Would other truckdrivers look down on you for driving slower

[Douglas]

Seeing as how I'm 19, most people would think I'm a regular speed demon on the road. On the contrary, I'm a real slowpoke. Sometimes I like to drive 5, and sometimes even 10 miles below the speed limit, depending on if I have anywhere to be anytime soon or not. Nothing beats taking it easy listening to some good music, plus your vehicle will last longer too. (won't tear up as much). (talking about my personal vehicle, not just a commercial vehicle)

Problem is, at work, the other guys are always rushing me to speed up a little bit, even when I'm going the at a regular pace. Of course, I don't let them bother me, I always say p*** on the motherf*****s.


My question is, if I drive at a slower pace than the avg. truckdriver (not real real slow), would I be frowned upon by employers and fellow truckdrivers? A lot of 18-wheelers I see drive 60- 65 mph. in a 55 zone. I also see a fair number of them drive at about 45 downtown on the highway where there are a lot of traffic lights. It always makes me wonder how the h*ll they're going to stop if the light turns red before they go under it. If it was me, I probably wouldn't do over 30, until I got out on the open road.

Once I start driving an 18-wheeler, I don't plan on going so slow I'll back up traffic, but I also don't want to be rushed when I'm going the speed limit.

[Skywalker]

Drive as you have been driving....you'll do just fine. Many of us tend to actually drive at or below the speed limit...depending on the state and the roads and the conditions.

Why should you worry about what some "ya-hoo" thinks about how you drive? Afterall, would the opinion of someone you may see stopped down the road all embarassed getting a ticket...actually count for even "squat".

Me....I drive a 70mph truck, but rarely drive over 65... and no, I don't give a flip what some ya-hoo BBR thinks.... :shock: 8)

[Super 8]

My question is, if I drive at a slower pace than the avg. truckdriver (not real real slow), would I be frowned upon by employers and fellow truckdrivers?

Who cares what other drivers think? Drive at the speed you feel comfortable. Safety is more important than speed. However, do NOT be an obstruction. If people are having to slam on the brakes to avoid running into you, that is not safe either. So, keep in mind what the speed limit, and the speed of traffic around you is. In fact, always be aware of what is around you.

[special k]

The only time guys should be entitled to get a little cranked at you is if you're taking 10 miles to pass someone or you're poking in the middle lane of a 3 lane road when there isn't any traffic in the slow lane. Other than that, relax and enjoy the ride.

[flyncasafo]

Who cares what others think. Dont hog the passing lane and take your time.

[DesertRat]

OK, I'll be the first to offer a contrarian opinion.

On multilane highways, drive as you like and let others pass, no problems there.

But if you are driving 10mph under the speed limit on a two lane road during good weather, you are a rolling roadblock and thus a hazard. If you have no reasonable reason for doing so (ie: weather, congestion, presence of children around the roadway) then knock it off. You may be enjoying the slow cruise, but the 50 people behind you are not. It's rather selfish of you to ignore the public around you for the sake of your own enjoyment, especailly when your "enjoyment" is creating a hazard.

[Longsnowsm]

You'll not only be safer, but you will also save a lot of fuel. This will likely help you earn additional bonuses for your fuel usage. More people should think and drive as you do... I drive this way in my POV also. I just stay out of other peoples way, have fun, and just relax and enjoy the drive...

That is after all why we all choose to drive in the first place right?

Longsnowsm

[Highwayman]

OK, I'll be the first to offer a contrarian opinion.

On multilane highways, drive as you like and let others pass, no problems there.

But if you are driving 10mph under the speed limit on a two lane road during good weather, you are a rolling roadblock and thus a hazard. If you have no reasonable reason for doing so (ie: weather, congestion, presence of children around the roadway) then knock it off. You may be enjoying the slow cruise, but the 50 people behind you are not. It's rather selfish of you to ignore the public around you for the sake of your own enjoyment, especailly when your "enjoyment" is creating a hazard.

BINGO! This is the truth.

