Cool :) Loved the video. Gives me an idea what to expect if I ever go to the Windy City. Doesn't look that bad, but maybe it wasn't rush hour yet and there was no snow...I've heard stories about Chicago though
Take all the time you need, bro! Chicagoans' most normally are very inconsiderate! Although be it, a few understand and help make our job a bit less stressful. That left lane is yours, if you know the left turn is coming! Respects brother!!!! Oh and I like your patience and distance from other vehicles....Outstanding!
I used to signal,and if they weren't trying to make a space for me,I'd just start easing over to the lane I needed. Sometimes it'd take a moment for them to realize they were getting close,but you'd be AMAZED how they'd manage to make room for the truck,whether it was speed-up,slow-down or change lanes,or a combination. Seeing those ten big ol' lugnuts spinning about a foot from their mirror has a very proactive effect.;=D
Great driving. I'm sure you know to ignore the rude people who think that saving 15 seconds of commute time is worth jeopardizing the safety of you, your load, and all other drivers.
Been to Chicago many times when I was a little kid. It sucked. My dad drives otr and loves it. It's all my family knows is either trucking or military. It runs blood deep and there is no cure. But one thing is for sure they are both enjoyable careers. Only problem when I was little I never thought I would be in a big city for very long. I spent 2 months in Chicago at RTC Great Lakes. If I didn't join the Navy, I'd be trucking with the rest of the family.
Drivers get blamed for everything. I once saw a car cut in from of a truck and slammed on his brakes and the truck hit him. My mom pulled over to check on them and the cop who was on the other side of the highway saw it yet the trucker got the ticket... You sir have wonderful driving skills and i cant wait for more of your videos.
I understand, maybe Chicago is not ALWAYS sunny, but sometimes it feels like it since most days are either sunny or mostly sunny and dry.In every week about one to two days are cloudy or partly cloudy.Usually when its cloudy it'll rain but sometimes it can go 3 weeks with two cloudy rainy days.Chicago's climate is like this from spring to fall,its also mild,warm and hot during this time.Cloudy days are more common in winter,about 3 days out of a week are cloudy the other are sunny.
Ok I have lived in New York(state not city) all my life and i visited Chicago with my girlfriend this past summer. I just need to know if it is normal for the driver to back up and change lanes at a intersection. Like i saw it many times and in New York you might be pulled over for it in busy traffic. But i do have to say the Shedd Aquarium was incredible!
Every location has its own unique challenges for professional drivers to overcome, and Chicago has more than its share of challenges for truck drivers.
southside chicago off I 55 south on cicero left on 47 st,not to bad to drive around there ass opouse to the north side or in the loop,nice video by the way
honestly bud you're a very good driver and the guys insultin you on here are probably the guys cuttin on the right wen ur making a right turn or pass you and pull out right in front of you like you can stop as fast as they can. keep up the good work.
The vid started I-55 NB and got off on Cicero ave and started rolling SB, I travel these roads and streets every single day, coming and going out of these railyards
Yes, there are a lot of large, wide, straight roads in America. These are the main arteries of transportation. Don't forget about all of the narrow, windy back roads that a lot of us drive daily. We know how it is.
I know the area it is just north of Midway Airport . I have done the same thing many times to get on to east/bound 47th street when traffic is heavy so he had to do it to get into the lane he needed to be in
Another favorite freeway trick, if I need to change lanes and even though I'm signalling my intentions, idiots would always ignore it and come up beside me. The solution? quickly jerk the wheen toward the lane you want to get into. You never see people hit the brakes no fast!
Believe me, we have been to rural Illinois. It lacks class, culture and anything to do socially. I hate when I go to work every morning on the Kennedy Expressway and see your kind trying to navigate the expressway.
Interesting...but how do youkeep the t/t in control while doing this? I would think it could be real dangerous too. what about peope behind them? I'd think it could get real bad.
In all honesty how much of a pain is it to drive through these tight areas? I've been thinking about getting in to trucking; I drive as a hobby, and I think I'd love the travelling aspect to it. But I see 'em in some areas and think fuck that! I don't think it's the maneuvering so much as cars screwing you guys over.
Btw, he's a truck driver most likly driving to an industrial area and happens to drive right though chicago's ghetto south side.Add the fact that the video is in poor resolution and i can't argue its not ugly. He's seems to be enjoying himself even though he's driving though ghetto and he's actually been to chicago while other ppl haven't so i think his opinion holds a little more weight, =)
I drive in chicago for a couple years....they are more concerned about the weight limits than speed limits, you fly by cops there as long as ur not driving in a unsafe manner (reckless)..you can do about 70 on the 90/94 without problems from police as long as ur not lane swapping to do it, they are kinna laid back...they will drag you to a off-site scale to weigh you, never be overweight there.
