Trucking Trends That Can Go Away Anytime Now...

Agreed. I appreciate those who use their hazards, but don't criticize me for going around.
Never do, never would. I feel that as long as you're operating within a skilled comfort level, and a seasoned knowledge of your truck, go for it. I'll be the guy doing 55 and doing my best to not impede you. Throw in the four wheelers though, and now we're all a mess. Dealt with some nastiness this evening coming home from Indiana. Soon as I got north of 70 on 71, all of the toddlers started causing problems. The last 70 miles of my trip were a nightmare. Both the truckers going fast and the truckers going slow were fine. Every accident I saw was all cars. Not one truck. If you feel like if you can drive your moneymaker safely at higher speeds in inclement weather, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I won't question skilled and tested experiences. But the cars? Crimany. Saw some of the worst decision making tonight. Scared the hell out of me. Glad to be sitting on my couch holding mama.
 
Never do, never would. I feel that as long as you're operating within a skilled comfort level, and a seasoned knowledge of your truck, go for it. I'll be the guy doing 55 and doing my best to not impede you. Throw in the four wheelers though, and now we're all a mess. Dealt with some nastiness this evening coming home from Indiana. Soon as I got north of 70 on 71, all of the toddlers started causing problems. The last 70 miles of my trip were a nightmare. Both the truckers going fast and the truckers going slow were fine. Every accident I saw was all cars. Not one truck. If you feel like if you can drive your moneymaker safely at higher speeds in inclement weather, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I won't question skilled and tested experiences. But the cars? Crimany. Saw some of the worst decision making tonight. Scared the hell out of me. Glad to be sitting on my couch holding mama.
I hate the 6-8am part of my shift for that very reason. The 0400-0600 commuters seem to generally know how to drive and there aren't as many but the masses are extremely stupid. Seems like the more normal tbeir work schedule, the dumber they are. 9-5ers are especially brainless.

It doesn't even have to be foul weather.
 
So today, I got to one of our three stores in Bismarck and it was on fire.

No really. There was a fire. It’s probably in the news. Google it if you care. The only burning question I had was if I could still get behind the store from the other direction and make my drop and hook.

But that’s irrelevant.

No really. It’s irrelevant.

When I left the store I headed east on I94 empty. It’s snowed a bit last night but I didn’t notice anything terrible when I left Steele, ND where I stayed last night. It was cold enough that the fine, powdery snow was just blowing across the pavement and not a sloppy mess.

As I left I got up to about 55 and stayed there. The pavement looked more wet in the city limits than outside so I went slow.

Then as I got out of town it looked dry again, with about a 20mph wind from the north and the powdery dry blowing stuff again. I’ve seen that a million times. it’s usually no big deal. So I sped up to 60 and kept a steady throttle.

About 5 miles out of town, all of a sudden the RPMs spiked and the tractor faced left about 20 degrees. I let off the throttle and counter steered figuring it wouldn’t make a difference and I was screwed. I figure I slid a good 50 yards or so.

I ended up in the left lane even though the wind was pushing me toward the shoulder not the median, which I thought was odd. Out loud. Very loudly. With lots of profanity.

So I got everything straightened out, finally finished cursing, and kept going.

Now at this point everyone in Walmart would tell you, “DUUUUHHHH, you should have done a weather shutdown!”

They might be right. But this is North Dakota in the winter. The **** am I gonna do shut down until June? Nobody ever has an answer for that.

So I slowed down to about 45 and put my four ways on and proceeded between 45 and 50mph.

This little dancing act happened TWO MORE TIMES. Bopping along, spike in RPM, boom sideways. Loud cursing. I saw a Ruan in the ditch and a Wylie flatbed.

It dried up for a while between Jamestown and Fargo, then a few cars upside down in Fargo from the morning commute.

Anyway, I got passed at least 100 times by guys just hauling ass. They must have had great loads on, or weren’t subject to wind, or something.

But running with the four ways on helped.

That’s what’s relevant.
 
