When on a dual carraigeway I set the cruise control at 50mph and 52-53 on motorways, so I am constantly being overtaken by a nose to tail convoy of tail gating trucks. Why do so many trucks drive so close to the one in front and why do so many drivers move back into the nearside lane so soon taking my space?
Because they are numpties mate. 
It infuriates me I can tell you.
The reason I tend to drive at around 52 mph on a motorway is not only for economy. It also keeps you out of the rat race that is going on in lane 2, and where it can be used, lane 3.
Let all the idiots go racing, by I say.
High average speed is what gets you there faster. Driving 0.5 mph faster than other trucks, and then queueing up for 5 minutes at the end of an exit slip road does not give you a high average speed.
Certain instances I will go faster, during the night for example, when it’s quieter you can achieve a higher average speed by ruinning flat out.
But on the M25 at 0800 in the morning - racing along just don’t work!!
As for cutting in. I think it is just the general level of decency in society. I’m alright, Jack. ■■■■ everyone else.
I feel better now. 
By the way - welcome to TNUK, mikermhh.
Mike,
its an argument made by many and never won, why can I sit at 90K and overtake supermarket RDC trucks and have boys overtake me like I am standing still.
We all press on for the final venue it is human nature, I will agree with Fenman though that in built up traffic I back off and coast as there is no point in pushing then stopping etc. I will say though that if you are tramping and happy to do 52mph and your boss is happy then give us a job M8 as your employer must be the most understanding bloke in the world
I have also noticed that some “drivers” want to be infront to save at least 5 seconeds on the run and when they do get past you and pull back in they are so close its scary.
what happened to the headlight flash before you moved back to lane 1. i thought that was being polite and helpful or have some drivers not got time.
seems alot of manners and comaradiery has been lost lately.
It’s not been lost , it’s the stupidity that masks it 
N2N Transport:
I will say though that if you are tramping and happy to do 52mph and your boss is happy then give us a job M8 as your employer must be the most understanding bloke in the world
Personally I am happy to drive at any speed that is safe and legal.
If the firm want me to drive on the speed limit, I will where it will genuinely make the journey quicker.
If they want me to drive like the man from Merc told me I should to get the best mpg, I will.
They pay me by the hour, and there is always more work to be done.
Except for our Scanias - which go like they are on fire, all of ours only do about 54 mph flat out mate.
My boss reckons that there is more of an incentive for him to reduce fuel costs than there is to reduce his labour costs. Seems that top management are very focussed on fuel at the moment.
No doubt it will probably all change in a few weeks!!
I’m Restricted to 52mph and it gets me where I want to go just fine. Surprising how many times other trucks come thundering past you and disappear into the distance only to be caught up again on some future slip road or hold up.
I get the max fuel economy from my truck that I can and aside from the usual ■■■■ ups on the roads always arrive at my tipping time. Sometimes even after they guys who overtook me ages ago only to find I go straight to my unloading bay whereas they sit in some stinking waiting room…
But It is very noticeable how many drivers are now cutting in with only inches to spare which is pretty scary. Must admit, I either wait for the flash or just keep going until I’m 100% sure I’m OK to cut back in.
I saw a reason not to drive to close the other day.
Coming up the M25 around jct 10 ish, Saw a lorry on the other side on the hard shoulder with a blow out front off side! Trailer was all stoved in too!
Half mile further saw another artic, in lane 1 on the other side, front all smashed in.
I’m guessing the first truck had a blow out and lost speed rapidly, then the other guy behind had no time to react.
Like I said it’s only a guess, if someone knows the real story please correct me.
on the flashing in bit and flashing other trucks in i always do it
ROB K once gave me some good [ nice ] advice and that was dont let them drag you down to there level , and he was right
Difference between 55mph and 52mph = 3mph
In one hour ( if you travel for that distance) you will have travelled
a further 3 miles
or in 30 minutes thats 1.5 miles
in 15 minutes that will be 1320 yards
660 yards in 7.5 minutes
330 yeards in 3.5 minutes
The point you may (or may not) ask,
For the distance you have gained going 3mph faster, is small in comparison to the distance you will have eventually travelled
So I will tootal along at 52/53 and watch the 8 mile overtaking manouvere which will take appx 9 mins to complete and you will be 880 yards in front of me on completion.
I’m sure if my maths are wrong, someone will have the decency to correct me, but you see my point. Why rush!
