I've been a professional truck driver since I was 19 years old, I'm 56 years old now. In all those years I've never had an accident and I'm sure that it's not because I'm a great driver. It's because I try to be the truck in the right lane that nobody notices. Even before governors I never drove more than the posted speed limit and I've never had anybody run into the back of my trailer. Along with safety I also drive slowly to save fuel. Anybody that thinks they'll get better fuel economy with a truck by driving 20km faster is just plain wrong. Heavy trucks are a lot different than cars they don't stop or handle like a car. If you're running with a heard of cars at 120km and someone makes a mistake, your chances of staying clear aren't good. Cars are another story but in my opinion 105km is plenty fast for a heavy truck.
I have been commuting from Bowmanville to Don Mills (Toronto) via the 401 for 22 years and right when I think I have seen it all...I witness something else that shocks the hell out of me. I am not going to way-in on the 4 wheel vs. 18 wheel debate as I have seen examples of stupidity from both. Generally speaking I have a great respect for truck drivers, particularly independent, long-haul owner/opperators simply because they have a vested interest in their equipment (livelihood) thus maintaining it and keeping it safe. Now my cummute has not been without personal impact...I have been rear-ended 8 times of which 6 were write-offs (5 of the 6 were from women talking/texting on their cell phones and 4 of the same 5 women were "new Canadians" but that is a different rant for another day). I have had to replace 11 windshields over the course of the 22 years due to everything from rocks, bolts, wrenches, tie straps, rubber trailer bumpers and a bicycle seat (yes, a bicycle seat). Believe me, I am not complaining, I am aware of and fully accept the risks. Fact is, I hate the city, will never live any closer but love my job, so I will continue to commute. You certainly need to have your wits about you.
A "new Canadian" in an 18 wheeler nearly killed my mother just past where the truck went through the barrier in that youtube footage.
The truck driver barely spoke english, and was doing 120kph in real bad weather. My mom was in the fast lane in a ford ranger, doing 100kh - and passing most everything on the road (she has a lead foot) he came up behind her. She wouldn't move over because it was the only clean lane, so he passed her on the right and then before the trailer was clear, suddenly changed lanes into her. He hit her just in front of the tires on the trailer, and the only reason he was caught was because the front of the truck went under the trailer just enough to catch the tires and tear the two outside ones up, flattening them.
My mom went into the median at 100kph, and rolled the truck 13 times over a couple hundred meters. The truck cab crushed down until it was nearly touching her head - anyone taller would have been killed. She still has shoulder problems from bouncing off the door while the truck was rolling.
The drive was caught by police a few kilometers down the road, almost to guelph line, driving on the shoulder with two flats on his trailer, and white paint from the ranger all over the tires and trailer where he hit her. He claimed (through an interpreter) that he never saw her and she must have hit him. Good thing there was a bunch of witnesses. He also was way over on his driving hours, and only had a DZ license. I think he was pissed off she was going slow and hit my Mom out of malice.
I bet there is a hundred more just like him on the 401 every day. Dumb, mean, and self centered in a 80,000lb rig. Makes all the good truck drivers look bad.
Yes the truck driving profession has been watered down today because of big buisness/and other carriers not wanting to pay a good wage. What is the end result, like Racer Rick has identified hundreds of unqualified and untrained drivers. When the wage was decent you kept out the idiots but when buisness kills unions and certain qualifications then what you have is 12- 15 dollar/hr jobs that anyone can get now. Watch your butt out there now ,and i am not a truck driver but in tune to the bull thats taking place.Done my rant.
Yes the truck driving profession has been watered down today because of big buisness/and other carriers not wanting to pay a good wage. What is the end result, like Racer Rick has identified hundreds of unqualified and untrained drivers.