common sense

Thanks for the comments, all. I liked the "gravy" and "juice" terminology ;-)

Seriously, though, give me some credit. I caught up to the truck and took the photo specifically to post to BikeForums. Really!

Another tip: Pass the truck well to the LEFT (for locales where traffic is to the right) -- I move ALL the way over. Cyclists die when they pass trash trucks on the right.

RFM

Once (a couple of decades ago) I was on a training ride in a rural area, and I caught up with a small truck at a stop sign. I started drafting it, and just cruised along at a steady 30 or 35. Hmm, thought I, ... smells like something died... the smell is not going away... oh, geez, this truck is driving around picking up dead animals for the rendering plant! (It's dynodonn's tallow truck!)

Perfect for drafting, but I let it go.

Can't see traffic signals due to heigh/width/opacity.

And also - wipeouts on garbage juice are particularly icky.