Lets just get rid of all the trucks and all the problems they create because of other people's actions just for 1 week (2 weeks so it really sets in) and when there's no gas at the station, food in the grocery store, clothes in the dept store...etc etc, then maybe people will start to respect the importance of trucking
The trucking industry keeps pushing for larger and larger trucks. 42 feet, then 48 feet, then 53 feet, and now pushing for 60 feet. Nonsensical regulations make it harder to earn a viable living, so trucker get flabbergasted, and give up to find a new career.... and yet the trucking companies scratch their heads "Hey, why did everyone leave?"
I am an 3rd generation ex-truck driver turned policeman then back to trucking after leaving the department. Police departments cannot tell officers who to charge in the accident. It is up to the officer to do a through investigation, get verbal statements, investigate the physical evidence at the scene, apply the correct law and issue citations accordingly. Common sense prevails, although not all officers have that. Generally, citations are issued, in part, to show who was at fault to assist in the insurance claims filed after the accident to protect the non-offending driver. As this accident has been described, I would have issued a citation to the 4 wheeler for not yielding to the over sized vehicle which was already in the intersection. Dave did a great job of documenting the accident and it paid off.
I'm not a trucker, but I've been watching several videos related to trucking and I now have a great understanding of the operation of a semi. I have consciously made an effort to be more respectful of the needs of the truck operator. I believe it would be helpful to instruct new non-commercial drivers on the ability of truck operators in relation to speed, stop distance and turning radius and make I a part of the test for non-commercial drivers. Maybe the trucker's union could push for such a requirement to help reduce accidents or a TV commercial campaign to inform the public. Oh wait the hell I'm I think. These A-hole drivers tailgate, text, eat and do everything else but drive when behind the wheel. I must be living in a fantasy world.
Carriers need to be far more conscientious as to who they put behind the wheel of their trucks.Currently it's embarrassing to the rest of us when we see some of the guys carriers hire. Dave
My friend thats does not possess a CDL of any class just had to take a test in Texas and for the first time I ever heard of, She had to answer questions on how to share the road with a truck (CMV) in combination, how to pass how far behind to travel to see the driver in his mirror, and if you can't see the driver in his mirror he can't see you. I was pleased to finally hear they require drivers of a car to understand stopping distance, the dangers of riding beside a truck and how far ahead before you return to your lane after passing. It's high time regulations be enforced in teaching a non CMV driver how to operate around a CMV, because if you investigate CMV vs Car accidents many time the car was in a position with the CMV that it would be hard to avoid, however the trucker who possess a CDL is the professional driver and automatically at fault even when the CDL holder operator of a CMV many times did nothing illegal to cause the accident. Now I myself don't allow myself to get into a situation where the 4 wheeler can cause a problem I scan my mirrors and my truck has enough power I can keep my truck in a safe position and away from cars most of the time. I've successfully logged 2.75 million miles accident and moving violation free because I keep a distance from unsafe drivers and situations...
Truck/trailer, pedestrians, bicycles, farm equipment, motorcycles and in some states light aircraft all might share the road. The licensing of any of these vehicle operators should require adequate knowledge of these vehicles to reduce conflicts.
You so right. I'm a Truckdriver in Germany and i know this problem ... I'm transport steel and sometimes with overlenght. Always take both lanes ... it's simple but works. When you drive a Truck ( and not a Smart ) take the space you need and make you big ... that is the best thing you can do 😎👍 Thank you for the Video 👍
Well said, glad you took it to court and won. It's very hard to get everyone in 4 wheelers to understand what that truck has to do to get through cities as well as on the freeways too.
In America, we have signs on our trailers that say, "caution, this vehicle makes wide turns," but Americans are stupid and incapable of figuring out what those specific words mean when put together in a sentence.
I had a guy hit my steer axle in salt lake City. I was making a wide right turn into a customer and this yoyo cuts through the breakdown lane. He got a ticket I got 3 more days in salt lake than I wanted. The hardest part was the companies safety people declared it preventable. But then a month later declared it non preventable. More idiots that never drove making our lives difficult.
Early in my military career I drove trucks for the Army. Growing up in the 70's and early 80's truckers were a big deal and many movies were made about them. I have always held a high level of respect for truckers and their trucks. I will ALWAYS ensure to give truckers the room they need and signal them to let them know they are clear. I have even ran interference so that they can get into the lane they want by holding back traffic for them..plus I have a CB to let them know, although it seems fewer truckers are using CB these days..
Aren't those the stupidist damn things you've ever seen? Makes you wonder whose decision that was. Ministry of Transport out in left field on that one. Dave
Many, if not most, 4 wheelers have some sort of problem with trucks. They think that they must pass them, no matter the conditions. As a former driver, I'm not so hasty. Besides, I have noticed that modern tractors accelerate faster than the rigs I drove in the 70's. Being retired, I find no reason to exceed the speed limits.
You are 100% right! But what I did was when I got into town I would move my tandems all of the way to the front. Weight be dammed! Turning radius equals #1. That's how I used to deliver in NY City.
My strat for NYC is the get no closer to that place than Baltimore. I will haul produce out of Cali to SC every week before I ever go north of Maryland.
There should Be A NATION WIDE LAW That When Tractor Trailers are Making RIGHT TURNS? Vehicles Behind The Trailer SHOULD REMAIN AT LEAST 25 FEET BEHIND THE TRACTOR TRAILER UNTIL IT HAS COMPLETED THE TURN... Not Unlike The Laws for School Buses...
I use the same button nose setup to make tight turns. Some cars WILL without a doubt, sneak in or drive on the shoulder to beat you. Ive had close calls in the past but thats just about it. If I see any car trying to sneak in the inner lane as i make the turn, Ill just use my train horn. Some people grow up not knowing what wrong is. We Truckers shouldn't be scared to right a wrong or the wrong will continue to be the wrong.
Being a city delivery driver for 11 years, this was a situation I encountered hundreds of times every day. It took extreme diligence, patience, and a lot of good luck to avoid idiot drivers. I'll put it this way..... I wouldn't want to go back and do it all over again!! LOL
I just started trucking and love this job! I have listened to many of your videos and they have all been great! Thanks for all of your info and your stories!
Thanks for addressing this issue. The industry needs to address this and other issues publicly an d if necessary, purchase advertising space ... aka public service ad space ... in this case, paid for ... to bring these issues to the attention to all drivers. The industry should not accept this and should support THEIR people ... the truck driver!
Same thing happened to me in Charlottesville Virginia in 2017. Only thing was, it was a single right turn lane with a bike lane and a woman tried to pass and turn on the bike lane. Charlottesville officers cited me but I was able to beat it in court on account I took up the lane (and she behind me) and she still tried to pass me on the right. Another woman said she saw the whole thing favoring the woman behind me but at the time, I did not know she was coming from the opposite direction which the officer admitted in court. My retort was how did she see this if she saw this coming from the other direction (Mike trailer blocking her view that is)? When the officer admitted this in court it really left me at a conundrum why the officer did not put two and two together to deduct this! This was a hard lesson in which I learned that we really do have the deck stacked against us, as truck drivers.
