Question from a slow driver
Posted by Markinarkanon@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 38 comments
I’m on the interstate for 650mi a week, and I will just set my cruise control at the speed limit (70 in TN). How do you prefer I drive when I’m around you? I notice that uphill, I will go faster than many trucks, but once we hit a downhill section y’all will be going faster than I am, which makes total sense given the loads you’re carrying. I try not to change my speed, but I also don’t want you to be forced to get stuck behind me on a downhill, or change lanes more than you’d like to. What would the ideal interstate partner look like in your eyes?
trucksarekewl@reddit
Just maintain your speed. Nothing is more infuriating that a driver that goes 60 then 68 then 62 then 58 then 66 etc.
daemonescanem@reddit
Exactly it. Choose your speed and then maintain it. Nothing worse than someone going slow then try to pass them then they speed up. Then rinse & repeat this shit.
I dont pass people because im in a hurry, I pass because I wanna manage the area in front of my truck efficiently. So my sight lines & braking area are good.
Idc if truck or cars wanna pass me and leave me behind. I just dont want someone who is inconsistent with their speed nor do they handle clusters of other traffic well. I try to drive with a purpose to get to where im going safely & efficiently.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the advice! I overthink it sometimes
Ayasdad@reddit
The biggest piece of advice is give us a way out. If you find yourself next to a truck for more than a minute or so we're really hoping you get the hint and pass us... Safely. Also if you speed up to pass us don't slow down and merge in front of us right away. We have a whole bunch of sensors and systems you don't know about and often we get into trouble for things like that because the sensor just sees you 70' in front of us and tells management we're tailgating.
Only-Evidence-5629@reddit
I'm always shouting at other drivers who aren't consistent. Nothing worse passing someone going 5 miles slower than you who speed up to 20 faster than you, and then 10 minutes later are back to 5 slower.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
Yeah the most infuriating thing is to think I’m done dealing with someone and then they come back into play miles down the road
PresentationLive943@reddit
How is 70 even slow? I'm governed at 65 and I have to pass box trucks and JB hunt drivers all the time even when the limit is 80.
MajorHymen@reddit
The best you can do is maintain the speed. I don’t care if I have to pass you (usually) but nothing is more aggravating than you speeding up when I do and the slowing down when I have to get back behind you. If you just go the same speed and we have to leap frog once or twice because of some hills that’s fine and will end eventually. If you want to go 70 go 70 but stay 70 especially if someone is coming around you.
bicyclewhoa17@reddit
Just maintain your speed and pass when you need to. My truck has lidar which detects the person in front of me and tells me their speed. There is nothing more infuriating to me than someone who changes their speed all the time. I can only drove maximum 68mph and when someone speeds up everytime i go to pass it makes me look like a huge asshole lol
opinionated_penguin@reddit
If ur going 70 consistently, I don’t think many dudes r gonna have a problem with u even up n down the TN grades. Odds are even if a guy has to maybe slow down a bit behind u on a downgrade, odds are you’re going to just widen the gap in the next uphill and he won’t catch back up.
DevilDrives@reddit
Don't get into the left lane to spend the next 25 miles trying to pass the guy in front of you doing 69 in a 70. Not unless it's 3am and nobody's on the road.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
I guess I should clarify: I’m just a guy in a little ford maverick. Not a trucker
asparagus_piss_jug@reddit
It's not just a little ford. It's a Ford Maverick
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
It’s a good un. best vehicle I’ve ever owned!
CMDR-L@reddit
Yeah, for hills, its whatever, just hold lane UNLESS you are holding traffic behind you, then speed up pls or stay behind a truck
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
rig53official@reddit
If a loaded truck is setting up to pass another on a grade and you've got space in the left lane, easing off a tick lets us slot in. Otherwise we ride the slower one's bumper for miles waiting for a gap. Holding 70 steady like you're doing is already the main thing.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
Yeah I try to give space when I can. Does flashing my high beams communicate the same as turning on/off my lights completely? My regular lamps are on a turning dial, so it’s way easier just to flash the brights
Gonzotrucker1@reddit
At your cruise at 71 mph. My truck is governed at 70. This way you stay ahead of me. Most trucks are governed at 65, 68, and 70.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
That’s good info about governed speed. Say we’re almost evenly matched. Would it be helpful if I bumped my CC up or down just to shorten the interaction? Like if you are generally faster, I drop to 68, and if I am faster, I bump up to 72?
