5mph or so faster in the open lane so as not to 'zoom'. Then merge a little early (like 10 car lengths as a truck). If you speed match all your doing is creating the merge point behind you instead of where the lane ends.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

You aren't "creating the merge point behind you" if everybody behind you stays in the merge lane until it ends instead of merging early.

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

I get what your saying, but the point is to use the lane and if you just ride in the other lane with space in front of you its as if the lane ended where your truck is instead of down the road where the lane ends. none of that space is being used.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

If you are riding in the lane, you are using it, and it's not ending til it ends and you have to merge. Eventually when the lane ends, and you are pacing traffic in the continuing lane, you will merge into the same space you would have had to merge into if everybody who was driving in front of you had not merged inappropriately early.

Reply

[-]

SweetTea3_10@reddit

If you are pacing traffic in the lane next to you and one lane is full.of cars and you lane is not all the space in front of you is unused space. Please. This is not hard to understand.

Reply

[-]

LotzoHuggins@reddit

The entier point of zipper merge is maximizing lane usage, if you are denying lane usage, you are the problem.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Thinking that maximizing lane usage equals zooming ahead into the empty space that was made because others merged too early makes YOU the problem.

Reply

[-]

LotzoHuggins@reddit

it's so unfair. it hurts even worse when you come to the realization you created your own pain the whole time by participating in the inefficeint behavior. but sheep rarely feel regret because when you are clueless as to what to do, usually following the crowd is the best bet.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

So who's really denying lane usage? The people who merged early, causing the continuing lane to be completely constipated, and the people who zoom up to the front and merge out of turn, causing the continuing lane to be even more constipated... Everybody in the continuing lane just sits and waits while the empty merging lane gets taken advantage of by people like you, thinking "I'll zoom to the end of the lane because all those losers merged early". But imagine if they had not all merged early? Both lanes would be moving the same speed. So instead of being part of the problem and merging early OR zooming past everybody who did, you can be part of the solution by holding your place next to the vehicles you would have merged between if nobody in front of you so graciously got out of your way, and merging between those two vehicles when you run out of space! Wow. Math and geometry is fun!

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Zipper merge means merge with the vehicle next to you. Identify the vehicle next to you and stay next to him till the lane ends and then traffic in the stopped lane will suddenly start to move much faster... With a proper zipper merge, both lanes should be moving at an equal speed. Not one lane stopped dead while everybody in the merge lane flies past. It's not wrong to have both lanes moving the same speed. So one lane "gets slower" and another lane "gets faster", but it equals out and it is more fair for everybody. Be better at math.

Reply

[-]

LotzoHuggins@reddit

facts over feelings bro. you are the problem.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

And you are bad at math.

Reply

[-]

LotzoHuggins@reddit

you are issing the point, it's not a math equation. your argument rests on fairness not calculation. if you could calucluate, you would reach the only logical conclusion. i choose facts over feelings.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Zipper merges don't care about your feelings. It seems you are choosing your feelings over math. Math = Facts I'd try to explain it to you but I don't think you are smart enough to understand. Because your feelings are telling you "I WANNA GO FASTER" 🤣👍

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

The point of the zipper is that everyone merges in one spot. Since a large portion of the population doesn't get this and merges early the entire concept is broken. This fixes it. Its no slower for you than if everyone actually merged properly... You're just mad if someone makes it so you can't cut.

Reply

[-]

LotzoHuggins@reddit

test

Reply

[-]

overcrispy@reddit

This is just flat wrong. You’re delaying an entire lane of traffic behind you because you have decided, arbitrarily, that this is the way to do it. The rules (DOT) are simple and do not need to be over complicated: -> use all lanes until merge point The rules exist to reduce the total amount of road (length wise) affected by traffic. If nobody uses the lane that is ending then more road is affected by traffic. Super easy, super simple. Pick a lane you like for whatever reason and drive up to the merge point. At that point, merge. Ideally, seeing the merge point coming, everyone makes a window in front of them leading up to that point but it isn’t necessary. If you want to avoid stopping then have a reasonable cushion in front of you. Don’t just hold up some indefinite amount of road because you have bestowed the authority upon yourself to do so. Look up the ‘phantom traffic jam’ experiment by Yugi Sugiyama. You are not stopping everyone from, well, stopping.

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

Youre right about what the law is, but that doesnt make it right. OK has tried to address this issue and trying to force a zipper merge by making it illegal to merge at the merge point. I am aware of what the phantom traffic jam experiment is and that doesnt apply to merges. There isnt even a merge in the experiment. Its a fact that the lane that ends always moves faster than the lane that continues when a zipper merge is not used. When I am stopping others from cutting ahead, eventually the folks in front merge and the continuing lane speeds up, then so do I. Any slowdown I make in the ending lane is temporary. I create the opportunity for a reset and a set up of a seamless zipper merge. Is that technically illegal? Sure, but is it the right thing to do? I believe it is. If folks wont do a zipper merge, I wont let them slow down others. Im not arbitrarily trying to assert dominance, Im trying to promote the flow of all traffic fairly. Maybe if the States had better driver education none of us would need to have this conversation

Reply

[-]

Jina-langu-ni-Juma@reddit

You're creating more traffic. Unjustly policing others while making things worse. You should feel shame when you do that.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

You are bad at math

Reply

[-]

Jina-langu-ni-Juma@reddit

I did study engineering, but maybe you're right.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Ok so, if there are two lanes, one moving at 15 mph and another moving at 5 mph, and somebody in the 15mph lane decides to match the speed of the 5mph lane, the 5mph lane will start to move faster as for a moment, nobody is merging in front of them. If the speed matcher continues to match speed instead of staying at 5mph, both lanes are now moving at 10mph, which still equals 20mph in total. There is not suddenly "more traffic". It's just that the "faster lane" is moving slower but the "slower lane" is moving faster so... it evens out and makes it more fair. There are tons of "zipper merge" videos out there but the ones that explain it well say traffic in both lanes should be moving approximately the same speed. So "speed matching" forces a reset when lane speeds are mismatched. There are several reasons the speeds tend to be mismatched. One reason is because people don't "zipper" fairly at the end and several cars will cram together in the merging lane and try to merge in front of a single vehicle who is NOT complicit in this unfairness. Another reason is that one of the vehicles in the continuing lane will ALLOW several cars to merge in front of him to "be nice". Another reason is people who merge early because they don't understand the concept of zipper merging. If the lane speeds are severely mismatched, I personally welcome a "reset" by speed matching.

Reply

[-]

Jina-langu-ni-Juma@reddit

I see what you are saying, and I find that reasonable. What I was talking about that I don't care for is when people prematurely shut the merging lane by splitting the white line.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

I had a trucker do that to me just today. Driving on the white line to block is not significantly different than two vehicles driving the same speed next to each other. The difference is one vehicle length. I could have been next to him but instead I had to be behind... But I wasn't even trying to pass him, just pace 🙄 and I would have taken the space behind him anyway. The problem with that is he can't take up all the space by himself 🤣 so cars were still trying to pass him on the right and I couldn't get next to him at all. So yeah I was irritated because he can't do teamwork and trust another trucker to help him block the rudeness 😉 There was another car behind him trying to pass even though he would have had to pass and cut THAT TRUCKER just to merge back into the lane, since the merge was within 150 feet... so I just stayed on the truckers line riding ass while the little car kept acting like he was gonna ram me in the side trying to pass the trucker on the right... When we ran out of room I merged behind the little car. And

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

No its not. Its blocking the cutters and fixing what the early mergers are screwing up.

Reply

[-]

Jina-langu-ni-Juma@reddit

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cX0I8OdK7Tk&pp=ygUaemlwcGVyIG1lcmdlIGRlbW9uc3RyYXRpb24%3D

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

Yes... I am completely aware of what zipper merging is...

