Do truckers/hauliers feel 56mph limit too slow?
Discussion
Maybe when they stop/reduce the carnage of running into the back of one another
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rMxgTHpCyU&fe...
will be the time to reconsider or maybe until then consider lowering the limit more ?
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rMxgTHpCyU&fe...
will be the time to reconsider or maybe until then consider lowering the limit more ?
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
speedyguy said:
Maybe when they stop/reduce the carnage of running into the back of one another
will be the time to reconsider or maybe until then consider lowering the limit more ?
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
I've seen that video a few times, wouldn't want to be driving the car!will be the time to reconsider or maybe until then consider lowering the limit more ?
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
crostonian said:
Would like to know what the general consensus of opinion is amongst truck drivers/operators. Do you feel that with the advances in truck technology and safety that the current limit is too slow or is it a happy medium between adequate speed, safety and running costs?
i guess there has to be a limit, so why not 56mph?when i passed in 93 it was still 60mph, and although 4mph sounds minimal, i'd prefer it was still 60 instead of 56mph.
as in speedguys clip of the new volvo braking system, technology on trucks has come on leaps and bounds in 20 years. i believe mercedes trucks have a similar system to the volvo setup.
as for lowering the limit, as suggested i personally am not convinced.
the accident in the clip that speedguy posted is far to common, and in my opinion unnecessary. i believe its caused by bad driving. on alot of German motorways, from 6am till 8pm, there is a no overtaking ban for trucks over 7 and a half tonnes. so on long drags uphill, if you have a heavy truck upfront, it leads to the bunching scenario, (that i can only guess was happening just prior to this crash) so when it all goes tits up at the front, as the other trucks may have all bunched up far to close to one another sadly the inevitable happens, sometimes with devastating effects
i'm not excusing this type of behaviour/driving style etc, i'm just pointing out that when you restrict a set of vehicles to the same speed, this can often be the outcome.
i don't know what the answer is, but just think, if all cars and vans, and coaches were limited to 65mph, how do you think the scenario would play out, especially on the motorway and major trunk routes.
just to add from the original post.
i do believe that certain fleets do restrict their trucks at less than 56mph and believe that this is based on fuel figures. i have a mate who works for maritime, 1000+ trucks limited at 52mph for better fuel economy. not sure what the difference is on 1 truck, but multiply this by 1000, over the course of a year and i'm sure if your the guy paying the fuel bill its more than worthwhile
Edited by chilistrucker on Saturday 5th October 20:48
Yes, it does my nut in, I managed to get my old truck calibrated to 56 with tyres resembling seals heads, fitted new boots and it did 59mph all day long
The difference that 3mph made was fantastic.
Sadly returning to work full time soon, so I'll need to see if I can manage the above again.
This 52mph malarkey would do my nut in
The difference that 3mph made was fantastic.
Sadly returning to work full time soon, so I'll need to see if I can manage the above again.
This 52mph malarkey would do my nut in
martin mrt said:
Yes, it does my nut in, I managed to get my old truck calibrated to 56 with tyres resembling seals heads, fitted new boots and it did 59mph all day long
The difference that 3mph made was fantastic.
Sadly returning to work full time soon, so I'll need to see if I can manage the above again.
This 52mph malarkey would do my nut in
ha,ha, the truck calibration thing, good move The difference that 3mph made was fantastic.
Sadly returning to work full time soon, so I'll need to see if I can manage the above again.
This 52mph malarkey would do my nut in
i said this to my mate at maritime, whos stuck at 52mph. he says once your used to it, its better as your not playing the flat out at 56mph game that so many others are.
Operator pays the fuel bill. The fuel co's love 14 day terms, the fuel bill is the single biggest cost ergo, with great respect, the driver's opinions are way down the pecking order when your average general haulier is squeaking by on 3-4% ROC, the customers are taking approaches from competitors every day & Stobart is undercutting everyone else. That's just how it is in this game.