So today, I got to one of our three stores in Bismarck and it was on fire.

No really. There was a fire. It’s probably in the news. Google it if you care. The only burning question I had was if I could still get behind the store from the other direction and make my drop and hook.

But that’s irrelevant.

No really. It’s irrelevant.

When I left the store I headed east on I94 empty. It’s snowed a bit last night but I didn’t notice anything terrible when I left Steele, ND where I stayed last night. It was cold enough that the fine, powdery snow was just blowing across the pavement and not a sloppy mess.

As I left I got up to about 55 and stayed there. The pavement looked more wet in the city limits than outside so I went slow.

Then as I got out of town it looked dry again, with about a 20mph wind from the north and the powdery dry blowing stuff again. I’ve seen that a million times. it’s usually no big deal. So I sped up to 60 and kept a steady throttle.

About 5 miles out of town, all of a sudden the RPMs spiked and the tractor faced left about 20 degrees. I let off the throttle and counter steered figuring it wouldn’t make a difference and I was screwed. I figure I slid a good 50 yards or so.

I ended up in the left lane even though the wind was pushing me toward the shoulder not the median, which I thought was odd. Out loud. Very loudly. With lots of profanity.

So I got everything straightened out, finally finished cursing, and kept going.

Now at this point everyone in Walmart would tell you, “DUUUUHHHH, you should have done a weather shutdown!”

They might be right. But this is North Dakota in the winter. The **** am I gonna do shut down until June? Nobody ever has an answer for that.

So I slowed down to about 45 and put my four ways on and proceeded between 45 and 50mph.

This little dancing act happened TWO MORE TIMES. Bopping along, spike in RPM, boom sideways. Loud cursing. I saw a Ruan in the ditch and a Wylie flatbed.

It dried up for a while between Jamestown and Fargo, then a few cars upside down in Fargo from the morning commute.

Anyway, I got passed at least 100 times by guys just hauling ass. They must have had great loads on, or weren’t subject to wind, or something.

But running with the four ways on helped.

That’s what’s relevant.
"burning question"
 
So today, I got to one of our three stores in Bismarck and it was on fire.

No really. There was a fire. It’s probably in the news. Google it if you care. The only burning question I had was if I could still get behind the store from the other direction and make my drop and hook.

But that’s irrelevant.

No really. It’s irrelevant.

When I left the store I headed east on I94 empty. It’s snowed a bit last night but I didn’t notice anything terrible when I left Steele, ND where I stayed last night. It was cold enough that the fine, powdery snow was just blowing across the pavement and not a sloppy mess.

As I left I got up to about 55 and stayed there. The pavement looked more wet in the city limits than outside so I went slow.

Then as I got out of town it looked dry again, with about a 20mph wind from the north and the powdery dry blowing stuff again. I’ve seen that a million times. it’s usually no big deal. So I sped up to 60 and kept a steady throttle.

About 5 miles out of town, all of a sudden the RPMs spiked and the tractor faced left about 20 degrees. I let off the throttle and counter steered figuring it wouldn’t make a difference and I was screwed. I figure I slid a good 50 yards or so.

I ended up in the left lane even though the wind was pushing me toward the shoulder not the median, which I thought was odd. Out loud. Very loudly. With lots of profanity.

So I got everything straightened out, finally finished cursing, and kept going.

Now at this point everyone in Walmart would tell you, “DUUUUHHHH, you should have done a weather shutdown!”

They might be right. But this is North Dakota in the winter. The **** am I gonna do shut down until June? Nobody ever has an answer for that.

So I slowed down to about 45 and put my four ways on and proceeded between 45 and 50mph.

This little dancing act happened TWO MORE TIMES. Bopping along, spike in RPM, boom sideways. Loud cursing. I saw a Ruan in the ditch and a Wylie flatbed.

It dried up for a while between Jamestown and Fargo, then a few cars upside down in Fargo from the morning commute.

Anyway, I got passed at least 100 times by guys just hauling ass. They must have had great loads on, or weren’t subject to wind, or something.

But running with the four ways on helped.

That’s what’s relevant.
When the wind is blowing the snow across I-94, stay out of the right lane! All the traffic catches and packs the snow in the right lane wheel tracks, while the left lane is good for 100mph+. Really, you couldn't break loose in the left lane if you tried! There's days like that every winter up here, and it's the same every time: cars and trucks running on those icy wheel tracks and screwing the pooch. And Hammer out in my lane let'n 'er eat. At least when I'm clear of the insanity, anyways.
 
When the wind is blowing the snow across I-94, stay out of the right lane! All the traffic catches and packs the snow in the right lane wheel tracks, while the left lane is good for 100mph+. Really, you couldn't break loose in the left lane if you tried! There's days like that every winter up here, and it's the same every time: cars and trucks running on those icy wheel tracks and screwing the pooch. And Hammer out in my lane let'n 'er eat. At least when I'm clear of the insanity, anyways.

That must have been the secret the guys hammering past me knew.

I'll be durned.

I said "durned" because I exceeded my profanity quota for the day.
 
That must have been the secret the guys hammering past me knew.

I'll be durned.

I said "durned" because I exceeded my profanity quota for the day.
It gets really bad at Jamestown and Valley City. And those curves just tosses 'em of the road.
 
When the wind is blowing the snow across I-94, stay out of the right lane! All the traffic catches and packs the snow in the right lane wheel tracks, while the left lane is good for 100mph+. Really, you couldn't break loose in the left lane if you tried! There's days like that every winter up here, and it's the same every time: cars and trucks running on those icy wheel tracks and screwing the pooch. And Hammer out in my lane let'n 'er eat. At least when I'm clear of the insanity, anyways.
And other times the right lane is spotless and dry but the hammer lane is a skating rink.

And you come up on some pansy-ass chicken shit going 35 mph on DRY PAVEMENT because they're RETARDED but you can't pass the stupid POS because the hammer lane is unsafe at any speed.

Under those circumstances it needs to be perfectly legal to push them. And they should be liable for any damage it causes to your front end too.

Elect me president in 2024 and I'll make it happen. 😎
 
So today, I got to one of our three stores in Bismarck and it was on fire.

No really. There was a fire. It’s probably in the news. Google it if you care. The only burning question I had was if I could still get behind the store from the other direction and make my drop and hook.

But that’s irrelevant.

No really. It’s irrelevant.

When I left the store I headed east on I94 empty. It’s snowed a bit last night but I didn’t notice anything terrible when I left Steele, ND where I stayed last night. It was cold enough that the fine, powdery snow was just blowing across the pavement and not a sloppy mess.

As I left I got up to about 55 and stayed there. The pavement looked more wet in the city limits than outside so I went slow.

Then as I got out of town it looked dry again, with about a 20mph wind from the north and the powdery dry blowing stuff again. I’ve seen that a million times. it’s usually no big deal. So I sped up to 60 and kept a steady throttle.

About 5 miles out of town, all of a sudden the RPMs spiked and the tractor faced left about 20 degrees. I let off the throttle and counter steered figuring it wouldn’t make a difference and I was screwed. I figure I slid a good 50 yards or so.

I ended up in the left lane even though the wind was pushing me toward the shoulder not the median, which I thought was odd. Out loud. Very loudly. With lots of profanity.

So I got everything straightened out, finally finished cursing, and kept going.

Now at this point everyone in Walmart would tell you, “DUUUUHHHH, you should have done a weather shutdown!”

They might be right. But this is North Dakota in the winter. The **** am I gonna do shut down until June? Nobody ever has an answer for that.

So I slowed down to about 45 and put my four ways on and proceeded between 45 and 50mph.

This little dancing act happened TWO MORE TIMES. Bopping along, spike in RPM, boom sideways. Loud cursing. I saw a Ruan in the ditch and a Wylie flatbed.