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

I think youre the one who should feel shame when you cut in front of others. Its one thing to use the lane up to the merge point with both lanes full, but its another thing to plow ahead when the lane is clear and go all the way to the front. That behavior causes massive traffic because the continuing lane has to stop to let you over. The only way to get traffic moving is if all lanes move together and then initiate a zipper merge.

Reply

[-]

Jina-langu-ni-Juma@reddit

No. I'm not turning into the merge lane and passing people. If I'm already in it, I'm going with the flow of traffic until the zipper, unless there is someone who is blocking both lanes. It's stupid and makes more traffic. I don't get mad when people get ahead of me in the merge lane. That's weird.

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

I also am not turning into the merge lane, but what I do prevents people from doing that. Its actually a dangerous maneuver as im sure you know, starting from 0mph and trying to merge into a lane of folks going much faster. I also dont know why youre trying to make this an emotional matter by bringing first shame and now anger into the equation. Im just doing what I think is right for everybody. Im sorry you disagree, or that youre thinking that Im an emotional driver that is road raging and trying to block traffic. Im trying to control the flow of traffic in a way that I think helps everyone

Reply

[-]

Amazing-Mammoth-8442@reddit

The problem isn't emotion or a misunderstood argument. The problem is YOU "trying to control the flow of traffic". You are not police. You are not DOT. You are a problem. Mind your business, and your lane, you only have control over yourself.

Reply

[-]

Radiant_Swan187@reddit

What a cop out. You're absolutely the dude on the train watching some chick get raped because it's "not your business"

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

When both lanes are used, nothing needs to be done. When I see a problem I will not mind my business, I will fix it. Beleive it or not, you dont need to wear a uniform or have a title to make the world a better place One of the few things that Oklahoma has done right is to force folks to merge early to try to address the issue, because the fact of the matter is that failure to enact a zipper merge causes more traffic.

Reply

[-]

Crash2311@reddit

I agree. I choose to control my truck in a way that helps traffic flow again. Even if for a short. I will definitely get in the lane that is ending and pace the vehicle I was behind when I watch vehicle after vehicle cut from the through lane and speed to the front to merge in and screw up the flow of the through lane. If everyone stopped being selfish the world would be so perfect huh. But it’s not.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

\>use all lanes until merge point The problem is people DON'T do this, merging early. Proper zipper merging has a single merge point. THAT is zipper merging. All the rando's merging early are fouling up the entire premise. So all of you in a bunch over people "blocking" the merge lane are really just upset at someone making it so you can't really cut in front anymore.

Reply

[-]

Shinneman@reddit

You’re 100% correct and besides when you cut that guy off in the lane coming up and he hit you, he’s just gonna look at you when the cop gets there and go. How can you be in two lanes at the same time and it’s your fault you hit them happens every day

Reply

[-]

2handbus@reddit

You are correct, that’s why I block ending lane at the merge point. If not cars and trucks like me force their way in at the “have to” point.

Reply

[-]

LoopDoGG79@reddit

Exactly this. Though, I've seen too many people try to squeeze on in the right to cut me off only to be stopped in front of me. I start blocking access to the right side of a lane if possible as I merge to prevent this

Reply

[-]

Ninja-Storyteller@reddit

I would feel very guilty zooming past truckers who have been waiting a lot longer than me.

Reply

[-]

curiousbydesign@reddit

OMG. You are so wrong. And you are a trucker. You need to seriously look up zipper merge and understand the concept. You are the reason why they don't work. Be the reason they do FFS.

Reply

[-]

CaseyJones37@reddit

When you see zipper merge and at least 5 cars per truck continually think they're entitled to zipper in front of you, you might understand.

Reply

[-]

curiousbydesign@reddit

Hey, do you. Block people. And merge too soon. Guaranteed that will be helpful for you.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

If you're blocking people till the end of the merge lane, why would you merge too soon? Seems like you are misunderstanding or misexplaining...

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

But that isn't the zipper. 🙄 You don't arbitrarily pick one and match it tenths of a mile back. You merge at the merge point. 🙄🤦

Reply

[-]

Wildcatb@reddit

The zipper relies on nobody passing - both lanes have to be moving at the same speed for it to work. This guy is zippering. People jumping ahead are not.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

The only reason there are people "passing" is because morons got over too soon. So no, the zipper relies on people not getting over too soon. The koalas getting over too soon create the opportunity for others to pass them. They don't then get to bitch about the situation they created. This shit is basic. You start your thinking after the problem has already been created. The problem isn't people passing. The problem is the idiots getting passed.

Reply

[-]

LadyTrucker23@reddit

The problem with this is that when you reach the merge point there will be, inevitably, ten cars and three trucks that refuse to allow the merge. Your solution would work in a perfect world but we all know that most 4-wheelers REFUSE to get behind a truck and unfortunately there are many like-minded drivers in trucks as well. It’s been like that for the 30 years that I’ve been driving a truck. This will not change until drivers educate themselves.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

I've seen it a thousand times the merge works. The existence of assholes doesn't excuse making things worse by being a bigger asshole. All the data show that these "solutions" to assholes only make things worse. Even if you're right, the "solutions" being suggested on this post do not fix the problems you're describing. Every part of this is imbecilic.

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

The merge doesnt work for both lanes, only the faster lane. Is it imbicilic? Yes, thats the first correct thing youve said. What I do is stupid too, its all stupid. All because there is no proper standardized driver education program in the States

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

No, child, everything I have said is correct. You dumbasses are still starting your measurement AFTER a host of morons got over too soon. If everyone keeps their lane all the way to the merge, *from the beginning*, it is fastest for traffic generally, and for nearly everyone specifically. There *IS NO FASTER LANE*! 🤦

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Utopia is a wonderful place

Reply

[-]

Crash2311@reddit

What it must be like to live in a perfect world. Ahhh. Someday.

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

No shit sherlock, thats the point. People continue to get over too early and others then cut ahead. So I am trying to correct the flow of traffic and create a zipper merge. Youre just a snowflake thats having a meltdown because you cant cut ahead

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

Not true. The reason that zipper mergers fail is because the of the folks trying to cut ahead in the lane that ends, and then also the folks trying to stop people from merging in the lane that continues. So even if everyone in the ending lane did a zipper, chances are the other people wouldnt let them in anyways. Too many idiot drivers in the States. Cant tell you how many times I prevented people from cutting and yet the assholes who I helped still wont let me merge back in.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

All the data says you're wrong. You decided what you think the answer is and just spew bullshit to argue it. It isn't cutting ahead, you bloody daft git. Idiots getting over too soon doesn't substantively change the people doing it correctly into "cutters". > I am an asshole, and then people don't let me back in, I don't understand!

Reply

[-]

Wildcatb@reddit

So the guy who's *not* getting over too soon is the bad guy? The guy who's staying in his lane and not passing? The guy who's actually doing it right? ...K.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

I never stop getting entertained by morons who would fail a reading comprehension and critical thinking skills test being smug. No, that's not what I said, dunce.

Reply

[-]

SOROKAMOKA@reddit

The point is that no one else does the zipper, so I will not allow them to skip the line nor will I skip the line. If everyone did what I do, then it would be a zipper because that is how a zipper is done when both lanes are full.

Reply

[-]

Blue_Veritas731@reddit

"You Will. Not. Allow?!" Get bent. You aren't the Traffic God. You just have an over inflated sense of importance.

Reply

[-]

Responsible_Bill_513@reddit

I guess he wanted to be a cop as a kid.

Reply

[-]

Crash2311@reddit

Nope. No one’s traffic god. Just people who have a back bone and will stand up for themselves and others. No one asked you to.

