Why do a lot of car drivers have such a problem with Transport trucks passing them, or just being in front of them?

As far as why do cars do it to trucks, I don’t know.

I have a lot of experience with being behind a slow car in the left lane and when I try to pass on the right, the slow car speeds up. Very annoying. At that point, I’m usually determined that I am going to pass and then when I get in front of him, he slows down, which is hard to understand.

@jca Well it makes me feel a little better they do it to others as well as the big trucks, the problem with a lot of big trucks we are speed governed,like my truck will only do 110kph its set in the trucks computers system.
And again you are right when we do get in front most of the time they back right out of it.

Because, unlike when a car passes or drives in front of us, we can’t see anything ahead of you. You pretty much blot out most of our field of view, which prevents us from seeing any dangerous situations that might occur. It limits the amount of time that we have to react to what’s coming up.

What do you think of this solution? I think it’s kind of cool, though I wonder if some drivers might find it a bit mesmerizing.

That sort of thing drives me crazy. I confess to having the habit of avoiding situations placing me in a position where I can’t see beyond the vehicle in front of me, but people who share my phobia, yet want to poke along should be snatched from their cars and publicly whipped.

@dappled_leaves Ok then by all means go out, go around, BUT this is the big one GO AWAY don’t just park your ass in front of us, seems like a lot of car drivers want to to try a magic trick,they want to see if a full sized Kenworth will fit inside a HONDA CIVIC I can tell you it won’t.

The trouble with being behind an 18-wheeler is that I cannot see anything. The truck blocks my forward vision (I can’t see warning signs, exit signs, etc.). Further, I can’t see up ahead if the cars a half mile ahead are driving erratically, or (worse) are stopped. I have to rely on the brake lights of the truck to let me know.

Trucks also block side vision – they cut off the sight lines for oncoming traffic (on a city road) and the other lanes (on a highway).

Much more unsafe to the car driver to have a truck in front.

@elbanditoroso Oh yeah it’s a lot more safe to have a fully loaded big truck right on your bumper if you do a panic stop think he will be able to stop before he runs over you?
I don’t have a problem with what you are saying as long your at least doing the posted speed limit.
DON’T be going 5, 10 ,15 kph under the speed limit and expect the transports to stay behind you.

I agree that if you’re a car in front of a truck, you should be going the speed limit or close to it.

But if the car driver isn’t going fast enough, where would you put him? On most roads there are only two lanes.

Let’s be clear here – you may be the world’s most conscientious transport driver. Congrats to you. But there are PLENTY of truck drivers who type on their computers while driving, who waver from lane to lane, who watch TV while driving and god knows what else. Car drivers have come to not trust truck drivers because their driving can be so erratic.

The other day I was in traffic due to construction on 84, which is a busy interstate in Connecticut. Traffic was moving about 20 mph due to the lanes going from 3 to 1, and FedEx truck driver next to me was texting. It was dark out so I knew because I could see the phone clearly illuminated. That was crazy. If I felt like being a rat I could have taken his truck number and called FedEx to complain.

I don’t like driving at the side or behind large trucks. As has been said, visibility is gone and if I’m to the side of you and there are strong winds or you veer to the side, you can take me out. I try to get out of the way of large trucks as soon as I can. I really hate being sandwiched between two semis.

I feel for ya Squeeky, I really do. Especially when car drivers fill up the space in front of you that is meant to be a safe following distance.

Car drivers do the same thing to each other as you described, but I don’t know why. Being passed by a big rig can be spooky, and the lower the car, the spookier it is. Some trailers make a lot more noise than others, so given the wind disturbance, noise, glancing at those big tires just a few feet away, and a quick thought of that trailer swerving into me, I avoid being next to a big rig as much as possible.

