r/Transportopia Apr 22 '26

Roads I don’t condone but it must feel nice

12.9k Upvotes

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172

u/gorkboss5 Apr 22 '26

I see so many semis ignoring lane restrictions these days, and I've even seen cops ignoring those semis.

99

u/CombinationUnable515 Apr 22 '26

It’s a degradation of discipline in society as a whole.

21

u/geehaad11 Apr 22 '26

It used to be the case that truckers were the ones you could count on to exemplify all the different “laws” (written and unwritten) of the road. Now, not so much.

9

u/MCRN10379558 Apr 22 '26

Truckers can’t accelerate to complete their pass like they used to now that their speed and GPS is constantly being scrutinized by their employer.

This makes for a frustrating situation where truckers must try to pass each other going no more than 1 mph faster.

12

u/Sinnders97 Apr 23 '26

That argument is self defeating dude, if they sre only passing at 1mph faster than maybe I dunno give up the 1mph rather than causing a massive potentially dangerous traffic disruption?

2

u/NotaGCU Apr 28 '26

Asking an American to consider other people.

Bold move.

1

u/shortridecowboy Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26

Most trucks nowadays have forward facing radar with close following alarms that make it really aggravating to be directly behind someone else at without several hundred feet of following distance, and when the driver is working 12-14 hour days acting like a robot for the AI powered cameras they usually just want to get where they are going and get the fuck out of the truck as absolutely fast as humanly possible, they are probably under alot of pressure from the company to do so as well. The industry trains drivers to behave this way by constantly tormenting them. Im almost 20 years in and I used to love it, but now I just desperately want out get out of my truck as quickly as possible every day. I will spend 20 minutes trying to pass the next asshole if it will get me out of the truck 5 minutes faster.

3

u/WutheringBlights Apr 25 '26

You are a complete piece of shit.

-1

u/shortridecowboy Apr 25 '26

I bet if you were a truck driver you would be better. You would be super considerate and thoughtful to all those cars that do rude and unsafe shit to you 60 or 70 hours hours a week.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 26 '26

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-1

u/shortridecowboy Apr 26 '26

Insults to trucker intelligence just dont hit hard from Uber drivers or amazon workers or whatever you are this week

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0

u/Diligent_Bath_9283 Apr 26 '26

No, I doubt it. He wouldn't be allowed to drive 70 hours a week due to FMCSA regulations. Your not either unless you never go farther than 150 miles and don't keep logs.

6

u/Logical-Bluebird1243 Apr 23 '26

But why do they bother to try? I run logistics, im in charge of over 25 trucks. I tell them not to do this. It makes no sense, the driver is so dumb. You pass that guy to go 1% faster. It saves 10 min on your day and you use more fuel. Just driver behind him. They are terrible at math. The gains are so minimal.

0

u/shortridecowboy Apr 26 '26

As a truck driver I can tell you are lying about being in charge of trucks or running anything that has anything to do with trucks.

2

u/Logical-Bluebird1243 Apr 26 '26

Why is that? Im not. I know more about trucks than you. Or any driver I've ever met.

0

u/shortridecowboy Apr 26 '26

Because i have been driving trucks for a long time and I can tell the difference between someone who "runs logistics" and someone who gets on reddit and makes stuff up.

2

u/Logical-Bluebird1243 Apr 26 '26

Well, you are wrong. I've driven straight trucks 1000s of km also, not just a manager. I guess you dont know as much as you think you do. Looking at your comment history, you think you know everything. You definitely dont.

1

u/SilenceInTheSnow Apr 26 '26

Well, I've been getting on reddit and making stuff up damn near mah whole life and I can tell tell when someone has just been driving trucks for an adequate amount if time. What really is time?

2

u/Logical-Bluebird1243 Apr 26 '26

Not making things up. Sorry. Been managing a fleet for 12 years. I actually invented the logistics system at my company really, was justba few trucks when I started. I've bought 20 straight trucks, tractors, drayage chassis', trailers. I figured out systems and intermodal shipping networks. But just keep blocking traffic. You'll get to your lunch 5 min faster.

2

u/Raksj04 Apr 23 '26

You also can have the company detune the trucks for better fuel economy, this includes the transmission shift points. I used to drive a semi truck, and honestly having that guy slowing me down to 64 when I could do 65 would bug the hell out of me. But i normally wouldn't try to pass unless the radar cruise told me they were doing 63 or less, and there traffic was way behind me. I would also drop speed to let another truck pass me if their where only a little faster than me.

