Lorry drivers &A14

[Dieselman]

Some truckers in USA also drive at 100mph.

Whether that's safe is another issue.

And the amount of fuel used must also be a significant factor as well, especially given that to do twice the speed requires eight times the power.

 

[jimti]

Well as a lorry driver I am willing to take the blame for all of it

but seriously, with regard to the OP the trucks shouldn't be overtaking there, and risk more than any car driver if caught, that said I don't like the idea of restricting overtaking unless it is for safety reasons.

As someone states later through this thread, we do it differently to Germany where there are miles of motorway with one lane for trucks all having to go as slow as the slowest truck, I have a high horse power truck that goes up hill as fast as down hill and very often find myself having to slow down to as little as 15 or 20 kph behind some old truck with an empty outside lane on the motorway but have to sit there, if you think 2 miles of A14 is frustrating try that for 70 or more km on a German Autobahn. and then there is the one lane left for the cars as they don't like coming into the lane full of trucks. When I have the misfortune to drive my truck in Germany I average 100 km less per day compared to the rest of Europe, and my fuel consumption goes up by around 4 ltr per 100 km,(10% more) I usually feel more stressed at the end of the day as well, still it is good for the car drivers as they get to sit in car queues without us getting in their way

With regard to overtaking in the UK,(or anywhere else) when I am approaching a slower truck I will overtake it if I am faster than them, because the sooner I finish my driving the sooner I get to take a break, 13 or even 15 hour days are the norm in trucking so I want to finish as soon as I can.

When a slow lorry is passing me, as long as I am not on a hill I will ease off the gas for them to pass me, I do this for two reasons, I like to keep as much free space around me as I can in case something happens, and I don't like the idea of big queues forming behind me as when I want to overtake it is harder to pull out.
In fairness to the car drivers in the UK, I think they are the most truck friendly in Europe, I hope it's not because they feel intimidated by us.

I drive an average of 110,000miles every year, and I don't want to spend any more time than is absolutely necessary stuck behind a slightly slower truck.

Maybe the way forward is to campaign to ban speed limiters

 

[scumbag]

.

Maybe the way forward is to campaign to ban speed limiters

or introduce them for cars?

think of the fuel saving, and what with the cost of it, and lowering the emission, less bunching of traffic, lower crash speeds.


<Runs off to avoid the flak ~~(Coward)>

 

[oldcro]

I see the problem now having reread the initial post. Those truck drivers are breaking the law when overtaking on that 2 mile stretch of motorway.

They should be punished for not showing full regard for the laws of motorway driving. They should follow the good example of car drivers, 0.0000001% of which never break the law by driving at over 70 MPH. The rest just ignore this law and even complain when forced to obey it by driving well within the legal limit.

We need trucks, we tolerate sales reps.

 

[Dragon]

MBUK forum? It should be renamed HGV drivers forum.

 

[nick mercedes]

MBUK forum? It should be renamed HGV drivers forum.

MB make lorries...

 

[glojo]

It appeals to my wicked sense of humour how we go into near uncontrollable rage when speed camera's are mentioned, or unmarked police vehicles, yet when it appears we might be inconvenienced then we want the full force of the law to bear.

HGV vehicles pay huge amounts in road tax, fuel use etc and surely if they are causing hold-ups, or delays, then why not invest in a crawler lane? Use some of the money being taken from these vehicles and improve the infrastructure to make their passage easier. Having said that, and read the power of some of these vehicles it seems a shame they are being persecuted.

As an aside, are truck drivers considered more of a trades person in Europe. I could watch a competent artic driver manoeuvring their vehicle for hours Respect.

Regards
John

 

[GRAV888]

Agree; it's the owner/driver who is most likely to have the under-powered tractor, no?

You couldn't be further from the truth.

If an owmer driver is going to invest £1000's in a truck, he will go for the best one he can afford and then some more.

You can tell owner drivers a mile off.
The trucks are normally spotless.

If you look at well known supermarket (T***O), you will see they are mostly 340 - 380 bhp.
My lowest one is a 420 and even that's been chipped.

 

[robert.saunders]

I stand corrected

 

[glojo]

because the sooner I finish my driving the sooner I get to take a break, 13 or even 15 hour days are the norm in trucking so I want to finish as soon as I can.

I'm way, way out of my depth here and please read all the following points as questions.

I thought you could only drive 9 hours per day and this can be extended to 10 hours twice a week? Am I right to suggest drivers can drive for a maximum total of 56 hours per week?

I am neither silly nor daft and fully respect your post and I live in the real world but should ALL HGV drivers only drive for the perscribed time? Perhaps this is going way off topic but is a regular 15 hour day acceptable? (health wise)

Regards
John

 

[dean36014]

Yep, you can drive for 9 hours a day, extended to 10 hours twice a week, to a maximum of 90 hours per fortnight. But, this is just driving hours, it doesn't include working, i.e unloading or supervising unloading of a lorry, tacho breaks, nor peroids of availability(i.e waiting time). So on average I drive about 8 hours a day, I spend about 45 minutes loading the lorry in the morning, I spend about 2 hours during the run unloading, 45 minute tacho break, and then about an hour in the yard on return, total of 12 1/2 hours a day. Your tacho break and peroids of availabilty don't count towards yor 48 working week, so alot of your unloading time etc is booked at this to get around the 48 hour week.