CompletelyPaperless@reddit
I think it all comes down to predictability and consistency. If you keep a speed despite me passing you I'm happy. If you start speeding up I get pissed. If you keep your lane when I'm passing you that's perfect. If you all sudden whip over in front of me as I'm approaching I get pissed. If you pass me it doesn't bother me as long as it's not right as my lane is about to close.
There's a lot of stuff truckers do on purpose to be irritating. Just drive and try not to mind each other. That's all I wish everyone would do.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
When you say “my lane is about to close” does that mean your lane has a slower driver in front of you and you’re approaching them?
Unfair_Analysis_3734@reddit
As long as you keep your comfortable speed consistent and stay in the right lane unless you plan on passing, I can work around you. Yes when loaded maintaining speed is hard for us, but as long as you drive consistently and predictably, I’m cool.
ExtentAggravating733@reddit
The technically safest / most courteous thing to do would be to change speed slightly to maintain a good distance from other vehicles. 1-2 mph faster or slower depending on if you want to build distance in front of yourself or behind. You don't want to have a vehicle behind, beside, or in front of you in an emergency stop or swerve situation.
Be-It-coin@reddit
As aware as you are. Your not one of the problem drivers. Wish everyone was as considerate as you. Best wishes to you
december151791@reddit
Please kindly teach other 4wheelers how to use their cruise control.
Also, as a trucker who's governed at 70, it would help me and others governed at the same speed a lot of you set your cruise to 71 or 72. When you set it to 70, you're actually going 69. When you're driving a governed truck, driving behind someone driving 1 mph slower than what you're governed at is a big pain in the ass because you can't pass them in a reasonable amount of time so you're just stuck driving slower than your truck can go.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
This is really good info!
sk8zero0619@reddit
Go one speed and leave space
TheCockOfGod@reddit
As someone that used to pull 900 miles a day i prefer if you just stay in the right lane. Sounds like you're a local driver so its really up to you and you're just gonna be a minor blip on our radar that we won't even remember at the end of the day. But we do appreciate the thought.
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
I’ll only go left to pass, but if it happens to be approaching a downhill, sometimes the truck will pick up speed and we’ll get stuck in a bit of a yo-yo. I’m not sure if that stresses y’all out, but it stresses me out, and I don’t want to be an extra source of stress for y’all. I’m mostly curious what’s going through your mind in that situation
rig53official@reddit
Honestly, in that spot most of us are just doing the math... can I back off enough to let you finish the pass or am I about to get run up on by whoever's behind me. It's not stress at you, it's just the calculation. If you commit to the pass and hold your speed, we'll figure it out on our end. The yo-yo only gets ugly when the car ahead starts second guessing halfway through.
TheCockOfGod@reddit
Playing leap frog is part of the job. Dont worry too much about it driver.
Exciting-Car-3516@reddit
If you go too slow I’ll drive around you. No stress
Radiant_Swan187@reddit
Be predictable. Maintain
Existing_Inside5200@reddit
I'm gonna say keep doing what you're doing! It's nice that non-truckers give us the consideration because 90% won't or don't, so we thank you!
Markinarkanon@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the encouragement! I’m just trying to not add to your everyday stress
HowlingWolven@reddit
Maintain your speed, and be mindful that you’re not speeding up to overtake and then slowing back down in front of us.
Be predictable. That’s the biggest thing.
JMPhotographik@reddit
The absolute BEST thing you can do to make things easy for trucks in the hills is just to maintain your speed, so just keep doing what you're doing. We'll pass you when we can, and you're more than welcome to pass us on the uphills.