On Long inclines my car hasn’t enough power to maintain speed and slows down and I have to really lay on the coals on the downhills so I can make it up the next big hill. Most of the time there is a lane for really laboring vehicles or I’ll head for the shoulders. It probably doesn’t happen all the time, but I’ve played the pass me, pass you game in the hills. I like to think the big trucks see an old diesel Mercedes and knows it only has 65 hp. Takes some fortitude sometimes to be out there.

I don’t have a problem wanting to be in front of the transport, just go away don’t drive under the posted limit and expect the truck to stay behind you,remember he is at work, I have had countless car drivers do a super illegal unsafe pass just to get in front of me then proceed to drive 10 kph slower than I was driving, REALLY?

I stay as far away from trucks as possible. Where I live trucks are everywhere, and I try to stay as far away from them as possible. When they’re in front they can throw up road debris like rocks, and if they’re next to me they create wind pressure that can cause me to lose control, or they can inch or swerve into my lane, causing me to do the same into another lane. Also, I find that truck drivers are often terrible drivers, either because they’re tired or because they think they they’re big rigs make them invulnerable.

@SQUEEKY2 “don’t just park your ass in front of us”

It’s not my ass, pal. You asked why “a lot of car drivers” do something, and I tried to provide an explanation. Don’t accuse me of being a bad driver, ‘coz I’m not one. I’m one of those people who drives a lot for a living – you usually say those people are the best drivers. ;)

@dappled_leaves I didn’t mean you personally ,just stating car drivers in general

@dappled_leaves I know your a Canadian if you remember a few years ago cbc radio did a thing about transports and at that time they said when a big rig and a car are involved in an accident 90% of the time it’s the car drivers fault.

@jca You should have called the company about that texting driver, just remember when ever you do that type of thing always get the unit number off the vehicle,if you don’t your complaint will end when they hang up the phone.

I think that it would take a team of research psychologists a long time to figure this out. I don’t have a clue. Drivers do nutty things all the time. For what reason(s)? iInfluenced perhaps by drugs, distraction, lack of experience, a wild hair, ego, etc,etc.

I like to draft 2 seconds behind large trucks to get better gas milage. I try not to allow a large truck follow close behind me. Because it takes them a long time to stop due to the huge mass that they have. I change lanes and or speed up to get out of the truck’s way.

Oh, it happens to me too, sometimes. It’s just that herd mentality. Gotta do what the other person is doing. There have been times it’s been so bad, that after 2 or 3 attempts I’ll fall way back, off their radar, wait for an empty stretch of road, then blow past them at 90 or a hundred. I’ve found that there is some secret distance where that herd mentality breaks. Not sure exactly what it is, but it’s there.

Maybe it’s all that crap that all those tires throw up? That’s all I’ve got…

Because trucks push (displace) the air and can make you unsteady in the lane. I literally almost felt like I was going to get blown off a bridge about a year ago when a big bus went by my car. The bus was going too fast for the amount of wind on the bridge.

Because some people feel claustrophobic with a big wall from a truck next to them.

Because it’s safest not to ride next to another vehicle, and trucks can create a longer than comfortable time frame riding tandem.

His point was, @JLeslie, when he tries to pass some people speed up so he can’t get back over. I, personally, don’t even think they realize their doing it.
I really want a bumper sticker that says, ‘USE YOUR CRUISE!”

My mom used to complain about people passing her then slowing down. She asked if I ever had that problem.
I said, ‘Well, no. My problem is with people tailgating because they’re afraid to pass. If they’re brave enough to pass then they just keep on going.”
Mom said, “Well, they do it to me all the time.”
I said, “Is it possible you’re speeding up when they pass?”
At which point she got quite angry and said, “NO! Of course not! Why would I do that?”
I shut up.
A few weeks later I had occasion to watch her speedometer on a 12 mile stretch of 65 mph, 4 lane highway. She was doing 50. Dude passed her and she sped up to match his speed. She went form 50 to 70. I pointed that out to her and, of course, she became very angry and denied doing it.
I just said, “Well, watch your speedometer next time, and you will see.”
She fumed all the way to our destination.