Reply

[-]

Blue_Veritas731@reddit

No, the person with the backbone is the one who's going to go around your obstinate ass, regardless. Being a bully to others is a classic sign of insecurity.

Reply

[-]

Crash2311@reddit

I think you have those roles reversed. Someone who’s willing to do whatever it takes to push their way to the front and screw everyone behind them isn’t “having a back bone”. That’s being a self serving a-hole. You do you big shooter.

Reply

[-]

ParkingLot405@reddit

Ever since I got that ticket from LSP years ago for impeding the flow of traffic I don't block the empty lane.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

too many people merge early, hence this... I see nothing wrong with it.

Reply

[-]

Tru3insanity@reddit

Sure. And then 8 1/2 cars floor it to ram their way in front of you while your heavy ass is trying to accelerate, forcing you to slam on the brakes to let these dipshits in and the whole process repeats until you say fuck it and straddle the line anyways.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

"truck driving is difficult, so I will just do what I want" You're a child in an adult's body. 🤷

Reply

[-]

Crash2311@reddit

You really are an interesting kind of special.

Reply

[-]

Tru3insanity@reddit

Yeah thats exactly how 4 wheelers think. Glad we're on the same page.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

You kids argue like 9 year olds with TBIs. Why not throw in a little "I know you are, but what am I" and "I'm rubber and you're glue"?

Reply

[-]

FishermansPlatter@reddit

Have you ever driven in a city?

Reply

[-]

ParkingLot405@reddit

I got a ticket from a Louisiana State Trooper years ago for impeding the flow of traffic for doing exactly that. Ever since then I just get in the short line and ride it up to the merge point. Some drivers get pissy but they can do the same thing if they don't want to wait in the long line.

Reply

[-]

_Cydaye_@reddit

Nope. Wrong. You’re the problem.

Reply

[-]

inmycherryspot@reddit

Translation; I’m the dick who acts like I’m for the zipper merge while actively doing the opposite

Reply

[-]

Environmental-Pear40@reddit

That's not a zipper merge. For a zipper merge if you're in the closing lane you go with the flow of the lane, not arbitrarily pick another vehicle in the through lane and create a pointless blockage.

Reply

[-]

Independent_Leg7358@reddit

How dare you do a rolling zipper merge. Exactly as it should be done. Get everyone spaced and traffic rolls right through the choke point!

Reply

[-]

Wildcatb@reddit

This is ABSOLUTELY the way to do it. Everyone in front of you gets through faster, because you're stopping the inevitable accordion effect caused by people racing ahead and jumping in.

Reply

[-]

ignoreme010101@reddit

100.0% same ^ This is the way.

Reply

[-]

Toomuchhorntalk69@reddit

And that’s the way it’s supposed to go! But everyone says you’re blocking traffic if you do it that way. I hate it here.

Reply

[-]

Automatic_Spirit_225@reddit

You wouldn't build a zipper with some teeth being 4x the size of others.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

So then you push the 4x sized tooth into the middle to fuck everything up anyway?

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

Are you trying to say that since a truck is longer, it should let four cars in front of it, instead of the cars doing a proper "zipper" merge?

Reply

[-]

Overall_Reputation83@reddit

If you knew the other zippers weren't going to irrationally stop you from fitting in I might.

Reply

[-]

Automatic_Spirit_225@reddit

My point is that there is no zipper. It may be well and good on some county road somewhere, but it makes 0 sense for mixed traffic.

Reply

[-]

Tricky_Big_8774@reddit

Fun fact: zipper merging is when both lanes approach the merge point AT THE SAME SPEED and take turns merging one by one.

Reply

[-]

Traditional-Knee-944@reddit

If by same speed you meant alternating at the merge point then you are correct. The “line police“ are successful in slowing traffic and doubling the back up.

Reply

[-]

VoidHog@reddit

It doesn't "double the backup". If lane one is moving at 15 mph and lane two is moving at 5mph and you "lane police" by pacing the vehicle next to you, the lane moving 5mph speeds up to 10 mph and the lane moving at 15mph slows to 10 mph, that's still 20mph total, and more fair to everybody.

Reply

[-]

JustaHarmfulShadow@reddit

That's how its supposed to go, not go into the empty lane and pace the car that was in front of you; that doesn't solve the issue just changes how the issue looks.

Reply

[-]

Codexe-@reddit

Zipper merge doesn't work when it's just one lane that's closed. It needs to be 3 cars to 1, that are zipper merging. Or something like that.

Reply

[-]

Overall_Reputation83@reddit

theoretically it should always work, everyone just needs to accept that they need to slow down a little to make space for the other lane. But people are never going to do that.

Reply

[-]

BigAssist4019@reddit

95% of the country doesn’t know how to properly use the zipper merge. Lol

Reply

[-]

inmycherryspot@reddit

This guy votes for the lesser of two evils

Reply

[-]

MaelstromDr@reddit

dependss of the situation

Reply

[-]

Independent_Leg7358@reddit

On an interstate you don't want the choke point actually at the choke point. An 80k truck with a small bock is gonna take a while to get moving to 45mph. You want loaded trucks to roll through the choke point. Also the idiots who can't figure out to merge and fly up and cut traffic make the whole line chain react and slam the brakes - delaying traffic through a choke point. Plenty of real world studies show the earlier everyone gets in line. However in the city or suburbs you have to "park" traffic somewhere as you have limited real-estate. So you zipper to utilize the space between intersections. And since it slows traffic, in some construction zones you want it.

Reply

[-]

LotzoHuggins@reddit

so if getting in line earlier is better, that would mean we reduce the infrastructure by one lane to make it better. boom, problem solved, everyone is already in line, and it is "better" I think that what you may be conflating is that adding more lanes merely induces demand and therefore amplifying the problem, but that is an unrelated issue here. here we are talking about a temporary lane reduction, and while i know you state that reducing lanes earlier by getting in line is "better" I have my doubts. I suppose that all teh people in the longer lane desperately trying to close ranks so those lane cheaters can't get in will cause erratic stoppages when the merge does occur. so you may have a point there. But people utilizing zipper merge technique are not the problem in that scenario. perhaps define "better"

Reply

[-]

truckeredditor@reddit

Zipper merging only works if everyone does it. And there's at least one person that doesn't and that creates a backup.

Reply

[-]

Ok_Judgment3871@reddit

Isnt “cutting in line” just zipper merges dont work as intended. The blocked lane always moves fastest

Reply

[-]

20milliondollarapi@reddit

I only will do it right before the merge. Because I don’t want to wait to 30 more cars to try and get between me and the 100 feet to the merge. Because they WILL try to do just that.

Reply

[-]

MasterpieceAmazing87@reddit

You say this in the wrong sub and you’ll get so much hate it’s wild, the average person doesn’t understand the bullshit that comes with the gig

Reply

[-]

20milliondollarapi@reddit

There was one person who was complaining here a while back wondering why semis are only going 45 when they get on a freeway near them. They said it’s ridiculous because it’s a long uphill ramp. People just have absolutely no common sense. And even here, theoretically, the line should start moving faster for a little while because fewer are needing to merge. I can’t say to where the benefit distance lies though. But there is absolutely an optimal distance where it will speed up merging for everyone.

Reply

[-]

Princetrix@reddit

I’ve seen redditors complain about how many trucks there were in traffic and to ban them during rush hour. That comment got way too many upvotes lol.

Reply

[-]

20milliondollarapi@reddit

Honestly, rush hour on freeways would go really smooth if they got rid of non commercial traffic during rush hour.

Reply

[-]

Every-Risk-3327@reddit

Rush hour only happens because of non commercial vehicles 😂

Reply

[-]

XanJamZ@reddit

Driving through Chicago at noon when everyone else is at work is smooth sailing despite all the trucks still on the road.