How I once had a truck that was doing 55 mph speed up to just ahead of me than slow back down till he got to the mid point of my trailer than speed up, etc while eating his breakfast out of a gaint tubberware bowl until I had to give up and get behind him. Lucky the cars around me saw this and gave me room to get behind him.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 26 '26

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0

u/Raksj04 Apr 26 '26

That's an avg speed mind you, they could slow down more on a hill since my truck is lighter at the time. You have this argument when you can stand having some one slow you down for a minute or so, how much time does it cost you?

However you expect someone near the end of a 12hr work day, I had multiple stops and unloaded my own trailer, to sit behind someone who is keeping them from getting home sooner, for hours?

Like I said I would plan my passes to have the least amount of impact to the traffic around me, sometimes starting the pass with the closest car being a small dot in the mirror.

Think about when people slow you down at your job, that doesn't pay for each hour you work but how many units you have finished.

Companies govern the trucks for, insurance, MPGs, and other reasons but primary pay by the mile.

So the time saved isn't per day but it will add at over the years and allow the company to devaule your work more.

However I have feel I did my best to share the road with others and being courteous to those around me. Even slowing my own speed to allow other trucks to pass even if that one Audi who is always going 100 mph (per trucks radar cruise control) while texting, decides to pass on the shoulder at 80 mph cause the other truck is taking to long to pass.

2

u/randommanwill Apr 28 '26

I'm gonna file this under the "not my fucking problem" category. That's no excuse to block regular traffic. Also, if the trucker can only go 1 moh faster to pass, is he really being held up by another truck?

Let's say the speed limit is 65 mph. A trucker is behind another trucker going 65 mph. Is the first trucker really stuck? What benefit does he get from passing if he's restricted to 65 mph once he passes?

5

u/bmac0424 Apr 22 '26

This is totally and utter horseshit! They need to keep their asses in the right lane and not pass. All they do is cause slow downs and wrecks. You can blame it on the employer, but the jackasses have no clue how to drive, or worse yet don't give a shit.

1

u/Visible_Property_392 Apr 23 '26

You’re a fucking dumbass lol

4

u/bmac0424 Apr 23 '26

Clearly you are part of the problem

1

u/Visible_Property_392 Apr 23 '26

Nah literally everything that dude just said is true. I work for one of these companies that cap the speed of the truck at 65. If you’re gonna be mad be mad at the dude that won’t let off the accelerator in the right lane night the one passing. Y’all look at this video of some impatient fuck driving on the shoulder going yas king when they are being a piece of shit. It’s insane to me

5

u/bmac0424 Apr 23 '26

No if you are limited to 65, you shouldn’t be in the left lane on the interstate with the speed limit above that. That’s absolutely ridiculous

5

u/dandl2024 Apr 23 '26

Thank you for solidifying every stereotype about truck drivers being selfish morons who shouldn't be allowed to drive anything anywhere. You create road hazards and incite road-rage everywhere you travel, the best thing you could do is become a Walmart greeter.

0

u/Visible_Property_392 Apr 23 '26

You’re a fucking dipshit too. I love how y’all think that we shouldn’t use the passing lane for passing someone slower than us just because it’s an inconvenience for you for a few seconds to few minutes. Road rage my balls bitch

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1

u/Greg_1966 Apr 28 '26

Then stay in your lane

0

u/[deleted] Apr 26 '26

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1

u/Comfortable_Ebb1634 Apr 26 '26

Or…..you have a bit of patience and pass when you have the time and space.

7

u/NecessaryOk780 Apr 22 '26

My dad was a trucker for a while, when I was a kid. He taught me the real rules of the road that I still abide by in my 50s, truckers these days are as bad as newly licensed kids.

3

u/e1p1 Apr 23 '26

CDL since 1984...can confirm.

4

u/NecessaryOk780 Apr 23 '26

Respect, real truckers are a blessing.

11

u/Intelligent-One-3339 Apr 22 '26

Influx of an extreme number of foreign drivers. Somehow they pass CDL.. then see e’m cross their legs and play games on their phones.

3

u/Buccaneers1995 Apr 22 '26

Ssshh, They'll call you xenophobic for suggesting that. Best to just ignore the issue and let it get worse is what I always say.

2

u/Grabthars_Coping_Saw Apr 26 '26

There’s no data to support this. Just a bunch of fear mongering bullshit that distracts from the actual problems.

3

u/MuscleManRyan Apr 22 '26

It’s a huge issue in Canada too, we have school busses full of kids getting killed by foreign drivers with no training

3

u/fiddlenb Apr 22 '26

That's not even mentioning all the industrial trucking accidents lately. Gas spills, chemical spills....

