Big trucks in the twisties

[GalaxyBlue]

Wow, trucking tread on a moto board....me like it! I've been in the trucking industry my entire career, as a truck salesman. I've worked for Volvo Trucks North America for years and I'm the District Sales Manager for the Southeast region.
I could write a whole book on this, but the short of it, in my opinon is this. There's a lot of professional truck drivers out there. There's also a bunch of truck driving morons.

Everybody that drives a vehicle on a public highway (any type; car, moto, whatever) should be requireed to drive a big rig for one week. It's amazing how car drivers ( and moto riders) will pull in front of a rig, slam on brakes and turn.

As for small trucks servicing small cities, that's a logistical nightmare. Most truck operators try to buy trucks that can fit in any of their hauls. So if you buy a smaller truck for a specific load, you will be limited how and when you can use that truck. Not very efficient or cost effective.

Most truckers try to balance the shortest route with the easiest route. Trust me, I bet there's not many truck drivers that like to take "The Dragon", but if it saves them 50 miles, they almost have to. At 6mpg and $3 per gallon, trucking gets expensive real quick.

So, give truckers a break and ignore the truck driving morons.........kinda like morotcyclists, huh?!?!?

WERD!

 

[OHFJR]

Most truckers try to balance the shortest route with the easiest route. Trust me, I bet there's not many truck drivers that like to take "The Dragon", but if it saves them 50 miles, they almost have to. At 6mpg and $3 per gallon, trucking gets expensive real quick.

So, give truckers a break and ignore the truck driving morons.........kinda like morotcyclists, huh?!?!?

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with approval of truckers running the dragon or any such road. The dragon is probably as famous in the trucking world as it is in the motorcycling world. Using the excuse that it saves them money, when they know darn well they are putting other driver's life in peril is not exceptable no matter what the fuel cost goes to. Of course they know they won't be hurt if a bike smashes into their rig. I've even seen tour buses going thru the dragon, there is no excuse in the world for that. The trucking industry will never resolve this problem as money is king in that industry. States have to step in and put a stop to it. I blame NC for not blocking that road off to long vehicles. I hope they get their ass suede off when someone runs into the next big rig or tour bus. I just hope it not my not my widowed wife having to file the lawsuit.

 

[black mamba]

OHFJR..... I could not agree with you more. There is absolutely no justification for allowing these big trucks on roads like the " Dragon " and the " Snake ". It is not simply a case of moron truck drivers being the problem. There is not a truck driver in the world, moron or not, that can navigate these roads without constituting a real hazard to any on-coming traffic....bike or car or what have you. It is literally impossible to get a big rig through these passes without it blocking the entire road, giving the on-coming vehicle no option but to head off the road...unless he wants to cram the truck. To argue that economy of operation, speed of delivery, or any other excuse is ample reason to allow this practice represents the height of stupidity and blatant disregard for other's life and limb. The only break a truck driver should receive when he creates this situation is that of his skull cracking after being clubbed with a tire iron.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Wow, This thread just keeps getting better every time i read it... :angry:

<keeping my trucker opinion to my self>

 

[bramfrank]

A better image of a truck blocking the dragon, from the dragon web site:

And another:

One more:

 

[I'mAllIn]

Wow, This thread just keeps getting better every time i read it... :angry:

<keeping my trucker opinion to my self>

Me too.................!

Bramfrank, I was born and raised in Trois-Rivieres, up the road a bit from Montreal. How the riding up there these days? Is the insurance mess straigthen up yet?

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I see cars over the line more often than I see trucks over the line.

 

[I'mAllIn]

I see cars over the line more often than I see trucks over the line.

That's kinda what I was trying to say...! Thanks.

You mean, Go Habs, right.......not go avs!

 

[OHFJR]

I see cars over the line more often than I see trucks over the line.

Are you freaking kidding me? Are you trying to pass this off as justification!! I'm not saying cars, pickups and even the crazy biker doesn't cross the line once in a while, but at least their vechicle's length will allow them to stay on their side of the road in most cases. I have been on some switch backs in Custer State Park in SD that only a bike could stay on their side, and that was even a challenge. But to allow a vechicle with the turning radius of a cruise ship onto roads where that can not possibily stay on their side of the road is ridiculous. The percentage of trucks going over the line is 100% at the dragon and cars maybe 20% and even then a car that is over the line by only a foot or two, but their not taking up the entire turn leaving no room for escape like the trucks do.

 

[Geezer]

I have no problem with trucks and truckers in particular. I despise any driver who is too lazy to keep his vehicle in his lane.

If, in the case of a big truck or motor home or bus or whatever, the vehicle is simply too big to negotiate a particular road without leaving his lane then he should not be using that road. Risking lives to save a few gallons of fuel or make a schedule is not a good excuse.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Bickering on here is not going to stop what you want...