Reply

[-]

Unique_Arm435@reddit

Bawhahahah!!!

Reply

[-]

20milliondollarapi@reddit

I mean, could you imagine Atlanta freeways without any 4 wheelers? Would be super quick.

Reply

[-]

Odd_Professional_790@reddit

I agree, they should have a truck freeway right next to the civilian freeway. Trucks can just keep going while the civilians are all parked lol. We pay enough taxes to have our own freeways.

Reply

[-]

20milliondollarapi@reddit

You would think that is what express ways are for, but trucks aren’t allowed in the majority of those.

Reply

[-]

Princetrix@reddit

California has something similar to this actually in some places

Reply

[-]

Odd_Professional_790@reddit

I know, they got them in random spots in cali, Oregon, Arizona and a few other places for short distance

Reply

[-]

DTidC@reddit

Someone in my city sub was complaining about trucks in town. They said trucks should be banned from the city limits and deliveries in town should be handled by rail. They said we could just use the new beltway project to get from one side of the city to the other. I’d love that if the beltway was built. They haven’t even acquired the land yet to connect the two highways. It’ll be 30 years before it’s done.

Reply

[-]

ate2for@reddit

I remember arguing on that post lol

Reply

[-]

skeletons_asshole@reddit

Agreed. I have to block people on the shoulder a lot here in Texas or I just end up waiting for an entire unofficial lane of morons

Reply

[-]

20milliondollarapi@reddit

I haven’t seen more people using the shoulder to pass than Texas and dc. It happens elsewhere, but not nearly as much.

Reply

[-]

throwed-off@reddit

They're really bad about doing that in Austin - especially if they're approaching a red light where they want to turn right.

Reply

[-]

First_Light_6418@reddit

Facts

Reply

[-]

wukillabee2744@reddit

Guilty as charged for me!! I don't do it often but when im sitting in traffic being a good, polite citizen, watching 100-200 cars fly by me to get yo the front of the line ONLY TO CAUSE MORE BACKUP. Fuck that

Reply

[-]

Puzzled-Flan-7674@reddit

Having the worst luck with class A jobs with less than 3 months experience. I'm 2 weeks shy of 3 months. But, I was at western express recently and got this trainer SCARFACE BOY W/ CATSHIT BREATH . straight up bully screaming," I LOVE TRUMP"! , obnoxious, rude, and lasted 2 days with this depraved bottom feeder. But, I guess that's how it is when your new in the business.

Reply

[-]

Maleficent-Ad5232@reddit

When traffic is slow and the four wheelers are cutting off everybody,, I'm that guy!

Reply

[-]

Supertrucker82@reddit

I would pass him in the grass

Reply

[-]

throwed-off@reddit

Username checks out.

Reply

[-]

ShabaDabaDo@reddit

The absolute amount of ignorance in this thread, by so-called "professional" drivers, explains exactly why the industry is so fucked. A bunch of selfish, childish, imbeciles that can't see past their own ego. If you can't stomach the shame of people passing you, you're in the wrong line of work.

Reply

[-]

throwed-off@reddit

The problem is not being passed, the problem is that the passers slow up traffic in the through lane when they get to the end and have to slow way down and usually force themselves into the line.

Reply

[-]

Odd_Professional_790@reddit

Well, that’s because you’re correct 💯 stay safe brother you’re a good egg

Reply

[-]

RoscoeVanDamme@reddit

It's the trucking industry, 99% fragile egos. Insecure, emasculated dudes always whining about something, or talking themselves up. So yeah, probably what it is.

Reply

[-]

spope99@reddit

All you can do is not let anyone who “cuts” merge in and hope others do the same

Reply

[-]

Trucking117@reddit

You might be overthinking this. Been trucking 11 years now and most of the bs I get “concerned” about is usually me being sensitive.

Reply

[-]

HangoverGang4L@reddit

For CPM drivers, time is money. For salary/hourly drivers it doesnt matter as much. Im not saying one is right and the other is wrong, it's just different perspectives.

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

Perspective doesn’t matter though, facts are that the traffic is worse due to people doing this. Fill both lanes and zipper at the end.

Reply

[-]

kali4niakid@reddit

I agree the zipper merge is the best way to do it

Reply

[-]

Mamatiger85@reddit

Sure, if you don't take the innate selfishness of human nature into consideration.

Reply

[-]

Codexe-@reddit

Yes it's immature to do something like what you described. But I have used the truck to block the fast lane, so that traffic moves better. If only one lane is open, the open lane moves like a snail because hundreds of cars are cutting, by zipper merging up ahead. So a semi gets in the fast lane, and goes the same speed as the slow lane. That allows the slow lane to start moving, because the fast lane is forced to go the same speed. But idk if it's entirely legal. And cops aren't bright.

Reply

[-]

therealThorneblade@reddit

What in hell, how new are you to truck driving? Anyone that's been drive for a long time will tell you that the clothes Lane always moves faster because the dumbasses in them little four-wheelers don't understand zipper merge. It's supposed to be one for one but it's not. They'll try to shoot 34610 in there in front of you which shoves that open Lane back even further which causes it more problems. So yeah I'll jump out there in that closed lane and ride right beside my fellow driver and we'll keep it down and everybody gets through there. Nice and easy. It breaks down to simple liquid physics when trying to pour a mass volume into a smaller hose. You have to mediate the amount that's introduced

Reply

[-]

Codexe-@reddit

No that's not why. If just one lane is open, that lane is moving slower because everyone keeps merging at the front. Zipper merge is actually the problem. The fast lane needs to still zipper merge, but they have to let multiple cars go by in the slow lane. Not 1 to 1.

Reply

[-]

ignoreme010101@reddit

100%. You gotta wonder *why* people *really* object to this, maybe they're the types who like to try zipping down to the end of the closing lane and passing 200 vehicles and get mad when a rig prevents them from doing so 😆

Reply

[-]

LotzoHuggins@reddit

some people see the inefficiency and decide to do their part to fix it. No amount of courtesy justifies leaving a lane unused for excessive lengths whil traffic backs up potentially spilling over into the street tha feed into that road. I always thought it was either excessive courtesy or fear of being unable to merge at teh proper time that drives people to merge early. I dunno excessive courtesy is inefficient and scaredd drivers need to reassess their life choices.

Reply

[-]

ignoreme010101@reddit

it's almost like there's a happy medium

Reply

[-]

therealThorneblade@reddit

Hit the nail on the head. Nothing pisses me off more when a fellow truck driver thinks his 14-hour day is more valuable than my 14-hour day

Reply

[-]

ignoreme010101@reddit

100%! Apparently OP thinks this makes us petty children 😆

Reply

[-]

firstblush73@reddit

Exactly what it is. Fucking 4 wheeler mentality in a truck. Scary to think I "share the road" with these idiots.

Reply

[-]

ignoreme010101@reddit

lol I always say that, "go back to driving a taxi please" lol I need to remove my CB

Reply

[-]

Brokenyet_Functional@reddit

Its the peopke who wait til the last minute to merge who make the whole process fucked. I dont think hes doing it out of ego. Also the sooner people merge. The easier it is for tow and EMS ro get to whatever is causing the jam up.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

I mean, the point of zipper merging is to merge at one spot and generally near the end of the lane...

