Sharing The Road With Semi's

Camben said:

Caz, could help me to understand the whole headlight flipping and tail light flashing while trucks pass on the highway.  What is expected out everyone on the road in regards to passing etiquette?  I've had this happen several times but still unsure what to do.  Thanks

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It is as others have said - Sometimes truckers will flash lights at each other to let the one in front know they are going to try to pass them.  After passing, the truck behind will flash their lights letting the passer know it is safe to come back over.  The passer then flashes tail lights to thank the trucker behind for the assistance.

In the dark, it is doubly hard for them to gage an assured cleared distance.  If one is passing you in the dark, do let them know when it is safe for them to come back over - be sure to give them enough space in front of you so the wind sheer does not rock you.  A quick flash of your headlights is all it takes as they are scanning the mirrors as they pass.

Some will thank you, others may not.

They may also flash lights at each other to warn of possible dangers in the road ahead - a herd of deer by the road, etc.  Pay attention to that, too.

Stay alert when trucks pass you in the winter, too.  The tires kick up lots of slush, ice builds up around their tires and can break off, or fly off - and the wind can rip off huge slabs of snow and ice from their roofs.  Stay back - keep a good distance between you!

hoddinron said:

Good stuff, CAZ.  I always yield to trucks getting onto the highway if possible.  And leave my rig out where truckers can see its taking up a lane at rest stops.  What's the deal with disabled parking lanes in rest stops for trucks?  Are there a lot of disabled truck drivers?  Maybe that's for disabled RVers.

Ron

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You're doing it right, Ron!  As for handicapped spots at the rest areas - you won't find any disabled truck drivers - they have to pass a pretty rigid physical every year.  Those spots are there for others who use the truck parking like RV's and smaller trucks towing longer loads, and so on.  State / Federal mandates, you know.

Arch Hoagland said:

Thanks for the post caz, excellent information.

I might add..never run side by side with an 18 wheeler. If you are going to pass him do it and do it promptly.

I was in a Miata overtaking an 18 wheeler when his driver side outside rear tire exploded. I missed being hit by the tread luckily but developed a respect for exploding tires.

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Not only that, Arch, but they have big blind spots, too.  Traveling next to, or just behind their door, they can not see you!  It is always best to get around them quickly and safely.

On blind spots,I've seen it here and other places, that if you can't see their mirror, they can't see you. Actually, it should be if you can't see their face in the mirror, they can't see you. One can see their mirror, and still be in their blind spot.

On Following A Semi Rig....

Especially in bad weather - know that they are struggling with the snow / fog / rain / night time / construction just like you are.  They have no advantages - and even less than you do.

They will follow each other at night, especially on those long and lonesome highways for company, and mostly for assistance if something goes wrong.  They will trade off taking the lead.  They will keep each other alert by chatting. 

If following in a construction zone, keep a distance; cones and barrels can be dislodged, and the wind sheer from opposing traffic can swing an empty trailer something fierce.

They don't mind if you are there - just maintain a safe distance for both of you, remembering that your headlights if too close can blind them.

kdbgoat said:

On blind spots,I've seen it here and other places, that if you can't see their mirror, they can't see you. Actually, it should be if you can't see their face in the mirror, they can't see you. One can see their mirror, and still be in their blind spot.

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If you are following them, they can see you and know you are there if you can see their mirrors.  If passing them, they can see you if you can see their face in the mirror.  Once you lose their face, they may not be able to see you.

Get around them quickly, and give yourself and them lots of room when you pull back in.

That's what I was saying, you just said it better for me. Thanks. 8)

Talking about following truckers trough large cities or on the Interstates, I drive my motorhome very seldom in the dark and not at all in the snow since I am retired and I choose to avoid snowy conditions.

caz said:

  As for handicapped spots at the rest areas - you won't find any disabled truck drivers -

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I'm not sure about that..... I know of a couple guys that are still CDL-A drivers and have Handicap plaques.

What I didn't know.. is there were handicap semi parking spots at rest areas.

now I know where I'm parking...

caz said:

It is as others have said - Sometimes truckers will flash lights at each other to let the one in front know they are going to try to pass them.  After passing, the truck behind will flash their lights letting the passer know it is safe to come back over.  The passer then flashes tail lights to thank the trucker behind for the assistance.

