caz
Active member
This may be old hat for old-timers, but for newbies there could be good tips here...
As a retired Tractor-Trailer driver, and now full time RVer, I thought I might share some insights, tips, and safety factors about sharing the road with those big rigs.
First, let's look at the tractor trailer combo. Loaded, that baby is far heavier than you. It is going to take them more time to stop, more time to get up to speed, and more time to get up those hills and mountains. Give them room to get onto the highway; move over into an adjacent lane, if you can, as soon as you see them getting onto, or coming down the get-on ramp. Give them plenty of notice if you are turning off the highway or road. They require more time to stop or slow down. If you are slowing down while tackling a mountain or hill, put your emergency flashers on. This alerts everyone behind you that you are slow and requirering extra time.
Those big semi's push around an enormous amount of air, both in front and behind them. Be aware of that, especially on windy days. the best thing to do is to slow down so you stay in control of your own rig. The faster you go the less tire you have on the road. Between the wind and the wind sheer created by the semi's, you need plenty of tire on the pavement to stay safe. This is ten times more important if the road is also wet! Also, be sure your roof vents and windows are closed when you travel on windy days, or if you'll be traveling a route with lots of semi trucks.
Be mindful of the tires on those Semi's, too. They can heat up really fast, especially on hot days and in the mountains where there is a lot of stress on the tires, and they can blow out. Usually, there is a small puff of smoke just before the tire blows. Those tires can also kick up a lot of debris and lose stones, which can, if they hit your windshield, crack it, or if they hit your rig, leave a dent. The point is, leave yourself lots of room between your rig and that big rig! Rule of thumb is; If You Can't See Their Side Mirror, They Can't See You! Thus, they don't even know you are behind them! Semi Drivers will often move to the far right onto the shoulder to check to see what might be behind them, and then the tires kick up that shoulder garbage. They do it for safety; it's the only way they have to check to see if someone is following too closely.
It is not just the tires to keep an eye on, also be mindful of their air brakes, especially driving through a mountainous area. Those brakes can catch fire or fail altogether! The best thing you can do is keep a close eye, front and back of you, as you travel through the mountains and closely monitor the semi's around you! Give them plenty of room - especially if you pass one and then come back into your lane in front of them! Give them plenty of time to maneuver using your turn signals and emergency flashers earlier than you would normally with just car traffic.
If you come off an exit behind them, to a stop behind them, stay back a bit. That rig is going to roll backward just a bit before it starts going forward once the driver takes his foot off the brake. Keep some space between you and that semi rig.
In Rest Areas and Truck Stops
If you pull into a rest area and use the truck parking lot, be sure you park in such a way that you are not hidden from the big rig drivers. Don't pull all the way forward in the long parking space so it appears the space is open. Pull in so truck drivers can see that the spot is taken.
As for truck stops; be aware of your rig and the surrounding truck traffic. Bear in mind that these drivers are on a tight schedule, and or, can be tired and exhausted after a long day's drive. Truck stop managers are always going to cater to the semi rig drivers first because they spend the most money with them. Most newer truck stops are now adding RV diesel lanes. Use these lanes instead of the semi diesel lanes if at all possible.
Seek alternative overnight parking like at a Cabella's in the area if at all possible. Legally, these truck drivers -have- to shut their rigs down and stop driving after so many hours, so a spot for the night is imperative to them; they have no choice in the matter! They can be heavily fined and lose their jobs for not shutting down in time.
If you are going to stop overnight at a truck stop, watch the truck pattern around the diesel pumps, entrances and exits, and be sure you are out of the way of the wide swings the truckers need to make. Tuck yourself in a space that does not interfer with the comings and goings of the truck traffic, and be sure you pull-in in such a way that the spot you take does not look empty to a driver seeking an overnight spot.
Don't let your kids navigate the parking lot by themselves! Including the teenagers! Even experienced truck drivers are killed in the parking lots of rest areas and truck stops because another driver could not see them!
Let the manager of the truck stop know you are there and are going to spend the night. Let them know where you are parked. If they ask you to move to another part of the lot, do it gladly because there is certainly a reason for it. Don't put down your levelers! They can ruin the parking area and can make managers not want to allow further RV overnight parking. Don't put out your tip-outs and take up extra space. Be mindful as to how others can park around you. Park in such a way that your generator exhaust is not blowing into someone else's windows. Expect those semi rigs to idle all night long. Expect a lot of noise. Be polite, be aware, be patient. Be safe.
Truckers have one of the most dreadful, yet most necessary of jobs in the country. Without them, groceries and medicines, and everything needful across this country, stops. Give them the space to get their job done. Give yourself the space to stay safe around them.
