StrangeWill

Thats actually pretty *****in' however, doesn't your GWVR break the limit for class B?

Probably not I guess.

Apollo

I've personally have never had any issues with professional (truck drivers) drivers. I have been deliberately forced or run off the road by "bubbas." Most people are nice and polite.

~Steve

Sledbikes

nope even if it did the troopers really wont hassle you

ATAC49er

Big trucks -- never. Pickups -- yeah, a lot! School/city buses -- !@#$%^&*!

KrisPistofferson

I used to drive a truck, and you'd be surprised, because just like cyclists and motorcyclists, most of their hatred is reserved for JAMs driving "four-wheelers." Oh, you'd be amazed at how many idiots will absolutely bust their tails to pass you on the left in rush hour traffic, then zip right in front of you and slam on the brakes, because their exit is right over there on the right. It must be the same people who look right at you then pull out in front of you anyway when you are on a motorcycle, or the people who tell you to "get on the sidewalk" when you are on a bicycle.

donnamb 

Last year, we had 2 cyclists die in collisions with trucks in Portland. The first was a cement truck right hooking and crushing a young woman and the second was a garbage truck who cut off and right hooked a cyclist going nearly the same speed as the truck was. There has been a lot of debate and argument about the causes of both deaths, but I think what everyone agreed upon is that truck drivers and cyclists needed to understand each other's perspectives a whole lot better. There's also some great safety equipment that make drastic reductions to pedestrian and cyclist mortality that are not required on trucks in North America and have been staunchly resisted by the trucking industry on this continent.

There's nothing the City of Portland can do about private trucks, but they can do something about their own vehicles - and so they are. The Bureau of Maintenance has put bash guards, informational stickers at cyclist level, and fish-eye mirrors that eliminate some of the worst blind spots on every truck in their fleet. At the Bike To Work Breakfast the city holds for us annually, they had a huge truck on site with a couple of drivers who are also bike commuters to show us around. We got to see the bash guards, the stickers, and the new mirrors. We also got to sit up in the driver's seat as the driver walked around the vehicle so we could see the blind spots for ourselves. We talked about being able to make eye contact with the driver in his mirror. Basic stuff, but it's clear not all cyclists out there know these things. It was especially great that they invited drivers who also ride - it virtually eliminated any tension that might otherwise have been present.

There's so much more to be done on both sides, but we have to start somewhere.

gpsblake

The only trucks I really have problems with around here are logging trucks in rural SC. Around here, they are paid by the load they haul and the more loads = more money for them so they tend to be at a hurry most of the time.

Some trucks do honk at me and when they do, I always pull over no matter the reason because I don't know what they are carrying or if it is a wide or special load so I'm assuming they are doing it for my safety.

Shoulders are almost non-existent around here.

AlmostTrick

I commute through a section that sees regular dump truck traffic, and I can't say the drivers treat me any different than the drivers of any other vehicle group.

One of the longest honks (and most cursing) I've ever received was from a dump truck driver while I was taking the lane. Yet once it was safe to do so, he passed me wide. There was one driver who would honk and then buzz me. He either gave up or got a new job.

It's easy to beat large trucks off the line, and easy to discourage their drivers from passing unsafely in a narrow lane. I have no quarrel with them, and they seem to have little with me.

nelson249

Most of my problems are with cars not trucks. I have only had two nasty incidents with trucks. A gravel truck blew me off the road passing at 100 km/h even though the opposite lane was completely clear of traffic. The other incident was when I waved thanking a trucker for giving me space and the idiot trucker behind him thought I gave the first guy the finger. Then he proceeded to force me off the road.

Torrilin

That squares with what the professional drivers I know tell me. They're also some of the safest car drivers I know. Very careful, very skilled, and not inclined to push the limits of the vehicle if it's not necessary. It's very rare for me to have a dangerous interaction with a driver who holds a CDL. If I do, often the error was mine, not theirs. Usually, I find school buses, construction vehicles and city buses try hard to drive to the same standard. I *really* appreciate it.

In return, I try to make myself visible. I'm sure someone with a CDL would find an invisible cyclist very scary, since they can't make sudden stops easily. Much better to stay out of their giant blind spots and be as predictable as possible for them.

Hickeydog

I haven't had a "bad" experience with semis, but I do wish they would give a little more room. None have come closer than 3' to me, but it always feels like they are about 5" away. A few have given me a friendly "double honk" to let me know that they are going to pass, but other than that, I haven't had problems with semis. Dump trucks, on the other hand, are worse than the Suburban soccer mom late for practice.

cminter

I try to give wide berth to any cyclist I see, I expect the number to increase as gas continues to rise. Unlike most OTR and dump truck drivers I get paid by the hour, this removes the hurry up to get paid incentive.

