Basic Control of Your Vehicle
The Core Idea
Basic control questions test starting, stopping, steering, and managing speed - especially with a heavy vehicle where momentum and weight dominate.
Concepts You Must Know
- Starting: check surroundings, use mirrors, signal, and move smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration that can shift cargo.
- Steering: use both hands, keep a firm grip, and look ahead. Avoid oversteering; a heavy vehicle responds slowly.
- Braking: use engine braking and gentle brake application. Do not ride the brakes - overheating can cause brake fade.
- Speed management: reduce speed before curves, hills, and intersections. A loaded truck needs more room to stop.
- Backing: use a spotter when possible; if you lose sight of the spotter, stop.
- Turning: swing wide to account for off-tracking and watch for tail swing.
Traps to Watch
Questions often describe riding the brakes down a hill - the correct answer is to use a lower gear and engine braking, not continuous brake pressure. Another trap is assuming a heavy vehicle steers like a car; it does not.
Rule of Thumb
"Slow down before the curve, not in it." Brake and downshift before entering a turn so you can accelerate smoothly through it.