Reply

[-]

Brokenyet_Functional@reddit

I agree. Im not saying its ok to do this 4 miles or 2 miles from the end of lane. But like 1/8 or 1/4 mile away isnt that far . And you have to remember that most 4 wheelers have a ego problem of ME ME Me. Where they have to be in front. They also never pay attention to the warning signs of what lane is ending. Or their own exits lanes. So they rocket to the cones only to realize they ran out of space. And shove their way in. Which stops everyone behind in the "good lane" I found that by just going a lil slower. It keeps everyone moving. Maintains a space for people to flow into the lane while staying in motion.. Creates a spare lane for EMS and TOW to jump into (safer then the median or shoulder) I had to work in the Bay Area of ca for a while and people are way happier to jump into mine that night be slower but they stay moving. Mind you. Dead stop it does nothing. Its also possible he was just doing a looky loo around to see what was ahead. Which ill do occasionally as a "hmmm radios quiet. Is it wreck or construction?" But yes i do agree. Trust me. I wish the zoned coned merge point was perfect. But...people being people. I have had people try to Fast nFurious me because they failed to merge BEFORE the lane ended. And decided they needed to be where my trailer already occupied(who decides a 20lb trailer is better to hit then...a cone?) TlDR. I do agree.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

If done correctly, all the trucks do is make it so each lane moves the same speed, that way all drivers wait the same amount of time. I do it all the time, and it make the traffic flow very smoothly. Don't know where this 'zipper merge" theory began but it's wrong and never works as theorized...

Reply

[-]

cyrax99@reddit

Because people love to come up with theories that revolve around living in fantasy land, where everyone is a decent human being, and not a self centered cunt. It absolutely never works, and never will, because the road is filled with self centered shit heads. One car will go from the side where the lane is ending, and then on the continuing lane as many people as possible will try to go to prevent anyone else from merging in, until someone in the lane that is ending eventually bullies their way in. That's how it always goes, and will always go, because of the drivers on the road. They still will continue to peddle their theory, that only works when the world is full of educated, kind, decent people. The fact of the matter is, IT IS NOT.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

Yup... Same reason socialist/communist principles will never be able to succeed.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

People who do this suck, are childish, fragile, and soft. Worse, they do it sometimes when the signage specifically says "use two lanes until merge", and they'll do it starting a mile back from merge!

Reply

[-]

bigmac22077@reddit

It resets the zipper merge. It helps both lanes start to flow evenly and helps people get through faster.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

It doesn't work that way, it isn't their job, and all it does is piss off everyone around them. You're kidding yourself if you think these koalas are thinking "let me reset the zipper behind me". 🙄

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

You're just wrong...

Reply

[-]

bigmac22077@reddit

Okay, what are these koalas thinking my guy?

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

*glances around at the comments* Are you reading what they're saying?

Reply

[-]

bigmac22077@reddit

Still curious about the answer on this one.

Reply

[-]

bigmac22077@reddit

No, why don’t you enlighten me.

Reply

[-]

cyrax99@reddit

You know what you fail to account for? The road is full of self centered cunts. Lets say somehow, some way everyone obeyed your signs you talk about. So we have two lanes, one is continuing, and one is ending. Everyone sees this sign saying to stay in their lanes until the merge point, and every single person obeys, okay? This would absolutely never happen, but we are giving you the benefit of the doubt. So absolutely nobody gets over "too early" and everyone rides their lane up until the point one lane ends. So what is gonna happen at that point? As soon as one car gets over from the lane that is ending, as many people as humanly possible are gonna gun it and tail gate the person in front of them, to prevent anyone else from merging over. This will continue on until someone from the lane that is ending finally manages to bully their way into the other lane, at which point the cycle will start all over with the people in the lane that isnt ending all trying to prevent anyone else from merging. That is how it goes every single time in the real world, without exception. I love the theories about how perfect and hassle free things could be in a world filled with courteous drivers, but that is not the world we live in, or have ever lived in. This is the exact scenario I watch play out at every single merge point. I have been the nice guy many times who was in the lane that wasn't ending and let someone in, only to watch the merge side all start piling behind each other to prevent me from moving forward. This is the real world sir.

Reply

[-]

ignoreme010101@reddit

^ username checks out....

Reply

[-]

firstblush73@reddit

The road is a mostly lawless place. There are no repercussions for being an absolute POS on the road 98%. Traffic doesnt move at the merge points because humans, knowing there are no consequences, make choices that impact others negatively. When 4 wheelers learn how to correctly merge, i will stop blocking the "fuck everybody else" lane thats ending. Trucks move the best at rolling speeds. Those cant be maintained when 4 cars jump in front, all 4 slamming on their brakes directly in front of a truck. You see it as fragile? I see it as helping my fellow truckers get down the road. We are not the same.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

If you can't handle the aspects of the job that aren't ideal, turn in your CDL and go cry somewhere else. It isn't your job to make everyone bend to your will, no matter what you tell yourself to justify it. Ffs.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

Says the one who likes running up and cutting in front of everyone making everyone else's day longer...

Reply

[-]

firstblush73@reddit

How bout you drive your truck and I will drive mine? Take your own damn advice. FFS. 🙄

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

But you aren't just driving yours. You're also using a commercial vehicle to force others to drive a certain way. English and critical thinking skills aren't that difficult, are they?

Reply

[-]

firstblush73@reddit

Written exactly like a 4 wheeler who got blocked from rushing up the closing lane to push their way in, at the merge.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

Dishonestly reframing the conversation and projecting nonsense onto me because you're angry you can't debate like an adult isn't the win you think it is. You're just telling on yourself, and singlehandedly proving the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Thanks for playing.

Reply

[-]

Tru3insanity@reddit

Or even better, they run down the shoulder and ram their way in forcing everyone to stop. Again.

Reply

[-]

firstblush73@reddit

Safe driving theory. Check it out sometime. Adjusting speed to match road conditions. Its a work zone.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

Adjusting speed to match conditions ≠ matching speed to a vehicle next to you if you can *SAFELY* move ahead and fill empty space. Nice try.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

I've noticed this crazy "zipper merge" trend on Reddit for the last few years. Most the time the posts revolve around this exact situation. My theory is that the four wheelers who usually drive all the way up to the front get all mad then complain online... All the trucks do is make it so each lane moves the same speed all the way up to the merge (if done correctly). Makes perfect sense to me and I will keep doing it till the day I die. 🖕 Most 4 wheelers think they are intelligent and competent drivers. Very few actually are.

Reply

[-]

firstblush73@reddit

Im gonna guess the downvotes are the unmarked white trucks with sketch logos getting pissed because they couldnt bring their 4 wheeling douchebag behavior into trucking, got blocked from being douchebags, whilst jumping into the left lane, and now cry on Reddit about how unprofessional it is ... mega carrier training. You can get them a license, cant give them common sense or the ability to think critically in varying situations. Me, me, me. Thats their motto. Carry on lane blocker. I will save a spot for you! 👍

Reply

[-]

cyrax99@reddit

That's exactly what it is. Douchebags upset that they got stopped from being douchebags. They believe they have the right to fly around people on the shoulder, lanes that are ending etc and bully their way in front of people, because they are more important. These are the types that drive on the shoulder to get around backups, while everyone else has waited and slowly moved up, and then want to fly into the front of the line and bully their way in. They get mega upset when they are prevented from carrying out their selfish ways. I had a BMW come flying up a shoulder one time and try to force his car into the tiniest gap between me and the car in front of me, both him and I had been stuck waiting a long time. There was a cop on the shoulder who saw it, stopped everyone and pulled him onto the shoulder to write him a ticket. One of my happiest moments ever.

Reply

[-]

bcsublime@reddit

Most truckers think they are competent and intelligent, but very few actually are.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

Lol, agree with you on this one bud. God I hope you are behind me in this situation someday, because I will never stop doing this. You dumb little "zipper merge" dipshits.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

🤜🤛

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

Literally every study ever done shows the zipper works. Your "theory" is just ignorance. If you nominate yourself as some sheriff of the highway, enforcing your arbitrary will on others, you're an asshole. If you're doing it based on bad guesswork without actually researching the subject, you're welcome worse than an asshole. Go read a book that isn't mostly pictures, and then punch yourself in dick. > I'm gonna be a moron and ignoramus who takes out my lack of love and affection from my mom on everyone I can until the day I die Yeah, we know.

