– Why do HGV/Semi trucks feel the need to overtake each other when they’re cruising at a very similar speed?
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Most truck drivers are using the cruise control so there is one less thing for them to concentrate on. However the trucks accelerate at different rates depending on their engine power and how much they are loaded. So as the road goes over hills and through corners the trucks may go at different speeds even if they are both using cruise control. In addition the granularity of the cruise control is often slightly different, even the same models have different wear levels on their tyres making them drive at different speeds. This means that it is not possible to use cruise control for the truck behind another truck. And this gives the truck driver more things to concentrate on making it harder to drive. So it is safer for the trucks to pass slower trucks. But the trucks usually drive at very similar speeds. A lot of them are at their regulated speed and even if not it is illegal to go over the speed limit even when overtaking. If the truck being passed is nice he will lower his speed a bit making it easier to overtake but it can still take some time.
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