Magic Mel:
Difference between 55mph and 52mph = 3mphIn one hour ( if you travel for that distance) you will have travelled
a further 3 milesor in 30 minutes thats 1.5 miles
in 15 minutes that will be 1320 yards
660 yards in 7.5 minutes
330 yeards in 3.5 minutes
The point you may (or may not) ask,
For the distance you have gained going 3mph faster, is small in comparison to the distance you will have eventually travelled
So in a 9 hour drive you could have possibly lost near 30 mins, throw in a 45 cause you couldn’t make it and there’s your day gone poop… 
A truck I once had would only do 52 mph, which was a right pita on 4.5 hour runs. I eventually managed to get it up to 54, this made my days more manageable and saved me having to run in on a Saturday.
Get me drift…
ady1:
on the flashing in bit and flashing other trucks in i always do it
i do it and i thank others for flashing me in. i like a bit of room in front of me and i assume that others are the same therefore they are happy for me to come back in when they flash me in. i agree with it being polite too
On a run from Ellesmere Port to Alconbury last night, i counted 14 vehicles that tried to take my front end off when pulling in…3 were from the same firm, and all were members of the blue neon brigade!!!
My sincere thanks to the [zb] [zb] of a DRS International driver,who forgot he was pulling a trailer on the M1 this morning, and forced me onto the hard shoulder ONE OF THESE DAYS I’M GONNA SNAP I TELL YA
i wonder if the sphincters that do this are the same sphincters that come flying down slip roads barging their way on and then undertaking you leaving you looking like a puss stained tampon in the middle lane■■?
Nowadays I usually drive a 26 tonner but occasionally have to stand in for the night drivers and then have to drive anything from a 7.5 tonner up to a 26 tonner. I am surprised when on nights how many artics will flash to let another artic know it’s safe to move back in but when I or anyother rigid go past seem to dispense with all the niceties and comradeship.
I flash anything back in that has to rely on external mirrors to see behind and sometimes am happy for them to come back in straight away and take some of my safety zone ( when the road is clear in front ) but hold off giving them the OK if the road is busy ( I don’t want to let someone back into my safety zone and suddenly find he is braking because the traffic is slowing down ).
Willy Gofar:
Nowadays I usually drive a 26 tonner but occasionally have to stand in for the night drivers and then have to drive anything from a 7.5 tonner up to a 26 tonner. I am surprised when on nights how many artics will flash to let another artic know it’s safe to move back in but when I or anyother rigid go past seem to dispense with all the niceties and comradeship.
I drive an artic, but always flash in any vehicle that may have difficulty seeing when they have cleared me, including rigids, caravans, even transits if they are only going a wee bit faster than me. But I hate the morons who swing back in front of you leaving about a quarter of an inch! Do they think it’s clever to have judged it so close? or are they just stupid and ignorant? I ill flash someone back in when I am happy for them to be there!
jammymutt:
i wonder if the sphincters that do this are the same sphincters that come flying down slip roads barging their way on and then undertaking you leaving you looking like a puss stained tampon in the middle lane■■?
i reaaaally hate that one 
even in my car, i join the carriageway and drop to 50 to allow the courteous trucker to pass me and come back in. professional courtesy extends beyond the cab
scanny77:
even in my car, i join the carriageway and drop to 50 to allow the courteous trucker to pass me and come back in.
What about the trucker(s) in the lane behind you who you have now screwed by joining a motorway then immediately slowing down 
If I pulled over to let you join in your car I would much rather you got a wiggle on and accelerated away, leaving me free to pull back into lane 1 with no alteration to my speed, than start dawdling along with me constantly checking my N/S mirror to see where the hell you are and what you are doing, with the vehicles behind you bunching up. Some of them then pull out to overtake so what do I do after I have pulled back in? Carry on at my speed, which leaves them out there and makes me look bad or slow down and let them pass which causes more to pull out into lane 2.
scanny77:
professional courtesy extends beyond the cab
If you join in front of me then slow to 50 professional courtesy is the last thing I would be thinking about you. The word would more likely rhyme with bat.
Join the motorway, don’t ■■■■■ about, get a wiggle on and in the process give a wave of thanks or flick of the lights to the truck driver who moved into lane 2 to give you room to join without having to alter your speed. Don’t thank him for that by then immediately altering your speed, defeats the object in him moving over for you in the first place.
Coffeeholic:
scanny77:
professional courtesy extends beyond the cabIf you join in front of me then slow to 50 professional courtesy is the last thing I would be thinking about you.
.
Oooh Oooh i like this game…ummmmm…is it …mat?..or…fat?..hmmmmm hard one this…
Once again Neil another class post…
Oh and agree with you 100% too