Basic Control of Your Vehicle

Basic Control

Basic control of your vehicle safe operation of a commercial vehicle requires skill in: accelerating steering stopping backing safely fasten your seatbelt when on the road.

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CDL: Speed Management

Driving too fast is a major cause of fatal crashes. You must adjust your speed depending on driving conditions. These include traction, curves, visibility, traffic and hills.

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Communicating

Other drivers cannot know what you are going to do until you tell them. Signaling what you intend to do is important for safety.

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Safe Driving: Seeing

You will have more time to act if you see hazards before they become emergencies.You might make a lane change or slow down to prevent a crash if the car suddenly cuts in front of you. Seeing this hazard gives you, time to check your mirrors and signal a lane change.

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Backing When you have to back, here's some simple safety rules. Put the vehicle in the best position to allow you to back safely. Look at your line of travel before you begin. Get out and walk around your vehicle. Check your clearances to the side and overhead. Always back as slowly as possible. Use the lowest reverse gear to help prevent steering errors and stopping easier if necessary.

Use a helper whenever possible. There are blind spots you cannot see; the helper should stand where you can see him. Before you begin backing, you and your helper need to agree on a hand signal for stop. Always turn it back toward the driver's side. You have the greatest visibility when you look to the left side. Backing from the driver's side allows you to watch the rear of the vehicle by looking out the side window.

Shifting Gears If you cannot get your vehicle in the right gear while driving, you will have less control. Most heavy vehicles with manual transmissions require double clutching to change gears.

Double Clutching Here's the basic procedure for double clutching. First, release the accelerator. Push in the clutch. And shift in neutral the same time. Next, release the clutch while in neutral. Let the engine and gears slow down. Next, push in the clutch and shift to higher gear. Finally, release the clutch and press the accelerator. If you remain in neutral too long, you may have difficulty putting it into the next year. If so, do not force it. Return to neutral, release the clutch, increase engine speed and try again.

Shifting gears The two special conditions where you should downshift are before starting down a hill slow down and shift to a speed that you can control your vehicle without using the brakes too hard. And before entering a curve, slow down to a safe speed and downshift to the right gear before entering the curve. This lets you use some power-through, to help the vehicle stability while turning.

Shifting gears The two special conditions where you should downshift are before starting down a hill. Slow down and shift to a speed that you can control your vehicle without using the brakes too hard. And before entering a curve, slow down to a safe speed and downshift to the right gear before entering the curve. This lets you use some power-through to help the vehicle stability while turning.

Shifting gears When going down a hill, you may object an automatic transmission to a lower gear. This technique assists the brakes by using the engine to slow down the vehicle. An engine retarder or engine brake helps slow the vehicle and reduces the need for using your brakes. Caution when your drive wheels have poor traction, the retarder can cause them to skid. You should turn it off whenever the road is icy, wet or slippery. Seeing To be a safe driver you need to know what is going on all around you. Not looking properly is a major cause of accidents. Make sure you look far enough ahead. Stopping or changing lanes can take a lot of distance. Knowing what the traffic is doing on all sides of you is very important.

Seeing Ahead All drivers look ahead but many do not look far enough. Most drivers look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead of the distance you will travel 12 to 15 seconds is about one city block. At highway speeds it's about a quarter mile. You need to shift your attention near and far. Look ahead for traffic and road conditions. Watch for traffic. Looking for vehicles entering the roadway or your lane. Watch for turning vehicles.

Watch ahead for brake lights which will indicate when traffic is coming to a stop. Watch for changing road conditions such as hills or curves or signs or signal lights. Watch for a stale green light a light that has been on for a long time that will change to red. By seeing these things far enough ahead, you can adjust your speed or change lanes, if necessary, to avoid a problem.

Seeing to the sides and rear It is important knowing to know what is going on behind into the sides. Check your mirrors regularly. Check more often in special situations. Mirror adjustments should be checked prior to the start of any trip. You need to make regular traffic checks of your mirrors to be aware of traffic and it check your vehicle. Check your mirrors for vehicles on either side and the back of you.

In an emergency, you need to know if you can make lane changes. Use your mirrors to spot overtaking vehicles. Use your mirrors to keep an eye on your tires. It is one way to spot a tire fire. If you're carrying open cargo checked for loose tie downs. Watch for blooming or flapping tarp. Special situations require some more mirror checks.

