Lorry Drivers - are they all *****
Discussion
soupdragon1 said:
Have to agree. With roads getting more and more congested, it has to be a job that gets more and more difficult. Comment earlier about pulling out on roundabouts with the 'sit and wait' attitude of motorists means they can be left in a sit and wait situation for a very long time - not only causing the lorry driver to wait for a very long time - but every single car behind them too. When a lorry driver pulls out on me I just think 'I know why you did that' and all is well. I don't envy them one bit.
It's the missing out one the fundamentals that baffles me. There is a bridge on the A5 nearby - Hinckley. Regularly gets hit by trucks whose drivers can't manage to subtract the number on the big sticker in the cab from the numbers plastered all over the approach to the bridge.Causes chaos checking the bridge and unjamming the trucks.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/...
eldar said:
soupdragon1 said:
Have to agree. With roads getting more and more congested, it has to be a job that gets more and more difficult. Comment earlier about pulling out on roundabouts with the 'sit and wait' attitude of motorists means they can be left in a sit and wait situation for a very long time - not only causing the lorry driver to wait for a very long time - but every single car behind them too. When a lorry driver pulls out on me I just think 'I know why you did that' and all is well. I don't envy them one bit.
It's the missing out one the fundamentals that baffles me. There is a bridge on the A5 nearby - Hinckley. Regularly gets hit by trucks whose drivers can't manage to subtract the number on the big sticker in the cab from the numbers plastered all over the approach to the bridge.Causes chaos checking the bridge and unjamming the trucks.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/...
soupdragon1 said:
eldar said:
soupdragon1 said:
Have to agree. With roads getting more and more congested, it has to be a job that gets more and more difficult. Comment earlier about pulling out on roundabouts with the 'sit and wait' attitude of motorists means they can be left in a sit and wait situation for a very long time - not only causing the lorry driver to wait for a very long time - but every single car behind them too. When a lorry driver pulls out on me I just think 'I know why you did that' and all is well. I don't envy them one bit.
It's the missing out one the fundamentals that baffles me. There is a bridge on the A5 nearby - Hinckley. Regularly gets hit by trucks whose drivers can't manage to subtract the number on the big sticker in the cab from the numbers plastered all over the approach to the bridge.Causes chaos checking the bridge and unjamming the trucks.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/...
lyonspride said:
soupdragon1 said:
eldar said:
soupdragon1 said:
Have to agree. With roads getting more and more congested, it has to be a job that gets more and more difficult. Comment earlier about pulling out on roundabouts with the 'sit and wait' attitude of motorists means they can be left in a sit and wait situation for a very long time - not only causing the lorry driver to wait for a very long time - but every single car behind them too. When a lorry driver pulls out on me I just think 'I know why you did that' and all is well. I don't envy them one bit.
It's the missing out one the fundamentals that baffles me. There is a bridge on the A5 nearby - Hinckley. Regularly gets hit by trucks whose drivers can't manage to subtract the number on the big sticker in the cab from the numbers plastered all over the approach to the bridge.Causes chaos checking the bridge and unjamming the trucks.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/...
GC8 said:
Trying to belittle me, correcting my grammar, whilst being dumb enough to call a full stop a period - the irony is not lost on me.
I have an English A-Level, if you need any further help, dummy.
Two dumb snide posts in quick succession. It must really suck to be you.
You shouldn’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. I have an English A-Level, if you need any further help, dummy.
Two dumb snide posts in quick succession. It must really suck to be you.
caelite said:
Could easily blame this on the fairly awful signage in a lot of the country, particularly in rural areas. It should simply not be acceptable to still have signage up in purely ft & inches nowadays.
The signs for the A5 bridge are both imperial and metric, so that excuse is out the window like a tizer bottle full of piss.Next straw to grasp?
lyonspride said:
soupdragon1 said:
eldar said:
soupdragon1 said:
Have to agree. With roads getting more and more congested, it has to be a job that gets more and more difficult. Comment earlier about pulling out on roundabouts with the 'sit and wait' attitude of motorists means they can be left in a sit and wait situation for a very long time - not only causing the lorry driver to wait for a very long time - but every single car behind them too. When a lorry driver pulls out on me I just think 'I know why you did that' and all is well. I don't envy them one bit.
