What is the highest speed you've got your rig up to?

[zz4guy]

I was doing 100 in my camaro yesterday and it got me thinking - what would it be like to have an 80,000 lbs rig going that fast?? :shock:

Post your stories and locations of where you hit the speed.

[Rev.Vassago]

I was doing 100 in my camaro yesterday and it got me thinking - what would it be like to have an 80,000 lbs rig going that fast?? :shock:

Post your stories and locations of where you hit the speed.

If you have a CDL, turn it in. Now.

[classicxl]

exactly turn that CDL in

They can not do anything to me now since I no longer have my CDL so in 1997 I had my 1988 International 9300 upto around 115 across SD on I-90 late at night not a car on the road just letting her fly.

[Rev.Vassago]

They can not do anything to me now since I no longer have my CDL

Thank goodness.

The only person I put in risk that time was ME no one else was in the area I was the kind of driver who always ran LEGAL. You do not get to be a finish trainer without being a legal driver.

[Rev.Vassago]

I was the kind of driver who always ran LEGAL.

Except when you didn't.

You do not get to be a finish trainer without being a legal driver.

Look for some posts here by a driver named Keeso - 6 months experience, was made a driver/trainer by Swift. He loved to brag about how he bent the rules, and drove endless hours.

[shyykatt]

8)

The fact yes I did do in excess of 110 mph in a semi at one time was stupid. However I did it not do it again. I never claimed to be a Billy Big Rigger or Super Trucker I was out there making a living and a good one. I was a legal and safe driver at Henderson Trucking to the point I was a finsher I got the trainees that were close to flunking out of the program and was told see if I could salvage them. 80% of the trainees I got flunked out or flat out quit on me I ran them harder than they were going to ever run in real world trucking. Of the 20% that did make it out I would have put those guys against anyone of some of the so called professinals out there at the time.

[yoopr]

How long were you a actual Driver before getting this "Finishing Trainer"?

39 months total time OTR driving I was not a 6 month wonder. Also I did not get my CDL from a driver mill I got mine the old fashion way MY FATHER sitting in the jump seat training me when I screwed up he let me know.

[zz4guy]

They can not do anything to me now since I no longer have my CDL so in 1997 I had my 1988 International 9300 upto around 115 across SD on I-90 late at night not a car on the road just letting her fly.

Sweet :D What was that like? Things starting to rattle apart? Was the trailer fishtailing? I bet you about redlined your engine. Even in top gear it's hard to imagine the engine would have enough rpm to move that fast.

The load in the back kept it pretty straight but I would not recomend EVER doing it in a truck. Things happen way to fast at that speed for you to react and the slightest mistake can have severe penalties. I was lucky you may not be if you ever do that. The only reason that truck rand that fast was do to the engine and tranny and gearing combo. She was set up with a 444 Cummions turned up by Bruce at Diesel Injection of Pittsburgh to around 700HP 13 double OD trans and 3.55 gears on 24.5 big rubber.

[Rev.Vassago]

39 months total time OTR driving I was not a 6 month wonder. Also I did not get my CDL from a driver mill I got mine the old fashion way MY FATHER sitting in the jump seat training me when I screwed up he let me know.

Something stinks here, and it ain't me.


Forced off OTR driver with 1 million miles accident free name the commidity I pulled it.


1,000,000 miles / 39 months = 25,641 miles per month. Care to explain how you managed that? :roll:

I smell B.S.

It was39 months before I made trainer not before I hit the million mile mark Rev. Also the reason I was forced off the road was due to Epilepsy a medical condition so unless you can walk a mile in my shoes do not go there. Try having a condition where you do not know when where or if you will lose all control of your body tear your shoulder to pieces maybe put your arm threw a plate glass window and for fun bite your tounge off. You also have to remember I was running as a trainer and I recieved credit for those miles in my calculations since I got paid solo rate on those miles made my life nice on the paycheck.

[Rev.Vassago]

It was39 months before I made trainer not before I hit the million mile mark Rev. Also the reason I was forced off the road was due to Epilepsy a medical condition so unless you can walk a mile in my shoes do not go there. Try having a condition where you do not know when where or if you will lose all control of your body tear your shoulder to pieces maybe put your arm threw a plate glass window and for fun bite your tounge off. You also have to remember I was running as a trainer and I recieved credit for those miles in my calculations since I got paid solo rate on those miles made my life nice on the paycheck.

So let me see if I have this correct - you didn't DRIVE 1,000,000 miles, but you were PRESENT when someone else drove for you.


Wow - I'm so impressed. :roll:

[wot i life]

When I was little, I remember seeing this American guy going way faster than 100mph; And his rig weighed much more than 80,000lbs.
I,m not sure of his exact speed or indeed the size of his rig
But I do distinctly remember his words when he finally stopped.
He said "This is one small step for man...... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Rev I did end up with one million miles driven however you are the kind of driver that makes my blood boil you ruthlessly attack yet I imagine you are the kind of driver who one is always screaming about the lack of parking in a truckstop when there are plenty of spaces besides the front row. 2 complain when you are forced to wait in line to get loaded and 3 actually wait to recieve a dispatch I for one never compalined and was able to be rehired for all the companies that I drove for do to my customer service skills more than one time I had a customer ask for me to haul a load. In fact I had a the pleasure of more than one time hauling the first load into a new customer for the carrier I was driving for. I never was placed OOS for either a log book or equipment issue in the time I was out there I chewed out more than one shop foreman for not wanting to repair something that was saftey related. I took pride in my job and if I did not have my current condition would still be out there training a new batch of drivers the right way not the school way of how to drive.

[zz4guy]

When I was little, I remember seeing this American guy going way faster than 100mph; And his rig weighed much more than 80,000lbs.
I,m not sure of his exact speed or indeed the size of his rig
But I do distinctly remember his words when he finally stopped.
He said "This is one small step for man...... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yeah thats right. Us Americans have all the balls :wink: :lol: :lol:

[Rev.Vassago]

How little you know. :lol:

Rev I did end up with one million miles driven however you are the kind of driver that makes my blood boil

I still disagree - you claim 39 months driving, yet it is impossible to run the miles you claim in that period of time. You still haven't provided any reasonable explanation for this discrepency, other than you are claiming miles that you didn't drive, but rather were just PRESENT when they were driven.

you ruthlessly attack yet I imagine you are the kind of driver who one is always screaming about the lack of parking in a truckstop when there are plenty of spaces besides the front row.

I rarely park in the front row. In fact, I rarely park at truckstops.

2 complain when you are forced to wait in line to get loaded and

The Rev. never waits in line for anyone. :roll:

3 actually wait to recieve a dispatch

This makes no sense. What - am I just supposed to randomly drive around looking for someone to move?

I for one never compalined and was able to be rehired for all the companies that I drove for do to my customer service skills more than one time I had a customer ask for me to haul a load.

Your signature line says otherwise - something about being FORCED out. Sounds like a complaint to me. :wink:

In fact I had a the pleasure of more than one time hauling the first load into a new customer for the carrier I was driving for.

Good for you. I do that all the time. It isn't anything special.

I never was placed OOS for either a log book or equipment issue in the time I was out there I chewed out more than one shop foreman for not wanting to repair something that was saftey related. I took pride in my job and if I did not have my current condition would still be out there training a new batch of drivers the right way not the school way of how to drive.

Teaching them how to do triple digits, no less. :roll:

Just for giggles, I'm gonna break down your sig line:

Forced off OTR driver

Complaint.

with 1 million miles accident free

Disputable.

name the commidity I pulled it.