It dried up for a while between Jamestown and Fargo, then a few cars upside down in Fargo from the morning commute.

Anyway, I got passed at least 100 times by guys just hauling ass. They must have had great loads on, or weren’t subject to wind, or something.

But running with the four ways on helped.

That’s what’s relevant.
Damn, that's crazy. I cant imagine being in that situation. So sorry you went through it, glad you made it through. Glad you came around to the four ways, though. I dont use them unless I'm personally uncomfortable. That discomfort level happens for the toddlers (four wheelers) way before me. I don't abuse my four ways, I use them when I get tense in weather. It's my way of telling cars to calm the F down and slow down. There's a reason I'm slow right now, and maybe you should recognize that. It's also a message to rookie or ignorant truckers trying to fly through unsafe conditions that will shut down an interstate of they go sideways and jack up the road. Every single one of us has seen that trucker, or met one. We all know who they are. I'm just trying to make it home. Since I started driving I've watched at least a dozen meatheads in 4×4s blow by me and then lose control and end up either wrecked (most likely dead) or off the road and stuck. You saw my flashers, dude. I was trying to warn you. Sorry for your dilema. I'll call the cops for you but I'm gonna keep on moving. I got stuff to do and I'm doing it as safety as possible. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
 
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Damn, that's crazy. I cant imagine being in that situation. So sorry you went through it, glad you made it through. Glad you came around to the four ways, though. I dont use them unless I'm personally uncomfortable. That discomfort level happens for the toddlers (four wheelers) way before me. I don't abuse my four ways, I use them when I get tense in weather. It's my way of telling cars to calm the F down and slow down. There's a reason I'm slow right now, and maybe you should recognize that. It's also a message to rookie or ignorant truckers trying to fly through unsafe conditions that will shut down an interstate of they go sideways and jack up the road. Every single one of us has seen that trucker, or met one. We all know who they are. I'm just trying to make it home. Since I started driving I've watched at least a dozen meatheads in 4×4s blow by me and then lose control and end up either wrecked (most likely dead) or off the road and stuck. You saw my flashers, dude. I was trying to warn you. Sorry for your dilema. I'll call the cops for you but I'm gonna keep on moving. I got stuff to do and I'm doing it as safety as possible. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
I started to leave this alone, but I believe it should be addressed.

Hard as it is for the male ego to accept, there are different levels of skill and experience, especially in winter conditions. Conditions that make you tense are another day at work to a driver who spends much more time driving in winter conditions than you do. I'm firmly of the opinion that if you're so tense and moving slow enough compared to traffic that you feel the need to run your flashers, you need to park and stop being a rolling road hazard. All running flashers does is scare and confuse the 4 wheelers, who have a tough enough time not being idiots around trucks as it is. One slow truck on a busier highway can screw up traffic for a half mile or more. Besides all that, you're not a hall monitor who gets to decide what the safe speed should be.

And because this always degenerates into a peeing contest, the last 20 of my 35 years has been running a high percentage of my miles in the northern winters. And since my only incident was 30 years ago (and involved a naked wife on the doghouse) and 3 million plus miles ago, my record allows me to be the arrogant prick who can scold you for how you're doing things. Wake up and realize that while some of the faster guys are idiots (and they're not hard to spot) some of them just have a better skillset. It's not easy to swallow, but it's true for all of us.

"Everyone faster is a lunatic, everyone slower needs to learn to drive." It's a trope that is common among all drivers, car and truck alike . Wisdom is understanding why that's a falsehood.

<engage shitstorm>
 
I started to leave this alone, but I believe it should be addressed.

Hard as it is for the male ego to accept, there are different levels of skill and experience, especially in winter conditions. Conditions that make you tense are another day at work to a driver who spends much more time driving in winter conditions than you do. I'm firmly of the opinion that if you're so tense and moving slow enough compared to traffic that you feel the need to run your flashers, you need to park and stop being a rolling road hazard. All running flashers does is scare and confuse the 4 wheelers, who have a tough enough time not being idiots around trucks as it is. One slow truck on a busier highway can screw up traffic for a half mile or more. Besides all that, you're not a hall monitor who gets to decide what the safe speed should be.

And because this always degenerates into a peeing contest, the last 20 of my 35 years has been running a high percentage of my miles in the northern winters. And since my only incident was 30 years ago (and involved a naked wife on the doghouse) and 3 million plus miles ago, my record allows me to be the arrogant prick who can scold you for how you're doing things. Wake up and realize that while some of the faster guys are idiots (and they're not hard to spot) some of them just have a better skillset. It's not easy to swallow, but it's true for all of us.

"Everyone faster is a lunatic, everyone slower needs to learn to drive." It's a trope that is common among all drivers, car and truck alike . Wisdom is understanding why that's a falsehood.

<engage ****storm>
I’m stuck going unsafely slow in states like Texas South Dakota, and whomever else has joined the 80mph club, because of a governed truck. That being said, as long as someone is maintaining the minimum speed, in my opinion has every right to be on the highway. When you get below that or feel you need to go less than that it’s time to get it off the road and park it.

Some places require you to run flashers when less than xx mph. Pennsylvania being an example on some of the grades the sign says run flashers if less than 50. This is to alert others that you are moving slow. I don’t understand why it’s such a hazard or hassle that someone throws on the flashers when things are going slow. Or coming to a stop. Because the dipshit from Brampton May catch the flash out the corner of his eye while staring at his phone and look up and see that he needs to stop or change lanes to avoid hitting you.

Flashers or not, if less than posted minimum park it.
 
my record allows me to be the arrogant prick
That's never stopped you before...

:biggrin-2: :biglaugh:

Wake up and realize that while some of the faster guys are idiots (and they're not hard to spot) some of them just have a better skillset. It's not easy to swallow, but it's true for all of us.

The physics encountered in nature aren't turned off in deference for your vastly superior skill set, no matter what you might think.
 
That's never stopped you before...

:biggrin-2: :biglaugh:

Hey, at least I own up to it! 😎


The physics encountered in nature aren't turned off in deference for your vastly superior skill set, no matter what you might think.
It's not about the laws of physics, or rather thinking I can exceed them. It's about comfort level. It's about understanding what your truck is telling you about conditions. It's knowing that 6" of powder @10° is nothing but 1" of wet snow @ 30° is a hydroplane waiting to happen. It's recognizing the difference between the twitch of a tire fighting for traction and the lurch of a truck still on the road by sheer luck. It's about having spent years learning how to dance with this fat girl even when someone just waxed the floor.
 
I started to leave this alone, but I believe it should be addressed.

Hard as it is for the male ego to accept, there are different levels of skill and experience, especially in winter conditions. Conditions that make you tense are another day at work to a driver who spends much more time driving in winter conditions than you do. I'm firmly of the opinion that if you're so tense and moving slow enough compared to traffic that you feel the need to run your flashers, you need to park and stop being a rolling road hazard. All running flashers does is scare and confuse the 4 wheelers, who have a tough enough time not being idiots around trucks as it is. One slow truck on a busier highway can screw up traffic for a half mile or more. Besides all that, you're not a hall monitor who gets to decide what the safe speed should be.

And because this always degenerates into a peeing contest, the last 20 of my 35 years has been running a high percentage of my miles in the northern winters. And since my only incident was 30 years ago (and involved a naked wife on the doghouse) and 3 million plus miles ago, my record allows me to be the arrogant prick who can scold you for how you're doing things. Wake up and realize that while some of the faster guys are idiots (and they're not hard to spot) some of them just have a better skillset. It's not easy to swallow, but it's true for all of us.

"Everyone faster is a lunatic, everyone slower needs to learn to drive." It's a trope that is common among all drivers, car and truck alike . Wisdom is understanding why that's a falsehood.

<engage ****storm>
No different than climbing a hill at 35 with the flashers on.

Just stay in the left and pass me.
 

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