 

[IanA2]

Well as a lorry driver I am willing to take the blame for all of it

but seriously, with regard to the OP the trucks shouldn't be overtaking there, and risk more than any car driver if caught, that said I don't like the idea of restricting overtaking unless it is for safety reasons.

As someone states later through this thread, we do it differently to Germany where there are miles of motorway with one lane for trucks all having to go as slow as the slowest truck, I have a high horse power truck that goes up hill as fast as down hill and very often find myself having to slow down to as little as 15 or 20 kph behind some old truck with an empty outside lane on the motorway but have to sit there, if you think 2 miles of A14 is frustrating try that for 70 or more km on a German Autobahn. and then there is the one lane left for the cars as they don't like coming into the lane full of trucks. When I have the misfortune to drive my truck in Germany I average 100 km less per day compared to the rest of Europe, and my fuel consumption goes up by around 4 ltr per 100 km,(10% more) I usually feel more stressed at the end of the day as well, still it is good for the car drivers as they get to sit in car queues without us getting in their way

With regard to overtaking in the UK,(or anywhere else) when I am approaching a slower truck I will overtake it if I am faster than them, because the sooner I finish my driving the sooner I get to take a break, 13 or even 15 hour days are the norm in trucking so I want to finish as soon as I can.

When a slow lorry is passing me, as long as I am not on a hill I will ease off the gas for them to pass me, I do this for two reasons, I like to keep as much free space around me as I can in case something happens, and I don't like the idea of big queues forming behind me as when I want to overtake it is harder to pull out.
In fairness to the car drivers in the UK, I think they are the most truck friendly in Europe, I hope it's not because they feel intimidated by us.

I drive an average of 110,000miles every year, and I don't want to spend any more time than is absolutely necessary stuck behind a slightly slower truck.

Maybe the way forward is to campaign to ban speed limiters

Would that all truck drivers had that attitude and drove like you....there would be less congestion, and probably fewer incidents.

 

[tray1664]

Looks like I've come late to this thread but living in Norwich I have to use the a11 - A14 to get anywhere really and thought the trial would have been great. There are many occasions when I have sat behind huge queues of traffic caused by overtaking lorries, it's quite a hilly stretch on that west end. It's not unknown to take 7 or more miles with no ground being made (I've recorded it on my tacho as it became so frequent). The issue is purely that the lorry drivers are only concerned about their mpg or not losing momentum - no consideration or knowledge of the road ahead (how can they see the road ahead when they are 2 feet from the tail of the lorry in front anyway?). Because of this people close up the stopping distance to stop themselves being cut off and that's when it all get s a bit dangerous.

How many times have you had a lorry come right up your backside in traffic because they don't want to slow down? and you can play lorry driver phone bingo - spot a lorry driver NOT on his phone and you get 10 points. I got 20 points once from norwich to nottingham! Maybe that's for another thread though

 

[mw_C32]

Well as a lorry driver I am willing to take the blame for all of it



Maybe the way forward is to campaign to ban speed limiters

Hear hear, maybe some wisdom in that statement. I own a small business that runs two 7.5 ton Canters, these both have tachos fitted and were registered in 2003 brand new. Last year they both went in for their usual pre MOT inspection and then on to the Bus depot for the actual MOT. Both failed....Why? No speed limiter fitted. VOSA in their infinite wisdom now not only demands that we inspect our trucks every 8 weeks but also back dated the fitting of these speed limiters to include ours, if your truck was just 4 months older than mine it would not have had to be done.

It cost me £700 per truck to fit and now as they are poorley callibrated (54-55mph)we sit in amongst all the huge 40ft trucks and take longer to make our deliveries.

I think it has made us more dangerous as we used to be able to nip out overtake and back in 65mph no problem, now my drivers are just plain frustrated. No good for anyone.....

As for the A14.... I now go to B.ham via the A45 and Northampton and to Cambs via the old A45 (B4500) via St.Neots. Avoid it as much as possible there are always incidents and accidents.

Mark.

 

[c240yaz]

Lorries.....I cannot complain. In my view, best drivers on the road. These guys are perfect in judging speed, distance and probably encounter experiences that the car driver never even encounters.

I salute them with honour.

 

[DaveK]

'as we used to be able to nip out overtake and back in 65mph no problem'

So what is the stopping distance of one of these wagons as compared to, say a E Class 320 cdi ?

 

[raymont]

Lorries.....I cannot complain. In my view, best drivers on the road. These guys are perfect in judging speed, distance and probably encounter experiences that the car driver never even encounters.

I salute them with honour.

This is irony, isn't it?

 

[DaveK]

Must be because I heard a traffic officer from a Midlands force describing how 60 per cent of the accidents involving lorries that he dealt with, were caused when wagon drivers fell a sleep at the wheel and either crashed through the barrier or off the motorway via the inside lane.

 

[nick mercedes]

'as we used to be able to nip out overtake and back in 65mph no problem'

So what is the stopping distance of one of these wagons as compared to, say a E Class 320 cdi ?

7.5 tonners stop alright when you want them to.

Airbrakes and all that.

 

[Dieselman]

'as we used to be able to nip out overtake and back in 65mph no problem'

So what is the stopping distance of one of these wagons as compared to, say a E Class 320 cdi ?

LCV need about twice as long to stop from a given speed as a car. That's why car drivers should be sensible about cutting into the braking space a lorry leaves.

Info.
http://www.users.freenetname.co.uk/~trap/stopping.htm