Reply

[-]

Montreal4life@reddit

You are a truck driver not a law enforcement officer. Your behaviour is completely unprofessional. Stay in your lane

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

Amen.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

Where are these "studies"? Lol lol.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

Quit whining about getting insulted, and raise your standards for your behavior. You put "studies" in scare quotes, say "lol" twice, and then expect to be taken seriously? It would take you 3.2 seconds to Google it, but you automatically assume the studies don't exist?? And you expect me to do your homework for you? You drive for a living, but don't already know this shit? Piss off, man-child. The real adults are talking.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

You wouldn't like them. They don't have many pictures.

Reply

[-]

fordry@reddit

if everyone zipper merged properly it wouldn't be an issue. But people don't. you get a bunch of people merging early which then backs up the through lane while some go ahead in the ending lane and it keeps being more and more people pushing forward backing up the through lane more and more. So I will often just ride in the ending lane and speed match the through lane and usually the people beside me figure out what I have done and will let me over no trouble once we're to the merge point. This resets the proper ideal of zipper merging, not that it will last. I see no problem doing this.

Reply

[-]

Migistat@reddit

Idk I support it at times. People don’t know how to merge normally, and that inability is compounded when necessary unexpectedly. The reason traffic is so bad is because a guy who got out of the open lane is now trying to bulldoze his way back in up ahead. I don’t do it myself but there’s a reason points of congestion are usually the thickest at the merge point.

Reply

[-]

Vango888@reddit

I disagree. I think it's perfectly acceptable and even a safe thing to do in many cases. Of course, it helps to do it with some common sense and to block rather than cut a driver off. I don't want to have vehicles forcing past me until the very last millisecond.

Reply

[-]

Pete387@reddit

I don't agree with cutting people off, however blocking that lane doesn't just help you, it helps everyone in front of you. When I block the closed lane, I generally let the open lane move faster than me. If you don't understand that inconsiderate people will have you sitting there for an additional 45 minutes because they don't want to zipper merge, I can't help you.

Reply

[-]

M2lit@reddit

In my case i chose to do it when a 4 roadl ane was blocked. i was kinda tuned out due to the wait when someone came up on the narrow shoulder between me and a barricade and hopped in front. I honestly should have let the others who did so past but just knowing how close they were to me and how i didn't even notice them into after they pulled ahead of me was enough. The fact is i was rolling forward to and closing the gap on the car in front of me, they barely squeezed in

Reply

[-]

BeenThruIt@reddit

Maybe dude's just trying to see what's going on ahead... characterizing people's intentions in the worst possible light you can think of is one of the reasons this world is so dark. Don't assume malice for what could just be your own shitty point of view.

Reply

[-]

machao92@reddit

Now you know better then this driver

Reply

[-]

smartman2796@reddit

Im commenting to see everyone's response as well. It's just a forced early merge. Zipper merging, when done right, helps prevent additional congestion and allows traffic to flow as well as possible. Only problem is. Everyone thinks they are more important than everyone else on the road making zipper merging impossible. I can only assume these truckers(using your kid comment) like being the hall monitors and having some authority on the road. These are the same truckers that you arent a real trucker if you drive an automatic. Just grumpy people caught up in their ways and cant think outside the box.

Reply

[-]

AgreeAndSubmit@reddit

Highway depts need to have picture instruction signs on how and when to zipper merge. These fooking people dead ass Do Not Get It. The ever constant I Was First attitude is why zipper merging doesn't work. First sign, words Zipper Merge Ahead. Speed limit drops to 55. 2 mores sets of signs, pictures of what it looks like. Spacing at least 1000ft apart. People will need time to understand the picture. Third sign Ready to Zipper, speed limit drops to 40mph. At least 4000 ft to position. Last 3 signs in succession MERGE HERE NOW!!! and arrows pointing down into the merge lane. This would take a while to catch, but I think that's the only way it would work.

Reply

[-]

scrinch222@reddit

Totally agree about the signage. There was a long-term bridge replacement project in my town with three lanes going into one and many complications such as short blocks, lots of traffic, frequent traffic control changes over the course of the project. Zipper merges would have helped a lot but no one would adopt them because no one else would let people merge. A few signs would have worked wonders.

Reply

[-]

Cool_Algae4265@reddit

On my route, within the same state, there are two major construction zones within congested areas. One has signage well ahead of the merge saying things like “don’t merge until the merge point” and then “merge soon” and then “merge now!” With a blinking arrow about a quarter to half mile before the lane closure. The other one just has “Right lane ends in one mile” “quarter mile” signs. The latter is always far more backed up than the previous. I won’t attribute that solely to the signs but traffic always seems to move much better on the one with proper “don’t merge yet” signage… trucks and the like seem to always merge sooner, cars will zoom up past them and merge when they can/want so its not really a zipper merge but it does seem to move faster for some reason.

Reply

[-]

ignoreme010101@reddit

>These fooking people dead ass Do Not Get It. get off my lawn

Reply

[-]

AgreeAndSubmit@reddit

Ya darn tootin.

Reply

[-]

Syllables_17@reddit

Or just make drivers license harder to get. The us system is a fucking joke. The fact that parallel parking is one of the main factors in getting a license is absurd.

Reply

[-]

longbongsmokehouse@reddit

I can agree with zipper merging. But. I have a problem w people abusing it right at the end of the merge point, people aggressively cutting me off, which makes me apprehensive to the concept. Especially when it’s an accident and someone is obviously dead, there’s still people abusing the merge point to be aggressive about it. We’ve all seen it.

Reply

[-]

functional_moron@reddit

The "zipper merge" is what's causing the obstruction ahead. If everyone just got over an spaced evenly we could keep going 40mph and be done with thise is 45 seconds. But people want to ride all the way up front and then cut in forcing everyone to a complete stop and keeping us in this 1 mile stretch for an hour.

Reply

[-]

Recentlyforty1@reddit

Also you then get the dip shit trucker that slows down to 20 mph when the signs clearly say work zone speed limit 55.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

That's objectively ignorant and dumb. It is also contrary to literally every study ever done on the zipper merge. This rubbish is what it looks like when someone wants to crap on the zipper because they decided they don't like it, but lack the requisite intelligence to make it sound convincing. It is pure cope. Zipper your merges, and your lips.

Reply

[-]

gefrankl@reddit

those studies, they went out the window with COVID. people don't act rationally anymore. it's me first mentality.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

Haha, too true.

Reply

[-]

smartman2796@reddit

This works when traffic is light. In heavy traffic though you have to use all space possible. Thats when zipper merging works. Nothing can stop the back up. Taking 2 or 3 lanes to 1 lane is going to have congestion, but the zip helps mitigate the time spent congested.

Reply

[-]

ju5tjame5@reddit

So you want to merge 2 miles before the merge area? How is that any better than merging up at the merge area? If anything, all that does is allow a giant 2 mile stretch of open road for someone to cut in front of everybody.

Reply

[-]

icaaryal@reddit

Hey Siri is that the congestion caused by converging lanes could be mitigated if everybody would just do the speed limit with proper spacing in a single lane through the area where the lanes converge. This is functionally impossible to achieve because inevitably somebody will think that they can’t be trouble to go the speed limit and will make it impossible for everyone to keep an even amount of spacing.

Reply

[-]

Ok_Internet_5058@reddit

Well, because the more people I pass the faster I'm going, right? Why would I let someone ahead of me in a "zipper merge?" I have things to do!