Love the trucker stories, the video made a lot of sense. I'm a driver just in the process of getting my Restricted A license in Ontario Canada. I grew up with my dad since the age of 3 going almost every summer Christmas and March break in the truck and loved it. Through the years I've been to approx. 45 of the 50 states and from Quebec to B.C. in Canada. I always loved hearing trucker stories at the restaurants in the truck stops. You meet the nicest friendly people in my opinion in a truck stop restaurant.
I have to say, I am currently training for my CDL in Alberta. Due to COVID-19, there has been a delay. While I waited, I have spent hour upon hour watching You Tube videos and trucker vlogs. I have to say, after watching all the other videos about any topic in particular, I like to come back to your material. I know that I can trust your word and your experience to help guide me on a path to success. I thank you for your material and appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
I tell the new guys, "Take your half out of the middle". This way you have enough room to make a right turn without somebody being there. Had one guy with 2 wheels up the curb trying to get past a double set near town. He blasted his horn and then started cussing because he hit a fire hydrant. Once the Sheriff got there he was arrested for driving under the influence.
In driving schools they always tell us. "It's always the Driver's Fault" . With this in mind when im behind that wheel I do everything possible to not give credibility to that statement. You do this by becoming cognizant of everything around me and what's ahead. IPDE live it love it and learn it.
more years ago, my grandfather did that to a guy in a sports car in a single right turn lane. except he didn't notice until the bogey went over the hood.
I'm glad you found a reasonable judge. You did the right thing, you did the only possible thing, and you were correct ethically, morally, religiously, philosophically, reasonably, practically. But not legally in many jurisdictions. We are dependent on reasonable judges because the law in this matter, in most states, is not reasonable. A truck driver acquaintance of mine was making a right turn into a very narrow two lane street with multiple cars parked on either side of the street in the way of the turn both high side and low side (no red zones on the corners). He had a 42 ft trailer but still needed to be in the outside Lane. As he set up, a bicyclist came on the inside in the bike lane. Not the brightest idea, but legal in California. The bicyclist has the right of way. The truck driver waited, as he should. An impatient lady behind him drove around him on the inside, striking the curb to squeeze by, fatally drove over the bicyclist and drug the body for a city block before stopping. After calling 911 the truck driver had the state of mind to take pictures of everything from every angle. Multiple officers arrived at the scene. The woman was allowed to drive home the truck driver was arrested at the scene. The district attorney argued in court that the trailer and cab of the truck should have been both within in the right turn lane and both blocking the bicycle lane. The truck driver was convicted of manslaughter and served time in jail. The lady was not charged. She sued him. The suit failed. The judge in that case stated on the record that the truck driver had done nothing incorrectly. Tha family of the bicyclist also unsuccessfully sued. That judge also stated no wrongdoing on the part of the truck driver. The woman was never charged.
I love your videos because everything you say is true! I always set up my right hand turns way in advance and I did not care at all if I was blocking traffic because that was the only way I could maneuver my rig for the turn. It became even more of a problem if my duelies on the trailer were slid all the way back. I am so glad now that I am retired. I don't think I would like to return to the trucking industry with all of this non sense that is coming down the pike!
Driver from nycta here, we are told to always cover the right side. A lot of other drivers don't like it since we take 2 Lanes of traffic but almost never had any right side accident in24 year's of driving a 60foot bus in Manhattan
Driving a 53' in Chicago I always thought and observed if they would take all four corners of an intersection and move all lights and obstacles back 6' that would greatly improve mobility in turning onto the city streets.
I hear you there. I was in Ontario Canada and believe it or not I had a woman try to beat me on the driver side all because I had to take the opposing lane to make the right hand turn.
i had to pull an empty 57 footer, from Salt Lake City to Phoenix once. i'm just glad i didn't have to move around corners, in the city. i did get a ticket for over-length in Utah. forgot to get the permit at the terminal ended up paying out of pocket $125. :)
Hi ST, In the UK most truck and bus's have stickers on the rear of the vehicle showing just what you described at the beginning of your video. Also I have noticed a lot of trucks have repeater turn lights along the trailer sides. Which is easy to do with a dedicated trailer but would need tie on extension leads and lamps for drop and hook jobs. A friend who drives for a large supermarket carries a complete rear light board set up, as a lot of trailers have damaged or no rear lights. All so there are stickers warning cyclists of the squeeze danger from trucks and buses, a big problem in our city's. London bus companies are carrying out rider awareness, they get cyclists to sit in the drivers seat and see where the driver has problems not seeing them. they use guys to walk up each side of the bus and the cyclist has to shout out when one is seen, of course while looking left he's missing the guy on the right. Another prevention is an inclusion at driver examination centers. To tell new drivers about the hazards of large vehicle incidents. The trucking industry needs to lobby state officials more to get roads altered and/or signage installed, to make turns safer. BS
I agree with you mate. I always try to block both lanes to try and prevent this scenario. The still try to sneak through though. Here in the UK, they arrest the trucker until they've investigated... right or wrong. we are the lowest of the low in the eyes of the law and the public...
You got a nice judge.. we had a similar accident.. only this time they went as far as checking our service records etc etc. They wanted us at fault no matter what. Until insurance lawer came along and fought the case its when the case was dismissed.
this is why I always turn from the furthest right lane and if needed jug handle the tractor. much easier to block and defend the other turn lane that is on the driver side.
yep you got one trailer .im a truck driver in Australia and i tow two trailers at the same time they are combined length of around 70 feet give or take a foot or three and the trailers are getting longer what fun we have lol
Tandem trailers track the same, so it matters not if you've got 70' or 100'. Sure, more time to complete a turn, but each trailer follows the path set by the proceeding trailer.
signaling does not give you the right of way to merge. It remains your sole responsibility when you break the lane of traffic and the right of way of the vehicle in it. The judge may have dismissed the summons for carelsss driving but I would bet the house that insurance took at minimum half the fault and likely all of it to avoid litigation that would not hold up. Like it or not your changing lanes and in doing so it is your responsibility to yield.
Drivers are either in a "me first" rush or they're oblivious "slowpokes". Or they don't know how to merge onto or off of the interstate properly. And then there are the lovely "brake checkers". Gotta be alert and watch out for everybody on the road.
Amen, city, state and the DOT always want to throw 100% of blame on the truck when 65 % of the time it's the fault of the person trying to drive a 4wheeler and pulling a stunt just like you explained.. and a good majority of Truck Drivers will accept the blame rather than take it before a Judge, and that just make even more difficult on the trucker...
Dave, I've had that happen to me many times and the police still dont understand how and why a truck has to swing wide to make a turn, that's why I totally believe that if you are going to be any law enforcement officer,it should be mandatory in their training that he or she RIDE WITH A TRUCKER FOR A MONTH and see how it's done and witness first hand the idiots in the smaller vehicles that try to beat you around the corner, And MAYBE just MAYBE the officer will get it through their thick skulls not to blame the trucker upon arriving at the scene.
That is a great idea and one I've never heard before Kenny! I don't know what else to say but if we could make that happen I truly believe everyone would benefit. I'm going to mention that idea to a cop I know. Dave
Regardless of specific laws or what some handbook might say it's really the responsibility of the truck driver to protect their blind side, and by that I mean always stay as far right as possible. It's never a good idea to start into an intersection from the outside lane of a right hand turn because you've lost all ability to negotiate a situation with other drivers. It is far safer to move into the outside lane (if needed) from the inside where you can have better vision of traffic around you as well as be able to make eye contact with the other drivers and be able to communicate clearly your intention to take the lane.Yes, it can be a bit more frustrating because you'll sometimes have to wait for a space to move into, but at least you can actually see how much space you have.
You don't HAVE the time to do so in many cases. You don't know a vehicle is there UNTIL you're in your turn...they're not lining up behind you notifying you of their intention. They play the game of "Beat The Big Rig" driving on two lane roads, entering right hand turns, etc, etc...
Commenting from New Zealand where we drive on the other side of the road. In the beginning of November last year, I saw an accident between a truck driver and a small four wheeler/car along Neilson Street, turning left into Captain Springs Road. Neilson Street being a two lane and Captain Springs being a single lane. Don't know whose fault it is - I would wager it would be the four wheeler speeding up in the left lane and being in the truck driver's blind spot or just not paying attention to the indicators of the truck and understanding that at the very least, for the truck driver to make the turn without the tail of the truck taking out the power pole close to the corner, the truck driver needs to turn left from the outside lane due to size of trailer or at least 'lane share' to make the turn. This would have been just before 0800h and the car got a decent scrape down the driver's side so the driver of the car would have got a hell of a fright. No severe injury to person, just severe injury to panel work of car. I was waiting at the lights on Captain Springs Rd side where truck was turning into, waiting to turn left into Neilson Street. Not nice to see but I wouldn't imagine too uncommon an accident. I didn't stick around because there would have been other witnesses that would have seen it from start to finish and perhaps seen who was at fault. Though that said, enough people would say that it was the truck driver's fault because they don't understand how a truck that size needs to maneuver. Perhaps the cop in Dave's case fell into that category which is why Dave was automatically at fault by the cop's standards but the Judge knew better.....
someone in my family was driving a tandem dump and got t boned in an intersection by a half ton while he had the green light and the pick up had the red and they still tried to blame him for it, they even said why do you care it's not your truck it's the companies which makes it that much better I guess :/
The driver's manual for the state of South Carolina clearly states that trucks are required to make their swing wide on the road they are turning onto. This would indicate that in dual turn lanes you are expected to keep your trailer within your lane.
I'm surprised with today's technology they have not added steering to the trailers to allow them to swing out with the turn. I believe some ladder fire trucks in NY have rear steering....
I know alot of truckers hate the town near where I live.The only way through it is 90 degree turn go about a city block and another 90 degree turn all 2 lane then an 11 percent grade depending which direction they are going climbing it or descending it then the 90 degree turns.
Thank you for your response. But maybe you can explain it in a video. On how driver's find out about the trailer length for different state and regulations.
I experienced something like this, but in a pickup truck turning into a barn driveway (very tight, about a 135 degree turn). I signaled well in advance. nobody in the oncoming lane so I swung wide. Next thing I know, I see some dummy trying to pass me on the right. Thankfully he must have gotten a clue as to what I was doing and he backed off.
As a 4 wheeler, one of my pet peeves is stupid drivers who stop way in front of the stop line at a light, and the resulting havoc because the whole conga line needs to back up so a truck can make the turn.
I don't think people now even remember their drivers test. I distinctly remember when I was 16 years old they told you that if a truck is trying to make a sharp right turn, NEVER squeeze in between the truck and the curb. YOU WILL GET SQUISHED!
The mandate is because the fines for big rigs are much bigger than for cars. Just like licenses plates can cost hundreds of dollars rather than tens of dollars for a car. As a truck mechanic (1977 to 1986), one of the drivers was explaining the three stickers he got from Illinois. The first sticker proved that the fuel use tax had been paid. The second sticker proveded the road use tax had been paid. The third sticker proved that the tax to get the first two stickers had been paid.
The funny thing I thought as as soon as you said you always carry a camera was “Damn! I need to start carrying a camera. Why have I never carried a camera. Then I realized I always have my cell phone 🤦🏽♂️ I’m 36 so I remember a time when I had to be home to take a call 😆 I also remember buying those disposable camera.
My instructor was 74 years old in 1964 and in the 30s and 40s turn signals were an option on trucks and most cars. He said truckers used to flash their clearance lights so nearby traffic would know the trucker was going to vary from the lane he was in and give him room to maneuver. The idea of that being possible today is laughable. I've been in a situation where when I was making a right turn with a 53 foot trailer some guy tried to pass me on the right even though there was only one turning lane. If not for the fender mirror I'd have squashed him like a bug. A block down the street the guy who was behind us got beside me and said he thought I was going to squash him and in fact he thought I should have.
I agree with you . You should remember before all that you checked that the government person in the car was okay . It sounded like all you were worried about was proving your innocence .
Smart trucking, I'd love to add something that just happened to me today. I'm not a trucker, but one that even truckers hate, I'm big yellow. Had a tailswing accident today and I'm pissed. Two same directional lanes in south Minneapolis at Hennepin ave s at 25th st west, I'm turning from Hennepin onto 25th, pulled way out (crossover mirror about a foot away from the oncoming lane I'm turning into until back in my lane. Problem is, unlike y'all trucks, we're not supposed to j or button hook in any way to attempt to block, don't know why when I'm not in a 71 or 77 pass. Conventional, rather I have a Thomas 83 passenger transit, therefore I have 14 rows, meaning I'm actually 40 feet long by 10 feet wide, in a city that added bike lanes, taking space from our driving lane to build, then allowing all sides to have on street parking. I'm in my lane with about 2 inches each side of my lane if centered, but I am supposed to not block while taking a right? I need to make a square turn, also not nice when 4 wheelers are beyond their line. What am I supposed to do legally? Am I the idiot for being proper in techniqe? I use Smith constantly, but sometimes wonder why we need to be perfect and aren't allowed to hug to protect our lane when you guys (our big brothers are, and it's accepted, known and perfectly legal but not for us). I also think we need caution wide turn mud flaps as y'all have as well, seems no one understands that struggle and how it really puts us in harm's way.
Good points! I don't believe that the size of vehicles should have been allowed to grow to the point that the road infrastructure could not accommodate them. Yet here we are today where nothing bigger than a car can stay in its lane round a corner. It's a point that all law makers avoid. All a driver can do is his best to be safe and count on good luck and that's a sad state of affairs! Dave
not to mention, look at all the down time that impatient hog 4-wheeler caused on a downtown major intersection. Just foolish of people like that to be behind the wheel
Yup well said ... the nerve that cop had... like we don’t give up enough of our spare time to keep the store shelves stocked by doing this job that the general public or law authority’s are told when in doubt blame the guy behind the wheel of the truck :s
in cases like his story is why im in favor of having cameras mounted on the outside of the trucks to cover all angles. Not all truckers will have a camera and most cops will try to drag the truck driver through the mud.
I have recently been put in some trucks that don't have the peep window in the lower passenger door. Unlike the classic W900, Pete 379, Mack Granite, etc. Paccar is excluding it from the new T680 and T880 trucks. Not even an option. Little cars love to sneak right into that spot especially in your example of dual right hand turn lanes or when you're in the hammer lane and need to get back over. I am wondering what some other seasoned drivers think about this. Paccar would tell you just put those ugly looking blind spot mirrors on the fenders....
I'm surprised by that. Do the new T680 and T880 all come with those drop down door sills? Maybe Paccar thinks those are a substitute for the peep windows. I think those widows are a good idea, though I have heard that if someone wants to break into the truck, those windows make it pretty easy. Maybe that's why Paccar doesn't want to use them. Dave
Yes they have the drop-down window which helps some but not nearly as much. Especially for lower obstructions like curbs that can be great to know about. Backing up for example. Depends if you want to sit uncomfortably high too, just for passenger side visibility. They could at least make it optional - my guess was they may have wanted to use a cheaper window mechanism than what is necessary with a peep window. Or the Marketing Directors want them to be more Volvo-ish. In any case, I was hoping buyers may speak up if they like/need/want them as a feature so they don't do away with them entirely. The W900 has the door-sill drop and the peep window, great side visibility.
Andrew, pulling a 53 footer around a corner, in the right lane, won't work, your trailer tires will end up going over the curb and that is an automatic ticket, if caught, also if your trailer tires run over a person's toes, while they wait to cross the street, also gets u a worse ticket. so what u do, if you have a 2 lane road, is put ur trailer in the right lane and you truck in the left lane, to make a right turn. the trailer will follow the truck, and you have to go slow, and make sure the trailer tires stay in the curb well, your trainer will show you how its done
What I do when Im Rochester N.Y.and have to turn right in a 2 right turn lanes I always put my truck and trailer in both lanes so nobody can get around me.
I'm with you 100% HAND,I'M RETIRED NOW BUT STARTED ABOUT WHEN YOU DID.SO SPEAKING WITH 37 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING A CLASS A TRUCK AND TWO AND A HALF MILLION MILES WITH THAT I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOUR COMING FROM. THIS IS JUST ONE I'LL TELL YOU ,GOT OFF AT MY EXIT WAS ABOUT EIGHT CARS IN FRONT OF ME ,WE WERE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN SO WE COULD ALL GO SAFELY TO THE RIGHT .WELL ONE CAR COMES UP THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT OF EVERYBODY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT LIKE WE WERE DOING SO WHEN HE GETS BESIDE ME HE PULLS THE LEFT FRONT FENDER OF HIS CAR IN FRONT OF MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF ME BECAUSE HIS CAR WON'T FIT BETWEEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THE FRONT OF MY TRACTOR .NOW THERE WASN'T BUT TEN OF US THERE ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS GET BEHIND ME AND EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE WORKED OUT JUST RIGHT ,HE WOULD HAVE EVEN MADE IT THROUGH THE LIGHT WHILE IT WAS STILL GREEN .SO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN EVERYBODY TOOK OFF INCLUDING ME ,OF COURSE I HIT HIS LEFT FENDER OF HIS CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS STUPID ENOUGH TO PULL MORE INTO THE FRONT OF THE TRACTOR AND HE DID WHEN HE realized that he needed to be getting back on to the shoulder and while he was doing that I had side swiped the whole left side of his car ,of course he jumps out of the car BLAMING it on me and at the same time got back in the car and moved it to the rear of the trailer and told me when he got out the second time that he was going to tell the police that I turned onto the shoulder and side swiped him ON PURPOSE .THANK GOD FOR THE WITNESSES ,THEY TOLD THE POLICE THAT HE PULLED HIS CAR INTO THE PATH OF MY TRUCK WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WHEN I GOT THROUGH TALKING TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS TO HOW IT HAPPENED BY HIM PULLING HIS CAR IN FRONT OF THE TRACTOR WHILE IT WAS MOVING WITH THE FLOW OF THE EIGHT CARS IN FRONT OF ME he wound up paying for the damage to his car and the damage to the RIGHT FRONT FENDER OF MY PETERBUILT. Would that be Poetic Justice? JJM IN MONTGOMERY ALABAMA SENT
Just stick to the inner right turning lane and execute the turn properly not going to wide on the turn and you won't have to worry about a situation like that. I never go in the outer lane, most of the time their is some "Hotdog" trying to squeeze through!
Those are the same people that get hit by trains and blame the train
It's always the bigger thing's fault
Lets just get rid of all the trucks and all the problems they create because of other people's actions just for 1 week (2 weeks so it really sets in) and when there's no gas at the station, food in the grocery store, clothes in the dept store...etc etc, then maybe people will start to respect the importance of trucking
Well said
YUP. WE ARE UNDERAPPRECIATED. PEOPLE THINK THINGS JUST APPEAR AT STORES BY MAGIC.
The trucking industry keeps pushing for larger and larger trucks. 42 feet, then 48 feet, then 53 feet, and now pushing for 60 feet. Nonsensical regulations make it harder to earn a viable living, so trucker get flabbergasted, and give up to find a new career.... and yet the trucking companies scratch their heads "Hey, why did everyone leave?"
YUP!! Dave
I am an 3rd generation ex-truck driver turned policeman then back to trucking after leaving the department. Police departments cannot tell officers who to charge in the accident. It is up to the officer to do a through investigation, get verbal statements, investigate the physical evidence at the scene, apply the correct law and issue citations accordingly. Common sense prevails, although not all officers have that. Generally, citations are issued, in part, to show who was at fault to assist in the insurance claims filed after the accident to protect the non-offending driver. As this accident has been described, I would have issued a citation to the 4 wheeler for not yielding to the over sized vehicle which was already in the intersection. Dave did a great job of documenting the accident and it paid off.
I'm not a trucker, but I've been watching several videos related to trucking and I now have a great understanding of the operation of a semi. I have consciously made an effort to be more respectful of the needs of the truck operator. I believe it would be helpful to instruct new non-commercial drivers on the ability of truck operators in relation to speed, stop distance and turning radius and make I a part of the test for non-commercial drivers. Maybe the trucker's union could push for such a requirement to help reduce accidents or a TV commercial campaign to inform the public. Oh wait the hell I'm I think. These A-hole drivers tailgate, text, eat and do everything else but drive when behind the wheel. I must be living in a fantasy world.
Carriers need to be far more conscientious as to who they put behind the wheel of their trucks.Currently it's embarrassing to the rest of us when we see some of the guys carriers hire. Dave
Actually, just those who get a driver's license need to u/stand trucks more thoroughly. Truckers can't dictate what drivers of cars do.
My friend thats does not possess a CDL of any class just had to take a test in Texas and for the first time I ever heard of, She had to answer questions on how to share the road with a truck (CMV) in combination, how to pass how far behind to travel to see the driver in his mirror, and if you can't see the driver in his mirror he can't see you. I was pleased to finally hear they require drivers of a car to understand stopping distance, the dangers of riding beside a truck and how far ahead before you return to your lane after passing. It's high time regulations be enforced in teaching a non CMV driver how to operate around a CMV, because if you investigate CMV vs Car accidents many time the car was in a position with the CMV that it would be hard to avoid, however the trucker who possess a CDL is the professional driver and automatically at fault even when the CDL holder operator of a CMV many times did nothing illegal to cause the accident. Now I myself don't allow myself to get into a situation where the 4 wheeler can cause a problem I scan my mirrors and my truck has enough power I can keep my truck in a safe position and away from cars most of the time. I've successfully logged 2.75 million miles accident and moving violation free because I keep a distance from unsafe drivers and situations...
Truck/trailer, pedestrians, bicycles, farm equipment, motorcycles and in some states light aircraft all might share the road. The licensing of any of these vehicle operators should require adequate knowledge of these vehicles to reduce conflicts.
You so right.
I'm a Truckdriver in Germany and i know this problem ... I'm transport steel and sometimes with overlenght.
Always take both lanes ... it's simple but works. When you drive a Truck ( and not a Smart ) take the space you need and make you big ... that is the best thing you can do 😎👍
Thank you for the Video 👍
Yup!
What's the point in calling us professional drivers if we don't get treated like one.
Good point! Dave
You, sir, are a credit to the trucking industry. Excellent video. Thank for your perspective on this issue
Thanks! Dave
Well said, glad you took it to court and won. It's very hard to get everyone in 4 wheelers to understand what that truck has to do to get through cities as well as on the freeways too.
In Austrialia, all the trucks have signs of them say " Beware of turning vehicle" which gives them the legal right to track wide when turning.
Smart! Man, they're doing stuff right down there! Dave
In America, we have signs on our trailers that say, "caution, this vehicle makes wide turns," but Americans are stupid and incapable of figuring out what those specific words mean when put together in a sentence.
That's what I was about to say.
I had a car pass me while I was in a right turn. Happened in cdl school! They went on the shoulder to get by.
It's amazing what they'll try. You can never take your eye off them. Dave
Justin Kegley Been driving 16 years myself and I see that on a regular basis. You will too. Be safe
Damn truck drivers! Ruining my day by slowing me down on my way to walmart! 😂😂
cobratrick96
Would not have anything on the shelf at the Walmart if it wasn't brought by a truck
I had a guy hit my steer axle in salt lake City. I was making a wide right turn into a customer and this yoyo cuts through the breakdown lane. He got a ticket I got 3 more days in salt lake than I wanted. The hardest part was the companies safety people declared it preventable. But then a month later declared it non preventable. More idiots that never drove making our lives difficult.
You got that right! Dave
Early in my military career I drove trucks for the Army. Growing up in the 70's and early 80's truckers were a big deal and many movies were made about them. I have always held a high level of respect for truckers and their trucks. I will ALWAYS ensure to give truckers the room they need and signal them to let them know they are clear. I have even ran interference so that they can get into the lane they want by holding back traffic for them..plus I have a CB to let them know, although it seems fewer truckers are using CB these days..
How about our rigs navigating traffic roundabouts that are laid out for cars? Fun times huh?
Aren't those the stupidist damn things you've ever seen? Makes you wonder whose decision that was. Ministry of Transport out in left field on that one. Dave
Good for you for taking that charge to court you re-enforced my faith in our judicial system. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Many, if not most, 4 wheelers have some sort of problem with trucks. They think that they must pass them, no matter the conditions. As a former driver, I'm not so hasty. Besides, I have noticed that modern tractors accelerate faster than the rigs I drove in the 70's. Being retired, I find no reason to exceed the speed limits.
You are 100% right! But what I did was when I got into town I would move my tandems all of the way to the front. Weight be dammed! Turning radius equals #1. That's how I used to deliver in NY City.
My strat for NYC is the get no closer to that place than Baltimore.
I will haul produce out of Cali to SC every week before I ever go north of Maryland.
There should Be A NATION WIDE LAW That When Tractor Trailers are Making RIGHT TURNS? Vehicles Behind The Trailer SHOULD REMAIN AT LEAST 25 FEET BEHIND THE TRACTOR TRAILER UNTIL IT HAS COMPLETED THE TURN... Not Unlike The Laws for School Buses...
commonman80 , That is a good idea.
I use the same button nose setup to make tight turns. Some cars WILL without a doubt, sneak in or drive on the shoulder to beat you. Ive had close calls in the past but thats just about it. If I see any car trying to sneak in the inner lane as i make the turn, Ill just use my train horn. Some people grow up not knowing what wrong is. We Truckers shouldn't be scared to right a wrong or the wrong will continue to be the wrong.
that police department needs to change their mandates
Being a city delivery driver for 11 years, this was a situation I encountered hundreds of times every day. It took extreme diligence, patience, and a lot of good luck to avoid idiot drivers. I'll put it this way..... I wouldn't want to go back and do it all over again!! LOL
I never had the patience it takes to be a good city driver. I'd have ended up snapping. [I mean more than I already have] . Dave
I just started trucking and love this job! I have listened to many of your videos and they have all been great! Thanks for all of your info and your stories!
Thanks for addressing this issue. The industry needs to address this and other issues publicly an d if necessary, purchase advertising space ... aka public service ad space ... in this case, paid for ... to bring these issues to the attention to all drivers. The industry should not accept this and should support THEIR people ... the truck driver!
Same thing happened to me in Charlottesville Virginia in 2017. Only thing was, it was a single right turn lane with a bike lane and a woman tried to pass and turn on the bike lane. Charlottesville officers cited me but I was able to beat it in court on account I took up the lane (and she behind me) and she still tried to pass me on the right. Another woman said she saw the whole thing favoring the woman behind me but at the time, I did not know she was coming from the opposite direction which the officer admitted in court. My retort was how did she see this if she saw this coming from the other direction (Mike trailer blocking her view that is)? When the officer admitted this in court it really left me at a conundrum why the officer did not put two and two together to deduct this! This was a hard lesson in which I learned that we really do have the deck stacked against us, as truck drivers.
Such an intelligent,articulate driver,able to thoroughly explain his situation.
Love the trucker stories, the video made a lot of sense. I'm a driver just in the process of getting my Restricted A license in Ontario Canada. I grew up with my dad since the age of 3 going almost every summer Christmas and March break in the truck and loved it. Through the years I've been to approx. 45 of the 50 states and from Quebec to B.C. in Canada. I always loved hearing trucker stories at the restaurants in the truck stops. You meet the nicest friendly people in my opinion in a truck stop restaurant.
I have to say, I am currently training for my CDL in Alberta. Due to COVID-19, there has been a delay. While I waited, I have spent hour upon hour watching You Tube videos and trucker vlogs. I have to say, after watching all the other videos about any topic in particular, I like to come back to your material. I know that I can trust your word and your experience to help guide me on a path to success. I thank you for your material and appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
I tell the new guys, "Take your half out of the middle". This way you have enough room to make a right turn without somebody being there. Had one guy with 2 wheels up the curb trying to get past a double set near town. He blasted his horn and then started cussing because he hit a fire hydrant. Once the Sheriff got there he was arrested for driving under the influence.
Man, I'd have paid money to see that one! Dave
In driving schools they always tell us. "It's always the Driver's Fault" . With this in mind when im behind that wheel I do everything possible to not give credibility to that statement. You do this by becoming cognizant of everything around me and what's ahead. IPDE live it love it and learn it.
Allow me to clarify myself: "Drivers" meaning the Truck Driver not those 4 "Wheelers".
more years ago, my grandfather did that to a guy in a sports car in a single right turn lane. except he didn't notice until the bogey went over the hood.
Well said and good information if I ever get in this situation although I will be trying to prevent it ! Watch out for the crazy four wheelers !
Dave you are a true professional and an asset to this industry.
I'm glad you found a reasonable judge. You did the right thing, you did the only possible thing, and you were correct ethically, morally, religiously, philosophically, reasonably, practically. But not legally in many jurisdictions. We are dependent on reasonable judges because the law in this matter, in most states, is not reasonable.
A truck driver acquaintance of mine was making a right turn into a very narrow two lane street with multiple cars parked on either side of the street in the way of the turn both high side and low side (no red zones on the corners). He had a 42 ft trailer but still needed to be in the outside Lane. As he set up, a bicyclist came on the inside in the bike lane. Not the brightest idea, but legal in California. The bicyclist has the right of way. The truck driver waited, as he should. An impatient lady behind him drove around him on the inside, striking the curb to squeeze by, fatally drove over the bicyclist and drug the body for a city block before stopping. After calling 911 the truck driver had the state of mind to take pictures of everything from every angle. Multiple officers arrived at the scene. The woman was allowed to drive home the truck driver was arrested at the scene. The district attorney argued in court that the trailer and cab of the truck should have been both within in the right turn lane and both blocking the bicycle lane. The truck driver was convicted of manslaughter and served time in jail. The lady was not charged. She sued him. The suit failed. The judge in that case stated on the record that the truck driver had done nothing incorrectly. Tha family of the bicyclist also unsuccessfully sued. That judge also stated no wrongdoing on the part of the truck driver. The woman was never charged.
I love your videos because everything you say is true! I always set up my right hand turns way in advance and I did not care at all if I was blocking traffic because that was the only way I could maneuver my rig for the turn. It became even more of a problem if my duelies on the trailer were slid all the way back. I am so glad now that I am retired. I don't think I would like to return to the trucking industry with all of this non sense that is coming down the pike!
Driver from nycta here, we are told to always cover the right side. A lot of other drivers don't like it since we take 2 Lanes of traffic but almost never had any right side accident in24 year's of driving a 60foot bus in Manhattan
Then whatever you're doing is obviously working! Dave
Driving a 53' in Chicago I always thought and observed if they would take all four corners of an intersection and move all lights and obstacles back 6' that would greatly improve mobility in turning onto the city streets.
I hear you there. I was in Ontario Canada and believe it or not I had a woman try to beat me on the driver side all because I had to take the opposing lane to make the right hand turn.
i had to pull an empty 57 footer, from Salt Lake City to Phoenix once. i'm just glad i didn't have to move around corners, in the city. i did get a ticket for over-length in Utah. forgot to get the permit at the terminal ended up paying out of pocket $125. :)
Hi ST,
In the UK most truck and bus's have stickers on the rear of the vehicle showing just what you described at the beginning of your video. Also I have noticed a lot of trucks have repeater turn lights along the trailer sides. Which is easy to do with a dedicated trailer but would need tie on extension leads and lamps for drop and hook jobs. A friend who drives for a large supermarket carries a complete rear light board set up, as a lot of trailers have damaged or no rear lights.
All so there are stickers warning cyclists of the squeeze danger from trucks and buses, a big problem in our city's. London bus companies are carrying out rider awareness, they get cyclists to sit in the drivers seat and see where the driver has problems not seeing them. they use guys to walk up each side of the bus and the cyclist has to shout out when one is seen, of course while looking left he's missing the guy on the right.
Another prevention is an inclusion at driver examination centers. To tell new drivers about the hazards of large vehicle incidents.
The trucking industry needs to lobby state officials more to get roads altered and/or signage installed, to make turns safer.
BS
I agree with you mate. I always try to block both lanes to try and prevent this scenario. The still try to sneak through though. Here in the UK, they arrest the trucker until they've investigated... right or wrong. we are the lowest of the low in the eyes of the law and the public...
You got a nice judge.. we had a similar accident.. only this time they went as far as checking our service records etc etc. They wanted us at fault no matter what. Until insurance lawer came along and fought the case its when the case was dismissed.
this is why I always turn from the furthest right lane and if needed jug handle the tractor. much easier to block and defend the other turn lane that is on the driver side.
This is why you turn from the right lane and take the left lane in the turn. That prevents any accident.
I would use both turning lanes to keep this from happening
yep you got one trailer .im a truck driver in Australia and i tow two trailers at the same time they are combined length of around 70 feet give or take a foot or three and the trailers are getting longer what fun we have lol
Tandem trailers track the same, so it matters not if you've got 70' or 100'. Sure, more time to complete a turn, but each trailer follows the path set by the proceeding trailer.
signaling does not give you the right of way to merge. It remains your sole responsibility when you break the lane of traffic and the right of way of the vehicle in it. The judge may have dismissed the summons for carelsss driving but I would bet the house that insurance took at minimum half the fault and likely all of it to avoid litigation that would not hold up. Like it or not your changing lanes and in doing so it is your responsibility to yield.
Drivers are either in a "me first" rush or they're oblivious "slowpokes". Or they don't know how to merge onto or off of the interstate properly. And then there are the lovely "brake checkers". Gotta be alert and watch out for everybody on the road.
i drove an Army 5 ton wrecker truck for a long time. i never never never let my reg pick up get beside a BIG truck. EVER
Smart practice!
your an awesome person,love listening to old timers tell it how it is.
I deliver downtown Pittsburgh. Twice a week. It is just like that every time. I try to be defensive and take up two lanes every chance I can. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Amen, city, state and the DOT always want to throw 100% of blame on the truck when 65 % of the time it's the fault of the person trying to drive a 4wheeler and pulling a stunt just like you explained.. and a good majority of Truck Drivers will accept the blame rather than take it before a Judge, and that just make even more difficult on the trucker...
Dave, I've had that happen to me many times and the police still dont understand how and why a truck has to swing wide to make a turn, that's why I totally believe that if you are going to be any law enforcement officer,it should be mandatory in their training that he or she RIDE WITH A TRUCKER FOR A MONTH and see how it's done and witness first hand the idiots in the smaller vehicles that try to beat you around the corner,
And MAYBE just MAYBE the officer will get it through their thick skulls not to blame the trucker upon arriving at the scene.