INSTEAD,

Contact yoour local DOT and solve it there.

I vote this thread to be locked since it is nothing but arguing and regardless of my professional opinion as a truck driver, You wont understand...

Enough said....

 

[FJRPierre]

....I vote this thread to be locked since it is nothing but arguing and regardless of my professional opinion as a truck driver, You wont understand...
Enough said....

OMG Lock the thread? :banned:

 

[black mamba]

GalaxyBlue.....You got one thing right. If your " professional opinion as a truck driver " is that we should tolerate this situation of truck drivers creating a deadly environment by taking their rigs onto roads not suited to their travel, then I will never understand. Those drivers that perform in this fashion have no privilege, or right, to subject me, or anyone else, to the inherent dangers involved.

If you find this thread offensive, please exercise your option to stay the hell away from it. Don't try and dictate what the rest of us should want to discuss.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Mamba,

All i ask is that you hear the other side of the story... Your only looking at what you want to see...

Take a walk in my shoes sometime, And you will see things differently.

 

[OHFJR]

Mamba,
All i ask is that you hear the other side of the story... Your only looking at what you want to see...

Take a walk in my shoes sometime, And you will see things differently.

Yea Mamba, give Galaxy a break, if you where in his shoes you know you won't be hurt if a bike ran into your rig. So as a true "Professional" truckdriver you'd be more then happy to risk other people's lives so you could save a few bucks. :angry:

Galaxy I think calling yourself a Professional truck driver maybe offending the truck drivers that actually care about the actions they take and how those actions effect others.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

well, How how about that!

I guess you both added me to your short list because of my job... so be it.

1,000,000 safe miles and counting with 10 years experience does not count for much, i guess. :argue:

 

[OHFJR]

Trucking is subjected to more regulations than the space program. Trust me, if NCDOT or TNDOT deemed "the dragon" too dangerous, rigs would be prohibited. Maybe they're just trying to purge the gene pool of a$$holes who think they're Valentino when on "the dragon".

All I have heard from the trucking side is how it is all about the money. We'll try to understand your side if you have a valid point. But if it all you can bring to the table is because it saves you or your company money well then save your breath. As far as the NCDOT or TNDOT deeming such roads as the dragon safe for trucks to travel on, give me a break. How can anyone in their right mind that have seen rigs wedged in a turn and blocking traffic deem these roads safe for trucks. Again it comes down to money and the lobbying power the trucking industry yields. So lets here why they should be allowed!!!!

 

[black mamba]

GalaxyBlue....

I'm afraid you have assumed...incorrectly....that I and others are attacking you personally. You are probably a great guy and I certainly don't hold your chosen profession against you. That's not really the point of this thread.

There is no rational persuasion for allowing the rigs we are talking about onto roads that are clearly incapable of handling them in a sensible manner. I have personally seen two trucks on the " Dragon " that were wedged between obsticles and that, subsequently, blocked these roads for hours. That type situation is certainly a major agravation for other travelers. Much more important are the instances....too numerous to count....wherein these same type rigs, trying to negoiate roads totally unsuitable for their presence, create an extremely hazardous driving environment for on-coming traffic.

I started this thread by recounting a recent incident involving just this sort of circumstance. Only an insane person...completely devoid of any sort of caring for other's life and limb....would sanction these trucks being on these type roads. I could give a rats ass for the financial bottom line of the trucking industry or the lobbying bodies that support them. Asking the public to endure this as an acceptable risk is asinine and an affront to our intelligence and sensibility.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

I am not arguing the facts that the dangers exist... Because they do! My only reason for getting involved in this thread was to make you think about more than just the big trucks being a nuisance (sp?).

I do take it personal when people make "blanket" statements about the career i am in, Even though i don't like it sometimes.

As far as the trucks in the twisties when i am riding, I don't like it either! But knowing both sides of why they are there and HAVE to be there, I realize that they are just trying to do their job safely. But sometimes the roads wetake are a little too close for comfort! Like Toecutter said, California has signs posted that say: "Trucks over 40 feet from kingpin to rear axle not advised". And believe me, When you see those signs, You do NOT want to be on that road.

I will use Ca. hwy 198 for an example:

There are corners where you are going into a right hander with no shoulder, And a wall in it's place... You need to swing wide (crossing the double yellow) to avoid hitting the wall... I had the pleasure of taking that road from coalinga to the 101 and i met a tanker coming the other way! Talk about a close call!

Since then, I have a computer in my truck with the latest GPS software enabling me to avoid such roads...

So, In closing, I DO understand your concerns, But it's not really the right place to discuss this...

I call a truce between us on this and i am going to visit my happy place and dream about the big trip to WFO! :yahoo:

 

[odot]

Hm....kinda reminds me of the waitress conversation in resevoir dogs.