robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Ever heard of speed limits.
Add in that you are talking about big-rigs, not sport cars. They need a lot of space to turn and accelerate slowly. Not like Hollywood and TV imply. Plus that big truck is not only high, so is its center of gravity try weaving in and out of traffic and you either roll it or smash some cars because the space you are moving into isn't big enough.

My Dad was a long haul trucker when I was in elementary school, I got to go on a short ride around town a couple of times. I used to listen to him and his friends talk about driving and when I can, I will slow, signal with my lights and open a space for a rig to change lanes safely*. Often some fool in a hurry will jump into the space I made for the truck, even when the truck is already moving into that space - they have delusions of immortality. Not to mention a complete lack of good manners and a highly inflated idea of their own importance.

*And surprise, surprise the trucker will then open a space for me to pull in front of him - or for someone else. What goes around, comes around. That includes courtesy.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

I drove for 28 years and I use to hate that, but the reason they do that is because during construction they temporarily move the road over to the right which puts the right lane of traffic onto the shoulder. Those shoulders are not built to support the weight of all those trucks so they temporarily put trucks ib the left lane because of the weight. That's the only reason I'm aware of.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

This probably a better explanation.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

Weight and momentum, and sometimes because of schedules. Truck drivers aren't out there on a joy ride. They have a whole trailer load of pallets of campbells soup or swinging beef and it scheduled to be at a certain warehouse for unloading at a certain time and while the truck is in route to that warehouse his dispatcher is already setting up another pickup as soon as he is scheduled to be empty. Over the road truck driving is a rough job. Don't believe the nonsense you see in movies and tv. People used to say there are too many damn trucks on the road; all that stuff should be moved by trains. Really, did you ever see a train backup to your local Walmart or Krogers to make sure all the shelves are full for the next time you go shopping? As far as weight and momentum are concerned it just takes a lot more time to get that 80,000 lb truck up to normal speed and to try and safely keep it there. People should learn to have a little patience with truckers; they aren't out there trying to piss people off on purpose. Help a truck diver once in awhile on the road, give them room to change lanes, signal them with your lights when it is safe to change lanes when you see their turn signals on and you will never find a better friend out there on the road. And when they blink their lights back at you after changing lanes they are thanking you for helping them.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

I think you would find that 4 wheelers are more impatient and in a big hurry to get someplace. And whether you believe it or not most accidents between big trucks and 4 wheelers are caused by 4 wheelers. I know; I drove an 18 wheeler coast to coast for 15 years and then another13 years regional so I could be home every night. When you are going down the interstate and you setting up in the air at the height that truck drivers sit at and actually can see over the top of cars in front of you, you would not believe some of the stupid things that 4 wheelers do. When I finally quit driving and was back in a 4 wheeler I was scared to death and very uncomfortable driving a car again for about 1 1/2 or 2 years.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Jerry, it happens on level ground.

If the passing rig can't pass in a minute or less, then they need to adjust their cruise control to match the passee so they won't cause a 10-mile traffic backup.

The stretch of I40 between Little Rock and Memphis is so full of trucks, all jockeying around at fractional miles per hour difference in speed, that the number of 10 mile passes has turned a 2 hour trip into 2 3/4 hours on several occasions.

Stan

Dannj

It bothers me more when a car takes that long to pass a truck and will just ride along side it....probably the worst place to be...for miles.

Dannj

I’m strictly a 4 wheeler and I agree with you. I do several trips a year of 1,000 miles plus and have nothing but respect for the folks who drive the big rigs. Sure, you run across a jerk once in a while, but by and large truckers get an undeserved bum rap.

Dannj

Thanks to all for the responses to my original question...gave me few things I hadn’t thought of.
Safe travels to all👍

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I hate getting pinned behind a slower car and having to ride next to a truck. Once when that happened I got stuck right next to his right front wheel going through a two lane connector to another freeway. He ran over some debris dropped in his lane and his retread tire came apart and blew so he swerved and side swiped me with the front left corner of his trailer. It snagged my driver's side mirror and turned me toward the outside of the elevated connector road. I thought I was going over the side and roll 20 feet down to a lower connector in the interchange but my Astro Van stopped balanced on the high curb to the right of my lane. I got out carefully just as the driver came running back to see if I was OK. We then stood there waving people around my van and his rig while watching to see if my van would tip over and go down. He made a few comments about the cheap skates he worked for putting retreads on his tractor. The tow truck driver managed to drag my Astro back on the pavement. And when the Astro fired up and drove normally with a dribble of fluids as a trail the CHP officer who followed me to make sure I could drive home commented that he didn't know those little vans were that tough and he would go look at one since he was looking for something that would haul his wife and 4 kids in safety and comfort. (My Astro was set up with airline style Captain's chairs in the first two rows and a third row 3 passenger bench. It was roomy and comfortable with a large cargo space in the back.) I needed a new mirror, body work on the left front fender and a new oil pan and transmission housing, the old ones were cracked and leaking fluids. Hint, Astro Vans are not meant to balance on a curb on their oil pan and/or transmission housing. Then it turned out his insurance had expired the day before and the new policy with a different company didn't kick in until the next day. Neither of them would cover it so my company paid for my repairs and their lawyers went after his bosses in court.

Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca

Most likely so the truck will not travel on shoulder part of the road, and it is not uncommon

truckincat

If the barriers are on the left side they put the trucks on that side because the driver is up higher and the barriers won't be in their periphery vision, thereby the trucks won't drift into the other lanes. If they put cars over there they see the wall out the corner of their eyes and steer to the right.