It's the missing out one the fundamentals that baffles me. There is a bridge on the A5 nearby - Hinckley. Regularly gets hit by trucks whose drivers can't manage to subtract the number on the big sticker in the cab from the numbers plastered all over the approach to the bridge.Causes chaos checking the bridge and unjamming the trucks.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/...
Most pro truck drivers are very good except for two things.
Elephant racing for mile after mile causing huge tailbacks.
Driving in the inside lane as close to the truck in front as possible in a half mile stream of similarly behaving trucks thus preventing other traffic from pulling across to get to a motorway exit and also having nowhere to go in case of an emergency.
My best mate is a 35 year veteran trucker and he despairs of current truck driving standards
Elephant racing for mile after mile causing huge tailbacks.
Driving in the inside lane as close to the truck in front as possible in a half mile stream of similarly behaving trucks thus preventing other traffic from pulling across to get to a motorway exit and also having nowhere to go in case of an emergency.
My best mate is a 35 year veteran trucker and he despairs of current truck driving standards
keirik said:
Most pro truck drivers are very good except for two things.
Elephant racing for mile after mile causing huge tailbacks.
Driving in the inside lane as close to the truck in front as possible in a half mile stream of similarly behaving trucks thus preventing other traffic from pulling across to get to a motorway exit and also having nowhere to go in case of an emergency.
My best mate is a 35 year veteran trucker and he despairs of current truck driving standards
I’m not quite a 35 year veteran but I do agree with your mate.Elephant racing for mile after mile causing huge tailbacks.
Driving in the inside lane as close to the truck in front as possible in a half mile stream of similarly behaving trucks thus preventing other traffic from pulling across to get to a motorway exit and also having nowhere to go in case of an emergency.
My best mate is a 35 year veteran trucker and he despairs of current truck driving standards
I only do a nice easy night run now, think i’d struggle to do the job on days now.
keirik said:
Most pro truck drivers are very good except for two things.
Elephant racing for mile after mile causing huge tailbacks.
Driving in the inside lane as close to the truck in front as possible in a half mile stream of similarly behaving trucks thus preventing other traffic from pulling across to get to a motorway exit and also having nowhere to go in case of an emergency.
My best mate is a 35 year veteran trucker and he despairs of current truck driving standards
Odd, really, I haven't had a single problem with any of this since I started driving in 1987.Elephant racing for mile after mile causing huge tailbacks.
Driving in the inside lane as close to the truck in front as possible in a half mile stream of similarly behaving trucks thus preventing other traffic from pulling across to get to a motorway exit and also having nowhere to go in case of an emergency.
My best mate is a 35 year veteran trucker and he despairs of current truck driving standards
I also live near some of the busiest, truck infested motorways.
I can tell you that trucks will often sit close to other trucks around junctions because they are sick and tired of lunatic car drivers diving in rather than waiting. They trust the trucks in front, see? They will also do this when getting ready to pass (it's like automotive chess you know). Many also ease off, but this goes unnoticed to the untrained eye.
Elephant racing, well, despite the mostly exaggerated claims, even when I have seen a few idiots side by side refusing to yield, I have just waited. 56 mph to me compared to 60 or 70 doesn't alter my day in any way at all. You may as well get all upset over 50 mph sets of roadworks and red lights.
Ho hum.
soupdragon1 said:
GC8 said:
You shouldn’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.
Have to agree. With roads getting more and more congested, it has to be a job that gets more and more difficult. Comment earlier about pulling out on roundabouts with the 'sit and wait' attitude of motorists means they can be left in a sit and wait situation for a very long time - not only causing the lorry driver to wait for a very long time - but every single car behind them too. When a lorry driver pulls out on me I just think 'I know why you did that' and all is well. I don't envy them one bit.Some roundabouts near me can genuinely take a minute to get out of especially near rush hour (minor road crossing a very busy dual carriageway).
