Life in the granny lane
 

OK, I have been driving for 6 months now and I think I am defective or something.

SPEED
First of all I drive the speed limit. I don't pace other trucks. I don't go a few mph over. Even in Ohio, I drive the speed limit. I also get passed by every truck on the road. Even JB Hunt flies by me in Ohio.

CONSTRUCTION
In a construction zone I obey the posted speed. If there are lanes shifting I may even go up to 5mph slower. I also get passed by every truck on the road. Even JB Hunt flies by me in construction zones.

MOUNTAINS
On a 6% grade I go down in 8th gear with full jake. The problem is I am only going about 40 miles per hour. This one really isn't my fault because 9th gear takes me up to 60-65mph. I just don't feel safe driving down a mountain at 65mph. I also get passed by every truck on the road. Even JB Hunt flies by me on mountain declines.

EXIT RAMPS
I take exit ramps at the posted recommended speed. I saw a Werner truck take a 40mph ramp at 70. I could have sworn he was going to turn it over.

Am I being too worried? I read all the time about the death of a driver that was going too fast. Is it my newbie-ness, or my safe driving coming out? It's not that I drive with fear, but caution. I also see no need to drive for free for a few days by risking a ticket.

Re: Life in the granny lane
 

Hey spence, mind if i ask how old you are? things will change with age and experience, just hang in there.

Like your tag line by the way... :lol:

I am 33.

And I don't want to change. That's the problem. I feel I am driving safe by obeying speed limits, and not being reckless (tailgating, speeding, etc.). That's why I feel this industry may not be for me.

do what you gotta do and don't worry about all of us behind you... We will eventually pass and forget all about you until we hit that next slow poke :lol:

Re: Life in the granny lane
 

Don't let all the BBRs and CB Rambos get to you. You are the Captain of your ship, run it how you feel comfortable.

I'm 27 and I drive like you.

I go a bit above posted in CA with good conditions.

Depending on how I'm loaded I usually take ramps at posted to 5-10mpg bellow posted.

I find the sweet spot for holding steady on downgrades. Ballpark is 45-55 depending on the load, tractor and road conditions and keep both feet on the floor, adjusting speed with the hi-low toggle on the jake.

Paranoia is a good thing.

I can always smell the guys who take Donner too fast and every month or so I see some one who creates a car-b-que by really smokin' em.

Spencerian: It is good to see an honest, open post from you. What you wrote tells all of us here much more about you and NOW maybe you can get some information that will help you in your new profession.

1) You don't have to speed to make money.

2) ALWAYS drive with-in your comfort zone.

3) You can go down a hill a thousand times too slow; you can only go down it too fast once.

It is nice to see someone your age that knows his/her limits. Most 23 year olds are the ones I see taking a chance with their ( and our ) lives. ( And yes, those BBRs that think they own the road too ) :evil:

I'm going to be honest with you, with your work history of changing companies so often, you better stick where you are and make it work there. The quality of the companies that will take you will only go down from here. Start with your dispatcher and work up from there. Always being respectful to all involved. I'm sure others will chime in and give you more advice and hints that will help you.

Ridge

Re: Life in the granny lane
 

You're doing the right thing, and there is an upside to it.
You will keep your driving record clean, and in about a couple of years, with clean record, no accident, you will be able to pick your job,
from the TOP SHELF.
Keep it up! :D

I drive the exact same way. I see no reason to speed through life, I will still get to my destination , and I will still run plenty of miles. Personally I dont mind the granny lane, its a more relaxing ride mentally and physically and safer IMHO.

I was coming down Monteagle last year and some BBR on a CB was boasting that "I've been down this mountain 200 times" and talking alot of bunk about slow drivers on the mountain, and all the "newbs" in the brake check area.

My response to BBR was "I've shaved 200 times but it doesnt mean I wont get cut the 201st time"

I especially find it funny that the BBR's equate driving safely with being a newb. Reminds of when I was out on my bike one time and some "squid" on a sportbike wearing nothing but a t-shirt and shorts pulled some bonehead maneuver and passed me over a double yellow blind curve and damn near hit two other riders. We got a light and I looked at this idiot and I said "WTF is your problem?" He looks at me and says with a complete commitment to stupidity "well........its obvious you are new rider"
I've been riding 25 years, and this kid was maybe 20 years old. His reasoning was that because I was armored from head to toe, that this was a sign of a new rider.

Its really no different in the trucking industry. Being safe these days is considered wrong by some segments of the industry.

Spence don't let the BBR and the CB Rambo's get to you. Here is something that happened to me when I was driving. I was running with a couple of my friends and we were running at out in WY at the company mandated 68 per hour. Allof a sudden a PRIME blows by us and goes hey Florilli see what happens when you get a real truck tell the boss man to turn you up. Evidently used to drive for them sice he knew the company channel since that is were we were at. Next thing we hear is OH F^^^ then about 2 mins later there is that very same Prime truck in the Median on its side. While he was being a BBR and trying to make us mad a nice herd of ELK decided to cross the road in front of him. Because he was NOT KEEPING HIS EYES ON THE ROAD AHEAD OF HIM HE WAS NOW IN THE MEDIAN AND HIS LOAD WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. Just remember this you are the one in charge of your truck you do not feel safe then do not do it. If something did not feel safe to me I would not do it.