As a retired Tractor-Trailer driver, and now full time RVer, I thought I might share some insights, tips, and safety factors about sharing the road with those big rigs.
First, let's look at the tractor trailer combo. Loaded, that baby is far heavier than you. It is going to take them more time to stop, more time to get up to speed, and more time to get up those hills and mountains. Give them room to get onto the highway; move over into an adjacent lane, if you can, as soon as you see them getting onto, or coming down the get-on ramp. Give them plenty of notice if you are turning off the highway or road. They require more time to stop or slow down. If you are slowing down while tackling a mountain or hill, put your emergency flashers on. This alerts everyone behind you that you are slow and requirering extra time.
Those big semi's push around an enormous amount of air, both in front and behind them. Be aware of that, especially on windy days. the best thing to do is to slow down so you stay in control of your own rig. The faster you go the less tire you have on the road. Between the wind and the wind sheer created by the semi's, you need plenty of tire on the pavement to stay safe. This is ten times more important if the road is also wet! Also, be sure your roof vents and windows are closed when you travel on windy days, or if you'll be traveling a route with lots of semi trucks.
Be mindful of the tires on those Semi's, too. They can heat up really fast, especially on hot days and in the mountains where there is a lot of stress on the tires, and they can blow out. Usually, there is a small puff of smoke just before the tire blows. Those tires can also kick up a lot of debris and lose stones, which can, if they hit your windshield, crack it, or if they hit your rig, leave a dent. The point is, leave yourself lots of room between your rig and that big rig! Rule of thumb is; If You Can't See Their Side Mirror, They Can't See You! Thus, they don't even know you are behind them! Semi Drivers will often move to the far right onto the shoulder to check to see what might be behind them, and then the tires kick up that shoulder garbage. They do it for safety; it's the only way they have to check to see if someone is following too closely.
It is not just the tires to keep an eye on, also be mindful of their air brakes, especially driving through a mountainous area. Those brakes can catch fire or fail altogether! The best thing you can do is keep a close eye, front and back of you, as you travel through the mountains and closely monitor the semi's around you! Give them plenty of room - especially if you pass one and then come back into your lane in front of them! Give them plenty of time to maneuver using your turn signals and emergency flashers earlier than you would normally with just car traffic.
If you come off an exit behind them, to a stop behind them, stay back a bit. That rig is going to roll backward just a bit before it starts going forward once the driver takes his foot off the brake. Keep some space between you and that semi rig.
In Rest Areas and Truck Stops
If you pull into a rest area and use the truck parking lot, be sure you park in such a way that you are not hidden from the big rig drivers. Don't pull all the way forward in the long parking space so it appears the space is open. Pull in so truck drivers can see that the spot is taken.
As for truck stops; be aware of your rig and the surrounding truck traffic. Bear in mind that these drivers are on a tight schedule, and or, can be tired and exhausted after a long day's drive. Truck stop managers are always going to cater to the semi rig drivers first because they spend the most money with them. Most newer truck stops are now adding RV diesel lanes. Use these lanes instead of the semi diesel lanes if at all possible.
Seek alternative overnight parking like at a Cabella's in the area if at all possible. Legally, these truck drivers -have- to shut their rigs down and stop driving after so many hours, so a spot for the night is imperative to them; they have no choice in the matter! They can be heavily fined and lose their jobs for not shutting down in time.
If you are going to stop overnight at a truck stop, watch the truck pattern around the diesel pumps, entrances and exits, and be sure you are out of the way of the wide swings the truckers need to make. Tuck yourself in a space that does not interfer with the comings and goings of the truck traffic, and be sure you pull-in in such a way that the spot you take does not look empty to a driver seeking an overnight spot.
Don't let your kids navigate the parking lot by themselves! Including the teenagers! Even experienced truck drivers are killed in the parking lots of rest areas and truck stops because another driver could not see them!
Let the manager of the truck stop know you are there and are going to spend the night. Let them know where you are parked. If they ask you to move to another part of the lot, do it gladly because there is certainly a reason for it. Don't put down your levelers! They can ruin the parking area and can make managers not want to allow further RV overnight parking. Don't put out your tip-outs and take up extra space. Be mindful as to how others can park around you. Park in such a way that your generator exhaust is not blowing into someone else's windows. Expect those semi rigs to idle all night long. Expect a lot of noise. Be polite, be aware, be patient. Be safe.
Truckers have one of the most dreadful, yet most necessary of jobs in the country. Without them, groceries and medicines, and everything needful across this country, stops. Give them the space to get their job done. Give yourself the space to stay safe around them.
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