Drafting behind semi's -- an annoyance?
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From: San Jose, CA
Drafting behind semi's -- an annoyance?
I'm wondering.... If I'm drafting behind a semi maybe 40-60ft behind for many miles on a straight freeway stretch in broad daylight, does it annoy them? Assume I'm driving a 'safe distance' behind and not doing anything really stupid.
I drafted off one guy hauling 70mph down a freeway since that was how fast I was going anyways and I changed lanes with him as we were passing slower traffic. To be honest, I almost felt like I was a parasite. After about half an hour of that, he slowed down to 60-65 and fell way behind out of sight. Was I being a donkey?
I drafted off one guy hauling 70mph down a freeway since that was how fast I was going anyways and I changed lanes with him as we were passing slower traffic. To be honest, I almost felt like I was a parasite. After about half an hour of that, he slowed down to 60-65 and fell way behind out of sight. Was I being a donkey?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Scio, OR
70 miles per hour is 102.666667 feet per second. That means, at 60 feet, you're .58 seconds behind that semi. How good is your reaction time?
I'm not a truck driver. But if I were, having some guy that close to me would **** me off. The inevitable accident, while maybe not technically my fault, is still going to cost me time and money.
I'm not a truck driver. But if I were, having some guy that close to me would **** me off. The inevitable accident, while maybe not technically my fault, is still going to cost me time and money.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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I drive the little rigs, 10' 6" high box trucks. Someone wants to "draft", I pull over and let them by if I can't shake them otherwise. Of course, I'm not exactly driving cross country, so most are just routine tailgaters.
"Following too close" is a violation in most states.
You are really "Blindgating". You can't see the road ahead, so you don't know what the truck might steer around, and if you're boxed in by another vehicle in the next lane(s), you're going to hit it.
Stay back.
"Following too close" is a violation in most states.
You are really "Blindgating". You can't see the road ahead, so you don't know what the truck might steer around, and if you're boxed in by another vehicle in the next lane(s), you're going to hit it.
Stay back.
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Posting Guru
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From: San Jose, CA
I think my guess of 40-60ft is a bit too close. I wasn't so close to not be able to see anything in front; I was far enough back to see what's well ahead of him.
OK, I'll stop doing it. I was actually doing it just to see how much less turbo boost I needed to maintain that speed. Wasn't much, but there was definitely a small difference :-)
OK, I'll stop doing it. I was actually doing it just to see how much less turbo boost I needed to maintain that speed. Wasn't much, but there was definitely a small difference :-)
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
I think there's and urban myth that if you draft these guys you can save a ton of gas. You can definitely feel the draft and subsequent pull when ath the proper distance but I think it's more of a PITA for the trucker and a danger for the following car to make it worth while.
I show these guys / gals all the respect and courtesies that I can.
I show these guys / gals all the respect and courtesies that I can.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
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As a trucker, the closer you are to me in a drafting situation, the greater the risk of me standing on the brake pedal to make you eat my rear bumper.
YES, IT'S ANNOYING AS HELL!
If it's at night, and your headlights are not aimed correctly, and you're drafting, the chances of me standing on the brake pedal approach 100%. Not only are you too close, but you're completely blinding me.
I pull a stepdeck. My freight isn't usually "large" enough to make for effective drafting ANYWAY, and my deck height is low enough that only a Lamborghini has headlights lower than my deck; thus there's nothing blocking headlight glare in my mirros. BACK OFF!
Safety first. The amount of fuel you MIGHT (and only MIGHT) be saving isn't worth the risks elsewhere.
Pig-headed, opinionated statement: If saving the $0.25/gal on 10 gals of fuel is THAT much of an issue, perhaps you might need to rethink your vehicle choice.
(yes, it's a hot-button issue for me.
)
-blaine
YES, IT'S ANNOYING AS HELL!
If it's at night, and your headlights are not aimed correctly, and you're drafting, the chances of me standing on the brake pedal approach 100%. Not only are you too close, but you're completely blinding me.
I pull a stepdeck. My freight isn't usually "large" enough to make for effective drafting ANYWAY, and my deck height is low enough that only a Lamborghini has headlights lower than my deck; thus there's nothing blocking headlight glare in my mirros. BACK OFF!
Safety first. The amount of fuel you MIGHT (and only MIGHT) be saving isn't worth the risks elsewhere.
Pig-headed, opinionated statement: If saving the $0.25/gal on 10 gals of fuel is THAT much of an issue, perhaps you might need to rethink your vehicle choice.
(yes, it's a hot-button issue for me.
)-blaine
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost
As a trucker driver, I too can comfirm that "drafting" (tailgating) behind a truck annoys the hell out of nearly every driver.
