Trucks and The Motorcyclist - More than "Trucking" Along
Ah, large trucks, small trucks, and all trucks in between. There sure are a lot of them out there, so as a rider, you will encounter the effects of trucks, especially how a large truck (those with cargo boxes or semi-trailers) can effect your ride, directly and indirectly.
A truck with a cargo box or a 53 foot trailer being dragged behind it, presents some interesting issues for riders, no matter how much experience you have. Lets take a look at a few.
When a truck moves along the road, its sheer size and "squareness" creates a less than aerodynamic structure moving through the air. With many trucks, they create a turbulent air flow around the body as it moves along. This turbulent air flow, or "dirty air", pushes outward from the body, and you as a rider are exposed to this dirty air as you ride by the truck in the opposite direction. Depending on the shape of the truck and body (trailer), and whether efforts have been taken to make the truck as aerodynamic as possible, the blast of air you get hit with can be quite disturbing. This wall of fast moving air can take the rider by surprise if not ready for it, and there have been cases of motorcyclist leaving the road by being blown aside. Normally, the heavier the bike, the less the effect, and also the type of bike, saddlebags or not, 2 up, etc. Suggestion, as you may have noticed by seasoned riders, they move away from the centre line and take up position as far to the right in their lane as possible to lessen the effect on their bike. Just be ware of the shoulder and how close to the edge you are.
If following behind the truck, you are also subjected to dirty air, as the truck moving along creates a partial vacuum around the back of the box / trailer, causing air to rush in to replace this partial vacuum, and in doing so, is literally dirty as it can also bring along dirt and material from the road or the shoulders, depending again on size of truck and speed. If you have ever followed close behind a truck, and found your bike being buffeted around, chances are you may have tasted some grit blown up by the truck. Now you know why. What to do as a rider? Well, if the truck is travelling at the same speed you are, back away and get outside of the buffeting. If you have to pass, make sure you have plenty of space ahead of you, as it is best to pass when you are outside the "buffeting zone", and as far to the left in the passing lane as possible to, again, lessen the effects of the turbulent air going around the box / trailer. Also remember to to watch for the drivers eyes in his mirror because when you can't see the drivers eyes, the driver can't see you (blind spot has been spotted!)
When approaching a truck with a box, there will still be a gust of wind or dirty air, as the truck is not exactly aerodynamic, and pushes air out around it. Suggestion here, and for more than one reason, is to move to the right in your lane. Why?
1. To avoid the blast of air coming at you,
2. To allow you to see farther around the box of the truck to look for "hidden vehicles" behind it (keep in mind, most trucks generally travel slower than other cars or vehicles, and if they have been travelling in an area of few passing lanes or opportunities, chances are there are a number of vehicles just itching to get around it, and
3. Because vehicles behind the truck may be itching to get around it, be prepared for a car or whatever to pull out from behind the truck with one intent in mind - passing! By moving to the right hand side of your lane, you make it easier for them to see you as they are coming out from behind the truck, and I make it a habit of flashing my high beam lights if I do not have my high beams already on. You also have an "out" if they do not. I would rather go off onto the shoulder, and even go for a slid, then meet a vehicle dead on.
There are many types of truck on the road, and you as a driver have to be aware of issues each may cause. Lets look at some of the "issues", but this is by no means all of them.
Dump Trucks or Earth Moving Trucks - when carrying a load, most will have an apron over the load to prevent anything falling out, or being blown out. If material can get out, it will get out . As well, these trucks have been loaded in areas that are gravel and rocky. Rocks especially can get lodged between the dual wheels of a truck, and be thrown backwards sometime after the truck gains speed on the road. Most good drivers will check the tires for debris before hitting the road, but like everything else, do not assume it was done!
A truck with a cargo box or a 53 foot trailer being dragged behind it, presents some interesting issues for riders, no matter how much experience you have. Lets take a look at a few.
When a truck moves along the road, its sheer size and "squareness" creates a less than aerodynamic structure moving through the air. With many trucks, they create a turbulent air flow around the body as it moves along. This turbulent air flow, or "dirty air", pushes outward from the body, and you as a rider are exposed to this dirty air as you ride by the truck in the opposite direction. Depending on the shape of the truck and body (trailer), and whether efforts have been taken to make the truck as aerodynamic as possible, the blast of air you get hit with can be quite disturbing. This wall of fast moving air can take the rider by surprise if not ready for it, and there have been cases of motorcyclist leaving the road by being blown aside. Normally, the heavier the bike, the less the effect, and also the type of bike, saddlebags or not, 2 up, etc. Suggestion, as you may have noticed by seasoned riders, they move away from the centre line and take up position as far to the right in their lane as possible to lessen the effect on their bike. Just be ware of the shoulder and how close to the edge you are.