Shall i just pull out?
They wouldn't do it in their Ford Focus so why do it in their DAF?
plus they are paid per hour! Poor driving standards all round.
That being said today I drove 320 miles and didn't encounter a single idiot lorry driver.
Well, aside from one who thought he was too important to wait in the traffic clockwise on the m25 at the m4 split. Came out of lane 3 (m25) into lane 2 (m4 east) only to then stop in lane 2 with an indicator on half a mile further down the road to push back jn.
In regards to the elephant racing, I have always wondered why a law hasn’t been introduced to standardise lorries top speed.
If each lorry was limited to 56mph then merging junctions aside etc, there wouldn’t be any need for them to overtake each other. Surely this also makes this lorry drivers job easier as well.
I am probably missing something glaringly obviously as to why this isn’t feasible and await some education on the matter!
If each lorry was limited to 56mph then merging junctions aside etc, there wouldn’t be any need for them to overtake each other. Surely this also makes this lorry drivers job easier as well.
I am probably missing something glaringly obviously as to why this isn’t feasible and await some education on the matter!
They are. I am willing to be corrected on this but they are limited, by a governor, to 56 MPH. 90kph as per European law.
Their legal limit on Mways is 60MPH though. I know, go figger.
There will always be some variation in top speed because of all the variables involved.
Weight, wind, tyres, has your fitter mate tweaked the right screw etc.
Their legal limit on Mways is 60MPH though. I know, go figger.
There will always be some variation in top speed because of all the variables involved.
Weight, wind, tyres, has your fitter mate tweaked the right screw etc.
Ok sorry, have a rule where all lorry drivers have cruise control set to a limit all lorries can achieve and maintain, hence avoiding the need for them to overtake except when other vehicles are merging.
Not being a lorry driver or particularly knowledgeable in the haulage/logistics industry I don’t know what their top speed is - hence asking the question earlier.
My point was and remains that they obviously don’t all travel at the same speed on motorways hence the elephant racing.
Not being a lorry driver or particularly knowledgeable in the haulage/logistics industry I don’t know what their top speed is - hence asking the question earlier.
My point was and remains that they obviously don’t all travel at the same speed on motorways hence the elephant racing.
Shepster said:
Ok sorry, have a rule where all lorry drivers have cruise control set to a limit all lorries can achieve and maintain, hence avoiding the need for them to overtake except when other vehicles are merging.
Not being a lorry driver or particularly knowledgeable in the haulage/logistics industry I don’t know what their top speed is - hence asking the question earlier.
My point was and remains that they obviously don’t all travel at the same speed on motorways hence the elephant racing.
Aye that's fair, and I don't disagree with you, there is a few companies, mainly supermarkets and big multinationals limiting their trucks to 50 & 52mph for efficiency purposes. These also tend to be the same companies chucking 44 ton on 350hp rigs meaning they slow to a crawl on even the slightest incline. Legislating against this limiting and putting the generally accepted 10hp/ton guideline into law would help make L1 flow just a little bit smoother.Not being a lorry driver or particularly knowledgeable in the haulage/logistics industry I don’t know what their top speed is - hence asking the question earlier.
My point was and remains that they obviously don’t all travel at the same speed on motorways hence the elephant racing.
However neither of these would prevent the elephant racing as complained about here. The causes of that being numerous. In trucks you have massive variance in weight, power and driver experience. A big cause you see is a heavy load slowing down for an incline, and a lighter loaded truck beginning a passing maneuver. But as the road levels out the heavier truck gets back to his cruise, trapping the lighter truck in L2 mid pass. Also slight variations in speedo calibration meaning one trucks 56 is 56.3 and another's is 55.6 etc etc. This is what causes the 5minute+ rolling roadblocks described.
