[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this Upper Midwest (WI, IA, MN, MI, and anyone else) list, largely rural issues, please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

Calling Diana's mower post and rainsing a semi.

A second interstate system, a wonderful, progressive, idea.

[apackof2]

The time will come when passenger cars and trucks will have to be separated, either through a redesign of our national highway system or encouraging even more use of railroad rights of way.

This is becoming a necessity as there are some Interstates so populated by maniacal truck drivers I won't even use them

[Redbob]

"The time will come when passenger cars and trucks will have to be separated,..."

How about separating all of us from the arrogant slobs driving the big trucks, and not trying to blame a problem on an inanimate object?

[tubebender]

Here's one for ya when you get home Thursday...

[gridlock]

Every truck in the country should be equipped with a governor to limit them to 55 mph. Until the cops are willing to demand that, they are just blowing smoke. They would rather raise revenue than solve the problem.

[B Knotts]

Growth in truck traffic as well as automobile traffic has far outpaced the expansion of the highway and freeway networks.

Transportation budgets have been used for light rail and bike lanes, while the car and truck traffic gets heavier and heavier.

We don't need a separate truck network; we simply need to expand the current network. We could do it if we stop wasting fuel taxes on nonsense.

Another way to reduce traffic would be to only license qualified drivers. That would probably reduce traffic by 75% or more.

[Smokin' Joe]

"Traffic law enforcement is another key component because it focuses on truck drivers' decisions and behaviors that often cause crashes,"

Having seen on numerous occasions the way people will whip a little car in front of a loaded semi and nail the brakes, I am only surprised more car drivers do not get 'physics lessons' than do.

It is a testament to the professional ability of truckers that they do not kill more of these idiots.

Of course, the onus is borne by the trucker, and not the nitwit driving the little car who drives like they have no clue about momentum.

[uptoolate]

"We also are working with trucking companies and organizations to educate drivers about safety issues."

---

I've been driving a semi in the Chi-town area for many years now. It's amazing how much crap we professional drivers hear from you 4-wheelers. A truck did this, a truck did that, whaa! whaa! freakin' whaa! I'm out there working my ass off 10 hours a day puttin' up with all your impatience. How fast do you think you can get 60, 70, or 80,000 pounds from 0 - 60? Do you realize to move that much weight just from 0 - 25 we have to shift 6, count'em, 6 times!!

Occaisionally we cross the lines? Baby, them lines are 12 feet wide. The trailer is a 102 inches wide (that's 8 1/2 fett for those of you in Rio Linde) That gives us 1 3/4 feet from tire to line. With a trailer 53' long plus another 20' for the tractor, how much 'dog tracking' do you think is going to take place? Do you even know what 'dog tracking' is?!!! Where do you think the rear of the trailer is going to go on a curve? I've seen cars only 6' wide crossing the lines. You have 3 FEET TO PLAY WITH ON EACH SIDE!!!!

One of my fellow drivers was at 79th and Stoney on the south east side of Chicago. Going southbound he prepared himself to turn west (that would be right for those of you who don't drive for a living). It's a pretty tight turn so he followed the rules we are all taught. Pull up to the intersection and button hook leaving your tandems 4' or less from the curb. Do you know some moron tried to drive his 6' wide car in that 4' space? He hit the trailer then drove over the curb onto the sidewalk, nipped a firehydrant, got out of his car and started yelling at our driver!

Here. Let's play fill in the blank. Ready? O.K.
CAUTION: THIS TRUCK MAKE WIDE _ _ _ _ _ .
Now you may know what the answer is. But do you know what it MEANS? It means don't drive your 6' wide car in a 4' space next to a truck pulling up to an intersection!

Ever stuck in traffic? Bumper to bumper. Then you see this semi up ahead. Whoa! you think. He must have 20 or 30 feet between him and the car ahead of him. Slow ass truck driver. Wasting all that room. I know. I'll ride the tail of the car ahead of me, and as soon as the openings there, BAM!, I'll zip right in that spot. Brilliant!

You frickin' moron. That's our cushion!. That's what keeps us from pushing the car ahead of us under the truck ahead of him. Do it again, and if you end up like an accordian, you have no excuse.

By the way. Don't expect a truck to back up out of your way. We are instructed not to. As much as you think we have rear view mirrors, we don't. We literaly cannot see behind us. Unless your in the field of vision of the side mirrors. Do the math. Mirrors stick out 6" past the width of the truck. Truck is about 75' long. A little geometry will let you know when I can see you. Best rule of thumb?

EVERYBODY!
"If you can't see my mirrors, then I can't see _ _ _."

See how easy that one was?

Now granted. There are some drivers that just don't belong on the road. Tired. Inexperienced. Careless. Reckless. But you will find the same types of drivers driving cars. Both should be eliminated off the road.

