TN Houndog makes some good points, but there's another group out there driving big rigs that haven't had any training at all, and that's the retired geezers in their huge motor homes, many of them also pulling cars or car caddies. On our recent trip out in the mountains, we had one in Montana pass us in our own lane, going uphill on a fourlane, and another just about take us out in a gas station parking lot when he turned wide to line up with the pumps.

 

Ranger, Glad you and your lady are alive and safe. I know the feeling since I almost got ran over last August traveling down on I-81 heading for Pigeon Forge, TN. I was on the left lane half way of the whole semi as he didn't recognize me where I saw his head bobbing around in the mirror then he decides to change. Whoaaaa, I went, braked slightly to my very left on shoulder by letting him go. I sped up, caught him talking on the phone then that's when my lady and I flipped our birds. He didn't care, kept on driving and chatted on the phone.

Thorey

 

In CA, trucks can go in the passing lane to pass a slower vehicle, and the vehicle already on the Hwy. yields to the oncoming vehicle. So I guess the laws may differ from State to State.
To the OP, whew, glad you made out OK.

 

Has happened to me more times than I care to remember, thank God you guys are safe. You took the right action going into the median and STAYING OFF the BRAKES. My wife won't ride anymore because of too many incidents like that. I never follow to close to the big trucks anymore because of them losing tire treads (another story). When I come up on trucks I stay way over to the left and try to see the driver in his mirrors and pass VERY quickly.

 

Ya done good. If that had happened to me I don't think my wife would get back on for quite a while. Glad you are ok.

 

couple things, common sense and courtesy cannot be taught, you either have it or you dont. also, throwing all truck drivers into one category is like throwing all motorcycle riders into the same category as the daredevil punk popping wheelies in traffic.

most truckers are paid by the mile so sitting behind someone putting along takes money out of their pocket and keeps them away from home longer. another reason is that you come upon a truck going slower so you pull out to pass and the guy in the left lane either wakes up or hits his power band and youre stuck out there with 2 options, ride it out and pass them or slow down again and get behind, possibly having to deal with this situation all over again. i know there are jerk truck drivers out there, i deal with them everyday. most truck drivers just want to get from point a to b as safe and quickly as they can...thats what makes the money. stay safe. and yes, im glad the OP and his wife are ok too.

 

Glad you are OK...

This is one of the reasons I rarely ride the interstates...It's always about the trucks...Poorly maintained with their re-treads on the road, and now too many of the ******** talking on cell phones instead of CB's.

 

Glad you made it through and right side up...good job......

 

The first thing I taught my wife when she started ride. "avoid big rigs like the plague" Do not follow closely, try and stay in their tire tracks, when passing them "PASS" do not linger next to them.
Also maybe someone can answer why when someone in a cage going the speed limit (or more), that some truckers feel compelled to get two or three feet off their back bumper to try and speed them up. If for any reason the cage driver should even just lift off the gas it would be the end. I see this all the time while traveling back and forth to Fla

 

Glad you're OK, but remember a big rig has a blind spot big enough to hide an F250.