1. The middle lane of Utah freeways is the truck only lane. Lanes to the right and left of the middle lane are for autos.
2. Speed limit for trucks: no limit. It's your lane. If cars are in your lane, push 'em to the right or left.
3. Tailgating: You're bigger than any car or SUV. You get within two feet of their rear at 75 mph, they'll move. Remember it's your lane by gift from the divine.
4. Lane changing: Truckers can change lanes any time they want to, even if it means cutting off other drivers. Remember, it is important to maintain your control of the highways.
5. Travel rules on wet or slushy roads: Maintain your speed and throw up an impenetrable curtain of water and slush, It's your road. Remember?
Why aren't semis and cars and trucks with trailers required to travel in the right hand lane at 55 mph?
If members of the state agency controlling highway speeds would review their 7th grade math, they would find that distance = rate x time. This means a trip from Salt Lake City to Spanish Fork (50 miles) at 55 mph takes 55 minutes. That same distance traveled at 70 mph takes 44 minutes. That's a lousy 11 minutes longer. And they want to make the highways safer. Ha.
The contractors rebuilding the freeways are doing a great job. Providing us with freeway access for the last couple of years is really a logistic marvel. It's not their fault that most of us want to travel like maniacs at the same time.
Del Wallengren
Salt Lake City