The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Cars and Trucks Don’t Mix

Missed seeing a big wreck on I-80 in Illinois just outside Chicago. I heard it closed the interstate in both directions and traffic was backed up for miles. I heard a couple of trucks and four cars. That was probably second or third hand and may or may not be right. It was big whatever it was. I haven’t been out here very long, but I’ve seen my share of the aftermath of bad wrecks.

Cars and trucks just don’t mix. Cars take too many chances around trucks. Any contact and cars lose. I don’t care if the truck is in the wrong or not, why die to make a point that you’re right. Just move out of the way, right or wrong. I’m sure some drivers think I’m out there just to harass car drivers. I don’t have the time or the inclination. I speed up and slow down mainly due to gravity. I slow down going up a hill and speed up going down a hill. Cars move in front of me when I’m going down a hill, just when I’m picking up speed again. They don’t know how good or bad my brakes are. They are braver than I am, willing to test out my brakes for me. When cars signal for a lane change it means “can I come over.” When trucks signal it usually means “I can’t see if it’s completely clear or not, but I’m coming over, so get out of the way!”
Then there are the signs trucks have to follow. No trucks in left lane, Trucks stay in right 2 lanes, Trucks drive in left lane. The no trucks in left lane is bad, because a car will be driving in the middle lane and I can’t pass on the left, and they won’t move to the right, so I’ll have to pass on the right. Makes me look like I’m being reckless passing on the right. I’m just following the signs.

There should be lanes set up for trucks going through cities. Trucks going through and not stopping should be in the far left lane or in the HOV lane. Trucks aren’t going to be changing lanes back and forth or trying to get to an exit. The problem comes when trucks are stuck in the right and cars are trying to merge. I’ve got a car on my left and can’t get over, so the car getting on thinks I’m just being a butt and won’t get over. Or I get over and cars get on my right and I can’t get back.

Get trucks out of the right lane, cars can merge with cars much better, trucks aren’t going to be changing all around trying to make an exit, they all stay in the far left out of the way. Plus there are more slow cars then there are slow trucks (except hills), I get flipped off because I get in the left lane trying to pass a car. Flip off the car that’s going so slow I’ve got to go around it. I’m just trying to get from one place to another without killing someone, or myself.