Basic Driving Techniques
It's a Truck, Not a Car
Remember that this is a truck, not a car. It takes longer to do just about everything like accelerating and braking. Allow for this when you start driving. Driving a truck will teach you patience if nothing else.
Patience is Key
You are big and cumbersome and people are going to get mad at you and give you signals. All you can do is wave back and use all your fingers, not just one.
Understand Truck Dynamics
Driving trucks is not easy. It's long and wide, has no center rear-view mirror, it's unbelievably slow, its handling can best be described as "wobbly," and it's noisy and claustrophobic inside.
"Remember to take precaution and care. There is a very good reason why 'Better safe than sorry' has become the cliché it is."
Lane Positioning Techniques
A hard thing to do at first is keeping yourself "centered" in the lane when driving down the road. There is a very easy way to figure this out:
Use Your Mirrors
When you are up to speed, look in your mirrors until you can see down the side of the truck's box and keep an equal distance between the side of the truck and the dotted line on one side and the solid line on the other.
Find Your Reference Point
Look over the hood at the solid line along the right side of the truck. Find a spot on the hood (usually just to the right of the center of the hood at the front) and figure out where your "spot" lines up with the right line.
Keep Eyes on Road
This way, you don't have to take your eyes off the road to check where you are in your lane. You can just glance to your spot on the hood and adjust yourself until you are where you are supposed to be.
Important Note
This technique will help you a bunch while driving in town or on a two-lane highway where you have oncoming traffic to contend with. If you feel like you are in both lanes you probably aren't. Unless you are, then you are in trouble.
Turning & Maneuvering
Tail Swing Awareness
Remember that the part of the truck behind the rear wheels will go the opposite direction that you turn the front of the truck. This is something you need to watch in close quarters like pulling away from a curb or getting in or out of a gas station.
What is Tail Swing?
It's called "tail-swing" and it will dent other vehicles and knock over newspaper boxes and mailboxes along a curb. Watch your mirrors real close in tight maneuvering.
Turning Guidelines
Use Traffic Signals
Try to make all of your turns in and out of parking lots at traffic signals. You haven't got the acceleration to "jump" out into traffic with a truck, so don't even try.
Wide Turns
Stay in your lane, and don't turn right or left close to ANYTHING. The back tires will come around 5 or 6 feet over from where the front tires do.
Slow Turning Speed
They move slow when turning. Go into a corner too fast and you run the risk of rolling the thing over.
Parking Large Trucks
Due to their sheer size and lack of a rearview mirror, trucks can be difficult to park and back up for unloading.
Parking Guidelines
- The trucks do have side-view mirrors that enable drivers to see down the sides and some of what is behind the truck
- These should not be relied on as the sole form of visibility
- Drivers should always try to have a spotter to help with backing up to avoid collisions
- Drivers should recognize that large trucks may not fit in the same spots as normal-sized vehicles
- Park in spots that are large enough and allow enough clearance to move or get out without hitting objects
Skip Drive-Throughs
Navigating even a small truck through a drive-through is risky. Park the vehicle and walk to the food or ATM, especially if you're in a hurry.
Use Gas Stations
If you need a break to get your bearings, gas stations have plenty of room to park and turn around. They can save your sanity.
Speed Management
Slow Down!
Large trucks are not sports cars. They should not be driven exceedingly fast, and should be operated at a slower speed than normal. This is due to the fact that, because of their weight and size, they are much harder to slow down and stop once they get moving.
Following Distance
Leave at least four car lengths of following distance to allow for adequate stopping distance.
Hill Driving
Don't get in a hurry. You are not going to be able to keep up with traffic in the hills, so don't even try. If your speed drops 10 mph or greater below the posted speed limit, turn on your hazard flashers and keep to the right.
Allow Extra Time
When mapping trips, you'll find you're always running behind estimated times. You're not going to get places as quickly as in a car. Give yourself extra time.
"Take it slow. The controls are designed so a person of any strength or size can easily turn, accelerate and brake, so it's easy to gain confidence quickly. But you need to remember you are much longer and taller than any car."
Braking Techniques
Brake Early and Often
Like mentioned before, you can't drive something this heavy like a normal car. Don't even think about doing hard, sudden stops, especially if you have stuff in the back that could get damaged.
Braking Guidelines
- Take your time braking before turns
- Come to a near-complete stop if you have to
- A loaded truck takes a lot longer to stop than an empty one
- Start your braking well before that stop sign or red light
- Don't brake and turn at the same time – instead, brake, release, and turn
- Practice a few times with an empty truck
Traffic Awareness
When you're in traffic, be looking ahead at all times for jam-ups so you can apply your brakes early. Patience and paying attention really are the keys to driving one of these things.
Mirror Usage
Always be checking your mirrors. You have no center rearview mirror inside the cabin, so knowing what's behind you is a combination of techniques:
Adjust Mirrors Properly
Take the time to adjust each of your mirrors, ideally using a buddy, before you set off. Re-adjust from time to time, too. Watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists in particular.
Understand Blind Spots
Remember that just because you can't see someone in your mirrors doesn't mean the coast is clear. Use your outside mirrors. You're going to need some skill in that area.
Merging & Lane Changes
Merging is a bit of an issue because you don't have the acceleration everybody else has. Check those mirrors very carefully while trying to match highway speeds.
Terrifying Reality
Knowing what's behind you is a combination of hunching over and staring into the little blindspot mirror, listening for other engines, trying to catch glimpses of headlights, and praying. Changing lanes and merging could be terrifying.
Overhead Clearance Awareness
Critical Warning
Remember one more thing: You have to pay attention to vertical clearances in a truck. All trucks are marked with their height. If you are not sure if you can get under something, don't even try. The expense to repair the building as well as the damage to the truck can be astronomical.
Read Height Signs
Read and pay attention to "Maximum height" signs on bridges and parking garages before entering. Also, remember, or write down, the height of your truck for quick reference.
Watch Common Areas
Places to watch for low clearances: Gas stations, hotels and motels, restaurant parking lots, etc. Large trucks are much taller than regular vehicles.
When in Doubt
If there is a question as to whether the truck will fit under a low-hanging sign or object, find another route.
Trip Planning
Planning Checklist
- Know exactly where you're going. Making a wrong turn and trying to find a way back can be frustrating
- Turning around in driveways is not really an option especially on busy streets
- Have a navigator if you are unfamiliar with the area. It's hard to study a map and not crash into things
- An extra set of eyes is good even if you do know where you are going
- Secure your cargo. Having all of your valuables shifting and falling behind you is a major distraction
Wind Considerations
When the wind blows across it moves. Trucks passing they move. Be prepared for these effects on your vehicle.
Route Selection
Be safe, stay right. Choose routes that accommodate large vehicles and avoid areas with tight spaces or low clearances.
Safety Practices Summary
Passing Judiciously
Don't pass unless you absolutely have to. When you do: Check mirrors carefully, signal, then accelerate firmly. Don't expect to blow past other drivers like in a small car.
Wind Disturbances
Because of their size and large, flat sides, trucks are more susceptible to wind disturbances. If this happens, let up on the gas pedal, but don't slam on brakes or jerk the wheel suddenly.
Vehicle Maintenance
Service the truck periodically while on the road. This includes checking oil and tire pressure and keeping the tank adequately filled with gas.
"All it takes is patience and judgment for the most part. Basic knowledge of driving like using mirrors, reading signs for height, knowing how high your truck is. Little things like remembering the truck doesn't stop as fast as a car."
Center of Gravity
Remember you are sitting up higher (center of gravity) so tipping or rolling it over can happen making sharp turns too fast. Good luck and use common sense. Safe motoring.