Justin Cyder said:
Operator pays the fuel bill. The fuel co's love 14 day terms, the fuel bill is the single biggest cost ergo, with great respect, the driver's opinions are way down the pecking order when your average general haulier is squeaking by on 3-4% ROC, the customers are taking approaches from competitors every day & Stobart is undercutting everyone else. That's just how it is in this game.
very true.56mph is a good speed, I like over running at 60 occasionally but when it starts getting up to 62/3 it all gets a little bit unstable fully freighted. If the limit was 60 then everyone would be pushing it too much downhill, it's all good on flat straight roads without tramlines but we don't have much of that over here.
The problem with specifying speed limiters for economy is that idiots make a half arsed attempt at it too often. A 400bhp manual scania can not pull 40+tonne in top gear on the flat at 50mph, it can just about do it at 52mph but any slight gradient kills it so it spends most of its day in low split.
If you're going to buy a fleet of vehicles and want to run them specifically for economy then get them modified so that they can do it, there is no point in having it run along way below its torque band. The best one at the moment is super economy tyres filled with nitrogen. They're worse than remolds, offer no grip and shed bits of tread for fun
There are better ways to save money over fuel economy, planning better is the biggest one. Well done, you saved 1mpg on all vehicles today but wasted at least £200 of derv because your routing and timescales were crap. Containers do my head in, it feels so wrong to be driving half way across the country with an empty on, it's just throwing money away
The problem with specifying speed limiters for economy is that idiots make a half arsed attempt at it too often. A 400bhp manual scania can not pull 40+tonne in top gear on the flat at 50mph, it can just about do it at 52mph but any slight gradient kills it so it spends most of its day in low split.
If you're going to buy a fleet of vehicles and want to run them specifically for economy then get them modified so that they can do it, there is no point in having it run along way below its torque band. The best one at the moment is super economy tyres filled with nitrogen. They're worse than remolds, offer no grip and shed bits of tread for fun
There are better ways to save money over fuel economy, planning better is the biggest one. Well done, you saved 1mpg on all vehicles today but wasted at least £200 of derv because your routing and timescales were crap. Containers do my head in, it feels so wrong to be driving half way across the country with an empty on, it's just throwing money away
s p a c e m a n said:
56mph is a good speed, I like over running at 60 occasionally but when it starts getting up to 62/3 it all gets a little bit unstable fully freighted. If the limit was 60 then everyone would be pushing it too much downhill, it's all good on flat straight roads without tramlines but we don't have much of that over here.
The problem with specifying speed limiters for economy is that idiots make a half arsed attempt at it too often. A 400bhp manual scania can not pull 40+tonne in top gear on the flat at 50mph, it can just about do it at 52mph but any slight gradient kills it so it spends most of its day in low split.
If you're going to buy a fleet of vehicles and want to run them specifically for economy then get them modified so that they can do it, there is no point in having it run along way below its torque band. The best one at the moment is super economy tyres filled with nitrogen. They're worse than remolds, offer no grip and shed bits of tread for fun
There are better ways to save money over fuel economy, planning better is the biggest one. Well done, you saved 1mpg on all vehicles today but wasted at least £200 of derv because your routing and timescales were crap. Containers do my head in, it feels so wrong to be driving half way across the country with an empty on, it's just throwing money away
Interesting - do trucks get effected by tramlines? - they are a bugger when towing my trailer, it feels like the trailer has a mind of it's own. The problem with specifying speed limiters for economy is that idiots make a half arsed attempt at it too often. A 400bhp manual scania can not pull 40+tonne in top gear on the flat at 50mph, it can just about do it at 52mph but any slight gradient kills it so it spends most of its day in low split.