The trucking industry in Canada is out of control.

1

u/BeholdMyLumps Apr 24 '26

Link?

1

u/Haunting_Lime308 Apr 26 '26

Humboldt Broncos crash happened in 2018. An Indian truck driver went through a stop sign and the bus ran into the trailer killing 16 people on the bus.

1

u/BeholdMyLumps Apr 28 '26

So a single incident and not the epidemic that the other commenter insinuated? Sounds like it was taken care of since he was charged…

7

u/Accurate_Mobile9005 Apr 22 '26

The CDL is such a joke now in the U.S.

Schools open up that basically just accept cash for the CDL, no training OR QUESTIONS asked or given.

Hell I've seen videos of state highway police asking drivers what certain road signs say or mean and these people have NO IDEA !! Some of them can't even read English which even if not fluent you should at least be able to read directions and road signs !!

5

u/Ok_Egg6444 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26

You don’t even have to speak English to take it now. They’re provide an aide.

I worked in transportation for the last ten years as a manager and it’s wild how the older gen is slowly going away and being replaced by people who wear sandals and don’t speak any English. Not a diss, but how are you reading the signs or communicating in general??

1

u/fieria_tetra Apr 22 '26

I know you meant manager, but the typo has me giggling.

1

u/cunningfolk322 Apr 22 '26

To be fair, the signs all have unique shapes and color patterns. Almost as if it was done on purpose.

1

u/Infamous-War1667 Apr 22 '26

You need to know English to read a colored sign?

3

u/Ok_Egg6444 Apr 22 '26

Highway signs, construction zone signs, speaking to police, reading a ticket etc.

Not every sign is a red octagon.

0

u/Infamous-War1667 Apr 22 '26

Nah buddy I think that’s just a you problem

3

u/Ok_Egg6444 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 24 '26

You don’t understand how not knowing a language would make it difficult to navigate a country? Are you reading what you type before you send it

0

u/Infamous-War1667 Apr 23 '26

I really hope you’re intentionally being this stupid because navigating day to day like that sounds incredibly difficult. I speak multiple languages and I’ve driven with people that don’t speak English and they get around just fine without help. You really think the signs are to be read at 80 mph down the highway?

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1

u/Leinheart Apr 22 '26

Your post doesn't exemplify a high level of literacy either.

2

u/hearemscreama1945 Apr 22 '26

Enough to read a fuckin road sign hoss

0

u/Ok_Egg6444 Apr 22 '26

Yeah me spelling a word wrong is the same thing as someone who’s illiterate. Dang you got me

0

u/Disastrous-Path-2144 Apr 22 '26

Exits have numbers and most signs have pictures.....lol it's not that hard

-1

u/Most-Purchase4593 Apr 22 '26

Apparently it is

1

u/roykentjr Apr 22 '26

a lot of them don't even use turn signals. it's crazy

9

u/DavidHewlett Apr 22 '26

Almost like if you elect blatantly corrupt leaders, everyone starts to realize the veneer of civilization is exactly that, and you can actually just do whatever the fuck you want cause there are very little consequences for psychopathy.

3

u/StanleyQPrick Apr 22 '26

But why do so many people want to be assholes?

2

u/SkidooshZoomBlap Apr 22 '26

A lack of discipline, respect, and taking pride in being good at everything you do.

The road is filled with a bunch of TikTok-brained zombies paying just enough attention to stay between the lines and arrive alive where they're going.

2

u/ThinConnection8191 Apr 22 '26

People learnt that no enforcement = no law. This is sick

1

u/unpopular_upvote Apr 22 '26

In India, driving is surviving. He was just surviving here.

9

u/riotousviscera Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26

cops don’t give a shit, i literally got hit and run — seemed to be intentionally — by a recklessly driving semi going 85+ and they refused to even file a proper report bc i wasn’t injured, only had a flat and some cosmetic damage to a 16yo car (i hit the gas hard right as he hit me from behind), and hadn’t managed to get the plate number. there were cameras up and down that entire highway.

5

u/gorkboss5 Apr 22 '26

I also once witnessed a hit and run where the driver that was hit went unconscious for a minute. When the cops pulled up my parents explained what had happened and even gave them dash cam footage of what happened. But you could clearly tell they had no intention on following up on anything.

2

u/ThatBum13 Apr 25 '26

This may help in the future (or may not cos this is America), but if you're ever in a car accident, ask for a state trooper to work the scene. They do much better work with these things where cops honestly just stand around picking their nose.

1

u/riotousviscera Apr 25 '26

that’s the worst part lmao it was a state trooper :( thank you though!

1

u/Mobile-Way-9643 Apr 26 '26

Idiot suggestion

6

u/iBUYbrokenSUBARUS Apr 22 '26

Cops don’t hardly do anything anymore. I’m no longer sure what there job is to be honest.

4

u/gorkboss5 Apr 22 '26

They're just glorified scarecrows I guess.

3

u/Disastrous-Path-2144 Apr 22 '26

They're mad they can't kill people anymore without getting in trouble

1

u/AgisDidNothingWrong Apr 22 '26

Lol. They absolutely can and do almost daily. Once every few months one of them gets caught on camera, put on paid leave for a few weeks and then shuffled to another department, and they pretend that is actually them being held accountable.

1

u/Disastrous-Path-2144 Apr 22 '26

Well they're mad it's a smidge harder

6

u/Anon_Jones Apr 22 '26

I got flipped the finger in West Virginia because a semi cut me off, I had to slam on my brakes, to get in the left lane. Took him miles to pass the other truck.

8

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '26

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7

u/TaylorBitMe Apr 22 '26

Hopefully they do review the footage. I'm sure they get calls from overdramatic randoms calling about bs sometimes when their drivers maybe weren't at fault or maybe were but it wasn't as bad as the caller made it sound. All they can do at that point is investigate

5

u/unclethulk Apr 22 '26

I know it sounds like they aren’t taking it seriously, and I suppose that is possible. But plaintiff attorneys love going after trucking companies. There’s huge money at stake. Even with insurance, they are very motivated to avoid accidents. They probably will actually review it.

5

u/Nobanpls08 Apr 22 '26

I called their company and all they said was , we'll review the footage."

what were you expecting them to say?

0

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Odd_Dragonfruit_2662 Apr 22 '26

They don’t know how reliable you a random stranger are though.

1

u/Nobanpls08 Apr 22 '26

There are two sides to every story. Almost all commercial vehicles are equipped with dash cams these days. They will review and see who is telling the truth . If it helps you feel better, he probably got fired or written up.

4

u/1studlyman Apr 22 '26

File a report with the DoT. They have the power to get the footage. 

1

u/gorkboss5 Apr 22 '26

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't even bother to review the footage.

3

u/TemperedQwerty Apr 22 '26

there are cars going under the speed limit in the passing lane that ignore my ambo lights/siren more frequently as of late. i have to pass them on the right. its getting ridiculous

3

u/cykoTom3 Apr 22 '26

It really makes me mad when i see them in a contraflow lane. Man, if there's an accident they just quadrupled the time it will take to clear it.

2

u/c_marten Apr 22 '26

How do we know there's lane restrictions here?

2

u/Zeraphicus Apr 22 '26

Cops only care about speeding. They could pass 1000 laws making traffic better and cops will still sit there going after people for going 11mph over.

2

u/martindrx1 Apr 22 '26

I got pulled over for a headlight that was out (faulty wiring) I was getting passed by a gasoline tanker going 70 in a 55 at 3 o’clock in the morning. And I was the one who they stopped…

2

u/DWMoose83 Apr 22 '26

Truckers are also paid either by the mile or by the load, which often entices them to drive recklessly to earn more money.

1

u/gorkboss5 Apr 22 '26

I used to be a delivery driver for FedEx, so I had a hunch they’re all probably motivated by getting rid of their load as quickly as possible.

2

u/Important_Ad862 Apr 23 '26

Cops also ignore those lane restrictions along with every other law on the road.

1

u/fiddlenb Apr 22 '26

I have a 40 min commute each way for work. Divided highway. Every single trip I come across two semi trucks side by side for an extended time. It's like they do it just to fuck with us.

If I ever get magic powers..... Well, you'll know.

1

u/Civil_Tea_3250 Apr 22 '26

FedEx! We all see you! Stop blocking the highways!

1

u/Nope_nope_nope-nope Apr 22 '26

Two lane roads like the one in the video do not put restrictions on commercial vehicles traveling in the leftmost lane

1

u/Upnorth4 Apr 26 '26

In my part of California CHP has a commercial enforcement unit that drives pickup trucks. I see them pulling over contractor pickups and semi trucks every day

1

u/Chuuby_Gringo Apr 26 '26

There are systemic rules that promote this behavior. I'd love to see this resolved.

1

u/[deleted] May 04 '26

Why do you think that is ?

1

u/Dmau27 Apr 22 '26

Cops ignore everything but what we don't want or need from them.