When someone starts doing this crap to me, I slow down. If that doesn't get off my azz, I slow down more. The longer they stay there, the slower I go. I once got down to ~25MPH, and the idiot was still there, dispite the fact that there weren't any other vehicles around, except that trooper who promptly stopped, and ticketed, the idiot. I know he got a ticket, as I stopped too, in order to inform the trooper that they had been riding my DOT bar for miles, which was why I was moving so slow. Trooper promised to give me at least an hour headstart on that guy..........
When someone starts doing this crap to me, I slow down. If that doesn't get off my azz, I slow down more. The longer they stay there, the slower I go. I once got down to ~25MPH, and the idiot was still there, dispite the fact that there weren't any other vehicles around, except that trooper who promptly stopped, and ticketed, the idiot. I know he got a ticket, as I stopped too, in order to inform the trooper that they had been riding my DOT bar for miles, which was why I was moving so slow. Trooper promised to give me at least an hour headstart on that guy..........
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Kzoo
I've noticed people driving back there before and they remind me of those pilot fish that hang with Sharks. It's too bad you can install a little LED display on the back of the truck to type a message to the idiot.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,741
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I've wanted one of these for DECADES!!!!!!!!
2 obvious problems, at first:
1) vibration would kill it in a matter of mere days.
2) how do you remotely control on/off/message?
-blaine
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 3
From: Kzoo
Yeah vibration would cause problems for sure. Maybe somebody could make a special bracket that would reduce the vibrations. As for the controlling messages I believe they have a wireless remote that you can use to type messages into it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
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From: Lafayette, IN
I'll confess.
I've done it on a few occasions, but not in recent years. One time it clearly ticked off the trucker, so I backed off--he did a couple "head fake" lane changes to let me know. Another time, the trucker didn't mind, and for that I was very thankful. My truck was running really bad, I was coming back from a job 90 min out of town, it was late, and there was a very strong headwind (constant 30 MPH, gusts to 40). By drafting, I was able to do a normal 70 MPH for much of the trip, the rest of the time, the poor old truck would barely do 60 MPH (turned out to be both heads were cracked in the exact same place). The third time I did it, I doubt the trucker even knew I was there. I was 4 hours out of town coming back from a job on a Sat afternoon, wanting to make a meal/meeting, and I caught a semi doing 85+. At that speed, my F250 with 351 would probably be lucky to get 8 MPG, but I probably got about 12+ MPG because I was GLUED to his bumper (<20 feet).
Those were incredibly stressful trips, though--I had full concentration on what that truck was doing in front of me, and I've had a change of heart about it, too. I don't do it now, and I certainly strongly recommend against it. It's not wise.
Jason
I've done it on a few occasions, but not in recent years. One time it clearly ticked off the trucker, so I backed off--he did a couple "head fake" lane changes to let me know. Another time, the trucker didn't mind, and for that I was very thankful. My truck was running really bad, I was coming back from a job 90 min out of town, it was late, and there was a very strong headwind (constant 30 MPH, gusts to 40). By drafting, I was able to do a normal 70 MPH for much of the trip, the rest of the time, the poor old truck would barely do 60 MPH (turned out to be both heads were cracked in the exact same place). The third time I did it, I doubt the trucker even knew I was there. I was 4 hours out of town coming back from a job on a Sat afternoon, wanting to make a meal/meeting, and I caught a semi doing 85+. At that speed, my F250 with 351 would probably be lucky to get 8 MPG, but I probably got about 12+ MPG because I was GLUED to his bumper (<20 feet).
Those were incredibly stressful trips, though--I had full concentration on what that truck was doing in front of me, and I've had a change of heart about it, too. I don't do it now, and I certainly strongly recommend against it. It's not wise.
Jason
Posting Guru
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From: Loganville, WI
The only time I tailgate is when I'm being towed, you never know what the idiots around you are going to do 
My brother is an over the road truck driver so I hear many bad stories. I give truck drivers all the room and respect I can, without them the country would stop functioning.
My brother is an over the road truck driver so I hear many bad stories. I give truck drivers all the room and respect I can, without them the country would stop functioning.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: McKenzie River
A truckers job is tedious and stressful enough the way it is with out hanging on his 6........give him space.
I have spent enough time in the slow lane in my motorhome chugging along with the semis to know, it really ticks many of them off.
I have spent enough time in the slow lane in my motorhome chugging along with the semis to know, it really ticks many of them off.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: springfield il
i am a truck driver , and yes it annoy's the he-- outta me , but even worse is when people pass me as they don't wanna be behind me , then drive slower than i was !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i gotta enough to do { driving lil' 9 ton too 12 ton ones now as i'm not over the road or doing local heavy work , just mail delivery } without having to try and figure out where the hades you went too . if you can't see my mirrors i CAN'T SEE YOU AND THAT'S THE TRUTH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so think about that !!!!!!!!!!!!!