Please excuse my ignorance. But, what do these initials mean: BBR, IMHO?

BBR = Billy Big Rigger
IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

Thank you spencerian.

Listen to these guys! You are doing the right thing. Those speed limits are there for a reason. This world is full of impatient people these days. Everyone wants to get there now. Just keep up the good work man!

When I was in CDL school, the best advice my instructor ever gave me was this: "Don't let ANYONE but YOU drive YOUR truck!"

I don't like getting stuck behind a slow truck, and if they wouldn't pull the last minute 1mph pass when they see me barreling down on them, I WOULDN'T.

But, with the above exception, I NEVER blame the driver for going slow! I figure either his truck is GOVERNED, or his load is HEAVY. It is MY job to get in the passing lane before I get "stuck." And I do it VERY well!

Sometimes, I just figure he is being cautious.... and I figure he's got the RIGHT to do so! I'm not getting paid to drive HIS truck.

Good Job Spencerian, Kudos, you get a smiley face sticker :D , just think them guys going 10mph faster will gain in 10 hours 100 miles but that 100 miles can cost from $50 to $5000 or more depending on the tickets or the accidents they get. I think the defected ones know who you are, the 5 star driver that their not..... your okay, keep it up , good job...

PUT THE HAMMER DOWN.......................................

..................before you hurt yourself :lol:

believe it or not reading your post put me at ease cuz this shows me it is possible for me to drive safely and not be doing a bad job. cuz i intend to do the same.

Re: Life in the granny lane
 

I'm only 25 and I drive the same way, the way I look at it is: The speed limit is the SPEED LIMIT. It's not a suggestion, it's there for a very good reason. If a ramp sign says '35 MPH' it MEANS 35 MPH, not 40 and not 45.

Now if you're driving on the freeway in a large city, I can understand going over the speed limit a bit so that you don't imped the flow of traffic. I normally set the cruise control at 60 and that's good enough for me. If someone wants to go faster then they can pass, they make multipal lanes for a reason. :wink:


The one thing I could never figure out is why people speed through active construction zones. If something were to happen and there are workers near the road, I'd hate to explain to my boss or a future employer what happened.

I've never had anyone say anything to me over the CB before, but I guess that's only because I drive a daycab and not a big truck. :E

Re: Life in the granny lane
 

there was guy on one of the cop shows last night in a 4 wheeler, he was stopped for doing 42 in a 30 , he said everyone else was doing at least 45 but because he was the lead car, he got the ticket. did I miss something? if he was going 42 and everyone else was going 45, how was he in the lead?

When I was with a trainer, he asked me how long the line is behind us. I was doing 45 in a 50 construction zone. I told him just because the speed limit is 50, doesn't mean I have to go fifty. 50 just seemed too fast in that area with me being a rookie.

I was exactly the same way!

If you drive uncomfortably you IMOP are risking you life and others.. Who gives a flip about trucker comments, they are not behind you wheel.

When I would go through the gorge is NC to TN, I would announce on the cb, that I drive slow, and if anyone wants to get ahead of me better do so now, befor I get there, other wise just shut up and drive. :lol:

A few truck driving heros would pass me, but I had a few who would want' to bet who goes the slowest. :lol:

Comfort in situations like this is what matters, But there are times when you don't want to be too comfortable, like enough to fall asleep :shock:

I'm one of those careful drivers as well. You probably pass me. :P

Better safe than sorry. I usually stay at 5mph under the speed limit. Most drivers who are flying past rarely get any further in a day's travel than I do. There have been times I've been passed by the same driver several times when running down the same stretch of road.

You can never go too slow down grades either.

I also drive the way you do.If you keep count of how many times the same truck passes you. It will amaze you. Keep doing what you are doing.Remember you control the truck,the truck doesn't control you. At high speeds,who do you think is in control?

Most new drivers don't have accidents in the first year because they are being cautious, they start to have accidents in the second year because they start to become over confident. Continue to drive the way you do, safe and smart, you will be alright.

Don't worry what those other a#$holes out there say, don't worry about keeping up with the big dogs. You are out there to make a living not to be popular among the super truckers. My truck in not governed, I could drive as fast as I want to, but I rarely drive over 65 for fuel economy.

I always drive the speed limit in construction zones, often a few mph slower than the posted speed, I can't count how many times I have almost been put into a barrier because some supertrucker couldn't wait to get by me in a zone where the lanes are barely wide enough to fit 2 trucks.

Don't worry about the speed on the interstate. If you are doing the speed limit that is all anyone could ask. Some trucks are governed slower than the speed limit in some states, which is fine too. In terms of taking off ramps. Those are speed advisories and not limits. I don't always comply with them if I can see how the ramp looks. There are a number around here with silly advisories, one is a 70 mph freeway ramp to another 70 mph freeway with an advisory of 45 mph, the ramp is banked so there is no way you have to slow down to 45... 60 mph is no problem on it.

If I am unfamiliar with a ramp I'll error on the safe side and do 5-10 mph under the advisory if I can't see what the ramp has in store for me...

All comes down to just being safe. Once you drive long enough you really get to know what the equipment you're driving is capable of, and how fast you can go around certain turns and off ramps, etc.

Like all the others said, don't let anyone tell you how to drive. If you are operating your rig in a safe manner, that's all you need to worry about.