Household Goods
Automobiles
Boats
Corn Gluten Pellets
Cottonseed
Ammonium Sulfate
Liquid Human Waste
Solid Human Waste
Office Furniture
Fish Meal
Soybeans
Soybean Meal
Dinosaur Fossils

I trust you have hauled all these things. I know I have.

I stated it was 39 months before I was made a TRAINER not that was total time I had on the road. As for some of your other things you go into about training drivers how to run triple didgits never did that and I NEVER FREAKING WOULD. I had a trainee kick it out of gear on Parlee you know tha little mountain leading into SLC. If I was not trained properly by my father both of us would have died that day. We were past the runaway ramp when it happened and he almost lost it going right by the 215 interchange. As to your list of commidities I have some that you do not list and I can not list for simple resons of NATIONAL SECRUITY and that is all I will say. I failed 4 out of 5 trainees that climbed into my truck and flat out told them that they did not have what it took to be a Professianl Truck Driver not a Steering Wheel Holder. For me driving a Semi was a Profession not a job. The reason I am not out there is called EPILEPSY read up on it a nice little conditon. I can not drive and am forced to live off of SS for the rest of my life.

[Rev.Vassago]

As to your list of commidities I have some that you do not list and I can not list for simple resons of NATIONAL SECRUITY and that is all I will say.

Next you'll be telling us about how the Federal Marshalls stopped DOT from making you go over the scales. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I always crossed any and all open scales. I was a safe driver you are judging me on ONE time when I decedied to let my truck stretch her legs out. In a 6 year stretch how many times total were you given either a logbook ticket or a speeding ticket or placed OOS for either equipment or HOS voilations since REV you are always screaming about saftey.

[Rev.Vassago]

I always crossed any and all open scales. I was a safe driver you are judging me on ONE time when I decedied to let my truck stretch her legs out.

No I am not - I am judging you on the fact that you felt the need to BRAG about it by posting it here.

In a 6 year stretch how many times total were you given either a logbook ticketNONE or a speeding ticketNONE or placed OOS for either equipment or HOS voilationsNONE since REV you are always screaming about saftey.

[yoopr]

As to your list of commidities I have some that you do not list and I can not list for simple resons of NATIONAL SECRUITY and that is all I will say.

Next you'll be telling us about how the Federal Marshalls stopped DOT from making you go over the scales. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Man-If I had a Dollar for every time I heard that Tale :P

[yoopr]

As to your list of commidities I have some that you do not list and I can not list for simple resons of NATIONAL SECRUITY and that is all I will say.

Next you'll be telling us about how the Federal Marshalls stopped DOT from making you go over the scales. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Man-If I had a Dollar for every time I heard that Tale :P

Maybe My memory is a bit foggy but I don't remember any runaway ramps on Parley.

[zz4guy]

Personally I'd rather be trained by somebody who's pushed the machine to its limits at triple digit speeds. It might come in handy when you're bareling down a mountain after the brakes fade.

But I guess if your let your brakes fade on a big mountain you are an unsafe driver :roll:

[Rev.Vassago]

Personally I'd rather be trained by somebody who's pushed the machine to its limits at triple digit speeds. It might come in handy when you're bareling down a mountain after the brakes fade. :roll:

But I guess if your let your brakes fade on a big mountain you are an unsafe driver :roll:

Yes, and if you let your brakes face on a big mountain, you are an idiot as well.

[shyykatt]

8)

[zz4guy]

Well **** it then. Lets just do away with all the runaway ramps on the steep mountains. Because if you ever loose control on a mountain you are just unsafe, and as such you should be hurled to your death. We only need safe drivers out there like Rev that never make mistakes ;)

[Rev.Vassago]

Popcorn please :D

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/revvassago1/munch.gifhttp://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/revvassago1/4.gifhttp://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/revvassago1/popcorn.gifhttp://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/revvassago1/2iqep7n.gif
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/revvassago1/couchsmiley-1.gif

[yoopr]

Well **** it then. Lets just do away with all the runaway ramps on the steep mountains. Because if you ever loose control on a mountain you are just unsafe, and as such you should be hurled to your death. We only need safe drivers out there like Rev that never make mistakes ;)

Hello? Still waiting for your Response on Parley's Runaway Ramps

[wot i life]

Hey Rev, how did you do that?
I mean, put the little emoticon guy in the middle of the sofa picture.
You,re very very very clever :wink:

[zz4guy]

Well **** it then. Lets just do away with all the runaway ramps on the steep mountains. Because if you ever loose control on a mountain you are just unsafe, and as such you should be hurled to your death. We only need safe drivers out there like Rev that never make mistakes ;)

Hello? Still waiting for your Response on Parley's Runaway Ramps

Uh, am i missing something here? Nice icons by the way guys

There is a runaway ramp on Parley 3 miles down goes UPHILL you hit it from the HAMMER lane. By the way how come I can remember where that one is and you can not remember and I never had to use it either.

[Rev.Vassago]

Well **** it then. Lets just do away with all the runaway ramps on the steep mountains. Because if you ever loose control on a mountain you are just unsafe, and as such you should be hurled to your death. We only need safe drivers out there like Rev that never make mistakes ;)

Hello? Still waiting for your Response on Parley's Runaway Ramps

Uh, am i missing something here?

Yup. Common sense.

Runaway truck ramps are built to save the IDIOTS who don't know how to drive a truck. Suffice to say that your chances of seeing a QUALIFIED driver sitting in a runaway truck ramp are slim to none.

Perhaps you have a good idea, though - eliminate the runaway ramps, and let the folks who can't keep control of their vehicle answer to Darwin's "natural selection".

[yoopr]

simple-Until I got smart and decided that the wear and tear on my equipment was worth more than saving a bit of time I started going north through the valley on 84 which reconnects with 15 and runs alongside the River.

Any driver at anytime could have the need for a runaway ramp ever here of a mechincal failure. Yes they are there to catch the IDIOTS who think they can handle anything. Here is a reason that anyone could need one going down say Black Mtn on I-40 in NC all of a sudden you lose your computer there goes the Jakes sorry. You start to ride the brakes Air Compressor explodes no air pressure you are SOL on a bad mountain you have 2 choices 1 kiss you butt goodbye 2 find the next runaway ramp. Rev do not say this could not happen it did to my father who had 3.5 million miles accident free driving in 38 yrs OTR and was my trainer. The reason the Computer failed relay fell out. The air compressor was even easior to see the drive gear broke off. He buried his rig in the ramp up to the top of the drive axles so do not say it is just IDIOTS that hit those ramps.

[Rev.Vassago]

Any driver at anytime could have the need for a runaway ramp ever here of a mechincal failure. Yes they are there to catch the IDIOTS who think they can handle anything. Here is a reason that anyone could need one going down say Black Mtn on I-40 in NC all of a sudden you lose your computer there goes the Jakes sorry. You start to ride the brakes Air Compressor explodes no air pressure you are SOL on a bad mountain you have 2 choices 1 kiss you butt goodbye 2 find the next runaway ramp. Rev do not say this could not happen it did to my father who had 3.5 million miles accident free driving in 38 yrs OTR and was my trainer. The reason the Computer failed relay fell out. The air compressor was even easior to see the drive gear broke off. He buried his rig in the ramp up to the top of the drive axles so do not say it is just IDIOTS that hit those ramps.

