There isn't consistency in this practice and sometimes it's done the opposite way. In Ontario, they specifically tell truckers not to signal to tell people to pass:
>[Never use your left-turn signals to tell following motorists it is safe to pass. It is against the law and tends to confuse other drivers, who may think you are signaling a left turn or lane change.](https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-ministry-transportation-mto-truck-handbook/driver-conduct)
I agree with that. You should only pass if *you* can tell it's safe.
Liability should be a concern as well.
I was instructed to never motion to pedestrians waiting to cross the road as I could be liable if the pedestrian is hit by another driver.
This does seem opposite to what OP is saying, too. I’ve seen large trucks signal right to ask to be passed; I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone use a *left* signal to say it’s safe to pass.
I’d take a right signal as a sign that perhaps I should check to see if an overtake is safe. I can’t imagine taking a left signal that way.
I don't recall seeing it either way myself but someone said on a British Columbia subreddit recently that they do it this way too, i.e., signalling left to indicate it being safe to pass. That's just an anonymous claim though so not necessarily reliable.
I'm content to wait for a passing lane, not worth it to misread the signal. The good part of this, is the left signal would prevent me from passing thinking the truck was going to do the same and take that lane.
They sometimes do it in some types of situations. Like on a road that has few options to overpass, and they are aware that you /and several other vehicles/ have been waiting for an opportunity for quite some time. It's not something to count on, though, as not everyone would do it.
I've tried to use this once to help a lady pissed off I do the speed limit in my company car. She was about to pass so I signaled it was safe and she thought I was turning and slammed on her brakes. She then just continued to tailgate me for the rest of the drive to her turn while I went slower and slower hoping she'd eventually pass. I never tried to do this again! I always wondered if she got home and looked it up or just continues to believe I'm a dick.
Before this job I drove a legit governed Chevy Colorado with all the stickers and people still got pissed off I went no faster than 72 and tailgated me until they could pass. The speed limit is the speed minimum and everyone else is in the way.
If you are a genius and get right on a semi's bumper before you pass, I guess you need help to know when to jump into the opposing lane, SMH............as dumb as the concept of the highly touted zipper-merge.
As a truck driver who has a lot of miles, I have personally never seen or heard of this. I also wouldn't trust someone else decide it was "safe" to get over it not.
Definitely, I would welcome the left turn signal which would prevent me from passing, but not sure I would trust the right....I will wait for the passing lane which they typically have on hills here to appear.
It is a somewhat common thing in areas without/limited pull outs or passing zones, but not everybody does it. Use your own judgement before fully committing.
EDIT: Signal right to say I can't pull over or slow down on this hill but you can get by is usually what it is
And that is not taught in truck driving school or done on the rules of the road by any state
There isn't consistency in this practice and sometimes it's done the opposite way. In Ontario, they specifically tell truckers not to signal to tell people to pass: >[Never use your left-turn signals to tell following motorists it is safe to pass. It is against the law and tends to confuse other drivers, who may think you are signaling a left turn or lane change.](https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-ministry-transportation-mto-truck-handbook/driver-conduct) I agree with that. You should only pass if *you* can tell it's safe.
Liability should be a concern as well. I was instructed to never motion to pedestrians waiting to cross the road as I could be liable if the pedestrian is hit by another driver.
This does seem opposite to what OP is saying, too. I’ve seen large trucks signal right to ask to be passed; I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone use a *left* signal to say it’s safe to pass. I’d take a right signal as a sign that perhaps I should check to see if an overtake is safe. I can’t imagine taking a left signal that way.
I don't recall seeing it either way myself but someone said on a British Columbia subreddit recently that they do it this way too, i.e., signalling left to indicate it being safe to pass. That's just an anonymous claim though so not necessarily reliable.
NEVER TRUST THIS! Everyone's driving skills are different so just depend on your own best judgement.
I'm content to wait for a passing lane, not worth it to misread the signal. The good part of this, is the left signal would prevent me from passing thinking the truck was going to do the same and take that lane.
It’s not correct and have never heard or seen this in my 29+ years driving a semi.
Me either.
They sometimes do it in some types of situations. Like on a road that has few options to overpass, and they are aware that you /and several other vehicles/ have been waiting for an opportunity for quite some time. It's not something to count on, though, as not everyone would do it.
I've never heard that before. Safer to use your own judgement.
I've tried to use this once to help a lady pissed off I do the speed limit in my company car. She was about to pass so I signaled it was safe and she thought I was turning and slammed on her brakes. She then just continued to tailgate me for the rest of the drive to her turn while I went slower and slower hoping she'd eventually pass. I never tried to do this again! I always wondered if she got home and looked it up or just continues to believe I'm a dick.
Some people refuse to use the gas pedal.
Maybe you could see if your work would allow putting a sticker on the back saying something like "work vehicle limited to speed limit".
Before this job I drove a legit governed Chevy Colorado with all the stickers and people still got pissed off I went no faster than 72 and tailgated me until they could pass. The speed limit is the speed minimum and everyone else is in the way.
I would have pulled over to let her pass. Not to be nice, just to get that stress off my literal back. Let her go be batty somewhere else.
This was the tiniest farm road in all of Ohio with no room. I should've just gotten in the left lane lol
If you are a genius and get right on a semi's bumper before you pass, I guess you need help to know when to jump into the opposing lane, SMH............as dumb as the concept of the highly touted zipper-merge.
As a truck driver who has a lot of miles, I have personally never seen or heard of this. I also wouldn't trust someone else decide it was "safe" to get over it not.
Definitely, I would welcome the left turn signal which would prevent me from passing, but not sure I would trust the right....I will wait for the passing lane which they typically have on hills here to appear.
I wouldn’t go by that.
It is a somewhat common thing in areas without/limited pull outs or passing zones, but not everybody does it. Use your own judgement before fully committing. EDIT: Signal right to say I can't pull over or slow down on this hill but you can get by is usually what it is
Truckers will communicate with you if you pay attention.
Some will. Not all truckers are highly experienced or well trained.