@Dutchess_III If that’s the point then my answer is because it less safe following a vehicle you can’t see around. If the truck is driving much faster and will fairly quickly be way ahead then it doesn’t matter, but if the truck is just in front three car lengths away, then I can’t see ahead for hundreds of feet unless I slow way down and allow more space.

I don’t speed up to not allow trucks, or any other vehicle, in. I tend to be very courteous on the road letting people in. I’m just saying why people don’t like to follow trucks. I don’t like to follow SUV’s and pickup trucks because of the inability to see ahead.

Well, I agree, @JLeslie. It took me forever to beat into my husband’s head that when you are THAT CLOSE to a vehicle you can’t see a damn thing except the bumper (or back end) of the truck. You have no idea what could be developing down the road.

However, in the details he specifically mentioned people who speed up when he goes to pass them. Have you ever experienced that?

@Dutchess_III Have I experienced someone speeding up when I’m passing so I can’t get back over? It’s happened, but very rarely. Some parts of the country are better than others.

Sometimes people speed up because they are assholes and it’s some sort of game to them.

I remember my exboyfriend when we were in high school was a very aggressive driver. He drove over the speed limit, would weave through traffic, sometimes (not often though thank goodness) tailgate. To his credit, when someone else was passing or weaving through traffic he just let them go ahead. I remember him once saying out loud, “this guy wants to get around me,” and so he slowed just a bit to let him in. I said, “I’m glad you let home in.” He said, “if he wants to go faster it isn’t going to slow me down so why not let him go.” With all his crazy driving he still was not an angry or competitive driver, a lot of people are.

My husband raced for so many years, I like to have never gotten him to drop those bad habits on the highway….closing gaps so people couldn’t get in, drafting, speeding up when people passed…or speeding to catch the guy in front. He was even doing these things consciously, just from habit.

One should keep a few things in mind when dealing with Transports, 1 they are at work, and have schedules to keep, by all means if one is slow pass them when safe BUT don’t just sit in front of him .
2. most truckers know the road 100 times better than the average driver, not bragging but in the last twenty some years I have driven over 2 million kilometres on the same highways think I might know that road better than a driver that travels it every once in a while?
3. WE are carrying huge weight the trucks have excellent brakes but it still can’t stop on a dime
remember that the next time you pass one then sit right in front of him, I will do everything in my power to avoid an accident BUT leave the road so if I have no choice but to run over your honda civic, sorry maybe you should have thought about that before parking your ass in front of me.
4. Even though we are regulated to driving hours many drivers (though this I do not agree on) are cheating on their hours just to pay for the truck and fuel, and could be extremely tired so reaction times will be slower, think about that the next time you just have to be in front of the big truck.
5. and this is just for me, I have no problem with ANYONE passing me when safe, but for god’s sake GO AWAY do not sit in front of me, and most times go slower than I was driving that just makes my blood boil, think of this when safe go out, go around, and here is the most important part GO AWAY!!!!!!!!! And we all can finish our day safely,THANKS.

Oh good. Another lecture to people who aren’t actually the people you are pissed off at.

@dappled_leaves If I can make just one person who reads this think about what they are doing when dealing with Transports on the highway that would be fine with me, no matter how much that bores you.

I’m reading it, @dappled_leaves. Not anything that my common sense wouldn’t tell me, but I respect @SQUEEKY2‘s experiences. He’s met many more hair brained drivers than I have.

Thanks @Dutchess_III .

My dad used to say truckers were the best drivers on the road, and to take your cue from them. For the most part, I think that’s true…but there are some dangerous dick heads out there too. I’ve run into a couple I thought were going to get me killed by playing their late night dick head games.

PS….If you passed me, @SQUEEKY2, and at some point I flashed my lights…what would I mean?

Oh, yeah…I hope someone will read his post and think about it. Do y’all remember that one driving post when one of our older members said he cruised in the passing lane just to piss people off, and it left us all scratching our heads? People like that need to read @SQUEEKY2‘s thoughts.