Perhaps you should get some reading glasses, or perhaps take a remedial course in reading. For glasses, I recommend Lenscrafters, and for reading, I recommend Hooked on Phonics.

http://www.lenscrafters.com
http://www.hookedonphonics.com


Suffice to say that your chances of seeing a QUALIFIED driver sitting in a runaway truck ramp are slim to none.

[shyykatt]

8)

[WildK9]

Perhaps you should get some reading glasses, or perhaps take a remedial course in reading. For glasses, I recommend Lenscrafters, and for reading, I recommend Hooked on Phonics.

http://www.lenscrafters.com
http://www.hookedonphonics.com



L-M-A-O

[yoopr]

I still don't remember a runaway ramp on Parley-Must have been sleeping but that is one Hill you DON'T sleep on :P
I think they put 80 over it for the Tourists

[Rev.Vassago]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Stop Rev; I can't even see straight, been laughin' too hard!

I apologize, but as long as they keep setting them up, I feel I have a "moral imperative" to bat them out of the park.

Here are some e-tissues for your eyes:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/revvassago1/kleenex.jpg

And if the pain of laughter gets to be too much:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/revvassago1/hba20220006.jpg

[shyykatt]

8)

I have always wondered how the triple digit cowboys know they are doing 110-115 I havent been in a ton of trucks but everyone I have been in has had a gauge that stops usualy at 85 mph

[Rev.Vassago]

I have always wondered how the triple digit cowboys know they are doing 110-115 I havent been in a ton of trucks but everyone I have been in has had a gauge that stops usualy at 85 mph

The gauge does not dictate the speed.

[traveler15301]

As to the initial question regarding how fast have you had your rig...

"On the advice of counsel I stand on the protection granted me by the fifth amendment of the United States Constitution and decline to answer on the grounds I may incriminate myself." You should all have that memorized cuz one day you may ALL need it!

Unless one is perfect and blameless we have all done something, probably many times which, upon calm reflection, we realise was not very wise. I applaud everyone here for their strong safety and professionalism oreinted stance, but answer me this: when the sign says speed limit 55 do you ALWAYS drive 55 or less?!? If you do you are a better man than I Gunga Din. I have always considered my self one of the safest drivers out there, not because "I am so damned good" but because I constantly think about it, live it and breathe it. It is not something you ARE it is something you must DO....actively....every second of every minute of every hour of every day out there...a single moments lapse at any time can be fatal.

My personal prectise is to drive the speed I consider safe...almost never exceeding the posted limit by more than 5mph (tickets cost more than just $$$ you know).

As to the issue of log accuracy, see my legal advice above, but HYPOTHETICALLY....back in the day it was common practise but is much too risky these days, especially with guys driving when they are WAYYY too tired and over hours to be anywhere close to safe. HOS notwithstanding, I have come off a 10 hour break, driven for two hours and felt so sleepy (for whatever reason) that I just pull it in and take a nap even though my log says I have 9 more good hours of driving available. Book larnin' ain't everything guys.

Adhere to the letter of the law as much as possible but it is to the spirit to which all true professionals should strive.

Runaway truck ramps: Rev is right, you will almost NEVER find a competent professional who knows his business on one of those, HOWEVER stuff does break now and again and I ALWAYS make it a point to know where the closest one is JUST IN CASE somethin' do break. A close friend of mine had a U-joint come apart going down a 12% grade...no jake then just "freewheelin" and foundation brakes to count on. Luckily he followed the first rule and was nt going so fast when it happened and had not been riding his service brakes so much that he was able to stop with plenty of air left and only smoked his brakes a little (no fire...just some bad smell). That is the first rule...ride that mountain down so that even if you lose it all you are not going so fast that you cannot take the ditch and live to talk about it. It deosn't really matter if the idiots pass you and give you the finger on the way down...you might see them on that ramp as you pass them later

"You can go down a mountain too slow a hundred times, but you might go down too fast only ONCE"...remember the most valuable cargo in that thing is YOUR BUTT!

One closing thought on high speed.....its fun in a Corvette (albeit still dangerous and illegal) but, if you have ever had a steer blow on you at 55 (as I have) and wrestled your way to the side so you can clean out your drawers imagine for a moment as you hit that triple digit..."what would happen if I lost a steer right NOW!"....perhaps low probability but non-zero nonetheless (and actually decidedly more likely considering the greater heat buildup and other stresses and strains that high speed driving places on tires)...you will be toast my brother!!!

[ceb]

yeah what he said

[crankyazz]

who really gives two ****s let alone one. nobody cares that you drove 115 miles and you were a trainer.. WOW whooptee dooo... The fact that you say I ran legal... we didn't ask you volunteered.. pretty much just my opinion but a stupid dang post.

I have always wondered how the triple digit cowboys know they are doing 110-115 I havent been in a ton of trucks but everyone I have been in has had a gauge that stops usualy at 85 mph

The gauge does not dictate the speed.

Yeah, i realize that the gauge does not dictate the speed but in the even that you get up to 85, anything after that is just speculation as to how fast you are really going, so my question of how do these guys get their numbers when they claim they have done triple digits still stands.....my guess is they dont really know.

[solo379]

you get up to 85, anything after that is just speculation as to how fast you are really going, so my question of how do these guys get their numbers when they claim they have done triple digits still stands.....my guess is they dont really know.

You could use your RPM, for example, 2100 on a top gear=100mph..or whatever.
And if you want to be dead sure, just get your engine ECM printout, it will show, the highest speed, you've ever traveled! :wink:

Ah, now those answers make a bit more sense to me, especialy the ecm printout thing. Still not sure i but 115 but I guess it is possible....i cant see myself ever wanting to do that though.

[yoopr]

Ah, now those answers make a bit more sense to me, especialy the ecm printout thing. Still not sure i but 115 but I guess it is possible....i cant see myself ever wanting to do that though.

If you ever get the urge to run like that someday just put the thought in your head of What if one of my Steer tires blow.

Blowing steer tires is scary to me even at normal speeds.....that in itself is enough to keep me from the 3 digit range...that and the governor on my truck lol But yeah, no joke on the steer tire comment, you got it right with that answer

[arg1970]

39 months total time OTR driving I was not a 6 month wonder. Also I did not get my CDL from a driver mill I got mine the old fashion way MY FATHER sitting in the jump seat training me when I screwed up he let me know.

Something stinks here, and it ain't me.


Forced off OTR driver with 1 million miles accident free name the commidity I pulled it.


1,000,000 miles / 39 months = 25,641 miles per month. Care to explain how you managed that? :roll:

I smell B.S.

He was hauling load to the moon and back

[Random_Facts]

You can get to "115" mph No problem (now where is that nitro button....) Sounds like you are need for speed buddy Lol, nascar for you. (I had to add that to keep this interesting thread going) lol. you just burn up more fuel anyway, and get there like what 10mins faster? lol plus putting everyone's life on the line, you see If you tip over. (even if the road is clear) you will have this huge mess that will cause a giant backup. maybe you will get news time. then we can sit here open a new thread and talk about it Lol. but anyways drive safe thats all. no Need for Speed around here lol.

[Mr. Ford95]

Going back to yoop's comment on the steer blow out, if the show ever happens to be on again, check out the World's Worst Drivers on TLC. One of their episodes had a truck in the UK going down the road at around 45 mph when he had a steer blow out. The driver did an unbelievable job at keeping the truck not only on the road but off the cars that were directly beside him on the side the steer blew out. I think he just barely left his lane before reeling that hulk back under control. At 45 mph he nearly lost it, at 115 mph, you WILL lose it.

