Basic Control of Your Vehicle
Basic Control of Your Vehicle tests low-speed precision and the rules that keep a large vehicle in its lane: starting, stopping, backing, turning, and crossing railroad tracks. Small errors here become expensive quickly.
Starting and stopping
Walk around before moving. Secure the cab, check mirrors, signal, and release the parking brake only when ready. Brake smoothly and early; a loaded truck needs much more distance than a car.
Backing
Back only when necessary, and use a helper when possible. If you lose sight of the helper, stop. Back toward the driver's side when you can, and use GOAL-get out and look-if unsure.
Turning
Right turns are the classic trap: swing wide enough to keep the rear wheels off the curb, but not so wide that you hit traffic. Left turns should be made close to the center line so the trailer does not cut the corner. Watch off-tracking: the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front.
Worked example
You approach a right turn in a 70-foot combination. If you start the turn too early, the trailer's rear wheels track inside the turn and clip the curb or a sign. You set up wide, keep the tractor close to the right edge, and watch the right mirror through the turn. The mirror shows the trailer clearing the curb; if it were closing in, you would stop and correct.
Traps
Turning from the wrong lane; ignoring the right mirror; backing without a helper; and assuming a green light means the intersection is clear for a long vehicle.