You probably encounter semi trucks every time you’re on the highway. Most drivers don’t even notice the convoy of big rigs hauling freight on our roads all the time. And many folks don’t know how to drive around them. But semi trucks are different than regular cars, and the professionals behind the wheel drive differently than your average commuter. Here are four common mistakes many drivers make around semi trucks that truckers hate.

Truckers hate it when drivers hang out in their blind spots

Big rigs have big blind spots. You can park a regular sedan in front of most semi trucks and it’s completely invisible from the driver’s seat. Truckers hate when regular drivers camp out in their blindspots.

Passing a semi truck on the right is especially dangerous, because their drivers often can’t see cars approach from the right/rear. 

When you’re passing a semi truck on the left, know the driver won’t be able to see you in front of their grille until you’ve pulled far enough ahead of them that you can see the entire truck in your center rearview mirror.

Ignoring signals from semi truck drivers

Semi truck drivers have a variety of signals they use with one another, but the most useful to know might be the headlight flash. If you look closely, you’ll notice that when one semi truck is passing another, the rear driver will often flash their high beams to signal when it’s safe to move over in front of them.

This is helpful to regular drivers for two reasons: You’ll know when a passing truck is going to cut to the right to complete their pass. But semi truck drivers sometimes use the same signal with regular passenger cars. In this case, they’re simply telling you that you’re far ahead of their blind spot and can safely move back into the right lane whenever you want. Knowing this signal can help you steer clear of the blindspots truckers hate you hanging out in.

Getting caught in semi trucks’ slipstream

Semi trucks push a ton of air out of the way as they drive out of the highway. At the end of their trailer, this air rushes in to fill the space behind the truck. This process can create a surprising amount of turbulence.

You can feel this turbulence pull your car to one side as a semi truck passes you. If you aren’t paying attention, have a lose grip on the wheel, and there’s a slight cross-breeze, you may find your vehicle drift. So pay attention when a semi truck passes you, and keep a firm grip on your steering wheel so you don’t get pulled into the blindspot behind a semi truck.

Truckers hate drivers who force them to pass over and over

Ever noticed the same semi truck passing you over and over? Maybe you have your cruise control set on a hilly highway and are blanking out. On the uphills you pass the same truck, but on the downhills they pass you. Over time it may even annoy you. Well, the truck driver probably hates it even more.

On hilly highways, semi truck drivers with especially heavy loads may have to slow down to climb. Then, they may choose to speed up when traveling back downhill. Going faster on the downhills gives them some momentum, and they don’t have to disrupt traffic as much on the uphill.

As they do this, they may find themselves forced to pass the same car over and over. So what should you do if you’re in a passenger car and keep getting passed by the same semi truck? If you can safely speed up on the next uphill, you could put enough distance between you and this truck that you stay out of their way and they don’t have to pass you on every downhill. Or if you’re not in a hurry, you could shut down cruise control and slow down when the trucker does. You might be surprised how much gas you save.

Hear a police officer explain how to stay safe around semi trucks in the video below: