Are the trucks slowing down where you live?

pennwalk · Mar 23, 2008

I saw an article in the newspaper today that talked to truckers who said that because of the high cost of fuel they are slowing down. I haven't been out and about all that much but I did hit the highway last week and I didn't notice anything like that. I think if you were only driving 65 you would be passed by everyone. I really can't tell that the high cost of fuel is bothering anyone except to complain. Seems like there is just as much darned traffic as ever. What is your take on it?

Please don't go political on me.

Chris

Bill Barrett · Mar 23, 2008

I've been on the road for 1200 miles in the last two weeks. Looked like everyone was flying as usual.

Farmwithjunk · Mar 23, 2008

pennwalk said:
I saw an article in the newspaper today that talked to truckers who said that because of the high cost of fuel they are slowing down. I haven't been out and about all that much but I did hit the highway last week and I didn't notice anything like that. I think if you were only driving 65 you would be passed by everyone. I really can't tell that the high cost of fuel is bothering anyone except to complain. Seems like there is just as much darned traffic as ever. What is your take on it?

Please don't go political on me.

Chris

I think one passed me this morning only going 64-1/2mph

Maybe he was the one slowing down.

I try to make my trips count nowdays, minimizing the non-essential miles, but life goes on. I've even stopped complaining about it. Sure doesn't do any good to.

dgl24087 · Mar 23, 2008

Overall, I'd have to say traffic is lighter in my area than in the past. Teenage cruising on Friday and Saturday nights is about 1/3 the norm, gas stations have far fewer customers than in the past, and full service and pricier restaurants are slower. I drive a box truck under contract to the USPS, and truck traffic on I-81 in SW VA has slowed speeds a moderate amount, instead of running 75-80, I'd say most are running 70-75 now.

Skyco · Mar 23, 2008

Don't get me started

Trucks slowing down....you gotta be kidding. I tire of getting passed by trucks running 80+ and I almost never see one stopped. The cops in SC are afraid of the truckers for some reason....

I think the story was supposed to be posted April 1..

chh · Mar 23, 2008

Everybody is still complaining in Oklahoma, but I don't see many slowing down. I have cut down on the amount of driving I do, but I can't see that it has effected most people. The trucks on I-40 last tuesday where running 75 to 80 in the rain(5" that day in many areas) so it doesn't seem to have slowed them much either.

jinman · Mar 24, 2008

Traffic hasn't slowed down here. It just seems like everyone is in a bad mood after buying gas. They aren't going to slow down for anyone because slowing and accelerating takes more fuel.

Spring Break has caused some thinning of traffic last week. This next weekend, there is a big NASCAR race in Texas. Thousands of folks will burn up thousands of gallons of $3.00+ fuel just sitting on the road in a traffic jam trying to get into a racetrack around all the motorhomes, campers, and golf carts. Then, they'll watch the most fuel-unefficient cars in the world go flying around the track for a few hours.

We ain't hurtin' enough to effect NASCAR.

gordon21 · Mar 24, 2008

I drove 1850 miles this weekend. Round trip from North Carolina to Miami and back on I-85, I-75 and the turnpike. I saw only a couple truckers doing less than 75MPH. On the way back I was hauling a fully loaded 16' trailer and kept at 65MPH the entire way. F-150 with a total rig weight of 11K. Everyone flew past me. Cars and trucks alike.

Bird · Mar 24, 2008

Like everyone else, I saw the news article about truckers slowing down and wondered where. A couple of days ago I had to go about 60 miles on local freeways with a 60 mph speed limit. I set my cruise control on 64 mph so I don't obstruct traffic too much, and everyone, trucks included was passing me. Saturday, I went 130 miles east of Dallas and back the same thing. If I set my cruise control for 5 mph over the limit, I almost never have to slow down because all the other traffic will be passing me.

MossRoad · Mar 24, 2008

We drove down to Indianapolis and back yesterday to visit... it was a 300 mile round trip. I set my cruise 5 over the speed limit and was passed by almost everyone. I only passed about a half a dozen cars total the whole trip. We saw maybe 10 big rigs on the whole trip. They must have been off for Easter... but every one of them passed me.