This blog is written by a large trucking industry professional who has used the HOV lanes in various cities and towns during his career. He is going to share his experiences with the rest of the world and talk about some issues that people in the trucking industry might have.<\/p>\n
A lot of people don’t know much about the rules surrounding HOV lanes, so he’s going to focus on explaining these rules, as well as why they exist in the first place. A lot of people probably thinking that it’s only designed to benefit people who ride public transportation, but this isn’t necessarily true. Depending on where you are and how many people are in your vehicle, you might be able to use these lanes even if you’re driving alone.<\/p>\n
HOV lanes are also good for large trucks because they help cut down on traffic congestion. The less traffic there is on the roadways, the more productive your day can be. This can save you a lot of time over the course of a season or even over your entire career if you’re a long haul driver.<\/p>\n
The art of using HOV lanes requires a combination of finesse and brute force. The finesse is in knowing where the HOV lane begins and ends, which is less complex than it sounds. The brute force comes into play when drivers in regular lanes don’t let you in.<\/p>\n
The art of the HOV lane can be learned by truck drivers, who tend to have experience with brute force, and by car drivers, who tend to have experience with finesse. In combination, they can become a powerful force for eliminating traffic jams<\/p>\n
I am a truck driver and I drive a large semi-truck with a 13 foot cabover. I drive all over the United States. I have been driving for over 20 years and have never been in an accident, ever! I have logged over 1 million miles without an accident.<\/p>\n
When you are driving at 55 miles per hour in the HOV lane, there is no traffic. You can easily maintain your speed and it is very safe to drive this way on highways. It is also safer than normal highway driving because there are no cars in your blind spot; you do not need to worry about them since they are not around!<\/p>\n
The only “danger” lies in the fact that you may get caught by police officers who will ticket you. However, there are many ways to avoid this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I think that if everybody knew about this, more people would be using the HOV lanes saving time and fuel costs for all of us!<\/p>\n
In short, if you drive a large semi-truck with a 13 foot cabover or longer, it is smart to use the HOV lane when you can. It is safer than normal highway driving and faster too!<\/p>\n
Every state in the U.S. has a network of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, or carpool lanes, which allow motorists with two or more people in the vehicle to use them for free. These lanes are usually separated from the regular highway by a double white line with no median.<\/p>\n
Trucks, motorhomes, and trailers are generally prohibited from using HOV lanes because they are classified as “wide loads.”<\/p>\n
However, there is a provision for vehicles that have been specially designed for business purposes and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,000 pounds or less to be permitted to use HOV lanes as long as they are not used to transport passengers. This allows utility trucks and other service vehicles such as those used by:<\/p>\n
-Landscapers<\/p>\n
-Roofers<\/p>\n
-Plumbers<\/p>\n
-Electricians<\/p>\n
-Cable installers<\/p>\n
-Foundation repair companies<\/p>\n
to use HOV lanes during times when traffic is congested. In many states this does not require any special license plate or markings on the vehicle. As long as the driver doesn’t pick up passengers during the trip then it is allowed regardless of what the load is carried in (truck or trailer).<\/p>\n
The goal is to improve the safety and efficiency of our transportation system for everyone by reducing the number of large trucks on the freeway during peak travel times. The HOV Lane program provides a time period each day where those vehicles can use the HOV Lane to expedite their trip.<\/p>\n
The program helps achieve air quality standards, reduces congestion and improves freeway safety through increased vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by carpools, vanpools and buses.