Don't be saying a steer blow out will never happen to you, tires will blow without warning. I had a drive suddenly pop even though it was brand new, turns out a vulcan patch had been put over a hole in the sidewall by the tire maker. Nothing I could do to prevent it from blowing as it was something that I could not see.

[wot i life]

Blow a steer at anything like 115mph and you,re dead. Simple as

[ct77]

I have always wondered how the triple digit cowboys know they are doing 110-115 I havent been in a ton of trucks but everyone I have been in has had a gauge that stops usualy at 85 mph
my mack has a 100mph guage but God knows I have never even come close to pegging it, need longer steeper hill and more cojones!!!! :lol:

[Kaji]

"So what have you had your rig up to? :D"

[insert self righteous bull**** here] fapfapfap

So some states had no speed limits for quite some time. So that idiot from Europe claiming every country on the entire continent was limited to 55, hell with the autobahn. So that guy that builds rigs to run Pike's Peak at record speeds and runs the Bonneville salt flats at 225 and gets mad props for it. Hell with pride, WITCH HUNT ALKJFLSKFDJLSDJFLSDJFLSKJDFLSKJDFLSDJFLKSDJF (FAPFAPFAP)

[Rev.Vassago]

The highest I've had my rig to is a little over 70, going down the side of a big hill.

[Kaji]

I've had a couple up around 85-90. Big hills or big hurry, neither loaded though. I may be crazy but I'm not runnin that fast under full load for anything.

[Collard Greens]

66 miles per hour on a clear day.

[2000Volvo770]

I topped out at 120mph 1 time heading south to Florida 3 yrs ago. sense then 90 is the best.

[Driveline]

100 in Cali, with another black Pete.

[jiptwoo]

As to the origional question, in a car which I built including the engine complete, 160 mph on my speedo with plenty of pedal left. I-280 n.j. in broad daylight. In my old 97 w900 back in the day 115mph I-81 in va. at 3 am racing another produce hauler and a texas flatbed and I was in last place. Only because they got the jump on me, and when they yelled for me to back out of it ; it was too late; I came around that curb to see a trooper car facing right at me. He had to be asleep because the three of us eased out of it, waited a minute and then floorboarded it and got up to raphine. I was taching 2100 with 3-400rpm left and no intentions of letting up. Those were the good days, I don't haul produce salinas to hunts pt. or chelsea solo in three days, sometimes a flat 52 hrs anymore, reload and be sitting back in L.a. 3 days later. 6- 7 day turnarounds depending on if I reloaded at the brokers whse right away. I used to do 8-10 turns in a row before I took usually 3-4 days off, I was addicted to the money, not drugs. Yes by God's grace over 2-million mi. never an accident, not even a bump, and yes I still ride in the high dollar lane hauling produce but not coast to coast. So figure out the old days and yes I ran more miles than a team in a month, There were a lot of us doing it and you know what I mean and who you are.---Run til daylight!

[Dawn]

I topped out at 120mph 1 time heading south to Florida 3 yrs ago. sense then 90 is the best.

OMG! I know it is hard not to speed, but please don't! We don't want to hear that you got killed or killed someone from speeding so darn fast! This is nothing to really brag about! Sorry but this made me kringe(sp?)

[nightprwlr]

You ever see a dog get hit by a truck doing 85 mph plus? I have it's not pretty. In 1989 I was running with some Oliver Trans./Pete Oliver drivers (I'll show my age),across hwy 36 now interstate 72 in Illinois abot 1 a.m. in the morning,there was 4 of us I was trailing behind last 2 Pete's, then a Freightliner then myself.The guy in one of the Pete's went by "Big C" and the guy in the Freightliner went by "Shadraque", Big C hollered back and told him "Look out for that ~#@%^ dog" it was too late. I know my speedo was buried past 85, my guess is we was doing about 90 to 95. We were all hauling 45,000 # steel coils out of Rouge Steel in Dearborn Mi. so hitting the brakes wasn't much of an option. Now maybe if some old steel haulers from Mexico Mo. area read this they'll know who I'm talking about. Back in them days you could make some decent money running your azz off. Hauling poverty rock(fire brick used in Blast Furnaces) to steel mills in Gary In., Detroit Mi., and Cleveland Oh., then usually reloading the same plant you unloaded at and head back towards Sedalia or Kansas City Mo. 3 to 4 rounds in a week weren't uncommon( about 4500 to 6000 miles a week). In order to make that kind of time you had to run like that(only if you wanted to by choice) if you wanted to make some big money. Of course that was then and this is now, you people read some of these stories and doubt them how do you actually know unless you was there? Old School back in the day,of course back then drivers were a little different from nowadays. You had bird dogs and scanners/jammers instead of cell phones and laptops. You didn't have to beg someone for a bear report,or D O T, scalehouse whatever. Nowadays you're lucky to get someone who will comeback at all.

[2000Volvo770]

I topped out at 120mph 1 time heading south to Florida 3 yrs ago. sense then 90 is the best.

OMG! I know it is hard not to speed, but please don't! We don't want to hear that you got killed or killed someone from speeding so darn fast! This is nothing to really brag about! Sorry but this made me kringe(sp?)

Oh believe me this topped at 120 and was down to the speed limit of 70 faster than you could say SLOW DOWN. Just a 1 time thing to see where it topped off at. Never had near that sense and this was 3 yrs ago..

[stinkyfinger]

If I remember right I think my speedo highest # was 80 or something like that. But I had it right up there against the bottom of the gage goin down the mountain in Flagstaff. I had to be goin inexcess of 100 mph

[FORDGUY85]

First off zz4guy I think your a idiot for even asking that question. Second off I think anyone who attempts trying to see how fast their truck can go is a moron. It not only puts the dumb ***** driver in danger it put every other person on the road in danger. Drivers who feel the need to do this give all of us drivers bad names. It seems that the only one who has any common sense in here is rev.

[BanditsCousin]

I was riding shotgun going 107mph one time out west. I would hate to think what would happen if we had blown a steer tire :shock:

[Birken Vogt]

I've "only" been up past 85 a few times, in a good truck, it feels just like any other speed but I don't do it anymore, I feel I was young and stupid.

One day I was cruising along about 70 mph WB near Winnemucca and along comes this cowboy in a 53' with three different hazmat placards, each of them enough to raise an eyebrow by itself, and he is blasting along in the left lane passing me and everyone else like they were standing still. It was quite a sight to see.

Birken

[yoopr]

100 in Cali, with another black Pete.

Sure you did :roll:

[stinkyfinger]

First off zz4guy I think your a idiot for even asking that question. Second off I think anyone who attempts trying to see how fast their truck can go is a moron. It not only puts the dumb ***** driver in danger it put every other person on the road in danger. Drivers who feel the need to do this give all of us drivers bad names. It seems that the only one who has any common sense in here is rev.

I kinda agree ,my "speed demon era" was when I was fairly new to trucking and didn't know any better,tried to impress other drivers who were on the cb "braggin" bout leavin' me behind and wantin to fit in with "drivers" I didn't even know or ever seen. Just what I heard on the cb and ASSUMED they were very close to me and I didn't want 2 appear "chicken". I was actually "insulted",teased,harassed,etc for using my brakes on downgrades.The ignorant uneducated hillbillies thought they were king ****.I kick myself in the ass now for allowing them to influence me in such a unsafe and stupid way of driving. that was close to 20 yrs ago. Maybe that is why 2day I actually HATE my job and the drvrs. out there! Sorry jus my feelings dudes!

[Rev.Vassago]

I fail to see what the point is in knowing "how fast the truck will go". What purpose does it serve?

[Mackman]

I fail to see what the point is in knowing "how fast the truck will go". What purpose does it serve?

So you can talk alot of sh*t on the CB. 8)

[Rev.Vassago]

You can talk the sh*t without actually doing it.

[mozzi]

Ok, Hi all… I’m new to this forum and…. Oh well…. You’ll get over it…

Introductions are in order:
I’m a driver with some 21+ years and 2.5 million+ miles under my belt… mostly flatbed and stepdecks but, I’ve also pulled reefers, dry vans, stretch trailers, dump trailers and pneumatic tanks. I’ve literally hauled almost everything there is to haul (don't we all say this though 8) ) on a truck from steel & lumber of any and all types to an airplane and yes, even the kitchen sink. I’ve hauled heavy, long, wide and high. I can’t say accident free but, I can say that my accident was not my fault… and I was not speeding !

I don’t drive OTR any more. I do still drive though… a concrete mixer.
I drive a truck that gets loaded with a liquid load that is constantly moving (revolving). When loaded my truck weighs approx. 65,000 #s legally. My truck has one 20,000 # steer axle, two drive axles and one fold down tag axle. And “TOP HEAVY” is always an issue.

I learned to drive in 1983 running not only 48 states but, running snow & ice in the mountains. I had thousands of miles under my belt before I ever applied for a learners permit. No truck driving school taught me to drive.
I’ve driven through snow & ice storms that you 2… 3… and even 5 year rookies can’t even imagine. Before you even think it (“you should have parked and waited it out”) understand this… Parking is not always an available option.

Yes, I used to be one of those “Super Truckers” that you steering wheel holders like to bad mouth. I’ve dodged probably every scale in this country and maybe one or two in Canada as well. I’ve snuck into So. Cal without authority… delivered, reloaded and escaped without issues. I’ve left Washington DC loaded wide and heavy (90,000 +) and delivered safely in Iowa without waiting for the proper permits (That were supposed to be ready and waiting for me !) for my own reasons… I used to load (regularly) in Oregon… 84,000 #s and deliver to points in Va. Nc. and Sc. without issues. Once, I even drove without a license for 6 months because the scales on I-70 west of St. Peters Mo. took them for no good reason.

You might say that “I’ve been there and done that”.

And despite what many of you may think, I always recieved a lot of respect from my dispatchers and boss’ where ever I worked… as well as the respect of the drivers that I ran with or helped out on the side of the highway… or pulled out of the ditch or whatever. I also received respect from many of the officers that pulled me over… Not all… but many... as well as a few scale house officers that had the pleasure of argueing with me and seeing me win... although they didn't like me in Tn. at the scales west of Nashville... Supervisor said "Get that son-of-a-Bitch out of here". Screw him anyway... I was right and there wasn't anything that he could do about it.

Some of you people are really something else.

This thread has rustled a few of my whiskers so, here goes…

Zz4guy:
You’ve done 100 mph in your camaro… oh boy ! Just how old are you… I get the feeling that your a 17 or 18 year old trucker wannabee. (I see that you claim to be an engineer) Now don’t be offended… Hey, that’s O.K… we all started somewhere… and I, myself, was a wannabee at the age of 3.
Your quote: “Personally I'd rather be trained by somebody who's pushed the machine to its limits”
This in itself is a good idea but, not for the reasons you claimed… down hill grades are something that you just don’t train for… believe me YOU DON’T.
If you ever end up barreling down a grade faster than you want too, you will just have to improvise….
YOU TRAIN TO GO DOWN A GRADE PROPERLY….
NOT IMPROPERLY !!!
See "Intro to truckin 101"... http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles/intro_trucking.htm

Speeding in a big truck isn’t just for fun… it can be dangerous.

Have I traveled at a “HIGH RATE OF FUEL CONSUMPTION” ??? I’ll tell you later in this post although, you probably have already made up your mind that I have...

Ironeagle2006:
Epilepsy is a good reason to “RETIRE” from trucking. The fact that you use the word “FORCED” seems to reflect that you don’t agree with the decision… If you’ve got the miles that you say you do then you should agree that anyone with epilepsy doesn’t belong in a truck… too many things can go wrong…. Right ! A wise man would re-write his signature.
Not getting your med’s ontime is the biggest and easiest problem. I personally know about this little issue…as I used to take anti-depressants… when you run out of med’s on the road it can be a real bitch dealing with the withdraw symptoms until you get home to get your refill. And I don’t care what the Walgreens commercials say… you cant get certain medications from anyplace other than where your doctor faxed the prescription to.
Been there… Done that.

One other thing Ironeagle2006… claiming miles under YOUR belt that SOMEONE ELSE drove is a chicken **** way to build you own reputation… trainer or not.

Yoopr:
You’d better go re-check Parley… it’s there.
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah050/i-080_wb_exit_134_02.jpg

Rev.vassago:
Sir, aren’t you a bit arrogant…. maybe a bit hipicritical even ?
Runaway ramps are for ANYONE who has trouble on the grade… whether it be an idiot who thinks that he’s indestructible or a driver who’s equipment has failed him (or her). Equipment failures are unfortunate (and many avoidable) but they do happen.
The more I read of your posts… the more I doubt that you can even drive a truck.

Jagerbomber:
If you were truly a “Super Trucker” you’d know the answer to your question regarding how those triple digit cowboys know how fast they were going…
It’s simple…
It’s called VASCAR…. Remember what that is…?
Before RADAR was ever used, the police used to use VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer And Recorder). http://www.vascar.com The concept is really a stopwatch coupled with a calculator.
It’s simple… The # of seconds in an hour (60 seconds X 60 minutes = 3600 seconds) divided by the # of seconds it takes to travel one mile. This is actually more accurate over a longer distance… say 10 miles or so. It’s simple math. And yes, I carried a stopwatch (of sorts) in my truck all the time. Speedometers are notorious for being wrong ! I always checked every truck that I was issued so that I KNEW what my actual speed was without having to be told by a HIGHWAY PATROL officer.

P.S. There are 150 mph speedometers out there… just ask your local Peterbilt or Kenworth dealer. They can be bought and installed.

Traveler15301:
You sound like a real driver… possibly even a trucker. (A trucker and a Steeringwheel Holder are two different things entirely).
But, I’d like to address the issue about the steer tire blowing out. Bare with me please.
I’m not condoning high speed trailer truckin’ to the bunch of drivers out there today… but, there are still some who can and will do it.

One has to have SOME (even a little) understanding of physics here to understand what I’m about to explain.

Ever seen a dragster being launched off of the starting line…?
What happens… ? The front of the car lifts up off of the ground… he pulls a “wheelie”. Right ! What’s actually happening here though ?
We’re talking about torque. As the engine produces power or force… this force is transferred through the driveline to the axle. As the force to the axle is increased the weight (or downward pressure) on the steer tires is decreased. This happens with every vehicle… EVERY VEHICLE.
In a truck traveling down the highway, the amount of downward pressure on the steer axle is less while the vehicle is in an “ACCELERATION” mode than if it were sitting still. That same pressure would be “MORE” while in the “DECELERATION” mode which explains why your nose dips down when you hit the brakes. The faster the truck is accelerating, the lighter the pressure on the steer axle. At high speeds the steer axle is actually floating on the road… this effect is what causes “HYDROPLANING” on wet pavement.
If a driver is aware of this concept… while a steer tire blows… he need only apply the trailer brakes gently (PROVIDED HE/SHE HAS A TROLLY BAR) to keep the front end of his/her tractor “UP” while decreasing the vehicles speed.
Now you can say what you want too but, when I’m doing something that I think might be a bit risky… I want to know how to reduce the risk as much as possible

Top quality steer tires in very good condition are an absolute must too, not no cheap junk.

Random Facts:
Anyone who travels at triple digits for just a few miles here and there is just doing it for the kicks… It is stupid and yes, they are not saving any time… just wasting fuel. The drivers who speeding for a living are doing it “FOR EXTENDED” periods of time… many many miles. They don’t stop at every truckstop as the story goes but, rather … keep the left door closed and the hammer down…. Gougin’ on it !!! And they aren’t worried about their 11 on and 10 off or whatever the HOS rules are these days either. They are “TRAILER TRUCKIN”. And I can speak from experience … you can make up a lot of time doing this…this is how I often made my sleep time but, it’s not for everybody. Not everybody’s bodys are accustomed to working for 18 – 20+ hours a day like some are…

A little something else here “IT’S A PROVEN FACT THAT SPEED DOES NOT CAUSE ACCIDENTS. ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY DRIVER ERROR AND OR NEGLECT” This statement told to me by a Minnesota State Highway Patrol officer while he was writing me a WARNING ticket for 15 mph over posted. The only reason he even pulled me over (according to him) was because I “blabbed” his location on the C.B. radio… “If you would have kept your big mouth shut… I’d have left you alone !”

Jiptwoo:
Yea Buddy ! Gougin’ on it aye ! You’re a true trucker from “back in the day”.

Dawn - Super Trucker:
Get real girl…….Your not a super trucker by any means….. you’re a steering wheel holder…. If it’s O.K. with you then it’s O.K. with me… but, stay out of the way.

Nightprwlr:
Yes, I have…. Not a dog though… does a deer count ?
90 mph… west bound on I-94 in Montana… Wee dark hours in the morning…I had leaned over in my 359 Pete to spit in the waste basket (had a bad cold and was coughing up phlem). When I came back up there she was… in the middle of the road… nothing to do but hit her…. Dead center.
Nothing left of that deer to even come out of behind the trailer… according to the driver following me. Not a dent or scratch in my Pete either… just a bunch of raw meat and hair. I had a “Bulldozer Blade” under my Big Chrome Texas Square bumper. Really, a 9/16” thick plate of steel welded and braced with 2” square steel tube tucked in behind that big ol’ bumper.

Hey Nightprwlr… I remember Pete Oliver Trucking…
Do you remember Bell Trucking in Auxvasse ? I drove for George Schaffer leased to Bell… Fire brick from Mexico, Fulton and Vandalia (I think) going to Chicago, Detroit & Cleveland… Steel coils or rebar back to K.C. or there abouts… put a lot of miles across hwy 54.
I used to leave out on Sunday and arrive back on the following Saturday morning. 4 hours (total) sleep while on the road and a good nights sleep on Saturday night. Lots of miles too…

Stinkyfinger:
Your just plain stupid for going down Flag at 100+ mph… just plain stupid.
Glad to see that you feel differently about it now… ?


Now then……………………….As for the rest of you so-called drivers… personally, I think that most of you are all a bunch of steering wheel holders… but, that ain’t all bad… The times are different now and the days of Super Truckin’ are almost over. There’s not as much space on the roads as there used to be…. Too many four wheelers and way too many “Stupid Truckers” that think it’s funny to pull out into the left lane after checking their mirror and seeing that a“Large Car” is coming up the rear.
REAL STUPID !!!

REAL F#$%ING STUPID !!!

But, many of you so-called “PROFESSIONALS” think that this is amusing… Really now, who is dangerous ? Me in the left lane doing 75 or whatever just trying to do my job… or the guy that waits for me to catch up behind him in the left lane (watching me in his mirror) and turns his truck into my lane causing me to slam on the brakes, knowing full well what he’s done… and why he’s done it… Who’s the dangerous driver ?

Dip****s anyway !!!

Aside from many company trucks (most of which never exceeded 79) I owned two trucks myself... a 1987 359 Classic Numbered Peterbilt and also a 1997 Freightliner classic condo. The Pete had a 425 manual with a 15 double over and 355s... the condo had a 500 detroit with a 13 and 370s... the pete would top out around 120 or more... the condo topped out at 97.6 mph.

The difference between a "big truck" and a "large Car" is:
A big truck will climb a mountian as fast as it can... :lol:
A large car will climb that same mountian as fast as it wants too... :P :P :P

Have I ever drove at higher than posted speeds ???

402 miles across the state of Wyoming in 5 hours flat…State line to state line… loaded.

85 mph across OHIO on I-70 around 2:am (Wee hours) with an Ohio State Patrol running the front door… He was following me talking to me on the C.B…. I suggested that he run the front door… and he did !
go ahead… call me a liar.

85-90 mph west bound on I-40 in Az. (again… wee hours) State patrol said over “his” radio (not a C.B.) heard on my scanner… “Keep your foot into it driver, your doing a fine job”. I had no idea he was behind me… and he didn’t have any lights on either !!! Sneaky little guy.
Again, call me a liar.


Too many stories to tell….
Why a driver is driving faster than you might feel comfortable with is none of your business… just stay out of the way and pray for him or her.

That driver might be trying to get to a hospital to see his spouse or child after receiving a phone call from an emergency room. (My wife had to do this once… in her camaro……)

That driver might be trying to deliver a critical load for someone special…
Remember Desert Storm… I could tell you a story about this… but, I save you the trouble…
Suffice it to say….Army Depot in Tooele Ut. to Kennedy airport on Long Island in NY city in 57 hours… via Effingham Il. with a stop in south west Neb. to service tractor & trailer per boss’ request. My route proved to be 2665 miles… 57 hours… not a single cop anywhere the whole trip… not even Ohio.
Below are the basics of that load.

Military load (27 loads to be exact)… 18 crates per truck…30” x 30” x 22’ long each.
Must go…
Must be received…
Country at war…
Tomahawk missles… Any questions…?
High Speed Trailer Truckin’ ain’t for everybody… but, it can be done safely.

Oh, last but not least… that driver that you condemn for driving faster than you, he/she might just be trying to support his/her family and make his/her mortgage and truck payments.
Everybody isn’t as fortunate as you might be… everybodys needs are not the same as yours are… and everybodys skills are not as limited as yours might be…

SAFTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A ISSUE WITH ME… WHATEVER SPEED I WAS DRIVING………… FAST … OR SLOW……………………

Truck on driver…. Truck on…

[mozzi]

You can talk the sh*t without actually doing it.

Only in your dreams Rev.... Only in your dreams. :roll: :dung:

[Scout]

One has to have SOME (even a little) understanding of physics here to understand what I’m about to explain.