You need to check your mirrors to make sure that no one is alongside you or about to pass. Check often during lane changes. Change after you have signaled. After you start the change and after you complete the change. While turning, check your mirrors to make sure the rear of the vehicle will not hit anything. When merging, use your mirrors to make sure the gap in traffic is large enough for you to enter safely. Any time you're driving in close quarters, check your mirrors often. Make sure you have enough clearance.

How to use your mirrors Use mirrors correctly by checking them quickly and understanding what you see. Look back and forth between the mirrors and the road ahead. Do not focus on the mirrors for too long. Otherwise you'll have to travel quite a distance without knowing what's happening ahead.

Types of mirrors Many large vehicles have curved mirrors and show wider areas than flat mirrors. These are called convex. They are helpful but everything appears smaller in a convex mirror than if you were looking at it directly. Things can also seem further away than they really are. It is important to realize this and allow for it.

Flat mirrors Flat mirrors are used to monitor traffic, check clearances and to see the side and rear of the trailer. They have a blind spot immediately below and in front of each mirror and directly behind the trailer. Flat mirrors have a blind spot up to 400 feet behind the trailer. Adjust the mirrors that you can see 200 feet to the rear along the sides of the truck. And the rear tires are touching the ground.

Convex mirrors Convex mirrors must be adjusted to show the areas that the flat mirrors do not. Convex mirror should never be used to judge speed or distance of objects. Position the convex mirrors so you can see the entire side of the truck up to the mirror mounts. The front of the rear tires touching the ground and at least on either side of the trailer.

Mirror review A professional driver should increase mirror usage during maneuver such as lane change, turns...

Mirrors in heavy traffic Use your mirrors to compensate for blind spots. Other traffic must move into your blind spot. Proper visual search will reduce the probability of someone entering your blind spots unnoticed.

Communicating Signals Other drivers cannot know what you're going to do until you tell them. Signaling what you tend to do is important for safety. There are some general rules for signaling. Signal early well before your turn lane change to prevent drivers from trying to pass you. Signal continuously. Do not cancel until you have completed a turn and cancel your signal. Do not forget to turn off your turn signal after you have turned or changed lanes. Many trucks and buses do not have self-cancelling signals.

Signaling during lane changes Signal as soon as you realize you're going to change lanes. Next, check both mirrors before you change lanes. Check your mirrors right after you start the lane change. And check again after you completely the lane change.

Signaling when you slow down Warn drivers behind if you need to slow down for any reason. A few light taps on the brake will warn following drivers. Use your four way flashes when you're driving slowly or stopped. Warn drivers in any of the following situations. If you spot trouble ahead the size of your vehicle will make it hard for driver's behind you to see. If you have a hazard that will require slowing down, warn the drivers behind you by flashing your brake lights.

When making a tight turn, car drivers do not know how slow or large vehicle must turn. Give drivers a warning by braking early and slowing down gradually. If you must stop on the road warn following drivers by flashing your brake lights to stop suddenly. Drivers do not realize how fast they are by catching up to a slow moving vehicle until they are very close.

If you must drive slowly, alert following drivers by turning on your emergency flashers, if it is legal to do so. Do not direct traffic. Some drivers try to help by signaling when it is safe to pass. You should not do this. You can cause an accident and be considered at fault.

Communicating your presence Other drivers may not see you when you're in plain sight. When passing, assume they do not. They could suddenly move in front of you. When it is legal to do so, tap your horn lightly and at night, flash your lights. Drive carefully enough to avoid a crash even if they do not see or hear you.

When it's hard to see at dusk, dawn, rain and snow, make yourself easier to see. Turn on your lights. Use the head light not just the identification or clearance lights. When you pull off the road and stop, be sure to turn on the four-way emergency flashers. This is very important at night. Do not trust the taillights to give warning. Drivers have crashed in the rear of a parked vehicle because they thought it was moving normally. If you must stop on the side of the road, you must put out your emergency warning devices within ten minutes.

Triangles on two-lane undivided highway Place your warning devices at the following location. On a two-lane road or an undivided highway place your triangles ten feet to the front and rear of the vehicle and 100 feet behind the vehicle.