Here is a link to the current hours of service rules most of the previous posts are incorrect to some extent:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...ochure2005.htm

* Drivers may drive up to 11 hours in the 14-hour on-duty window after they come on duty following 10 or more consecutive hours off duty.
* The 14-hour on-duty window may not be extended with off-duty time for meal and fuel stops, etc.
* The prohibition on driving after being on duty 60 hours in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, remains the same, but drivers can "restart" the 7/8 day period anytime a driver has 34 consecutive hours off duty.
* CMV drivers using the sleeper berth provision must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two.

CB HI

I've never been blown off the road by a truck, but I have been blown off a road by an airplane.

The airbase I worked on, once failed to put up the required warning signs that an airplne at the end of the runway would be doing high power engine testing. As I was riding around that end of the road, the plane reved up all four engines, blowing me completely off the road and into a security fence. Ouch.

buzzman

My experience has been that most professional truck drivers are excellent drivers. Naturally there are exceptions and anyone can make a mistake but for the most part long haul truckers are pretty good. And when they're bad it really ticks me off because they make us forget all the good drivers.

I would agree with those that point out that drivers of municipal vehicles, which would include city garbage trucks, dump trucks and even city buses tend to be less courteous/aware of cyclists. Perhaps a combination of the stress of primarily urban driving, lack of training and shoddy hiring practices may be the cause of their lack of skills.

The dangers posed by trucks to cyclists are critical no matter who is driving, however, and being aware of never getting on the inside right of a truck, being visible, anticipating the wind power of a passing truck are only a few of the things we've got to watch out for when riding.

Basically being near a big rig on a bicycle has inherent dangers but awareness on both sides helps.

Roughstuff

I assume you mean long haul truckers. I find them the most professional drivers on the road. They are well aware of the size and bulk of their vehicle, and the problems/opportunities this creates. Furthermore to them the road is their life, instead of a 'means to an end' for more casual users and mere commuters. Almost all of the roadway courtesies that I exhibit on a regular basis---waving traffic by when I want them to know it is safe to pass; stopping and letting traffic pass if I am holding them up, walking across (rather than weaving thru) complex intersections, etc----is a repayment for the courtesies that truckers show me as a matter of course. I have seen them veer way over into the oncoming lane of traffic even when I am well to the right inside a shoulder more than 6 feet wide.

Compare this with tour buses, with their engine in the back and impossible to hear; commuter buses, which cut over to the curb every few minutes at least, and worst of all, school buses, who fiigure carrying america's youth entitle them to the whole road!

roughstuff

hotbike

My Daughter convinced me to stay well out of the way of large trucks. Her Uncle taught her to drive a Kenworth.
Mellisa designed this Fiberglass Ladies Bicycle:

And her inspiration for the style was the Kenworth with the full aerodynamic spoiler. But there's more, she also said that a sturdy cargo box like this should be on every bike that gets anywhere near trucks. It could save a cyclist from going under the wheels.
What convinced me to move over to let large trucks go by? 1)Trucks are a lot wider than cars, eight and a half feet versus five and a half feet. 2) Trucks have got to make deliveries on time. 3) the weight of a fully loaded semi-85,000 pounds.
Plus , the Teamsters would like to see the number of cars on the road reduced, so we share a common cause.

I pull over to the curb to let large trucks (tractor trailers) go by. I have more of an issue with landscapers who tow trailers that are wider than their pickup truck, and I also don't like pickups with "dualies", the double rear wheels.

littlewaywelt

I used to drive about 30k highway miles per year about 20 years ago. At that time I had a cb because you could hear the truckers tell you the exact mile markers the radar traps were at. You wouldn't believe what they think and say re 4-wheelers/car drivers. I can only imagine what they think & say about bike riders. In my experience they thought that they were the only ones that belonged on the road and had "professional level" skills.

rebornroadster

I got passed by a big rig going down the same road as I was last month.Only problem was that trucks over 20,000 lbs. are forbidden to use this part of the road.At the stop sign I yell up to Mr.Gear Jammer that he wasn't supposed to be on this road.First he tells me to "get the f##k outta here." Then I point to the sign and Mr. Bad Ass climbs out of his truck."gee,they musta' just put that up" "No it's been here you're just an impatient a##hole" I says.(this is a residential road that seems to be a shortcut from the highway exit to another main drag.)Well,he says he should call a cop."Go ahead then you can explain to him why you are on this road" so tough guy weasels back into his truck and turns onto the main road to make his delivery.The thing is his intimidation didn't work once he was on the ground and not driving his truck.I would of unclipped and scrapped with him right there.Maybe I shouldn't have been so loud with him but the signs are posted and this is a residential neighborhood with bikes,kids,seniors,dogs.It's a narrow road and has limited visibility in spots.He knew he wasn't supposed to be on there but his shortcut to the industrial area was more important.Oh it was a Yellow Freight rig and if you read this I'll meet you in the same spot anytime you'd like.I hate to generalize but most truckers don't impress me with their attitudes or intelligence.