I work on the outskirts of Boston and leave at 2pm every day on a busy 4 lane highway and we all move at a pretty good clip. The speed limit is 55 but most are doing between 70 and 80. The police are nowhere to be found as I hear it would cause major problems. One day the traffic was doing the accordion thing, 45 then 70 then 45. I realized it was someone in the second slow lane doing the speed limit causing the backup. Everyone was moving over to the left and causing people to slow down. When I took my road test the ramp off the highway was about 1/2 mile long and straight. The ramp speed was 30 and people were passing me the whole way even though it was only one lane. I asked the DOT officer and he said keep up with the flow after you start driving. Right now I'm still new at this and the speed limit suits me just fine. I stay in the slow lane and put up with having to give way to people entering the highway.

[Overloaded]

Most people don't realize it, but a cop can give you a ticket for going to slow.

[marcel27208]

I say most drivers do...im leased on to schneider and i have a green century..i usually do 60-65 mph and i hear drivers on the CB saying things about my speed whether im slow or fast saying how did i get a sni truck that fast..it gets old and irritating

[yeti]

and try to remember, if you are on a 3 lane road in a urban area and all the local trucks stay in the middle lane going slow, its not because they are stupid, they just may know something you don't.

[RollOver]

OK, I'll be the first to offer a contrarian opinion.

On multilane highways, drive as you like and let others pass, no problems there.

But if you are driving 10mph under the speed limit on a two lane road during good weather, you are a rolling roadblock and thus a hazard. If you have no reasonable reason for doing so (ie: weather, congestion, presence of children around the roadway) then knock it off. You may be enjoying the slow cruise, but the 50 people behind you are not. It's rather selfish of you to ignore the public around you for the sake of your own enjoyment, especailly when your "enjoyment" is creating a hazard.

Totally agree.

Bottom line; when safe to do so, run the speed limit.

Be sure to ignore any heckling you might hear from some jag off who is operating a rig that can achieve a couple mph more than the one you're operating. Sadly, you'll run into this alot.

[saddlebum]

No offense and I don't mean to discourage,but you don't know how you'll drive until you are sitting on top of 80,000#'s.
I hope you keep the level head you seem to have right now,but don't jump the gun until its loaded.

I still don't have a CB in my truck. I bought one but it's sitting on the kitchen table. I drove about 2,500 miles picking up both my truck and trailer and drove the speed limit, missed gears out of the toll booths and took forever to park. After reading everything on this board I'm sure I was the topic of discussion driving home and that's something I don't need to deal with just yet.

[Aligator]

I still don't have a CB in my truck. I bought one but it's sitting on the kitchen table. I drove about 2,500 miles picking up both my truck and trailer and drove the speed limit, missed gears out of the toll booths and took forever to park. After reading everything on this board I'm sure I was the topic of discussion driving home and that's something I don't need to deal with just yet.

Congratulations, Steve. You're on the way to becoming a fine driver. You've discovered where you are on the learning curve, identified your weak points and have made a plan to work on them.....you'll do well.

[syl77dar]

good luck

[Longsnowsm]

In California they will ticket you for impedding traffic on highway if you have a back up behind you. You will cause traffic accidents and are putting other people at risk if you are driving too slow, it is as much as a detriment as driving too fast.

Dude, the PSL for big rigs in CA is 55, while cars are posted at 65... I hate to break it to you, but what you described is the natural state of affairs in the great state of KA with cars backed up behind trucks due to the massively split PSL! It's just nuts and worse yet it is the law

Longsnowsm

[Deus]

Just drive the speed limit, that is what I do never have any problems. Truck is governed at 70 mph, so I do 70 when the speed limit is 70 or 75...

If the speed limit is 65 I might do 70 if it isn't a dense traffic situation.

All depends on what is going on around you, when I'm driving in urban areas I try to keep a good cushin of space between me and people in front regardless of how slow it makes me so that I am able to stop if traffic gets funky quickly.

Also always pay attention to speed advisories. A lot of times I'll see ramps that are 55mph advisory and you can easily keep going 60-65mph, but you never know unless you know that ramp. If I'm going somewhere I've never been before I always take 5 mph off the advisory, just because some I've questioned if the advisory should even be that high.