If following behind the truck, you are also subjected to dirty air, as the truck moving along creates a partial vacuum around the back of the box / trailer, causing air to rush in to replace this partial vacuum, and in doing so, is literally dirty as it can also bring along dirt and material from the road or the shoulders, depending again on size of truck and speed. If you have ever followed close behind a truck, and found your bike being buffeted around, chances are you may have tasted some grit blown up by the truck. Now you know why. What to do as a rider? Well, if the truck is travelling at the same speed you are, back away and get outside of the buffeting. If you have to pass, make sure you have plenty of space ahead of you, as it is best to pass when you are outside the "buffeting zone", and as far to the left in the passing lane as possible to, again, lessen the effects of the turbulent air going around the box / trailer. Also remember to to watch for the drivers eyes in his mirror because when you can't see the drivers eyes, the driver can't see you (blind spot has been spotted!)
When approaching a truck with a box, there will still be a gust of wind or dirty air, as the truck is not exactly aerodynamic, and pushes air out around it. Suggestion here, and for more than one reason, is to move to the right in your lane. Why?
1. To avoid the blast of air coming at you,
2. To allow you to see farther around the box of the truck to look for "hidden vehicles" behind it (keep in mind, most trucks generally travel slower than other cars or vehicles, and if they have been travelling in an area of few passing lanes or opportunities, chances are there are a number of vehicles just itching to get around it, and
3. Because vehicles behind the truck may be itching to get around it, be prepared for a car or whatever to pull out from behind the truck with one intent in mind - passing! By moving to the right hand side of your lane, you make it easier for them to see you as they are coming out from behind the truck, and I make it a habit of flashing my high beam lights if I do not have my high beams already on. You also have an "out" if they do not. I would rather go off onto the shoulder, and even go for a slid, then meet a vehicle dead on.
There are many types of truck on the road, and you as a driver have to be aware of issues each may cause. Lets look at some of the "issues", but this is by no means all of them.
Dump Trucks or Earth Moving Trucks - when carrying a load, most will have an apron over the load to prevent anything falling out, or being blown out. If material can get out, it will get out . As well, these trucks have been loaded in areas that are gravel and rocky. Rocks especially can get lodged between the dual wheels of a truck, and be thrown backwards sometime after the truck gains speed on the road. Most good drivers will check the tires for debris before hitting the road, but like everything else, do not assume it was done!
Logging Trucks - Again, whether it is a single unit or carrying a trailer, most of these trucks have been loaded off of paved or publicly maintained gravel roads, and can have rocks, wood chips, etc. fly out after the truck gets up to speed. In addition, the bark from the tree trunks has a habit of flying off as well. While not as heavy, dense, or as dangerous as rocks, they still can cause damage or make you lose control if not careful.
Delivery trucks - A travelling box in most cases, they have a habit of speeding up and slowing down quickly as the driver is trying to make the necessary deliveries he / she has on time. When approaching, front or back, be aware the driver may have just found the address being looked for, and is focused on getting to it. Result: braking quickly, and turning across the road. Hmm.... note the results that could happen.
Flatbed Trucks - They are typically easier to see around than a enclosed trailer or box, but can still cause a lot of dirty air and traffic tie-ups behind it. In addition, many loads require tarps covering the load to protect it, and tie downs to keep it in place. Be wary of both the tarps and tie downs. I have had a tarp rip and come lose from the load in front of me. I was very fortunate that I was able to avoid the ripped tarp as it floated back at me at chest level! Another case (just recently) had a flatbed truck pass me just as I was coming to the end of an on ramp and one of the tie down strap either broke or worked its way lose, as the strap acted like an elastic band and snapped through the air, hitting the road less than 5m in front of me. That would not have been nice!. Now the strap is getting wind blown, and dragging on the side of the road, narrowly missing a motorist parked on the side of the road. Note to self - beat the truck to the end of the ramp in the future!
These are just some thoughts to share with you on the hazards trucks may pose for you, and how to do your best to avoid them. By the way, most drivers act in a professional manner and are very aware of safety issues their rigs may pose.
These are just some thoughts to share with you on the hazards trucks may pose for you, and how to do your best to avoid them. By the way, most drivers act in a professional manner and are very aware of safety issues their rigs may pose.