I hope you've have gained some insight into our world. We as the professional driver are constantly be re-educated about safety. Truck drivers know more about driving safe on these highways than anybody else. We are taught to antisipate that you as a car driver will become a dangerous obstacle. We are always learning how to drive with cars, through DOT literature that is passed on to us yearly, taking our license renewal tests, company programs, ect...

When was the last time you took a course on:

"How To Drive Safely On The Highways With The Big Rigs"?

Yeah, I thought so.

Maybe it's time you all took some time to understand what we do, and how you can help.

BTW. I haven't had an accident yet.

Accident; When two or more vehicles try to occupy the same space at the same time.

[ThomasThomas]

California has had some truck only freeways for about 30 years. The grapevine grade is one of note. I-5 north out of LA and south too.
http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/us_pix/99_pics/grapevine_descent_w_truck-1934.jpg

[driftless2]

"separation"

My wife and I were just talking about this very same solution while driving to Milwaukee on I-90-94 this last weekend. She observed about the great amount of semis on the road even on a weekend. Obviously the businesses who use semis have to make money. Are we going to arrive at eight lane highways or even separate highways for heavy haulers? Maybe. I also advocate special toll highways for the fools who want to drive twenty - thirty miles over the speed limit...maybe even no speed limit.

[Hardastarboard]

I've thought for years that one way to minimize traffic congestion at rush hour is to just prohibit the movement of semis in urban areas from 6:00 to 8:00 AM, and from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. They take up enormous amounts of room, and they're slow to accelerate and get traffic moving again. They are undoubtedly a major contributor to traffic jams.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, Dave, you tired old Communist!

How about asking your pal Governor Doyle why he stole nearly $700 MILLION from the Wisconsin Transportation Fund last year to "balance" the budget?

Maybe if the DOT was allowed the funding to manage the roads properly, add a few more lanes here and there, traffic wouldn't be a problem!

What? "Progressive Dane" won't allow any more roads in our county? Well, THAT'S progressive. *Rolleyes*

From their creed:

* Develop affordable, available and accessible multimodal public transportation plans along with an implementation budget; avoid service cutbacks and fare increases in existing public transportation; support subsidies for elderly, disabled, and low-income residents using public transportation.

* Expand pedestrian and bicycle routes

* Avoid major new highway construction, including construction of a North Beltline

* Provide incentives for all county employees to use public transportation, carpooling, biking or walking to get to work; the county should further establish a purchasing pool with county-funded agencies to purchase reduced-fare Metro bus passes for employees

http://www.prodane.org/about_us/county_platform/#Land

Now, everyone get back into your shoebox sized high density compartment apartments and don't even THINK about traveling anywhere other than by foot, bicycle or bus back and forth to work so you can pay your taxes to Mother Government.

[-YYZ-]

Heavy trucks also just plain screw up the flow of passenger vehicle and light truck traffic on heavily travelled roads. They just take too long to pick up speed, so every time there is a little slowdown, it's magnified several times over as they slow and then painfully accelerate back up to their original speed. And then there's hilly terrain. On my way home I have to go up one fairly long (several miles) and steep incline. Inevitably the rightmost lane is useless due to heavily laden trucks crawling up it at maybe 20 or 30 mph, while the middle lane is slowed down by somewhat lighter or more powerful trucks passing the really slow ones. There's little if any room for additional roadways up that hill, however, so I don't know what solution there is. In general building separate roads for trucks is a very expensive proposition. It would allow us to put all the expense of building and maintaining those roads on the trucking industry however - heavy trucks being a major reason that our roads crumble as quickly as they do. The less expensive asphalt is fine for lighter vehicles, but trucks really need reinforced concrete roads.

[ArGee]

"Traffic law enforcement is another key component because it focuses on truck drivers' decisions and behaviors that often cause crashes," he said. "We also are working with trucking companies and organizations to educate drivers about safety issues."

I drive a 4 wheeler and have never driven a rig. From what I have seen the rigs don't stand a chance because of the stupid people who drive the 4 wheelers. They seem to have no respect for what it takes to handle the extra weight of the big rig. It would drive me crazy to have to take into account not only the extra mass of what I'm pushing, but the potential stupidity of the little guys zipping around me.

The latter seems to be unlimited.

Shalom.

[upcountryhorseman]

Here you have huge semi's going along at 70 mph just two feet away from you. (in California they're supposed to be
going 55 max) When you have one on each side of you, that's
really white knuckle time!

[lawnguy]

I know there is a terrible shortage of truck drivers, and companies are desperately seeking help.

I would imagine there are drivers out there who are lacking the experience needed.

In fact I bet it wouldn't be a bad career track for a lot of folks.