Please tell me you're not a truck driver. In a big truck, you turn in the furthest outside lane in which you can legally do so. You need the extra room for the trailer's off-tracking. Furthermore, my next turn coming up was a left turn. If you've ever driving a big truck in the city you know that as soon as you hit your left turn signal everyone in the left lane speeds up and traps you so they don't get stuck behind you.
I spent probably half of that video cringing about corners and/or curbs, and the majority of it swearing at other drivers. Hell, I wasn't even the one driving, and people were still pissing me off!!! xD
No dude, definitely not. I'm from Southern California as well and the 405 or the 5 in rush hour don't have shit on the roads out here in NWI and Chicagoland. The key difference is about 90% more Semis on the freeway. So good luck getting from the left lane to the right lane in a hurry out here. ;-)
I drove for 300,000 mi. If you try to take a wide turn, even though you have your blinker going, some idiot will get on your right side. When making a tight right turn from two lanes, I'd always start in the right lane, then at the last second, put my nose in the left. That way, I'd have two lanes. It would royally piss people off, but nmoby would be crushed by my trailer wheels.
Over the years Chicago's climate has become dry and sunny,maybe its climate change,who knows but Chicago's climate is closer to socal then seattle for example,socal only has one season though, chicago has 3 or maybe to seasons, basically from late march to october you see mostly sunny days that average mid 60s-90s only winter is cold.Chicago climate is comparable to DC then say boston or nyc, that are much more cloudy and windy.
Everyday it's sunny in Chicago, idk why you think its grey by watching one video of chicago, He got lucky and managed to record in one of those few cloudy days. If you think chicago is depressing and grey, you havent been to nyc, ugly grey and brown buildings and the whole week i was there it was cloudy, some days its rained and was WAY windier then chicago. Chicago its pretty compared to new york.
If there was a chance in hell that a Chicagoan in a car would let me over when I needed to make my left turn, I'd be in the right lane. But we all know that as soon as I hit my turn signal, every four-wheeler out there is going to crowd ahead to keep from getting stuck behind the big truck. Please BE the four-wheeler that lets a truck in when they have their signal on.
I'm wanting to learn to drive a semi. So can you tell me, I'm curious, not criticizing. The truck in front at 1:08 turning, did he not turn wide enough, or is that the norm for the trailer. It seems you allowed a bit more room for the turn than he did. Am I not correct? Thank you.
It wasn't " one video",it's been 4 videos from different sources. It could be just the recording qualities I guess. you're right though-every day IS sunny. We just can't see it through the clouds and/or smog. BTW-I think Chernobyl is pretty compared to NYC. Their Mayor just makes NYC that much worse.
Recently, I've been delivering in Chicago with a 48-ft. trailer through narrow streets and even alleyways with low power lines. Making right turns in most intersections is a nightmare, and even left turns aren't a picnic when you have only one lane to enter on and other cars stop beyond the white line. I've had to abandon many a turn and go down the road and find my way back and try again. There's even the occasion or two where you have to back in off a busy street. Believe me, I'm very happy to get on a freeway out of Chicago after dealing with those streets.
now at 3:06 you never want to get that close to a car. why cause it that car has machinical trouble, you want be able to get out .and traffic will be backed up behind you.on a pickup you want to be able to see the spare tire, and a car you want to be able to see the gas tank.
Also, please spread the word to your fellow Chicagoans. YOU folks were the geniuses that wanted a lower speed limit for big trucks in the Chicago area, so don't be flipping me off for doing the speed limit and holding you up.
Nice video. I used to do several stops occasionally in chitown.. So glad i'm retired. Worst was the computer place CDW.They would have you wait around back till they opened then pop your back doors when they opened and you had to go around to the dock they give you and after you got into the dock there was drivers who would run past you to get in line to be unloaded ahead of you even when you were the first truck there!The vast majority of places i delivered to i wont do business with now! llol
Been there, done that too. I just didn't have a video camera at the time. I've spent hours sitting on the GWB during Friday evening rush hour and I don't miss it at all!
Ya, that's not cool is it. The bad part is I've always heard if anyone hits the back its automatic that person's fault. I wonder if a dash cam would've gotten him out of it...
Add in: Chicago traffic light rules. Red: nail the accelerator. Yellow: Slow down, make sure the intersection is clear, and then nail the accelerator. Green: Stop, wait, and hope someone isn't coming from your right or left.
To all the people talking shit, Why dont you learn to shut the hell up because of him you guys are getting stuff for the store shelves....Nice video man keep it up!
My first trip into Chicago back in 1976 taught this San Diego driver with a 13' 6" wagon really quick about low viaducts. I spent half a day backing up, getting lost, backing up and getting lost trying to find my way around them. Once I learned my lesson, Chicago's been a great city to drive truck in.
I think the problem is you're using trucking videos to get an idea for what a city is like. I've lived in Chicago for a few years and it's a great city. Very clean with friendly people. The area in this vid is pretty dumpy though. I have to admit.
