Heavy Vehicle Driving Technique, Handling and Load Security
Heavy vehicles behave differently from cars because of mass, height and length. You must understand: longer braking distances and brake fade on long descents (use a lower gear and engine braking, not continuous service braking); reduced acceleration when loaded; wider turning circles and off-tracking (the rear wheels cut inside the front wheels); and the effect of a high centre of gravity, which increases rollover risk in fast cornering. On gradients, select the correct gear before the descent, not during it.
Load security is a legal duty. Loads must be evenly distributed, within axle and gross weight limits, and secured so they cannot shift, fall or overhang dangerously. Overhanging loads must be marked as required. An unbalanced load makes steering light or heavy and lengthens stopping distance.
Traps: assuming engine braking alone is enough on a steep hill (it is not - combine with safe speed); forgetting that a partially loaded tanker surges, shifting weight forward under braking; and underestimating off-tracking on tight corners, which can strike pedestrians or kerbs.
Rule of thumb: before any descent, check brakes, choose a gear that holds the vehicle without continuous braking, and keep speed low enough that you could stop within the distance you can see to be clear.