Glen’s Highway tips – Trucks

[Ben Dare]

On my last cross-country trip I had the experience of riding with a variety of riders for various times along the highway. It was during this trip that I realized that many riders do not know how to deal with other traffic along the highway. I thought I might share some of the things I have learned while putting 80,000 miles on a bike in a year and a half starting with 18 wheelers.
Almost everyone on the highway has one thing in mind; arriving at a destination safely and in a timely manner. The vehicle they are in is usually the only factor as to how that is accomplished. As we ride out there on our bikes the most opposite vehicle we will come across is the 18 wheeler. These big rigs handle very differently than our bikes so though they may have the same goal in mind they go about achieving it in a different manner.
One thing I have noticed that makes me cringe is the manner in which a bike will overtake a big rig. I have seen bikes just clear the big rig and pull into their lane with less than a second of clearance. I do not believe these riders realize that if the rig is not a cab over the driver cannot even see them when they are that close! When passing a big rig wait until you have more than two seconds of clearance before pulling into their lane if you are on a uphill slope. If you are overtaking the big rig at the apex of a hill it is a good idea to not even pull into their lane at all, let me explain.
A big rig will loose momentum and expend more fuel to get up a hill. The driver will look at this as kinetic energy stored up while climbing the hill and will want to expend it on the way down gaining speed. If you pull into their lane you will rob them of that stored energy and basically cost them fuel. This will not put them in a good mood. Wait to pull into their lane until you can judge if they are gaining speed on the downhill slope and if you see they are just let them overtake you again. You can pass them again on the next uphill.
When overtaking a big rig never do it from the right side of the big rig. The have two sides, the passing side and the suicide. Always pass on the passing side, ALWAYS. Pull to the left of the truck and make eye contact with the driver in the mirror if you can. Wait until there is room to complete the pass then accelerate and complete the pass in a quick manner. Pull well ahead of the truck before pulling into their lane and be sure to signal your turn for at least two seconds before completing it. Again be sure that the truck is not gaining on you before you pull into their lane.
Many truckers will flash their lights at you to let you know that they are expecting you to pull back into their lane. When this happens it is polite for you to flash your brake lights as a quick thank you back at the trucker.
Remember these truckers are professionals and they know what they are doing. Treat them with respect. The next time you buy a oil filter of anything else for that matter remember it was delivered from a truck. They are your friends.
Glen

[red_haint]

good advise, and I would like to add, while it's fine to ride staggered, when you pass a truck, go single file!!!!!! I cannot remember how many times I will see idiots riding not 2 feet from the rig to maintaine formation. If I throw a cap (tread) it can explode and throw rubber everywhere, or the whole tread can peel off, either way your dead because you took 50 pounds of steel and rubber to the head. Pass quickly and safely.

[Shadowolf]

Good info

Now that I am back in the saddle again I will be doing a lot of freeway riding with lots of big rigs.

Thanks for helping me to be safe.

[DzzRed]

Totally agree with ya, both.

I've always flashed, to let the rig know it's safe to come on over to a lane, and have always thanked them, when they flashed me.


Wait a minute, that didn't sound right, did it.

[KamiSue]

truckers are professionals

bwahahahahahaha

three grand and 17 days in school can make me a professional too. I don't trust those drivers any farther than I can throw their undermaintained, rusty, dirty, overloaded speeding hulks they call trucks.

While I'm sure there are many professional truck drivers, the turnover in the industry leads me to believe the majority have less than 2 years experience and nowadays it might be a mexican truck.

Your best bet with trucks is to stay the hell away from them.

[TheShadow]

In my job I work with truck drivers. I respect them for they can do many things with a 60' rig that in my wildest dreams I could never do. But like anything else there are the really good drivers, and there are some complete idiots. Don't take on a tractor rig, you won't win. PERIOD. Even driving your car. If you have to pass them then Glen offers some very sound advice, but it really just amounts to using some common sense on the road. Thanks Glen.

[Shadow_Walker]

good advise, and I would like to add, while it's fine to ride staggered, when you pass a truck, go single file!!!!!! I cannot remember how many times I will see idiots riding not 2 feet from the rig to maintaine formation. If I throw a cap (tread) it can explode and throw rubber everywhere, or the whole tread can peel off, either way your dead because you took 50 pounds of steel and rubber to the head. Pass quickly and safely.

You're not kidding. I witnessed a blowout just recently, and let me tell you what, I was glad I wasn't on the bike. It's an explosion to say the least. Wow. ...and it was loud. Just the sound of those shreds hitting the trailer was enough to convince me. One cannot realize without actually seeing this happen. So with the loudness, there is also the debris. Worse yet, if you're up along side that rig... well you know. Thanks for the tips.

saint