That is a great idea and one I've never heard before Kenny! I don't know what else to say but if we could make that happen I truly believe everyone would benefit. I'm going to mention that idea to a cop I know. Dave
Regardless of specific laws or what some handbook might say it's really the responsibility of the truck driver to protect their blind side, and by that I mean always stay as far right as possible. It's never a good idea to start into an intersection from the outside lane of a right hand turn because you've lost all ability to negotiate a situation with other drivers. It is far safer to move into the outside lane (if needed) from the inside where you can have better vision of traffic around you as well as be able to make eye contact with the other drivers and be able to communicate clearly your intention to take the lane.Yes, it can be a bit more frustrating because you'll sometimes have to wait for a space to move into, but at least you can actually see how much space you have.
My Theory is Let The Truck Go First or the car will loose: Not Hard To Figure Out: A little common sense and patients always works
unfortunately, common sense isn't a requirement to get your Class C license
You don't HAVE the time to do so in many cases. You don't know a vehicle is there UNTIL you're in your turn...they're not lining up behind you notifying you of their intention. They play the game of "Beat The Big Rig" driving on two lane roads, entering right hand turns, etc, etc...
That's the problem with common sense; it's not common anymore
***patience, not patients
Commenting from New Zealand where we drive on the other side of the road. In the beginning of November last year, I saw an accident between a truck driver and a small four wheeler/car along Neilson Street, turning left into Captain Springs Road. Neilson Street being a two lane and Captain Springs being a single lane. Don't know whose fault it is - I would wager it would be the four wheeler speeding up in the left lane and being in the truck driver's blind spot or just not paying attention to the indicators of the truck and understanding that at the very least, for the truck driver to make the turn without the tail of the truck taking out the power pole close to the corner, the truck driver needs to turn left from the outside lane due to size of trailer or at least 'lane share' to make the turn. This would have been just before 0800h and the car got a decent scrape down the driver's side so the driver of the car would have got a hell of a fright. No severe injury to person, just severe injury to panel work of car. I was waiting at the lights on Captain Springs Rd side where truck was turning into, waiting to turn left into Neilson Street. Not nice to see but I wouldn't imagine too uncommon an accident. I didn't stick around because there would have been other witnesses that would have seen it from start to finish and perhaps seen who was at fault. Though that said, enough people would say that it was the truck driver's fault because they don't understand how a truck that size needs to maneuver. Perhaps the cop in Dave's case fell into that category which is why Dave was automatically at fault by the cop's standards but the Judge knew better.....
someone in my family was driving a tandem dump and got t boned in an intersection by a half ton while he had the green light and the pick up had the red and they still tried to blame him for it, they even said why do you care it's not your truck it's the companies which makes it that much better I guess :/
The driver's manual for the state of South Carolina clearly states that trucks are required to make their swing wide on the road they are turning onto. This would indicate that in dual turn lanes you are expected to keep your trailer within your lane.
I'm surprised with today's technology they have not added steering to the trailers to allow them to swing out with the turn. I believe some ladder fire trucks in NY have rear steering....
I wouldn't be surprised to see that coming. You've probably seen that on the "jeeps" underneath oversized loads as well. Dave
I know alot of truckers hate the town near where I live.The only way through it is 90 degree turn go about a city block and another 90 degree turn all 2 lane then an 11 percent grade depending which direction they are going climbing it or descending it then the 90 degree turns.
Sounds like a fun town, it's not Bangor is it? Dave
It is Leslie,Arkansas.A small town with alot of truck traffic going through it.State Hwy 66 is Main street.
Thank you for your response. But maybe you can explain it in a video. On how driver's find out about the trailer length for different state and regulations.
Well I was taught keep traffic to my side. Even if I have to wait a cycle or two.
I experienced something like this, but in a pickup truck turning into a barn driveway (very tight, about a 135 degree turn). I signaled well in advance. nobody in the oncoming lane so I swung wide. Next thing I know, I see some dummy trying to pass me on the right. Thankfully he must have gotten a clue as to what I was doing and he backed off.
As a 4 wheeler, one of my pet peeves is stupid drivers who stop way in front of the stop line at a light, and the resulting havoc because the whole conga line needs to back up so a truck can make the turn.
This happen to be on maryland but I was lucky and spotted and manage to stop I was driving a 48 ft trailer flatbed split axel .. be safe out there
You have the best trucking videos out there.
Thanks Matt! Dave
I don't think people now even remember their drivers test. I distinctly remember when I was 16 years old they told you that if a truck is trying to make a sharp right turn, NEVER squeeze in between the truck and the curb. YOU WILL GET SQUISHED!
You'd certainly think people would remember stuff that could get them killed but apparently not! Dave
The mandate is because the fines for big rigs are much bigger than for cars. Just like licenses plates can cost hundreds of dollars rather than tens of dollars for a car.
As a truck mechanic (1977 to 1986), one of the drivers was explaining the three stickers he got from Illinois. The first sticker proved that the fuel use tax had been paid. The second sticker proveded the road use tax had been paid. The third sticker proved that the tax to get the first two stickers had been paid.
The funny thing I thought as as soon as you said you always carry a camera was “Damn! I need to start carrying a camera. Why have I never carried a camera. Then I realized I always have my cell phone 🤦🏽♂️ I’m 36 so I remember a time when I had to be home to take a call 😆 I also remember buying those disposable camera.
Any 2 or 4 wheeler foolish enough to be challenging a big rig has a death wish . And as they say...."be careful what you wish for..."
My instructor was 74 years old in 1964 and in the 30s and 40s turn signals were an option on trucks and most cars. He said truckers used to flash their clearance lights so nearby traffic would know the trucker was going to vary from the lane he was in and give him room to maneuver. The idea of that being possible today is laughable. I've been in a situation where when I was making a right turn with a 53 foot trailer some guy tried to pass me on the right even though there was only one turning lane. If not for the fender mirror I'd have squashed him like a bug. A block down the street the guy who was behind us got beside me and said he thought I was going to squash him and in fact he thought I should have.
not only did I like and subscribe two thumbs up for his beautiful Co driver in life
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well said, thinking of becoming an owner/operator too, good vids
I hate double right turn lanes. I always use the left one.
Ok back in the yearly 80s the trailer was 40feet long n 93wide
When in doubt take both turn lanes🇺🇸🇺🇸
The words of a wise man, Great topic thank you.
You're absolutely right, it's the 4wheelers fault 98% of the time. As for drivers, were the elite on the roadway. Let's continue that higharcy.
I agree with you . You should remember before all that you checked that the government person in the car was okay . It sounded like all you were worried about was proving your innocence .
There's a reason why it's called professional driver's.
Just think Walmart is talking about a 60ft trailer with three axles 😂😂😂
Wow, what a rule togo by!! Glad it ruled in your favor!!💯
Me too! Thanks for watching!