If I passed you @Dutchess_III and you flashed your lights ,that is you telling me I am clear of your vehicle and it’s safe to come back over.

Right on!

Another thing why do most people call us 18 wheelers?
My truck has 2 trailers, is 82feet long from bumper to bumper, and has 30 wheels ,NOT 18.

You get lumped in with the basic tractor-trailer combo (1 trailer) which is 18 wheels on 5 axles.

According to Merriam-Webster the term was first used in 1934

Popular music influence: Roll On (18-Wheeler), by Alabama, 1984

Convoy

Besides, 30-wheeler doesn’t flow like 18-wheeler!

I have a present for you, @SQUEEKY2!

@SQUEEKY2 You don’t have to back two trailers into anything do you? It seems like it would be like pushing a piece of rope.

@majorrich I operate a super train, which after practice one can back them up, a Atrain type unit is almost impossible to back up.

My husband has mad backing-up-the-trailer skills. I quite admire him. He admires himself too. He often pretends he’s backing up a trailer and the truck into a tiny space in a parking lot. Lots of maneuvering and backing up and stuff. Even though A) He doesn’t have a trailer and B) Most of the parking lot is empty.

OMG. LOL. My husband and I have had major fights when I try to help him back up in a tight space with the trailer.

@JLeslie I have seen that as well,and it’s both parties fault when that happens, the wife will usually stand directly behind the vehicle where the husband can not see her, she will then proceed to give all these wonderful hand, arm directions that he can not see, now for his fault instead of calmly getting out and telling her to do that at the drivers corner he just gets mad and tries to back in with out her help, most times hitting something that the wife is franticly trying to get him to avoid.
When helping anyone back something, always stand at the back drivers corner where they can see you in the mirrors, and for safety if they keep going for any reason all you have to do is step out of the way and let the vehicle go by.

Don’t worry, I’m not behind the vehicle out of sight and easy ear shot. My husband is much better at backing up now that we have owned the trailer a couple of years. The problem is we only use it about 4 times a year. I thought about signing him up for lessons. Not because I’m frustrated with him, but because I think he would enjoy getting tips for different situations. The last tricky one was trying to parallel park with less space then we usually have to maneuver.

Now I want to toot my own horn, I sometimes have to back alongside a loading ramp with my 2 trailer semi, I can put it within 6inches all the way down.
One day another driver watched me do it, came over and told me I was really good at backing up super trains,I thought that was pretty cool because I had never met that guy before, nice for the ole selfasteam when a total stranger gives you a compliment.

Two separate occasions a truck driver stopped and asked if we wanted help. I thought that was nice. One time we tipped on a Harley rounding a corner very slowly, and a guy on a motorcycle stopped and helped my husband pull it upright. It was a very big bike, he wasn’t used to it.

So many people are generous, helpful, and complimentary on the road.

Must be some stupid women out there. I stand off to the side so I can see him in the side mirror, and he can see me.

I have the same problem as @JLeslie….he doesn’t quite trust me to get him there, for some reason, although I’ve done it dozens of times. I’ll indicate that he needs to move left about 6 inches left, and he’ll ignore me, certain that he is dead on. Of course, when he gets out of the truck to check, he’s 6 inches off to the right.

It’s that old, ingrained attitude that woman can’t possibly, actually get this man thing right. I think it’s better now than it was for us growing up in the 50’s and 60’s.

The people who drive slow when you are behind them, and then speed up when you are next to them are insecure manchildren and ladychildren. They have no rational minds at all. They tend to belong to the nastier side of politics, too. Because their desire to dominate others/get in the way of others affects not just their driving, but everything they do in life. They tend to believe (subconsciously or consciously) that they need to “f” others over in order to not be “f’d”.

I think they’re insecure and unsure. Someone passes them and they think “Oh! I should be driving faster!”
They don’t/ can’t think for themselves.