My grandfather and my ex were both OTR drivers. I've taken many trips with them. I can say for a fact there are very poor drivers in both semis and cars!! Many drivers in general are idiots!

I know nothing about this particular truck driver, or what may have happened, but what I DO know is that most of these big trucking companies care little about safety no matter what they might say....Their number one concern is that they can get a driver to work themselves to death for next to nothing....A lot of problems are created by this scenario.
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I joined OOIDA (www.ooida.com) to try to help put a stop to this.

I,m a professional driver. When you see vehicles that are stopped you have to put on your flashers, even in a car.

Jakiao, I know exactly what you mean. Of course not all semi drivers are like that, but many are. They are bullies on 18 wheels. I couldn't even count the times I've been on an interstate and a semi has pulled over in to the left lane right in front of me and like you said - good thing some people have good brakes on their vehicles. It's very scary! I feel sorry for this man's family. How sad!

Just to clarify the statement, "passing the slower semis on the right." I mean the semis were on the right and I was passing in the passing lane.

Many semi drivers have no concern for the safety of drivers around them. Just drive down I-90 from Portage heading to Madison in the morning. The semi trucks will be going 70~75mph easily, and they come up on you and force you to pull over even if it is not safe to do so.
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This past July I was driving northbound on I-5 in Oregon headed for Portland. The speed limit for semis was 55mph, cars it was 70mph, and I was going down a mountain passing the slower semis on the right. As I began passing this one semi, without a turn signal or any warning, he pulled into my lane. To my left was concrete barrier, behind me was another semi. The only reason I'm typing this post today is because I have damn good breaks on my car. Two seconds longer and I would've been far enough ahead that I couldn't have gotten out of his way and would have been slammed into that barrier going 70mph.
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The semi behind me slammed on his breaks too, as did the semi to his right. When we finally passed the semi that pulled into my lane, my friend sitting next to me looked up at him. She said he looked mad. Best part of the story: The driver of the semi behind me flipped the guy off when he passed.
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The point is, everyone needs to be extremely cautious when it comes to semi trucks. You can never assume that nothing will happen.

This is very sad. Also one of my biggest fears when traveling. I always try to leave room in case the person behind me can't stop. I know it might not save anyone but I feel better doing it. My thoughts are with the families and the drivers.