Smart trucking, I'd love to add something that just happened to me today. I'm not a trucker, but one that even truckers hate, I'm big yellow. Had a tailswing accident today and I'm pissed. Two same directional lanes in south Minneapolis at Hennepin ave s at 25th st west, I'm turning from Hennepin onto 25th, pulled way out (crossover mirror about a foot away from the oncoming lane I'm turning into until back in my lane. Problem is, unlike y'all trucks, we're not supposed to j or button hook in any way to attempt to block, don't know why when I'm not in a 71 or 77 pass. Conventional, rather I have a Thomas 83 passenger transit, therefore I have 14 rows, meaning I'm actually 40 feet long by 10 feet wide, in a city that added bike lanes, taking space from our driving lane to build, then allowing all sides to have on street parking. I'm in my lane with about 2 inches each side of my lane if centered, but I am supposed to not block while taking a right? I need to make a square turn, also not nice when 4 wheelers are beyond their line. What am I supposed to do legally? Am I the idiot for being proper in techniqe? I use Smith constantly, but sometimes wonder why we need to be perfect and aren't allowed to hug to protect our lane when you guys (our big brothers are, and it's accepted, known and perfectly legal but not for us). I also think we need caution wide turn mud flaps as y'all have as well, seems no one understands that struggle and how it really puts us in harm's way.
Good points! I don't believe that the size of vehicles should have been allowed to grow to the point that the road infrastructure could not accommodate them. Yet here we are today where nothing bigger than a car can stay in its lane round a corner. It's a point that all law makers avoid. All a driver can do is his best to be safe and count on good luck and that's a sad state of affairs! Dave
not to mention, look at all the down time that impatient hog 4-wheeler caused on a downtown major intersection. Just foolish of people like that to be behind the wheel
Everything you have said is spot on!
Your videos are always instructive!! Congratulations! The videos are realistic and address critical topics!
Glad you like them!
On one straddle ended up with one on each side. Just had to wait for them to go first
Great story, appreciate all your videos and sharing your knowledge.
You forgot to mention, Dave, where the tandems were placed in all of this.
Yup well said ... the nerve that cop had... like we don’t give up enough of our spare time to keep the store shelves stocked by doing this job that the general public or law authority’s are told when in doubt blame the guy behind the wheel of the truck :s
I had the same thing happen to me .the car driver came down right hand shoulder ask I'm making right hand turn no tickets was issued to me .
All drivers need to practice common since when it comes to being near semi trucks.
That's right!
in cases like his story is why im in favor of having cameras mounted on the outside of the trucks to cover all angles. Not all truckers will have a camera and most cops will try to drag the truck driver through the mud.
I have recently been put in some trucks that don't have the peep window in the lower passenger door. Unlike the classic W900, Pete 379, Mack Granite, etc. Paccar is excluding it from the new T680 and T880 trucks. Not even an option. Little cars love to sneak right into that spot especially in your example of dual right hand turn lanes or when you're in the hammer lane and need to get back over. I am wondering what some other seasoned drivers think about this. Paccar would tell you just put those ugly looking blind spot mirrors on the fenders....
I'm surprised by that. Do the new T680 and T880 all come with those drop down door sills? Maybe Paccar thinks those are a substitute for the peep windows. I think those widows are a good idea, though I have heard that if someone wants to break into the truck, those windows make it pretty easy. Maybe that's why Paccar doesn't want to use them. Dave
Yes they have the drop-down window which helps some but not nearly as much. Especially for lower obstructions like curbs that can be great to know about. Backing up for example. Depends if you want to sit uncomfortably high too, just for passenger side visibility. They could at least make it optional - my guess was they may have wanted to use a cheaper window mechanism than what is necessary with a peep window. Or the Marketing Directors want them to be more Volvo-ish. In any case, I was hoping buyers may speak up if they like/need/want them as a feature so they don't do away with them entirely. The W900 has the door-sill drop and the peep window, great side visibility.
Andrew, pulling a 53 footer around a corner, in the right lane, won't work, your trailer tires will end up going over the curb and that is an automatic ticket, if caught, also if your trailer tires run over a person's toes, while they wait to cross the street, also gets u a worse ticket. so what u do, if you have a 2 lane road, is put ur trailer in the right lane and you truck in the left lane, to make a right turn. the trailer will follow the truck, and you have to go slow, and make sure the trailer tires stay in the curb well, your trainer will show you how its done
What I do when Im Rochester N.Y.and have to turn right in a 2 right turn lanes I always put my truck and trailer in both lanes so nobody can get around me.
I'm with you 100% HAND,I'M RETIRED NOW BUT STARTED ABOUT WHEN YOU DID.SO SPEAKING WITH 37 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING A CLASS A TRUCK AND TWO AND A HALF MILLION MILES WITH THAT I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOUR COMING FROM. THIS IS JUST ONE I'LL TELL YOU ,GOT OFF AT MY EXIT WAS ABOUT EIGHT CARS IN FRONT OF ME ,WE WERE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN SO WE COULD ALL GO SAFELY TO THE RIGHT .WELL ONE CAR COMES UP THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT OF EVERYBODY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT LIKE WE WERE DOING SO WHEN HE GETS BESIDE ME HE PULLS THE LEFT FRONT FENDER OF HIS CAR IN FRONT OF MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF ME BECAUSE HIS CAR WON'T FIT BETWEEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THE FRONT OF MY TRACTOR .NOW THERE WASN'T BUT TEN OF US THERE ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS GET BEHIND ME AND EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE WORKED OUT JUST RIGHT ,HE WOULD HAVE EVEN MADE IT THROUGH THE LIGHT WHILE IT WAS STILL GREEN .SO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN EVERYBODY TOOK OFF INCLUDING ME ,OF COURSE I HIT HIS LEFT FENDER OF HIS CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS STUPID ENOUGH TO PULL MORE INTO THE FRONT OF THE TRACTOR AND HE DID WHEN HE realized that he needed to be getting back on to the shoulder and while he was doing that I had side swiped the whole left side of his car ,of course he jumps out of the car BLAMING it on me and at the same time got back in the car and moved it to the rear of the trailer and told me when he got out the second time that he was going to tell the police that I turned onto the shoulder and side swiped him ON PURPOSE .THANK GOD FOR THE WITNESSES ,THEY TOLD THE POLICE THAT HE PULLED HIS CAR INTO THE PATH OF MY TRUCK WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WHEN I GOT THROUGH TALKING TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS TO HOW IT HAPPENED BY HIM PULLING HIS CAR IN FRONT OF THE TRACTOR WHILE IT WAS MOVING WITH THE FLOW OF THE EIGHT CARS IN FRONT OF ME he wound up paying for the damage to his car and the damage to the RIGHT FRONT FENDER OF MY PETERBUILT. Would that be Poetic Justice? JJM IN MONTGOMERY ALABAMA SENT
Trucks must use the far right lane for either a left or right hand turn if there are 2 lanes for turning.
Can you cite the regulations requiring that?
Most of the time it's the lady on a cell phone texting. But she put it away before the police gets their.
Just stick to the inner right turning lane and execute the turn properly not going to wide on the turn and you won't have to worry about a situation like that. I never go in the outer lane, most of the time their is some "Hotdog" trying to squeeze through!