In the dark, it is doubly hard for them to gage an assured cleared distance.  If one is passing you in the dark, do let them know when it is safe for them to come back over - be sure to give them enough space in front of you so the wind sheer does not rock you.  A quick flash of your headlights is all it takes as they are scanning the mirrors as they pass.

Some will thank you, others may not.

They may also flash lights at each other to warn of possible dangers in the road ahead - a herd of deer by the road, etc.  Pay attention to that, too.

Stay alert when trucks pass you in the winter, too.  The tires kick up lots of slush, ice builds up around their tires and can break off, or fly off - and the wind can rip off huge slabs of snow and ice from their roofs.  Stay back - keep a good distance between you!

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Thanks for the info,  I'm just a weekender with the once a year longer trip during the summer.  This is a great topic and is very helpful as I'm new to traveling with a trailer and getting myself into some weird situations.  This may show my stupidity... But what is this switch people are talking about.  ICC switch???  Is this something I have or just big trucks?  Thanks again

ICC switch is mostly on semi's and class A motorhomes. None are on a Tundra or any other pick-up for that matter. It is used to flash the clearance lights.

One item I'd add to the list is if possible don't take up a truck space at a rest area to spend the night.  I drove for 20+ years also and back about 15 years ago it was estimated that if every trucker were to stop for the night approx 40,000 of them would not be able to find a parking spot.  At least here in N.Y. I've never been told by law enforcement to get my 40' motorhome out of the car parking area where I've stopped several times over night.  I just park at 1 end or the other of the car area, and park parallel to the curb, and even put my slide out over the curb area.

But what is this switch people are talking about.  ICC switch???

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All my recent (not 1970s) class As have had the ICC switch. On the Bounder it was a switch with that label on the driver's console. On my diesel rig it's a switch on the "smart wheel" with an odd lighting symbol.

From my previous post in this thread:

Many motorhomes have that "ICC switch," which, when pressed, will turn on the clearance/tail lights if your headlights are off and turn them off if the headlights are on.

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From one revue found: ICC lights refer to the marker lights at the top of the front and rear caps. Turn on your headlights and have someone watch the marker lights while you press the ICC switch. They should see the marker lights flash.
From another article:
Expert Reply: ICC stands for Interstate Commerce Commission. An ICC light is on a switch, though it could also be wired into another circuit such as the running lights. It is basically so that when you flip the switch the marker lights will flash. Typically this was only found on commercial applications and in the trucking industry. (untill 1990)

Hello Caz,

As others have said, thanks for the wonderful post; we find it very instructive specially considering we're foreigners with limited driving experience in the US (not more than a few thousands miles in a half dozen trips).

I would like to ask for clarification regarding two parts of your post:

caz said:

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.
(...)
Give them plenty of time to maneuver using your turn signals and emergency flashers earlier than you would normally with just car traffic.

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It's very usual to do that in our country (Brazil) too. But a few years ago, when we were driving in California with a friend, we did just that (ie, used the emergency flashers to advise cars behind us that we're going to suddenly slow down due to a jam in front of us, right after a curve in the road), and he reprehended us strongly, saying it was "illegal and dangerous" to do so in the US. We of course complied and didn't do it anymore, but your post is the second one we read since then asserting that using the emergency flashers in such situations is not only OK but encouraged.

We emailed him pointing to your post, and he replied quoting the California Vehicle Code 25250 and 25251, which reads:

25250. Flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles except as otherwise permitted.

25251. (a) Flashing lights are permitted on vehicles as follows:

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It follows with a long list of situations (and exceptions to these situations) where the use of the flashers would be allowed, and in fact none of them seems to fit precisely the "I'm going slowly" or the "I'm going to slow down now" situations.

Can you please help us clarify that? We want to be safe (and the use of the flashers as you recommend clearly seem to conduce to more safety) but we also need to follow the law...

Thanks in advance,
--
  Vall and Mo

TonyDtorch said:

I'm not sure about that..... I know of a couple guys that are still CDL-A drivers and have Handicap plaques.

What I didn't know.. is there were handicap semi parking spots at rest areas.

now I know where I'm parking...

