Why do Commercial truck drivers think they are driving race cars?

Question

They are switching lanes and etc. I can't tell you how many times I95 has been held up because truck drivers get into so many accidents. Why can't they stay in the lane that they are suppose to? aren't they burning more diesel fuel?

I wanted to further add that I am not knocking trucks, I am fully aware that they are very important for the recieving of goods. However, safety on the road is the concern. One truck cut right in front of and I almost swerved because I was driving slight faster then the truck, its like he had no common sense!

Answer 1

As a driver myself, I understand what you are talking about. However, please don't let the few make you think we are all bad drivers. If I see a four wheeler darting in and out of traffic, does that mean you are a bad driver? No.

Accidents: Study after study have shown that 75%+ of accidents involving heavy trucks are caused by the driver of the car. We really are professional drivers. The company I work for has less than .4 accidents per million miles driven (stats from the Department of Transportation, who regulates interstate trucking). That is much less than the accident rate for cars.

Lane restrictions: Studies have also shown that restricting trucks to the right lane(s) cause many more accidents, especially in urban areas where there is more traffic exiting and merging.

Fuel: Yes, they may be burning a little more diesel, but what's another $6 when you use $500 a day in fuel?

And please remember: everything you have has been on a truck. If the trucks stopped, every store you shop at would be out of product. I-95 is one of the busiest interstates in the country. Please remember, we all have to live out here. Give the other guy a break, even if he is in a big truck. We do it for you, too.

Answer 2

The problem with your question is, YOU ARE NOT IN CALIFORNIA ,where trucks can only use ONE lane ! I have driven every inch of I-95 from Miami Fl to Houlton Maine many times and never once have I shot over 3 lanes rather than go to the next exit and turn around or rearended someone because I was putting on MAKE UP . Do you suppose these new anti cell phone laws were brought on by truckers -me either! Trucks and truckers are well insured targets of Lawyers and scam artists alike and i would venture to say at least some of these accidents have been caused by DIVE and STOP teams that put one car on the side of the target truck to keep him penned in then have a car load of illegals slam on the brakes in front of the truck to get lawsuit money - So next time you ask something do at least a little reading and FIX YOUR SENTENCE STRUCTURE !!!

Answer 3

I am sure there are as many good drivers as bad in the truck driving industry. My sister is a truck driver and is always telling me of the lack of knowledge and respect that truck drivers get on the road. People don't realize that they have a time frame to get from one destination to another. So the last thing they want is to get into an accident or backed up traffic. It is usually the people that don't pay attention to the amount of safe distance they should allow between them and a big truck. They need ample space to switch lanes, turn corners, and to stop or slow down. I give trucks the extra 2 car lengths and NEVER EVER pull up to the right of one when they have their right turn signal on and are in the left lane. I have seen more small cars end up under the trucks , smashed than I can say. They cannot see you if you zip up around them. The rule is , if you can't see the driver, he/she can't see you!

Answer 4

The sense of urgency [read:racing] is that most truckers get paid by the mile... that is a very strong incentive to drive aggressively.. to accumulate as many miles per the hour to get paid a worthwile rate...

Trucks lose money idling or crawling along.

Trucks are surprisingly powerful and a lot could cruise 100 mph with ease.. but I still pass them when they are holding me up...

When the traffic is tight.. you don't want a rig right behind you.. if the driver isn't fully alert he will splatter the "punch buggy" in front of him...

There is no need to be concerned if everyone has their seatbelt on in this type of catastrophe.. they will be dead one way or the other.

Does thishelp any?

Answer 5

MAYBE THAT DRIVER DID NOT SEE YOU most truck accidents are caused by people in cars and trucks doing stupid stuff like putting there make-up reading eating drunk driving and so on ther are more accidents everyday involveing vehicles with less than 6 wheels in on day than there is with 18wheelers

Answer 6

My dad drove a "big rig" for thirteen years. Until he drove however I didn't understand why these trucks seem to switch lanes or ride our bumpers so much. NOW I DO!!! In most cases, these trucks have a load on the back which weighs alot and it isn't as easy to slow them down as most of us think. We as "four wheelers" as cars are called tend to get in front of them and slow down and it makes it hard for them to not ride our bumper without switching to another lane. IT takes alot more distance for them to slow down or stop than a car so we need to be considerate of that and not cut in front of them and then slow down. There are definitely drivers out there in big trucks that are not driving the way they should be....but for the most part, I think that there just isn't the understanding of how much harder it is for larger trucks to slow down/stop. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND DRIVE SAFELY!!! :)

Answer 7

1st off, most comercial drivers are very courteous, trained profesionals.
most accidents are caused by cars, not trucks. when cars don't respect the space that trucks need, accidents happen.

2nd, remember this: EVERYTHING that you have EVER purchased in ANY store was transported by truck. EVERYTHING.
without trucks, no freight would get to you. EVER.

Answer 8

People that don't know how to drive are more scarier than the vehicles that are on the roads...

Answer 9

They haul *** because they are trying to meet the insanely tight schedules they are expected to keep. thus they try to bully everyone out of their way. I am not saying it's right just that is what they have to do to get the job done.

Answer 10

I found the answer to your question here...

http://development1.blogspot.com/2007/01/commercial-truck-drivers.html