Shifting, Backing, and Turning
Shifting
Manual-transmission CDL vehicles may be non-synchronized. Double-clutch: clutch in, neutral, clutch out, match engine speed, clutch in, shift, clutch out. Don't coast in neutral, don't shift in a curve, and don't over-rev downhill; select a low gear before the grade.
Backing
Back only when necessary, with a spotter when available. Use GOAL (get out and look). Back toward the driver's side when possible; use both mirrors; check clearance at the top and rear. If you lose sight of the spotter, stop.
Turning
Right turns: approach in the right lane, keep the rear tires close to the curb, and swing wide enough to clear the corner. Left turns: start from the proper lane and watch the trailer's off-tracking. A tractor-trailer's rear wheels cut inside the front wheels; the longer the wheelbase, the greater the off-tracking.
Worked example
A 70-foot tractor-trailer turns right at a tight corner. The driver swings into the left lane before turning. Reasoning: that move exposes the left side and can trap a car. The correct approach is to stay in the right lane, slow before the turn, and let the trailer track around the corner; swing left only if the lane geometry truly requires it.
Traps
Backing with mirrors only; turning the wheel before the rear clears; using a high gear in a turn; forgetting the trailer's inside off-track.