Basic Control of Your Vehicle
Basic Control of Your Vehicle tests starting, stopping, steering, backing, lane position, and emergency control. Smooth inputs matter more in a heavy vehicle because weight transfer is large.
Core rules
- Start and stop smoothly. Check mirrors and blind spots before moving; use a spotter when backing.
- Back slowly and use the GOAL method: Get Out And Look. If you lose sight of the spotter, stop.
- Keep the vehicle centered in the lane and make gradual steering corrections. Avoid oversteering, which can cause a rollover.
- Adjust speed before curves, intersections, and slippery surfaces. Brake before the curve, then accelerate gently through it.
- If a skid starts, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. Avoid hard braking.
Worked example
A driver must back a tractor-trailer into a loading dock. The spotter disappears behind the trailer. The driver stops, sets the brake, and gets out to look. Reasoning: a spotter who cannot be seen cannot guide the driver; stopping prevents a crushed worker or damaged dock.
Traps
Backing with mirrors only when a spotter is available; overcorrecting a lane drift; and braking hard while turning, which can cause a skid or rollover.