Give us the cheat codes to your industry/place of work!
I’m a truck driver.
- You are far safer behind me than in front of me. It can take me over two US football fields (200 yards or roughly 180 meters) to come to a full stop and it takes more distance if my trailer is empty. The average car can stop in half that distance. Most cars turn into tin cans when hit by a rig at 25 mph.
- If you see a number of trucks all moving into the same lane, might consider getting in the same lane, behind us. Odds are pretty good we either saw something in the lane ahead or we heard about something over the CB.
- I can see you playing on your phone while driving. Cops in some states have been known to hitch rides with truck drivers in order to catch distracted drivers.
- Learn zipper merging!
it takes more distance if my trailer is empty
This seems counterintuitive. I would love to hear why.
I would imagine it has to do with traction and ability to apply braking forces without skidding the wheels.
Even in a pickup truck, it’s easy to skid the rear wheels (antilock brakes aside) with the bed empty because the brakes can easily overcome the traction of the tires. This is why pickups have height sensing proportioning valves.
Most of a tractor-trailer’s stopping power is split between the trailer brakes and the tractor’s drive tandems. If there is not enough weight on those axles, the tires can’t grip the pavement properly. If I apply too much power to the brakes the wheels can start bouncing or just lock up and start skidding if the ABS system is acting up.
Most tractor-trailers you see on the road in the US are designed to weigh 60,000 to 80,000 lbs (~ 27,000 - 36,000 kg). For comparison, a Honda Civic weighs roughly 3,000 lbs (1360 kg). Every system on the truck is designed around moving that amount of mass safely. With an empty dry van trailer your looking at closer to 30,000 lbs (~ 13,000 kg). Makes a difference in performance. Ride is rougher, takes longer to stop.
In the age of computer-controlled ABS and brake assistance systems, that just sounds like poor programming.
There’s no reason why the computer shouldn’t be able to take current weight into account and deliver more braking power to the tractor when the trailer is empty.
Sounds like you’re talking about icy or wet roads. I’ve never had a trailer do that on dry pavement and I can definitely stop faster emptying than full.
ZIPPER MERGE, PEOPLE!!
Additional hot take, merge near the end of the merge lane rather than slowly try to force yourself into traffic further back. Keep it moving and respect the zipper merge at the end.
And when you get to the end, start looking for the opening and merge, don’t slow down or gun it and try to get ahead of five more cars.
I have driven many thousands of miles and my favorite place on the road is 100 yards behind a big rig that’s heading my way. i can zone out and safely follow and people rarely want the spot between you and the truck for long so you can just go hours keeping that square centered.
It’s even better at night when the trucks lights give you a nice preview of exactly how curvy the road is.
Eventually big guy takes an exit and i always send a grateful salute cuz following a big rig 100 yards back is better than cruise control imo.