A catch all solution in my mind would be a timed limiter override. Basically a big button you can hit which removes your limiter, or raised it to 60-70 for a minute or two, maybe once every hour. Possibly coupled with some Sammy Hagar or Ram Jam esque tunes blasting out a loudspeaker. This allowing passing maneuvers to be completed safely on appropriate roads, whilst retaining the limiter for whatever BS safety reasons it is there for. It'd also be funny watching BRAKE lose their s
t again like they did when the b-road lorry limit was upped to 50 (in England & Wales).caelite said:
Aye that's fair, and I don't disagree with you, there is a few companies, mainly supermarkets and big multinationals limiting their trucks to 50 & 52mph for efficiency purposes. These also tend to be the same companies chucking 44 ton on 350hp rigs meaning they slow to a crawl on even the slightest incline. Legislating against this limiting and putting the generally accepted 10hp/ton guideline into law would help make L1 flow just a little bit smoother.
However neither of these would prevent the elephant racing as complained about here. The causes of that being numerous. In trucks you have massive variance in weight, power and driver experience. A big cause you see is a heavy load slowing down for an incline, and a lighter loaded truck beginning a passing maneuver. But as the road levels out the heavier truck gets back to his cruise, trapping the lighter truck in L2 mid pass. Also slight variations in speedo calibration meaning one trucks 56 is 56.3 and another's is 55.6 etc etc. This is what causes the 5minute+ rolling roadblocks described.
A catch all solution in my mind would be a timed limiter override. Basically a big button you can hit which removes your limiter, or raised it to 60-70 for a minute or two, maybe once every hour. Possibly coupled with some Sammy Hagar or Ram Jam esque tunes blasting out a loudspeaker. This allowing passing maneuvers to be completed safely on appropriate roads, whilst retaining the limiter for whatever BS safety reasons it is there for. It'd also be funny watching BRAKE lose their st again like they did when the b-road lorry limit was upped to 50 (in England & Wales).
Thanks Caelite, that makes it a lot clearer as to why it actually happens. However neither of these would prevent the elephant racing as complained about here. The causes of that being numerous. In trucks you have massive variance in weight, power and driver experience. A big cause you see is a heavy load slowing down for an incline, and a lighter loaded truck beginning a passing maneuver. But as the road levels out the heavier truck gets back to his cruise, trapping the lighter truck in L2 mid pass. Also slight variations in speedo calibration meaning one trucks 56 is 56.3 and another's is 55.6 etc etc. This is what causes the 5minute+ rolling roadblocks described.
A catch all solution in my mind would be a timed limiter override. Basically a big button you can hit which removes your limiter, or raised it to 60-70 for a minute or two, maybe once every hour. Possibly coupled with some Sammy Hagar or Ram Jam esque tunes blasting out a loudspeaker. This allowing passing maneuvers to be completed safely on appropriate roads, whilst retaining the limiter for whatever BS safety reasons it is there for. It'd also be funny watching BRAKE lose their s
t again like they did when the b-road lorry limit was upped to 50 (in England & Wales).Shepster said:
In regards to the elephant racing, I have always wondered why a law hasn’t been introduced to standardise lorries top speed.
If each lorry was limited to 56mph then merging junctions aside etc, there wouldn’t be any need for them to overtake each other. Surely this also makes this lorry drivers job easier as well.
I am probably missing something glaringly obviously as to why this isn’t feasible and await some education on the matter!
Limiters stop it - they don't cause it. If each lorry was limited to 56mph then merging junctions aside etc, there wouldn’t be any need for them to overtake each other. Surely this also makes this lorry drivers job easier as well.
I am probably missing something glaringly obviously as to why this isn’t feasible and await some education on the matter!
Theoretically lets assume you had a gps based limiter. As anything else wouldn't work - simply because tyres wear and get worn out. It would be expensive to implement and wouldn't work for a large number of years. Becuase you could only apply it to new vehicles. And then to add insult to injury - it still wouldn't work as some companies would tell their drivers to drive slower to save fuel. I sometimes chose to drive slower - simply because I have a window to do a delivery in. If I'm there too soon I'm turned away - and if I'm there too late I'm turned away.
The reality is that HGV's holding people up is pretty much an insignificant problem. People who get upset by it generally are just looking for a reason to be angry. Of all the problems on our road network this is very much a nothing one.
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