I am still a relatively new trucker but not as new as some, been driving on and off for almost 3 years...

I have never rolled a truck, but came rather close with a top heavy van load, once and only once. I like to slow down before going into a turn, particularly a turn on a road which I have never driven before. I don't understand how guys take the same turns I have to slow down to 60-62MPH at 70MPH? Hauling light loads or what? Most of the trucks I see doing this are vans and reefers, not so many flatbeds or tankers.

If you are familiar with I80 in western PA, I saw a truck go screaming around the westbound turn before the Emlenton bridge at 70MPH yesterday, the one with yellow signs posted all over it. I had 42,000lbs of bagged flour and felt safe slowing to 60MPH before taking this turn. I just don't get it :? why run the risk? I80, especially east of here, has some nasty turns. Couple months ago a reefer rolled about the 78 milemarker going east, and a container chassis rolled where I476 meets I80. Anyone know where or what I'm talking about?

 

I prefer pedal to the metal and hang on !!!!!!

 

Can I get your truck and trailer info now so that I can warn my family if they have the misfortune of being on the same highway as you??

 

After driving for a few years some drivers get over confident, they think that they don't have to slow down,

most drivers don't have any accidents the first year because they are being very cautious, it's the second and beyond that they start having accidents because they become over confident. You are smart to slow down if you don't feel safe to drive any faster around a curve, just because the "big dogs" do it, doesn't mean that it is safe to do so

 

I know the spot you are talking about. Besides corners, I don't like crossing bridges at high speed either. Especially during near freezes, as they tend to get icy first.

That speed limit through there is 65mph....for starters. You find more rigs laying on their side on Hwy 80 through Penn State, than most other areas.
I can't count how many rigs like to run 75-80 mph through there.

 

Forget about what Billy BigRigger is doing, and just focus upon driving your own truck. No one ever rolled a truck by taking a curve slower than they could have!!!
8)

 

Similar to going down mountains:

You can go down a mountain 1,000x the correct way, but only 1x the wrong way.

 

Rule of thumb I learned was ten MPH less than the posted speed limit. BOL

 

by theory every truck can roll over, ive seen them go over at 10mph,
center of gravity has alot to do with it, and ive driven alot of diffrent trucks. when speed is a necessity of life, i can understand the lowriders ( petes) can take the turns at 70 mph, but still the guys who run these speeds are also big time overconfident.


IF speed is something your intrested in, try hauling hogs or cattle witha low deck livestock trailer, with a low rider pete, these things are made to take corners, as long as the live stock are packed in like sardines!

 

I used to hate running 80 across PA. Some of those boys were asking for trouble. I sat on that road many times because of truck accidents closing the road.