Right Turn With Severe Off-Tracking, Then a Raised Railroad Crossing
You are driving a 75-foot tractor-trailer (tractor plus 53-foot trailer) on a four-lane road and want to turn right onto a two-lane road. The right-turn lane is 12 feet wide; the curb radius is tight, and a utility pole sits 18 feet from the curb at the corner. Your trailer’s rear axle off-tracks about 7 feet inside the tractor’s path in a turn this sharp. A railroad crossing with a raised approach and a stop sign is 200 feet beyond the turn. You are going 35 mph, the light is green, and a car is waiting in the left lane. Your right mirror shows the trailer’s right rear tires close to the curb as you begin the turn. The road beyond the turn has no shoulder.
1. How should you set up and execute the right turn to keep the trailer off the curb and out of the left lane?
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Slow to about 10–15 mph before the turn and approach in the right lane. Position the tractor as far left in that lane as is legal, but do not cross into the left lane while the car is there. Begin the turn only after the tractor clears the curb, and use all the width available. Watch the trailer’s right rear wheels in the mirror; with 7 feet of off-tracking, the trailer will cut sharply inside the tractor. If the trailer cannot stay off the curb without crossing the lane line, wait for the car to clear and use a wider approach only if the intersection permits it, or choose another route. Do not let the trailer climb the curb.
2. What should you do at the railroad crossing 200 feet after the turn?
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Stop at the stop sign before the tracks, open the window, and look and listen both ways. Do not stop on the tracks. Before moving, confirm the entire 75-foot combination can clear the crossing without stopping again. Cross in a low gear without shifting. If the crossing is raised, check that the trailer has enough clearance and will not high-center. If lights or gates activate before you enter, stop before the tracks; if you are already on the crossing, keep moving until the whole combination is clear.
3. If the trailer’s right rear tire clips the curb during the turn, what are the immediate risks and actions?
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A curb strike can cut a tire sidewall, bend a wheel, shift the load, or bounce the trailer enough to affect stability. Stop as soon as it is safe and inspect the tire, wheel, mud flap, and load. Do not continue at road speed on a damaged tire. If the curb is high, the trailer can also lean toward a rollover. After any curb strike, check for air leaks and trailer body damage, and replace or repair damaged parts before continuing.