Reply

[-]

Moose0606@reddit

Traffic would be acceptable if the majority of your cohorts had their vehicles permanently park for lack of knowledge or just outright unlawful hauling. Absolutely sickening what's happened to your guys's industry in the last 15 years.

Reply

[-]

aczoz@reddit

4 wheelers (sometimes semis) create dangerous situations by speeding up and forcing their way in at the last second. Though I just prefer leaving a large space in front of me at all times fully expecting someone to jump in front of me.

Reply

[-]

Old-Wolf-1024@reddit

Yesterday it was 2 semi’s…..I saw them coming at the “merge now” sign and they were still a couple truck lengths back. I just stopped(on the interstate) and let them come on in……last( 2nd) truck clipped the big flashing arrow sign 🙄🙄

Reply

[-]

1000islandstare@reddit

If you’re a trucker you get to do this

Reply

[-]

CaptainSamson01@reddit

I did it a lot as a tanker driver when i got closer to the merge because ignorant four wheeler would jump in front of me with less than a cars length between the fellow in front of me and myself. I’d lay into the brake and get slammed into by the load, then it would take forever for the load to equalize for me to take off constantly. If I tried to take off too soon then the load would slam the back and kill my momentum. Following w/ another four wheeler becoming impatient and starting the chain all over again.

Reply

[-]

daddyanjuna@reddit

😁😯🤣

Reply

[-]

NukaDadd@reddit

The irony of you worrying what someone else is doing while complaining that they're worried about what others are doing is wild. Just think about that for a minute.

Reply

[-]

Environmental-Pear40@reddit

Yeah, it's dumb af. Also when other trucks decide to ride inches from the vehicle in front of them during backups to prevent anything from getting in front of them. Pretty sure You can actually get tickets for that dumb shit though. Along with cops trying to claim road rage.

Reply

[-]

dtbrake@reddit

Taking pictures while your driving?

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

can you read the first sentence out loud to yourself?

Reply

[-]

dtbrake@reddit

You said the lane was closed ahead so whats the problem? The guy is pulled a tires worth into a lane that isnt open anyway. Yea cool man guess you got him for being a hazard and not staying in the lines.

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

it’s okay i can tell you’re special it’s okay little buddy everything is alright

Reply

[-]

dtbrake@reddit

Your most recent response isn't showing but I read it. Iv asked what the problem is you are trying to show. You havnt said what it is. Based off your OP I responded. So what is the problem?

Reply

[-]

dtbrake@reddit

I know its alright because you got a guy behind ya doing gods work keeping dumb fucks in line. Maybe you should let him pass and when he pulls over buy him a sandwich

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

you are genuinely slow holy shit

Reply

[-]

CassosaurusFlex@reddit

Lmao..I say fk these truckers and their "code" dint let ut bother you

Reply

[-]

jonhjonhson1@reddit

I think you should be in the lane you belong and not drive in the middle lane

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

if only there was a middle lane

Reply

[-]

Kairis-dad-13@reddit

Yes, taking pictures with your cell phone while driving will do that to you.

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

second comment 😂 try something original you two are brain dead

Reply

[-]

BoringJuiceBox@reddit

Fuck them cars, they can see the lane closure but they keep driving all the way up and slow shit down

Reply

[-]

xdjfrick@reddit

This is highly situational and requires experience and pattern recognition when to do when appropriate

Reply

[-]

Micro-Skies@reddit

Because 4wheelers (and some semis) dont understand the basic concept of a zipper merge. If allowed to progress, they just make the entire line move slower for everyone.

Reply

[-]

AbStRaCt1179@reddit

This is the answer

Reply

[-]

ThePlagueFriend@reddit

Fuck anyone who does this gate-keeping nonsense in a merging lane. You're not law enforcement. You're impeding the flow of traffic. I drive around tards that do this.

Reply

[-]

Slough-House_75@reddit

Ah yes. The lane sheriff.

Reply

[-]

Psychological-Joke22@reddit

As a driver, I love it when truck drivers do this. I call them "pacers"

Reply

[-]

PShubbs91@reddit

I'll tell you this much, if I'm stuck in a traffic jam and I'm already having a long day and pissed off and then some douche nozzle in his little audi want's to cut in front of me, you goddamn well better believe im cutting off the other lane so a bunch of people in their little 4 wheelers cant cut in front of me as soon as traffic starts moving. Call me what you want. Mind you this is at the end of on ramps that I do this when it's people that haven't been stuck in a traffic jam for the past 20 minutes deciding they want to rocket down the on ramp at 90 mph and shoot out in front of me. Fuck all that you can wait. I'll let one person in. That's it.

Reply

[-]

FishermansPlatter@reddit

We should do a poll, this group has got to be at least 85% western express, swift, or Werner.

Reply

[-]

BlackSC2us@reddit

I don't see it too often anymore, but even cars will do it to other cars when they start driving up the shoulder.

Reply

[-]

polarjunkie@reddit

Why care is pretty obvious, every five cars that pass you was an extra minute sitting in that traffic and a mile of cars is a lot of minutes. If people could properly zipper merge this wouldn't be an issue.

Reply

[-]

truckingham@reddit

My thing is that they always say they are solving the bottleneck that is causing the traffic, whereas in reality they’re just putting it behind them instead of at the merge point

Reply

[-]

deadpat03@reddit

Sometimes you just need that guy to get in that lane and hit the reset button. I've done it. You wouldn't believe how much faster it is when you have that one guy willing to block off traffic let the travel lane pick up speed and do a proper zipper. Then the 10 jackasses behind him all decide to fuck it up again by merging in the same spot but you know what that's behind him. If I'm stuck in the wrong lane I'm not merging and I'm not speeding up to the end. I'm going to go my pace to safely merge at a prudent speed that does not impeed in the flow of traffic. Their is always that one person who is going to reply " but doing that is impeding the flow of traffic in that lane" sorry to tell you no it's not. Every state has the law, you are responsible to merge at a safe reasonable speed that does not effect the flow of traffic to the merged lane.

Reply

[-]

Jeep2king@reddit

Or ya know... people can just read the "x lane ending" sin and merge before hand approipriately. Oh wait. People cant even be counted on to know their exits coming up....

Reply

[-]

mrockracing@reddit

This is the "soft hands" guy 250% who thinks they own the road. I live and let live. If I spend too much time policing others, I'll go insane because most people on the road are morons. Let them go. Move on with your life.

Reply

[-]

TruckinTuba@reddit

Unfortunately, you let one in, they all think they can get in and then your stuck never able to get anywhere

Reply

[-]

Ill_Aside_5662@reddit

I won't do it but will help another driver doing it. The thing is 4-wheelers bitch about zipper merging, but don't do it correctly themselves. You know how many times a lane is ending and 3-4 cars try squeezing in front of me? It's one car and that's it. The term professional also drives me nuts, we are treated like crap from everyone but expected to forget it all and drive like saints.

Reply

[-]

richardfitserwell@reddit

Merging early is fine while traffic is flowing, and probably quicker in that scenario, again as long as it keeps moving. Once it’s gotten to a stop or close to it, the zipper is absolutely faster.

Reply

[-]

FloppyTacoflaps@reddit

Impeding the flow of traffic is illegal you will get fucked in the street by police for doing that. If you wanna be a cop you should try and pass the physical first lol

Reply

[-]

cyrax99@reddit

I don't think they are too interested in giving a fuck these days. Countless times ive watched cops observe people drive on the shoulder for considerable distances to go around backups and then bully their way in to the front of the line. It's far more often I watch them do absolutely nothing about it at all, than times I've ever seen them do shit. Really I've noticed a huge trend of them doing absolutely nothing. As far as the physical goes, I think the days of cops being physically fit are long gone too. Plenty of them walking around seem to be in pretty crappy shape.