If you're going to buy a fleet of vehicles and want to run them specifically for economy then get them modified so that they can do it, there is no point in having it run along way below its torque band. The best one at the moment is super economy tyres filled with nitrogen. They're worse than remolds, offer no grip and shed bits of tread for fun
There are better ways to save money over fuel economy, planning better is the biggest one. Well done, you saved 1mpg on all vehicles today but wasted at least £200 of derv because your routing and timescales were crap. Containers do my head in, it feels so wrong to be driving half way across the country with an empty on, it's just throwing money away
Shaw Tarse said:
speedyguy said:
Maybe when they stop/reduce the carnage of running into the back of one another
will be the time to reconsider or maybe until then consider lowering the limit more ?
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
I've seen that video a few times, wouldn't want to be driving the car!will be the time to reconsider or maybe until then consider lowering the limit more ?
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...
Cars braking for nothing I mean
May I give an opinion as a car driver, and as a student 'blue light response' driver? Oh, and if it might qualify me as a proper PH'er and professional road-user in any way further (or not) I am also a long-time motorcycle rider and formatively courier...
Whatever....for over 25 years I've been a road user, and observer of as much 'good practice' as I could assimilate and use to good effect.
Anyway - back to the thread.
In general, and as a percentage if you pressed me for an answer - I would accept that around '90%' of commercial vehicle drivers I come across, and sometimes engage with on our roads, are clearly consummately professional drivers, with whom it is a pleasure and somewhat gratifying to share the roads with.
By that I mean, they have obviously good skills in reading the road and traffic conditions, drive their vehicles accordingly, and hence probably cover many tens of thousands of miles across the country and Europe, in a trouble-free, accident and incident-free manner.
These types of drivers could probably cope with and operate their vehicles equally safely, if given the responsibility of being able to attain a higher top-speed limit. I have no doubt that they would use it when appropriate for the conditions, to their advantage, whilst at the same time treating it with professional gravitas, and using it wisely.
However.
I am still often dismayed and upset, by the '10%' of 'professional' HGV drivers, that drive like 'complete t
ts,' and observe nothing in the way of skilful, observational and defensive driving at all. And there is a smaller percentage who treat and use their HGV's as an intimidating weapon of the roads.
I am engaged with these types of drivers, for better or worse, when I am driving our motorways thus: either in my modified 4x4, or running down to my University and back as a poor, impoverished student
Both of these times, either in the 4x4 which requires restraint of top speed due to it's inherently high-up and unstable nature, or in my daily-drive being run at 50mph so that I can, at least, do a full week's commute to Uni and back on a single full tank - I am using a motorway at an average speed of 50mph.
More often than not, it's relatively pain-free and pleasant to use lane 1 at 50. For the most part, any HGV's looming up on me can usually spot me well in advance, and then mirror and indicate around me in a painless fashion. I then generally flash them back in, with thanks from them.
But..............I am also alarmed and annoyed at the amount of HGV's that think it's ok to pull right up to the back of my car, so close that another foot would give me an imprint of their grille badge into my rear hatch - and then sit there, trying to push me along faster, and generally intimidate me.
I have even had occasions when an HGV has pulled right up behind like this, obviously got annoyed that I am not doing nearer 60, and so attempted to get me to speed up, by flashing their lights at me into my rear-view mirror, or worse still 'giving me the horn'....so to speak...
It's bloody dangerous at worst, and anti-social at best. There is no need to drive so aggressively, no matter how many targets you have to meet for deliveries or whatever. You're a professional road user first, driving a monstrously huge and heavy machine - and have been licenced as such - so you should remember that, no??
And just to add - it's not just motorways that I have suffered this - I have even had it on A roads too - hold on, aren't you supposed to be doing 40? Apparently not!
So....I would love to support an increase in the 56mph limit....but like most things in life, there are a few individuals that are ruining it for everyone!
Whatever....for over 25 years I've been a road user, and observer of as much 'good practice' as I could assimilate and use to good effect.
Anyway - back to the thread.
In general, and as a percentage if you pressed me for an answer - I would accept that around '90%' of commercial vehicle drivers I come across, and sometimes engage with on our roads, are clearly consummately professional drivers, with whom it is a pleasure and somewhat gratifying to share the roads with.