Ever seen a dragster being launched off of the starting line…?
What happens… ? The front of the car lifts up off of the ground… he pulls a “wheelie”. Right ! What’s actually happening here though ?
We’re talking about torque. As the engine produces power or force… this force is transferred through the driveline to the axle. As the force to the axle is increased the weight (or downward pressure) on the steer tires is decreased. This happens with every vehicle… EVERY VEHICLE.
In a truck traveling down the highway, the amount of downward pressure on the steer axle is less while the vehicle is in an “ACCELERATION” mode than if it were sitting still. That same pressure would be “MORE” while in the “DECELERATION” mode which explains why your nose dips down when you hit the brakes. The faster the truck is accelerating, the lighter the pressure on the steer axle. At high speeds the steer axle is actually floating on the road… this effect is what causes “HYDROPLANING” on wet pavement.
If a driver is aware of this concept… while a steer tire blows… he need only apply the trailer brakes gently (PROVIDED HE/SHE HAS A TROLLY BAR) to keep the front end of his/her tractor “UP” while decreasing the vehicles speed.
Now you can say what you want too but, when I’m doing something that I think might be a bit risky… I want to know how to reduce the risk as much as possible


I have to disagree with this.
In automobiles, weight transfer (often confused with load transfer) refers to the redistribution of weight supported by each tire during acceleration (both longitudinal and lateral). This includes braking, or deceleration (which can be viewed as acceleration at a negative rate). Weight transfer is a crucial concept in understanding vehicle dynamics.

Weight transfer occurs as the vehicle's center of gravity (CoG) shifts during automotive maneuvers. Acceleration causes the sprung mass to rotate about a geometric axis resulting in relocation of the CoG. Front-back weight transfer is proportional to the ratio of the center of gravity height to the vehicle's wheelbase, and side-to-side weight transfer (summed over front and rear) is proportional to the ratio of the center of gravity height to the vehicle's track.There's no way you can slow a vehicle while keeping "the front end of his/her tractor “UP”. Google "weight transfer" and there are several good articles.

[mozzi]

Hey Scout...
Your wrong.... Just plain wrong.

For starters, a tractor trailer is not an automobile. When will you rookies realize this ?

Secondly, GOOGLE doesn't know S&*t about weight transfer in a tractor trailer.

I have personally seen (with my own eyes) my own steer tire fly past my mirror and window on the drivers side. There was nothing whatsoever to indicate that the tire was flat or even completely seperated from the rim until I let off the foot feet (Gas pedal for you rookies) at which point the nose settled down and the left side dipped down. At this point, the left steer rim hit the pavement and I was absolutely positive that the tire that I had wittnessed flying by my window was mine.

So you can't tell me that I'm wrong.... you just depend on your GOOGLE to tell you about life and I'll go on living it and learning by EXPERIENCE.

[Rev.Vassago]

Rev.vassago:
Sir, aren’t you a bit arrogant…. maybe a bit hipicritical even ?

hypocritical :roll:

And no, I'm not. If you disagree, prove me wrong. :roll:

Arrogant? Sure. Who cares? What's your point?

Runaway ramps are for ANYONE who has trouble on the grade… whether it be an idiot who thinks that he’s indestructible or a driver who’s equipment has failed him (or her). Equipment failures are unfortunate (and many avoidable) but they do happen.

Your point? What does the above drivel have to do with a thread about how fast people have gotten their trucks up to?

The more I read of your posts… the more I doubt that you can even drive a truck.

Luckily, I could care less what you think. Your 25 million miles is irrelevant.

[jiptwoo]

Mozzi, you have a great memory and my hat is off to you; ---jiptwoo.

[Phantom433a]

Also I did not get my CDL from a driver mill I got mine the old fashion way MY FATHER sitting in the jump seat training me when I screwed up he let me know.
Yea.... I bet he did the same to you that mine did to me when I did something wrong.....slapped the S**T out of me and exclaimed "this is MY truck....you break it and YOU can make the payments." Swift is great at taking a driver with 6 months wheel time and making them trainers.

The fastest I've gotten my truck up to....its governed.....75....thats the top speed here in Az, where I run the northern part.

[GI_James]

I was doing 100 in my camaro yesterday and it got me thinking - what would it be like to have an 80,000 lbs rig going that fast?? :shock:

Post your stories and locations of where you hit the speed.

I had a military Armored 5 ton almost to 60 mph...

[ladykatrina]

what a fun read this whole thread was, guys,thank you for all the free amusement! :D

[Scout]

Hey Scout...
Your wrong.... Just plain wrong.

For starters, a tractor trailer is not an automobile. When will you rookies realize this ?

Secondly, GOOGLE doesn't know S&*t about weight transfer in a tractor trailer.

I have personally seen (with my own eyes) my own steer tire fly past my mirror and window on the drivers side. There was nothing whatsoever to indicate that the tire was flat or even completely seperated from the rim until I let off the foot feet (Gas pedal for you rookies) at which point the nose settled down and the left side dipped down. At this point, the left steer rim hit the pavement and I was absolutely positive that the tire that I had wittnessed flying by my window was mine.

So you can't tell me that I'm wrong.... you just depend on your GOOGLE to tell you about life and I'll go on living it and learning by EXPERIENCE.

OK then, what was holding the wheel up in the air while the tire was passing you? Even bobtail you've got a good 10,000 on the steer axle, and you're telling me that 5k was just floating above the road waitng for you to brake? I don't believe it.

[Fredog]

I was doing 100 in my camaro yesterday and it got me thinking - what would it be like to have an 80,000 lbs rig going that fast?? :shock:

Post your stories and locations of where you hit the speed.


240 mph
but it was on a computer game

[Fredog]

[quote=ironeagle2006]39 months total time OTR driving I was not a 6 month wonder. Also I did not get my CDL from a driver mill I got mine the old fashion way MY FATHER sitting in the jump seat training me when I screwed up he let me know.

Something stinks here, and it ain't me.


Forced off OTR driver with 1 million miles accident free name the commidity I pulled it. Dead bodies?

/quote]


1,000,000 miles / 39 months = 25,641 miles per month. Care to explain how you managed that? :roll:

I smell B.S.

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

I rember headin up 81 in PA heading to scranton there is nice big hill just a short bit before you reach scranton ...I'm told you could peg a truck out pretty good on this steep grade with a straight shot down.

[line_transporter]

Highest speed in a semi was probably 75 MPH. In a small car, I once did around 80 MPH. These were both done in daytime, with very little traffic on the highway. I've never driven a governed rig.

[LightsChromeHorsepower]

Back in the old days- 1970's- there was a truckers 'zine called Mother Truckers News. Guys would Western Union ( No internet, cell phones or fax machines in those days) when they left, and again when they reached their destination. 48 hours for coast-to-coast was pretty routine for teams.
It seemed to me that the produce haulers would all be coming into the west coast or leaving in waves. Many times I would be grinding away on 80 somewhere between Reno & SLC, maxed out at 75-78 MPH in the middle of the night, and a string of produce guys would flash by like I was chained to a tree. It would have taken a real long chain to reach the nearest tree.
I think it was Miller, out of SLC, had a long nose KW with way too much power and plenty of gears. They used to put 2 - 45 ft. reefers behind it with a 2 axle dolly and run it betwee SLC & Reno. They would have 2 trucks come over the hill to Reno & meet it, break down & make up the set, then head back to SLC. I swear that thing went at least 100MPH. It passed me once when I was half asleep, he didn't have any clearance or marker lights on, and I thought I was under attack by space aliens. I saw a pair of headlights way behind me, a few seconds later there's a big rumble and my cab is rocking side-to side as I watch tail lights disappear into the night.
The fastest I've ever driven a truck was 80+, in my Dad's '65 KW with a 5X4 and a small cam 350 Cummins. I have seen 145 indicated on my bike. My buddy who races at Bonneville says the fastest big rig out there is a 1937 GMC with a quadruple turbocharged 16V92 Detroit. It was built & driven by a log hauler from Grants Pass OR named Carl Heap. All I can say is, only a West Coast log hauler could handle a 1937 GMC at 240 MPH while it was on fire!