Triangles on one-way or divided highway On a one-way or divided highway, place warning devices ten feet, 100 feet and 200 feet toward the rear of the vehicle.

Triangles on hills If you're stopped on a hill or curve, place your triangles beyond any hill, curve, or other obstruction that might prevent another driver from seeing your vehicle within 500 feet. If the line of sight view is obstructed due to a hill a curve, move the rearmost triangle to point back down the road so warning will be provided.

Communicating When putting out your warning triangles, hold them between yourself and ongoing traffic for your own safety. Use your horn when needed. It can help avoid a crash. However, your horn could startle others and could be dangerous when used unnecessarily.

Controlling speed Driving too fast for road, weather and traffic conditions is a major cause of accidents. A professional driver must adjust the speed to prevailing driving conditions. There are three components to total stopping distance- Perception distance plus reacting distance plus braking distance.

Perception distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the time your eyes even see a hazard until your brain recognizes it. The perception time for alert drivers about three quarters of a second. At 55 miles per hour, you travel 60 feet in three quarters of a second.

Reaction distance. It's the distance travel from the time your brain tells your foot to move from the accelerator until your foot is actually pushing the brake pedal. The average driver has a reaction time of three quarters a second. At 55 miles per hour, your vehicle will travel an additional 60 feet.

Braking distance. The distance it takes to stop once the brakes are put on. At 55 miles per hour, on dry pavement with good brakes it can take a heavy vehicle about 390 feet to stop. It takes four and a half seconds.

Total stopping distance. All three factors add up to total stopping distance. 55 miles per hour, it will take about six seconds to stop your vehicle. You travel about the distance of the football field before coming to a complete stop.

Stopping distance chart This chart will help give you a picture of the relationship between different speeds and the amount of space you will need to safely stop your vehicle. From the time you see a problem on the road to the time it takes you to react and begin braking until the brakes actually stop the vehicle.

Speed, weight and stopping distance The effect of speed on stopping distance. Every time you double your speed it takes four times as much distance to stop. The effects of weight in stopping distance. Heavy vehicles work best when the vehicles fully loaded. Empty tracks require greater stopping distance.

Heavy vehicles are designed to work best when the vehicles fully loaded. Empty trucks require greater stopping distance because of an empty vehicle has less traction. An empty vehicle can balance the lockups wheels which will result in poor braking ability.

Matching speed to road surface You cannot steer or break a vehicle unless you have traction. There are some road conditions that reduce your traction and call for slower speeds. It will take longer to stop and will be harder to turn without skidding when the road is slippery. Wet roads can double your stopping distance. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. Reduce speed by one third on wet roads. On packed snow reduced speed by half or more. If the road is icy, crawl and stop driving as soon as possible.

Identifying slippery surfaces Sometimes it is hard to know if the road slippery. Here are some sure signs of slippery roads. Shaded areas of the road will remain icy and slippery long after open areas have melted. When the temperature drops, the bridges will freeze first. When ice begins to melt, it becomes wet and very slippery.

Black ice is a thin, clear layer of ice you cannot see the road underneath. It appears wet. Any time the temperature drops below freezing and the road looks wet. Watch out for black ice. When you're.... once your wipers and mirrors ice up it is a good indication the road is becoming slippery. Just after it rains water mixes with oil in the road making the road very slippery.

Hydroplaning When water slush puddles on the road, the tires could lose contact with the road and have little or no traction. You may not be able to steer or to brake. It is similar to water skiing. You can regain control by releasing the accelerator and pushing in the clutch. This will slow the vehicle and let the wheels turn freely. Do not use the brakes to slow down. If the drive wheels begin to skid, push in the clutch and let them turn freely. It is not take a lot of water to cause hydroplaning. It can occur speeds less than 30 miles per hour. Hydroplaning is more likely if your tire pressure is low or the tread is worn.

The grooves in your tire tread carry away the water. If they are worn, they will not work well. Watch out for clear reflections on the road, tire splashes and rain drops on the road. These are all indications of standing water.

Speed and curves Drivers must adjust their speed for curves in the road. If you take a curve too fast, the wheels can lose traction creating a skid or the wheels may keep the traction and the vehicle will roll over. Tests have shown the trucks and buses with a high center of gravity can roll over at the posted speed limit curve. Braking in a curve is dangerous because it is easier to lock up the wheels and causes a skid or jackknife. Slow to a safe speed before you enter a curve and be in gear within R.P.M range that will allow you to accelerate slightly and pull the trailers through the curve.