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Tony - are they still driving tractor trailer?  And have tags for their truck?  In some states, you can have it if you drive "Farm", are a yard jockey, and in some you can keep your CDL license and just not drive OTR. (Over the road)

VallAndMo said:

Hello Caz,

As others have said, thanks for the wonderful post; we find it very instructive specially considering we're foreigners with limited driving experience in the US (not more than a few thousands miles in a half dozen trips).

I would like to ask for clarification regarding two parts of your post:

It's very usual to do that in our country (Brazil) too. But a few years ago, when we were driving in California with a friend, we did just that (ie, used the emergency flashers to advise cars behind us that we're going to suddenly slow down due to a jam in front of us, right after a curve in the road), and he reprehended us strongly, saying it was "illegal and dangerous" to do so in the US. We of course complied and didn't do it anymore, but your post is the second one we read since then asserting that using the emergency flashers in such situations is not only OK but encouraged.

We emailed him pointing to your post, and he replied quoting the California Vehicle Code 25250 and 25251, which reads:

It follows with a long list of situations (and exceptions to these situations) where the use of the flashers would be allowed, and in fact none of them seems to fit precisely the "I'm going slowly" or the "I'm going to slow down now" situations.

Can you please help us clarify that? We want to be safe (and the use of the flashers as you recommend clearly seem to conduce to more safety) but we also need to follow the law...

Thanks in advance,
--
  Vall and Mo

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Only in California....(sigh)  I doubt very much they would pull you over for using your emergency flashers if you were using them correctly.  Every trucker is taught to use their emergency flashers going up hills / mountains, or if they come upon an emergency situation.  If you find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation like needing to slow down suddenly, it is always best to warn those coming up behind you of your situation, or of the situation in front of you.  Climbing a mountain for example;  you may have good speed as you approach, but as you begin to climb and slow down, turn your flashers on. Then, once you reach the top of the hill, turn them off.  Don't just run with them on; use them only as protective / emergency warnings.  Climbing those mountains or hills, always use the slow lane - and be mindful of the trucks struggling to get up those hills, too.  They are heavier than you and will often continue to slow - even more than you - as they approach the top.

If you need to pull over to the side of the road and stop, put on your emergency flashers.  Other drivers can see you better and get over.

It is all about Safety First!  Yours and the other drivers.

As for that code - which I have not read - could be that they are referring to Flashing Lights as those lights on Cop cars, and other emergency vehicles - not as the emergency flashers on cars.  They would not want just anyone to attach those types of lights to their vehicles.  I've been through the mountains and other places in CA, and I see trucks and other drivers using their emergency flashers as I've stated.

Nah, i'm pretty sure it's not just wacky california.  That's pretty much a universal rule that you should not run with your flashers on.  Put them on when stopped, not when you are rolling.

Cant Wait said:

One item I'd add to the list is if possible don't take up a truck space at a rest area to spend the night.  I drove for 20+ years also and back about 15 years ago it was estimated that if every trucker were to stop for the night approx 40,000 of them would not be able to find a parking spot.  At least here in N.Y. I've never been told by law enforcement to get my 40' motorhome out of the car parking area where I've stopped several times over night.  I just park at 1 end or the other of the car area, and park parallel to the curb, and even put my slide out over the curb area.

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Yep, we do the same thing.  Every truck parking space is at a premium overnight.  Very few cars stay overnight in the car lot.  Tucking away in a corner like you said in the car lot leaves a space open for that truck that has to shut down.

I would leave here a caution about stopping overnight in rest areas - stay alert and aware.  Although the DOT guys / state patrol may pop in now and then, there is very little security. 

Short Story; we were coming back out of CA after a run, stopped at a vacant - totally vacant - rest area outside Yuma.  Could not figure out why no one else was stopping.  Found out later it was a major drug exchange venue between US and Mexico. Very dangerous spot!  Never stopped there again.

Another potential stopping place are Casino parking lots.  If you eat or play there, most times they will let you stay. And now, many have electric hookups, or RV specific parking, and even their own camp grounds. 

This is part of the code mentioned above:  I would think a slow moving vehicle would definitely be a "hazard on the roadway" and flashers should be used to warn other motorists. 

To warn other motorists of accidents or hazards on a roadway, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights while the vehicle is approaching, overtaking, or passing the accident or hazard on the roadway if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

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