[Fredog]

You can talk the sh*t without actually doing it.


you mean all these guys who are going to whoop everyones ass are just talking??

[Rev.Vassago]

Wow, someone is bored.

[Windwalker]

It was39 months before I made trainer not before I hit the million mile mark Rev. Also the reason I was forced off the road was due to Epilepsy a medical condition so unless you can walk a mile in my shoes do not go there. Try having a condition where you do not know when where or if you will lose all control of your body tear your shoulder to pieces maybe put your arm threw a plate glass window and for fun bite your tounge off. You also have to remember I was running as a trainer and I recieved credit for those miles in my calculations since I got paid solo rate on those miles made my life nice on the paycheck.

Well, I DO know what Epilepsy is. I know several people that are aflicted with it, including a sister-in-law. So, now, you've got me wondering. While I'm sorry you've got it, I also know a major cause of it. I also know that it takes 6 to 8 years to get a million miles behind you. Not only, how did you manage to hold on to your CDL that long, but how did you manage to get it in the first place? And, what turned up that they found out about you and you lost it?

Also, how about your regular driver's license to be able to drive down the highway at all, much less at that speed, considering you must go three years without having an episode in order to maintain any driver's license.

Wind walker I was 18 when I got my CDL hauling grain for a LARGE Farming family near were I live combined they have 25000 acres and 15 trucks in their fleet hauling grain fertilzer and seed for their family farm. For 3 years I ran for them running about 420K miles plus worked in the shop when we were slow and YES REV I DID STAY IN ILLINOIS. Then as soon as I turned 21 I turned 21 and over the next 4 years ran 580K miles all of them accident free. Labor day in 2000 I was rear ended in my personal car and 3 weeks later had my first seizure while coming down a mountain in NV was airlifted from Winemucca to Reno and spent a week there and then returned home to IL.

I lost MY CDL that second I had my first seizure I had NEVER Had one prior to then at all. When you have a life changing event like that you never forget what you loose. Now I stay at home and raise my kids but I wish I could get back out there. It took me 2 years to get my class D license back.

[LightsChromeHorsepower]

Hey Ironeagle

My situation is amazingly similar to yours. I have been seizure free for 15 years, off meds for a couple. I was curious about DOT rules for seizure disorders a while ago & went looking online. Here is a link to what I found;

http://www.mrb.fmcsa.dot.gov/

Basically, you can now apply for a waiver and get a medical card, and tomorrow the Medical Review Board will meet in SLC to disuss the matter further. It is my understanding that they will recommend new standards similar to those for diabetics.

I have a wonderful nuerologist who I believe will support me if I try for a waiver, but we decided to wait to see what the MRB says on Monday.

Here is another excellent resource;

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsylegal/

Reply to me here if you want to talk about this more. I will be happy to share any information I have.

Wayne

Trpouble is I can not get mine under control no more than 6 months at a time. I have one med left to try Lyrica if it works like they say I will do great however I will not go on it till at least September for personal reasons. It causes birth defects from men and I want to make sure my last kid is healthy first then and only then will I go on it.

[LightsChromeHorsepower]

Ironeagle-

Good luck- my thoughts are with you.

I know I've been lucky- I had a great primary physician that referred me to a world-class nuerologist.

All I can say is, be strong, be patient.

[Windwalker]

Wind walker I was 18 when I got my CDL hauling grain for a LARGE Farming family near were I live combined they have 25000 acres and 15 trucks in their fleet hauling grain fertilzer and seed for their family farm. For 3 years I ran for them running about 420K miles plus worked in the shop when we were slow and YES REV I DID STAY IN ILLINOIS. Then as soon as I turned 21 I turned 21 and over the next 4 years ran 580K miles all of them accident free. Labor day in 2000 I was rear ended in my personal car and 3 weeks later had my first seizure while coming down a mountain in NV was airlifted from Winemucca to Reno and spent a week there and then returned home to IL.

I lost MY CDL that second I had my first seizure I had NEVER Had one prior to then at all. When you have a life changing event like that you never forget what you loose. Now I stay at home and raise my kids but I wish I could get back out there. It took me 2 years to get my class D license back.

And, it would seem that you sustained a head injury when you got rear-ended. Sorry to hear that.

Correct wind walker between that one and the rollover I had when my POS Mitsubishi blew a wheel bearing in 1994 I was a timebomb. I will give the Japanese credit though that car did take a buttkicking and still looked like a car. Left rear wheel bearing failed and locked up at 55MPH on a wet road and slammed me into the ditch I went for a 630 degree roll and walked away from it.

[Wild Bill Pete]

How fast? About 78 I think.. I used to race cars some, in the 60s, so maybe then I was more stupid - got to 130 once, and didn't wreck so I gave up racing. :) I've ridden motorcycles for years, and nope, haven't done the ton on one of those either. I suppose I am just an old phart that don't account to much.

[Fredog]

my gps lost the signal for a few seconds last week, when it got it back, it said I was going 284 mph for about 10 seconds. didnt feel like a bit over 200 :lol: :lol:

[chubyboy]

ive done about 75...if i recall correctly, then again ive only bbeen driving cdl since dec. i know my 78 pickup will do at least 100, i didnt bother going any higher as thats all the speedo shows...my first ford escort did 107 when it hit governer, havent topped out my 5 spd scort yet, my moms car(1994 mercury cougar) tops out at about 118...


EDIT: in my defense, while a 19 year old with a need for speed, i shouid mention i dont f around in a truck...76-85k lbs of grain or dry fertillizer is not something i wanna wreck...yes 85k lbs...im not mr perfect and i have little problem taking such risks as i dont cross borders and i found out my company pays overweights...

[YerDaddy]

Passed the triple dig a few times. Gotta do it at least once. Things do come up very fast.

Did an extended 100+ jaunt one time in the wee hours of the morning up in WY. Had a hopper bottom blow by me and I was bored as heck so I kept him in view to use as my bear bait. We ran that fast for at least an hour. Needless to say MPG was in the toilet on that trip.

But nowadays I lug along at 60 mph. Even if the limit is 70. Why pay good $$ to push more air?

[matcat]

I've gotten the rig over 100 on a hill out west. Couldn't tell you exact speed, speedo didn't go that high :). I've done 130 in a minivan, 160 in a car. Had GPS showing me doing 720mph in an airplane before ;).

Now a few posts back I read the post about weight distribution and how wheelies work, and it was all wrong. It is about torque mainly. When you put huge amounts of torque to your rear wheel drives, it will literally lift the entire vehicle as a pivot on the axle. Technically a semi could do it, but only assuming the drive shaft and chassy where designed to handle it, either one is going to go well before enough torque is applied. Now in high speed vehicles, there is another principle creating lift, air flow. Once you are talking about 250+ mph, airflow under the vehicle is going to start creating major lift, this is why jet cars have wings to supply downward force to counteract wind lift. People have flipped cars over before front end first do to air lift, and it happens with high speed boats all the time.

[Windwalker]

Some years ago, I was talking to another driver that was buying a rig just like mine. 3406 CAT, 3;36 rears... He said that in TX, he tried to see just what it would do. Had one more gear to go when he blew the doors off a bear. Since you can't outrun Motorola, he backed it down and pulled over. First thing out of the bear's mouth... "Glad you pulled over, I blew a fuse in my radio". Cost him something like $9K, and two months later, he was going legal across MT and blew a steer. That's when it hit him that it could have blown when he was going over 100 and he might not have had much of a chance.

The truck I was buying was supposed to have been governed at 97. Guess I'll never know for sure about that.