Drafting 18-wheelers....revisited

[Brian D.]

I'll start by saying that I DO NOT make a habit of this. Typically I don't want to drive behind "semi's" as much as they don't want me behind them. The few occasions which I've ever drafted a large truck doesn't seem to last too long anyway. With that said, I'd like to know...WHY is it that they mind so much? I would liken it to having someone tailgating me, but that just seems different to me for a few reasons.

If someone's tailgating me I know it's because I'm definitely not moving fast enough, or should no longer be in that lane.

If I'm behind a truck with a GVWR of...I don't know...89,000 LBS or something, what difference is it to the driver that there's an 1800lb car close behind him? His stopping distance IS SURELY much greater than mine, even with him starting to react to the potential crisis in front of him before his taillights alert me. My stopping distance is...normal. I also doubt that I'll cause any real damage to the back of his truck if there is an impact. My car would probably slide somewhat under the rear of the truck.

I'm not trying to say that folks should grab onto an 18-wheeler for all it's worth anytime they see one on the road. I'm just trying to figure out why it seems to piss the drivers of these trucks off SO badly (as the few enough occasions of doing so has taught me). If the answer is "just because", I'd just like to hear that. Does anyone know of a trucker site where I can post this question? lol