Speed and distance ahead You should always be able to stop within the distance you see ahead. Fog, rain or snow will limit the distance you can see. These conditions require that you slow down to be able to stop within the distance you can see ahead. At night, you cannot see as far ahead of you with your low beams as you can with your high beams. When the conditions require you to use low beams you must slow down. Remember the example from the total stopping distance section. It takes 450 feet to stop a vehicle at 55 miles per hour driving on a straight road. On a clear day you'll be able to see 450 feet ahead. In this situation, it is safe to travel 55 miles per hour. But in fog, rain or snow limit your vision to 160 feet. You must slow down considerably to compensate for your limited vision. For reference, 450 feet is a little longer than a football field. 160 feet is the width of a football field.

Speed and traffic flow When you're driving in heavy traffic, the safest speed is a speed of the other vehicles. Vehicles going the same speed in the same direction are not likely to run into each other. In many states, speed limits are lower for trucks and busses. It can be very much as 15 miles per hour. Use this as extra caution when changing lanes on these roadways.

Drive with the flow of traffic If you can, without going out in a legal and safe speed make sure you keep a safe following distance. The main reason driver speed is to save time but speeding does not save much time. The added risks are not worth it. If you go faster than the speed of other traffic, you'll have to keep changing lanes. Increasing the number of lane changes increases your chance of an accident. Concept changing lanes make you tired. Fatigue is a major cause of accidents.

Speed on downgrades Your speed will increase on downgrades. Your most important objective is to select to maintain a speed limit that is not too fast for the total weight of the vehicle in the cargo, the length of the grade, the steepness of the grade, road conditions and weather. If the speed limit is posted or there is a sign indicate a maximum safe, speed never exceed the speed shown. Also you must obey warning signs indicating steepness of the grade. You must use the braking effect of the engine as the principal way of controlling your speed on downgrades. The braking effect of the engine is greatest when it is near the governor's RPM and the transmission is in the lowest gears. Save your brakes so you'll be able to slow down or stop an emergency. Shift your transmission into lower gear before starting down the grade.

Roadway work zones Speed is the number one cause of death in roadway work zones. Obey the posted speed limit at all times when in a work zone. Decrease your speed for adverse weather conditions. Decrease your speed even further when a worker is close to the roadway.

Controlling speed Driving too fast for road weather traffic conditions is a major cause of accidents. A professional driver must adjust the speed to prevailing driving conditions. There are three components to total stopping distance- Perception distance, plus reacting distance, plus braking distance.

Perception distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the time your eyes even see a hazard until your brain recognizes it. The perception time for alert drivers is about three quarters of a second. At 55 miles per hour, you travel 60 feet in three quarters of a second.

Reaction distance. It's the distance travel from the time your brain tells your foot to move from the accelerator until your foot is actually pushing the brake pedal. The average driver has a reaction time of three quarters of a second. At 55 miles per hour, your vehicle will travel an additional 60 feet.

Braking distance. The distance it takes to stop once the brakes are put on. At 55 miles per hour, on dry pavement with good brakes it can take a heavy vehicle about 390 feet to stop. It takes four and a half seconds. Total stopping distance. All three factors add up to total stopping distance. 55 miles per hour, it will take about six seconds to stop your vehicle. You travel about the distance of the football field before coming to a complete stop.

Stopping distance chart This chart will help give you a picture of the relationship between different speeds and the amount of space you will need to safely stop your vehicle. From the time you see a problem on the road to the time it takes you to react and begin braking until the brakes actually stop the vehicle.

Speed, weight and stopping distance The effect of speed on stopping distance. Every time you double your speed it takes four times as much distance to stop. The effects of weight in stopping distance. Heavy vehicles work best when the vehicles fully loaded. Empty trucks require greater stopping distance. Heavy vehicles are designed to work best when the vehicles fully loaded. Empty trucks require greater stopping distance because an empty vehicle has less traction. An empty vehicle can balance and lockup its wheels, which will result in poor braking ability.

