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I've noticed a significant traffic slow down with the high gasoline prices. More folks are interested in driving economically.

The trucking industry is especially hurt with their larger % of fuel cost. One would think they too would join us in economical driving, but instead cruise super-speed limit. Surely the owners know of their wasteful pace, given the GPS and log technology. They should know better than to drive as a teenager with their first car.
Other than the increase cost of everything for the price of diesel fuel, I find it hard to feel bad for that industry.

Of course this does not apply to all drivers: last week I had the economical pleasure of trailing a 50MPH double-truck for about 25 miles. (While his buddies whizz on by, shaking us both in their wake)

What do you think about it?
-Steve

I know in some cases if the drivers don't make their deliveries on time, they won't get the opportunity to make that run again.

Maybe those delivery drivers are unaffected by the gas price because they don't pay for the gas? When I worked for the county we were given a gas card when took a car out so we didn't have to worry about mpg. I always checked out the natural gas Crown Victoria that we could fill up at our government center because we had our own natural gas station there.

It was so convenient!

Hot Georgia, I've noticed on my drive north from Charm City, that the trucks have slowed a bit, but not on 55 MPH highways. I think many are slowing to the 65 MPH range, but not much less. They pass me quickly on the Baltimore Beltway (55 MPH) and slower on I-95 (65 MPH). But they ALL pass me.

I've seen them all slow down to 55-60, sometimes 62. I even get the pleasure of following them on occasion.

Even the cars have slowed down to 65, 70 tops. PSL is usually 65, sometimes 70, and everybody used to do 80+.

One of the "strategies" the truckers talk about on the forums
is not a stoppage, but a slowdown, which has also been discussed
here before. Maybe some of the independents are actually doing
it? Also, a lot of company-owned trucks are being speed limited
in ECU software down to 62 or the like, which evidently
encourages the drivers to just hold the pedal to the floor
and wait till they get there. I'm beginning to wonder if this
*dis*courages them to maintain proper spacing in a variable
traffic flow, i.e. just hope they can hit their wall at 62 and
hope everyone just gets out of their way. I wish that training
about the speed governing would come with a stern reminder about
following distance...
.
_H*

The drivers are a bit slow however!!! H

I've calculated this and if you are bored you can too.

How much money can an owner operator save if he slows down from 65 MPH to 55 MPH?

6 MPG @ 65 MPH
7 MPG @ 55 MPH
10 hour day
$4.00 fuel
Pay yourself $0.40 per mile

Your miles will go down (pay) but your bottom line gains more in the fuel savings!

That's simplified. I guess if you are still making money for every mile you drive you can go as fast as you can, but there are diminishing returns at some point.