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

how i feel about it too.

Reply

[-]

NotMeUsee@reddit

Or... Hear me out, you could move over

Reply

[-]

Ecstatic_Ad6888@reddit

I don’t do it because I hate it when cars do it to me because they don’t want me in front of them. And they’ll do on the main road where it goes from 2 lanes to one.

Reply

[-]

mouthmen@reddit

I would block the whole lane. Idgaf. They can ride in the grass if they wanna pass that bad before the merge.

Reply

[-]

cyrax99@reddit

Youre such an irresponsible, meanie head truck driver. You need to let all those selfish, self centered cunts gun it around you and cut you off. What, do you think you're the hall monitor or something? Be the bigger person and let all the self pretentious cunts fly around you and bully their way in. You're a professional driver, you're supposed to the bigger person!!!

Reply

[-]

SpecialistPrint4142@reddit

60% of the time, it works all of the time

Reply

[-]

xoutlawtrucker@reddit

The problem with zipper is there are always selfish assholes that dont alternate, either someone stops and lets 25 cars in before they gather the balls to move forward. Or cars in the closed lane bully their way in 5 at a time and traffic doesnt move. If someone allows the zipper to move from further back they are doing everyone a favor and at least keep the line moving forward instead of one lane stopping for 5 minutes

Reply

[-]

Educational_Bite8281@reddit

Same ego some Harley/cruiser riders have where they don't let cars and especially don't let sport bikes pass thinking they own the road

Reply

[-]

bostonbean@reddit

Oh come on, the 4wheelers that fill that lane will cause a bottle neck at the final union instead of everybody just getting in the single file and that slows all the big trucks far more. Sadly it never works, those 4wheelers will drive ANYWHERE to fuck shit up. I am always pleasantly surprised when a cop pulls one over for a little convo.

Reply

[-]

TransportationSea714@reddit

After he did this did the rest of your drive go a lot smoother? If so you have the answer as to why they do it. I watch guys do it all the time. It works almost every time.

Reply

[-]

ShermanPanzer2@reddit

Especially if them and the truck they’re pacing in the through lane have communicated (cb or out the window) so that they can keep a constant pace with each other

Reply

[-]

Ok_Bandicoot_3087@reddit

I hate people who wait till the last minute and force themselves in the front more.... 🤷🏿‍♂️

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

I mean that’s literally how you’re supposed to do it. Both lanes should be full and zipper merging at the end.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

So the closing lane moves twice as fast as the merged? Fuck that, I will make it so both lanes move at the same speed. Don't like it? Well go cry about your little "zipper merge" theory on Reddit.

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

Sounds like we found our fragile ego driver

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

Lol, try to insult me all you want 🤣 . Why shouldn't both lanes move at the same speed?

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

If they were proper zipper merging they would move at the same speed. Do you ever listen to yourself?

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

The key word is "IF"! Yes, in a perfect world a zipper merge would work... sadly we are far from that. Just curious...how long have you been driving?

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

Guess who’s keeping that perfect world from happening? People like you. Long enough to be an authorized tester and instructor bud.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

Why do you believe both lanes shoukdnt move at the same pace?

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

Because .5 miles of two lanes merging at the end, keeping a steady pace, is shorter than 1 mile of everyone in one lane going stop and go. What would have been 15 minutes of traffic quickly doubles if not triples.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

You have never been so wrong. What happens is the leftclane is constantly moving faster because 4 wheelers are forcing themselves in to the merge lane. If a truck goes the same speed as a car in the merge lane the flow is never interrupted amd all people must wait an equal amount of time. Cant stop, won't stop.

Reply

[-]

B0lsh3vik_Muppet@reddit

That's literally untrue. QED.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

Lol you are one of those assholes that rides the left lane to the very end. I hope you are behind me someday so I can see you get all mad and shit.

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

Okay bud. Got a dietroit 7.1l to rebuild so gotta go.

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

Um ok, that's actually cool, has nothing to do about "zipper merging" though. Good luck with the rebuild

Reply

[-]

DirkLoogs@reddit

And no offense, but drivers at mega corporations can become instructors after a year...maybe two.

Reply

[-]

Ok_Bandicoot_3087@reddit

Old saying my uncle use to say my aunts hated it. "If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle" IF the smallest biggest word in our language

Reply

[-]

Themaddk1ng@reddit

OK, so everyone is going slow cuz you're an idiot.

Reply

[-]

Ok_Bandicoot_3087@reddit

There is a difference in proper zipper merging and assholes being assholes in line, that still dont zipper merge right because they wait till the very last moment and force themselves in.. but sure the perfect utopia on the road u have found it and are right lmao

Reply

[-]

Puzzleheaded-Bag-121@reddit

In the 8 years OTR, it’s either people merge way too early or someone being a dick like OP witnessed. Sure people will pass, but guess what… if you just go at a consistent speed that means you don’t brake while in the traffic, it’s not an issue. Let them merge late, only doing emotional damage to yourself. Most of you people have fragile egos.

Reply

[-]

opinionated_penguin@reddit

I’ll salute a mf

Reply

[-]

Wildcatb@reddit

Every single person who zips to the front and cuts in at the last minute creates an accordion effect that ripples back through traffic and makes the jam worse. The correct way to ensure smooth flow is for no one to pass - it doesn't matter if it's one full lane and one empty, or two lanes with people staggered, as long as everyone is moving at the same speed but if anyone is passing, they're screwing it up for everyone else. Everyone in front of the blocker will get through faster because of their actions, and with luck they can speed up passage for a couple dozen folks behind as well. Thank them.

Reply

[-]

No_Strain794@reddit

It keeps the line moving, from the 4 wheelers going up and cutting line. The open lane flows a lot smoother, without having to repeatedly stop

Reply

[-]

Whend6796@reddit

The guy is barely edging out into the closed lane. Any chance he was just peeking around you to see what was up?

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

after we started moving he drove in both lanes the entire time till it was down to one lane

Reply

[-]

Eastern_Witness7048@reddit

I agree I think it is a sign of immaturity, you're not going to teach people anything or change anything so you're really just creating a risk for yourself. People suck, get used to it

Reply

[-]

NickelNDime49@reddit

I just hang back and let everyone I can get over. Seems to help traffic flow better. Part of our responsibilities as professional drivers is to not create traffic. People too petty. Doesn’t help anything but their ego.

Reply

[-]

legollama88@reddit (OP)

yea i’d rather hang back and keep a consistent 20mph than try to cram up on traffic fluctuating between 30-50 mph. it helps everyone else

Reply

[-]

Anathema117@reddit

Why not just jump off the road and onto the frontage? Its what I do. Technically illegal but if its clear...

Reply

[-]

Kramersblacklawyer@reddit

I used to block all the turning lanes so no one did anything stupid when I had a tight turn but that’s the closest I came to anything like this

Reply

[-]

SaigaExpress@reddit

You can split lanes in a truck nothing illegal about that, this however is different.

Reply

[-]

FeatureSilver2046@reddit

When I was hualing smooth bore tankers, I'd slide into that free lane and waddle along at a consistent pace along side another truck. Couldn't take couldn't slammed by the surge cause everybody was flying up the left lane to cut you off. If your a few miles out it's logical to keep the right lane moving. If you're blocking the right lane before an exit ramp because the right lane will be shutdown then that's retarded. In construction zones, dropping lanes works more smoothly when everyone commits early. Even my friend, a state trooper says he runs up the lane pushing people into single file because people speed to overtake the line then crash trying to squeeze in.

Reply

[-]

Wonderful_Budget8172@reddit

The fact that it was an Audi makes it not only permissible but advised

Reply