Ask A Trucker: Draft Dodger

Here’s a letter that made it into the ? A Trucker mail bag on June, 20th, 2008. It’s a very good question. Folks of the four wheeled variety often times see things from their point of view, while the truckers point of view is a mystery to them. They scratch their heads and “what’s up with that?” and I’m here to tell ya:

• Q:
  

This might be the stupidest question ever but why do truckers hate people who “draft”. Cars have much better reaction time if a slow down or lane change is necessary. With gas prices going through the roof, it could save a lot of money.
Guilty.

• A:
  

Hang on, there are a lot of answers to this one simple questions. First let’s go with the simple physics answer: if you are seeing a gain in your fuel economy from drafting, the trucker is seeing a loss in his. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the idea of anyone stealing my gas, which in effect is what you are doing.

You mention cars having much better reaction time than trucks. This is true if the truck and car are side by side and they both see the same oncoming hazard at the same exact time. Assuming they have the same reaction time, the car will be able to slow down or stop faster than the truck. This is a fact.

But if the car is behind the truck, the car will not be aware of the hazard until the trucks break lights are all up in his grill. And that’s if the truck puts his breaks on. Sometimes it is easier/safer to just change lanes. If this is done with little or no notice you could find yourself face to face with said hazard with no reaction time, because the truck was blocking your view until the last moment.

Another possible scenario: a hazard comes along, but it doesn’t concern the truck, because he can pass right over it without it affecting him, and he doesn’t know you are behind him, because you are so close you are out of the trucks view. Next thing you know you have debris flying at you from under the truck. No reaction time.

According to Mythbusters if a big rig has a blow out while another vehicle is in the general vicinity the flying debris could be fatal. Again, no reaction time to such things. I’m sure you’ve seen the debris all over the highways, so you know that blowouts are a common occurrence.

Then there is the simple common courtesy, no one likes someone riding their ass. Especially at night. If and when those headlights peer around the trailer, they blind the truck driver. Believe me, I know.

Those are the reasons why you shouldn’t draft trucks just off the top of my head. I’m sure there are other reasons, but I think that’s good enough for now.

My recommendation… STOP IT!

Do you have a question you’d like to ask a trucker? If so, click here. If you’d like to read Q & A’s already asked of a trucker, click here.

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