Matching speed to road surface You cannot steer or break a vehicle unless you have traction. There are some road conditions that reduce your traction and call for slower speeds. It will take longer to stop and will be harder to turn without skidding when the road is slippery. Wet roads can double your stopping distance. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. Reduce speed by one third on wet roads. On packed snow reduced speed by half or more. If the road is icy, crawl and stop driving as soon as possible.

Identifying slippery surfaces Sometimes it is hard to know if the road slippery. Here are some sure signs of slippery roads. Shaded areas of the road will remain icy in slippery long after open areas have melted. When the temperature drops, the bridges will freeze first. When ice begins to melt, it becomes wet and very slippery. Black ice is a thin, clear layer of ice you cannot see the road underneath. It appears wet. Any time the temperature drops below freezing and the road looks wet. Watch out for black ice. When your windshield wipers and mirrors ice up it is a good indication the road is becoming slippery. Just after it rains water mixes with oil in the road making the road very slippery.

Hydroplaning When water slush puddles on the road, the tires could lose contact with the road and have little or no traction. You may not be able to steer or to brake. It is similar to water skiing. You can regain control by releasing the accelerator and pushing in the clutch. This will slow the vehicle and let the wheels turn freely. Do not use the brakes to slow down. If the drive wheels begin to skid, push in the clutch and let them turn freely. It does not take a lot of water to cause hydroplaning.

It can occur speeds less than 30 miles per hour. Hydroplaning is more likely if your tire pressure is low or the tread is worn. The grooves in your tire tread carry away the water. If they are worn, they will not work well. Watch out for clear reflections on the road, tire splashes and rain drops on the road. These are all indications of standing water.

Speed and curves Drivers must adjust their speed for curves in the road. If you take a curve too fast, the wheels can lose traction creating a skid or the wheels may keep the traction and the vehicle will roll over. Tests have shown that trucks and buses with a high center of gravity can roll over at the posted speed limit curve. Braking in a curve is dangerous because it is easier to lock up the wheels and cause a skid or jackknife. Slow to a safe speed before you enter a curve and be in gear within RPM range that will allow you to accelerate slightly and pull the trailers through the curve.

Speed and distance ahead You should always be able to stop within the distance you see ahead. Fog, rain or snow will limit the distance you can see. These conditions require that you slow down to be able to stop within the distance you can see ahead. At night, you cannot see as far ahead of you with your low beams as you can with your high beams. When the conditions require you to use low beams you must slow down. Remember the example from the total stopping distance section. It takes 450 feet to stop a vehicle at 55 miles per hour driving on a straight road. On a clear day you'll be able to see 450 feet ahead. In this situation, it is safe to travel 55 miles per hour. But in fog, rain or snow limit your vision to 160 feet. You must slow down considerably to compensate for your limited vision. For reference, 450 feet is a little longer than a football field. 160 feet is the width of a football field.

Speed and traffic flow When you're driving in heavy traffic, the safest speed is a speed of the other vehicles. Vehicles going the same speed in the same direction are not likely to run into each other. In many states, speed limits are lower for trucks and buses. It can be very much as 15 miles per hour. Use this as extra caution when changing lanes on these roadways. Drive with a flow of traffic, if you can, without going out at an illegal and unsafe speed, make sure you keep a safe following distance. The main reason drivers speed is to save time, but speeding does not save much time. The added risks are not worth it. If you go faster than the speed of other traffic, you'll have to keep changing lanes. Increasing the number of lane changes increases your chance of an accident. Constant changing lanes make you tired. Fatigue is a major cause of accidents.

Speed on downgrades Your speed will increase on downgrades. Your most important objective is to select and maintain a speed limit that is not too fast for the total weight of the vehicle and the cargo, the length of the grade, the steepness of the grade, road conditions and weather. If the speed limit is posted or there is a sign indicating a maximum safe speed never exceed the speed shown. Also you must obey warning signs indicating steepness of the grade. You must use the braking effect of the engine as the principal way of controlling your speed on downgrades. The braking effect of the engine is greatest when it is near the governor's RPM and the transmission is in the lowest gears. Save your brakes so you'll be able to slow down or stop an emergency. Shift your transmission into lower gear before starting down the grade.

Roadway work zones Speed is the number one cause of death in roadway work zones. Obey the posted speed limit at all times when in a work zone. Decrease your speed for adverse weather conditions. Decrease your speed even further when a worker is close to the roadway.