Staying Safe Around Big Trucks, by SwampFox

Chances are, if you are buying something from a store or ordering it online, a truck brought it to you. While rail and air freight play a role in our transportation system, they generally do not make deliveries for the final mile, or even the final 100 miles. That means there are a lot of trucks on the road, and a lot of truck drivers. In 2020, the Department of Labor estimated that there were over two million truck drivers on American roads.

I am one of those truck drivers. I have worked in the industry for a few years, and I have driven different types of trucks, from gasoline tankers to heavy equipment haulers. I have seen a lot of interesting occurences on the road, including some amazing (and preventable) wrecks. While preparing for EMP and economic collapse is a concern, driving around trucks can be a daily hazard for most Americans. It may seem like an obvious statement, but unless you have driven a big truck, you probably do not fully understand: A truck does not handle the same way as a car!

Large trucks accelerate differently than a car. While trucks can keep up at highway speeds, getting up to speed is slow at times due to carrying a heavy load. Also, many larger fleets govern their trucks below the speed limit. I have driven trucks governed as low as 63 miles per hour (MPH). This is frustrating for the driver, and frustrating for surrounding traffic. Have you ever seen two trucks slowly passing each other on a hill, slowing down all the traffic behind them? This is caused by speed-governed trucks. It also happens when one truck is loaded more lightly than the other. Car drivers dislike it…and truck drivers do too. If you want to put an end to some of this, then contact your legislators.

Currently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is set to release a proposal in June 2023. They want to govern all trucks at 60 MPH. Supposedly, this will make traffic safer, but I predict that increased frustration and traffic congestion will cause more accidents on interstate highways, rather than less. Expect to pay more for shipping and increased shipping times as well.

Trucks frequently use air brakes and weigh more, which means they stop differently and take a longer time to do so. These brake systems are subjected to stresses that exceed what the systems in a car are capable of handling. There are a lot of moving parts, and hoses that carry air pressure. Cold weather causes problems, like stuck brakes. Going down hills at high speeds can overheat the brakes, causing a condition known as “brake fade.” The more the brakes heat up, the less well they work.

Truck drivers usually slow down before descending hills, placing the truck in a lower gear to allow the engine to slow the truck rather than relying totally on the brakes. You may notice signs by the side of the road stating “Trucks use lower gear.” More extreme slopes may have a soft gravel off-ramp, in order to catch a truck that loses the ability to stop.

One of the most important aspects of truck driving is called “following distance.” Drivers are trained to leave several seconds of distance between vehicles at high speeds, and to leave visible space between vehicles in traffic. One of the most dangerous and irritating things that car drivers do is to get between a big truck and the vehicles in front. While the space may look inviting and may be the right size for a car, it has been left there for safety. The photo to the right shows that safety gap. Don’t merge into it!

Trucks are high-profile vehicles, which means they are susceptible to turning over during high winds or aggressive driving. This is especially true for trucks with moving or liquid loads, such as tankers and concrete mixers. Truck drivers often drive more slowly than car traffic in order to be safe around curves. One of the first habits I had to break when driving a large truck was my car-induced instinct to turn quickly to avoid something in the road. In a car, it is easy. In a truck, you can turn over and be killed.

In training, truck drivers are often instructed to have courage, hold the wheel straight, and brake smoothly to reduce speed as much as possible prior to impact. Stopping suddenly even in a straight line is risky, especially if the roads are slick. A truck’s trailer will often move to the side, causing damage to vehicles next to the truck or even making the truck jack-knife or slide completely sideways. If you are driving a car and you sense an accident about to happen, your best technique is to get out of the way of the truck. The truck driver will most likely not turn for you, as the risk is greater than hitting you straight-on.

Here are a couple of illustrations: Last year, I observed an accident on the interstate. A truck driver swerved to avoid an object in the road. His truck turned over on its side and slid for 200 yards. That side of the interstate was shut down all morning for cleanup and removal of the truck and other damaged vehicles. Luckily, the driver survived and others were not hurt, but it was a stark reminder of the consequences. I faced a test of my own back in June during a thunderstorm. I was on a narrow highway, and a truck with an oversized load came toward me, partially in my lane. The pavement was wet and slick. On my right side was a deep, muddy ditch – a recipe for a turnover. On the left side (of course) was the truck in my lane. My only option was to follow my training, hold the wheel straight, slow as much as possible, and take the impact. The other truck took the mirrors off the side of my truck, broke my window, and threw all the glass into my face. It was scary, but I was mostly unhurt, and the truck only had minor damage. If I had turned or gone into the ditch? My truck and trailer would have been destroyed, and the accident could have been fatal. That is the kind of decision that truck drivers must make. Car drivers can help us by leaving plenty of room.

Visibility from a truck is also different than in a car. Truck drivers sit higher up, which gives them the advantage to see problems up ahead. However, driving something that is 70 feet long can create some blind spots along the sides and in the rear of trucks. Newer trucks have better mirror systems. While blind spots have been reduced, they have not been eliminated. Pay attention to signs on the rear of trailers. You have probably noticed statements such as “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.” Do not lurk alongside a truck or directly in front of it or behind it. Pass quickly, and give space. Also, remember that trucks with trailers must make wide turns and take multiple lanes to do so.

A truck’s cargo is a safety concern for surrounding drivers. You may notice diamond-shaped placards (signs) on the sides and rear of a truck. These signs display recognizable warning pictures that can tell you if hazardous materials are inside. These signs are international and standardized, allowing first responders to be aware of the risks. Here is a brief guide to placards.

If you notice signs indicating flammable, explosive, radioactive, or poisonous cargo, give the truck even more space than usual. If an accident has occurred, look quickly to see if the truck has placards. Drivers are required to carry paperwork for hazardous cargo within easy reach, usually in the driver’s door pouch.

Be sure to recognize road conditions that are risky for you and the truck drivers around you. Narrow roads, narrow bridges, and inclement weather can change a truck’s stability, braking ability, and the driver’s situational awareness. If a driver is paying more attention to the road conditions, smaller vehicles and pedestrians are less likely to be noticed especially when near a truck’s blind spots. As a driver, it can be frustrating for me when I get to a portion of road that may not have been designed with trucks in mind. Sometimes I’m asked to do things that may not be comfortable or even safe, but the nature of the job requires me to go there anyway.

One of the big problems truck drivers face on the road is attitudes and stereotypes from the general public. People drive carelessly around trucks because they do not respect them, or even see them as a threat or a nuisance. Truck drivers come from all backgrounds and walks of life because the job pays well. I have college degrees and teaching credentials. One of my coworkers is a former high school principal. I have met drivers who are full-time farmers, and even one driver who had worked as a doctor, but chose to drive in order to have a lower-stress life. While there are fools who take the job just like any other field of work, the stereotype of the “uneducated” or “illiterate” trucker is incorrect. There are several written exams drivers must take to earn a Commercial Drivers License, as well as practical testing. Drivers from foreign nations are required to speak, read, and write basic English. As of 2022, those who want a CDL are required to attend an approved school, rather than learning from friends or family and taking the exams on their own.

When you see truck drivers on the road, it helps to understand that they are trained professionals and the road is their workplace. Patience, respect, and keeping a safe distance will help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the road.