Fuel for Thought

Eureka !

 The side of my truck does not say Eureka….Hoover….Dirt Devil ...or any other vacuum brand name. It says Landstar. Even before I leased to Landstar, I’ve never driven a truck with vacuum labels on the side. Yet, as long as I can remember, passing vehicles will get drawn closer to me when they pass. There is a very good reason for this, yet it should not happen as often as it does.

 When you pass a truck, bus or other large vehicle, you may notice this effect on your vehicle as well. Air pressure is the culprit and planning for this will help avoid those close calls.

Pay Attention! Maintain Your Lane!

 When two vehicles pass each other, especially high profile vehicles passing each other going the same direction, there is a “vacuum” effect when they are side by side. As the air pressure becomes lower between the vehicles it tends to draw them closer together.  If you pay attention and plan accordingly, it is not a big problem, but with seemingly less “drivers” paying attention to their driving, they are caught off guard by this effect and “sucked” in which can cause their vehicle to swerve back and forth to keep it in their lane.

Pay Attention! Maintain Your Lane!

 Speaking of back and forth and air pressures, have you ever felt the rocking motion you get behind a truck? ? If you follow too closely to the back of a truck, you have probably felt it. The back and forth motion or rocking from the air pressures coming from the sides of the truck and creating this effect. By the way, if you have been caught in the rocking winds behind a truck, you were most likely following too close, or maybe a truck or RV passed you and moved back into your lane a little too early. At a safe following distance the wind behind a truck or RV will equalize reducing this effect.

 The front of a truck, bus or other large vehicle also has a push effect while passing as you reach the front. The wind being pushed by the truck is forced over, under and to both sides. This force will push you away.

Pay Attention! Maintain Your Lane!

If it is an especially windy day, combing all these forces could be disastrous.

 When approaching a high profile vehicle, such as a truck, bus or RV, prepare for what is to come. First, if you are NOT a constant left lane driver ( and you shouldn’t be), move over early enough to avoid “the rocking chair”, next be ready to steer slightly more to the left when you are beside the truck you’re passing, then prepare to steer slightly toward the truck as you near the front of it, and finally, move back into the right lane , when clear. Please also take into account any winds that may be present at the time as well. You can also reduce this effect somewhat by staying to the left side of your lane while passing or staying to the right side of your lane when being passed. Staying near to the outside edge of your lane will widen the gap between the vehicles thus reducing the vacuum effect.

 Pay Attention! Maintain Your Lane!

See you down the road,

Greg

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

- William Arthur Ward