By that I mean, they have obviously good skills in reading the road and traffic conditions, drive their vehicles accordingly, and hence probably cover many tens of thousands of miles across the country and Europe, in a trouble-free, accident and incident-free manner.
These types of drivers could probably cope with and operate their vehicles equally safely, if given the responsibility of being able to attain a higher top-speed limit. I have no doubt that they would use it when appropriate for the conditions, to their advantage, whilst at the same time treating it with professional gravitas, and using it wisely.
However.
I am still often dismayed and upset, by the '10%' of 'professional' HGV drivers, that drive like 'complete t
ts,' and observe nothing in the way of skilful, observational and defensive driving at all. And there is a smaller percentage who treat and use their HGV's as an intimidating weapon of the roads.I am engaged with these types of drivers, for better or worse, when I am driving our motorways thus: either in my modified 4x4, or running down to my University and back as a poor, impoverished student
Both of these times, either in the 4x4 which requires restraint of top speed due to it's inherently high-up and unstable nature, or in my daily-drive being run at 50mph so that I can, at least, do a full week's commute to Uni and back on a single full tank - I am using a motorway at an average speed of 50mph.
More often than not, it's relatively pain-free and pleasant to use lane 1 at 50. For the most part, any HGV's looming up on me can usually spot me well in advance, and then mirror and indicate around me in a painless fashion. I then generally flash them back in, with thanks from them.
But..............I am also alarmed and annoyed at the amount of HGV's that think it's ok to pull right up to the back of my car, so close that another foot would give me an imprint of their grille badge into my rear hatch - and then sit there, trying to push me along faster, and generally intimidate me.
I have even had occasions when an HGV has pulled right up behind like this, obviously got annoyed that I am not doing nearer 60, and so attempted to get me to speed up, by flashing their lights at me into my rear-view mirror, or worse still 'giving me the horn'....so to speak...
It's bloody dangerous at worst, and anti-social at best. There is no need to drive so aggressively, no matter how many targets you have to meet for deliveries or whatever. You're a professional road user first, driving a monstrously huge and heavy machine - and have been licenced as such - so you should remember that, no??
And just to add - it's not just motorways that I have suffered this - I have even had it on A roads too - hold on, aren't you supposed to be doing 40? Apparently not!
So....I would love to support an increase in the 56mph limit....but like most things in life, there are a few individuals that are ruining it for everyone!
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
I have even had it on A roads too - hold on, aren't you supposed to be doing 40? Apparently not!
That`s another problem, it may well be that the employer expects the truck driver to drive a 44 tonne truck at 56mph on A and B roads, the driver may need to break to law to get the work done his employer expects to be done at the end of the day. Although when asking the employer if this is the case I`m sure the employer would deny the need for their driver to speed or break any laws.Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Both of these times, either in the 4x4 which requires restraint of top speed due to it's inherently high-up and unstable nature, or in my daily-drive being run at 50mph so that I can, at least, do a full week's commute to Uni and back on a single full tank - I am using a motorway at an average speed of 50mph.
More often than not, it's relatively pain-free and pleasant to use lane 1 at 50. For the most part, any HGV's looming up on me can usually spot me well in advance, and then mirror and indicate around me in a painless fashion. I then generally flash them back in, with thanks from them.
In my opinion it's car drivers like you who contribute toward congestion on the motorway/dual carriageways as you are forcing HGVs into lane 2, no excuses really for not driving at over 60mph when conditions allow.More often than not, it's relatively pain-free and pleasant to use lane 1 at 50. For the most part, any HGV's looming up on me can usually spot me well in advance, and then mirror and indicate around me in a painless fashion. I then generally flash them back in, with thanks from them.
crostonian said:
In my opinion it's car drivers like you who contribute toward congestion on the motorway/dual carriageways as you are forcing HGVs into lane 2, no excuses really for not driving at over 60mph when conditions allow.
Spot on CROSTONIAN.Also like to point out to RAY LUXURY-YACHT, on some A roads you can do 50.
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