AlmostTrick

Was this driver speeding or otherwise driving recklessly? If not, I wouldn't care if he drove through my neighborhood.

I had a semi truck get stuck behind me this morning on my commute. The road was narrow with only 2 lanes, and oncoming traffic was just steady enough to not give him enough space to pass me. He followed patiently at 16 mph for about a full minute until it was safe to pass. (This is on a 40 mph speed limit road) When there was a big enough gap he passed me wide and I waved. This is not uncommon in my experience with truckers.

rebornroadster

Almost every vehicle on this particular road goes over the posted 25 mph.That's not the point.The fact is when truck guy turned onto this road from the adjoining road coming from the highway,he disregarded the posted signs that do not allow trucks over 10 tons GVW.The road he chose is marked with 2) 30" square signs that that state "Trucks over 20,000 GVW prohibited" and "Trucks over 20,000 GVW must turn left" The guy was wrong.The road is 3 miles long and narrow it has dips and valleys with reduced visibility.That is why the signs are up there! Do you really want big trucks running through your neighborhood at 30 mph? I'm serious,you can go out anytime of day and there will be folks walking dogs,folks on bikes,mommies with strollers,old farmers on tractors,etc...I understand that big trucks can be tough to maneuver and take longer to stop.I may have driven a big truck or two in my earlier life.What I'm getting at is this driver was wrong and didn't care about anything else but his schedule and delivery.Professional? not this guy,next time I'll be on the phone to his freight company.

AlmostTrick

If it was an occasional truck going very slow (under the speed limit) and carefully, I wouldn't care and wouldn't say anything. If there are many trucks, or they are speeding through every day, then yes, I agree it is a problem that needs to be addressed. Since you have driven big trucks yourself, I'm sure you could drive one through this area without hitting (or scaring) anyone or anything. I know I could, even if it meant I had to drive 10 mph or even stop and wait. I'm not suggesting it should be a regular thing to do though.

rebornroadster

I would think that if the town removed the signs that didn't allow big trucks and opened up the road to any vehicle,there would be fatalities in a short time.Parts of this road are so narrow that driving an 8'6" wide truck/trailer would force most drivers either onto the edge of the front lawns or to the left over the yellow line.Sure if it was occasional and for some reason the big rigs drove at 15 mph that it would be cool with most residents here,but your chances of seeing a truck or a car for that matter going below the speed limit around here are slim and none.The bottom line is this driver was stupid and careless and couldn't be bothered by taking the safer,longer route.I figure if I'm on a bicycle following the traffic rules and your in 30 tons of truck behind me on a road you shouldn't be driving on,I've got every right to call you out on it.

rebornroadster

Correct me if I'm wrong but you seem to think he "was stuck behind you" and gave you a break by not passing you and forcing you off the road or getting so close to you that you could get hit by his trailer.He didn't give you a break.He took responsibility and acted courteous,like a professional driver should.Sure he could of blown by you but he chose a smarter,safer way.Us bikers have every right right to be on the roads that are not otherwise posted.You do know that posted speed limits in the USA are the maximum you are allowed to legally drive? I hope you apologized and told trucker boy you were sorry that he could only go 16 mph.I always try to ride to the far right as long as the road conditions don't make it unsafe for me and have no problem pulling over to let cars and trucks pass.It has kept me alive and on a bike for 35+ years but I always keep in mind that if I'm legal and within my rights you're gonna' have to wait,slow down or otherwise keep your distance from me.

cminter

I would suggest you give more details on the truck size, Yellow Freight tends to run single drive axle tractors and pull 28' trailers. If the combination I outlined was what you saw you very well could be wrong if it was empty or a light load it could be under 20,000 gross, but judging by your post you won't admit it anyway. I run back to the warehouse every trip empty so it does happen. I wouldn't go calling all trucker stupid considering your use of punctuation, not claiming I'm perfect but you started the name calling.

rebornroadster

This wasn't a 28' trailer pal.This a@@hole knew he was on the wrong road with what he was driving.Single screw or not the jerk was all tough when he was up in his cab tellin' me to "get the f@@k outa here" but as soon as I pointed to the sign and went to the curb to unclip and put my bike down.Tough guy says he should call a cop.Wonder what that ticket would cost? I've met a lot of truckers over the years and I gotta' say that most do some serious whinin'. Nobody tells you to drive a truck-you can have almost any job you want in this country.My punctuation you say?Gee,I tried for the 4.0 GPA(grade point average.) at Sacred Heart but had to settle for 3.8.My B.A. in English is my proof of punctuation,Pal.(Keeps me out of having to drive a truck).