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Basic control: accelerating, steering, stopping and backing

General Knowledge3 minManual section 2.2

Controlling a big vehicle means controlling two things: its speed and its direction. The manual breaks this into four skills: accelerating, steering, stopping and backing safely. Backing gets the most rules because it is always dangerous.

Two habits before anything else

  • Wear your seatbelt whenever you drive on the road.
  • Set the parking brake every time you leave the vehicle. A heavy truck that rolls away on its own can kill people.

Accelerating (2.2.1)

Do not roll back when you start. Someone may be close behind you, and a large vehicle hides them from view.

  • With a manual transmission, partly engage the clutch before you lift your right foot off the brake. The engine starts holding the vehicle before the brake lets go.
  • Use the parking brake when needed to stop a rollback. Release it only after you have applied enough engine power to keep from rolling back.
  • On a tractor-trailer that has a trailer brake hand valve, you can apply the hand valve to keep from rolling back.

Speed up smoothly and gradually so the vehicle does not jerk. Rough starts can damage the coupling, especially in a combination vehicle.

When traction is poor (rain, snow), speed up very gradually. Too much power can make the drive wheels spin, and you may lose control. If the drive wheels start to spin, take your foot off the accelerator.

Steering (2.2.2) and stopping (2.2.3)

Steering: hold the wheel firmly with both hands, placed on opposite sides of the wheel. If a front tire hits a curb or a pothole (also called a chuckhole), the wheel can be jerked out of a loose grip.

Stopping: press the brake pedal gradually. How much pressure you need depends on your speed and how fast you must stop. Control the pressure so the stop is smooth and safe.

In a manual-transmission vehicle, press the clutch once the engine has slowed almost to idle, so it does not stall.

Backing safely (2.2.4): why and the six rules

You cannot see everything behind a big vehicle, so backing is always dangerous. Avoid backing whenever you can. When you park, choose a spot you can pull forward out of later.

When you must back, follow these rules:

  • Start in the proper position. Place the vehicle where it is best for the kind of backing you need to do.
  • Look at your path. Before you start, get out and walk around the vehicle. Check clearance at the sides and overhead, in and near your path.
  • Use mirrors on both sides. Check both outside mirrors often. If you are unsure, get out again and check.
  • Back slowly. Use the lowest reverse gear. Then you can fix steering mistakes more easily and stop quickly.
  • Back and turn toward the driver's side (the left side in the U.S.). You can watch the rear of the vehicle through your side window. Backing toward the right (the blind side) is very dangerous. Driving around the block to set up a driver-side back is worth it.
  • Use a helper whenever possible. There are blind spots you cannot see. The helper stands near the back of the vehicle where you can see them. Before backing, agree on hand signals — most important, the signal for “stop.”

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 2.2

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. What should you always do when you leave your vehicle?
    1. Leave it in neutral
    2. Apply the parking brake
    3. Turn on the four-way flashers
    4. Leave the engine running
    Show answer
    Apply the parking brake

    Set the parking brake every time you leave the vehicle so it cannot roll.

  2. You are stopped on a hill in a vehicle with a manual transmission. How do you start without rolling back?
    1. Release the brake, then quickly press the clutch
    2. Shift to neutral and release the brake
    3. Partly engage the clutch before taking your right foot off the brake
    4. Turn on the flashers and roll back slowly
    Show answer
    Partly engage the clutch before taking your right foot off the brake

    Partly engaging the clutch first lets the engine hold the vehicle before the brake is released.

  3. When should you release the parking brake when starting on a hill?
    1. When you have applied enough engine power to keep from rolling back
    2. Before you start the engine
    3. As soon as you shift into first gear
    4. After the vehicle has rolled back a little
    Show answer
    When you have applied enough engine power to keep from rolling back

    Release the parking brake only when engine power is enough to keep the vehicle from rolling back.

  4. On a tractor-trailer, what else can be used to keep from rolling back when starting?
    1. The engine retarder
    2. The four-way flashers
    3. The interaxle differential lock
    4. The trailer brake hand valve
    Show answer
    The trailer brake hand valve

    If the tractor-trailer has a trailer brake hand valve, it can be applied to keep from rolling back.

  5. Your drive wheels begin to spin on a snowy road while you accelerate. What should you do?
    1. Press the accelerator harder
    2. Take your foot off the accelerator
    3. Apply the brakes firmly
    4. Shift to a higher gear quickly
    Show answer
    Take your foot off the accelerator

    Spinning wheels mean too much power for the traction; let off the accelerator.

  6. How should you hold the steering wheel?
    1. With one hand at the top
    2. With both hands close together at the bottom
    3. Firmly, with both hands on opposite sides
    4. Loosely, so the wheel can correct itself
    Show answer
    Firmly, with both hands on opposite sides

    Both hands on opposite sides with a firm grip keep the wheel from being pulled away if you hit a curb or pothole.

  7. When stopping a vehicle with a manual transmission, when should you push in the clutch?
    1. When the engine is close to idle
    2. As soon as you start braking
    3. Only after the vehicle has fully stopped
    4. Never; let the engine stall
    Show answer
    When the engine is close to idle

    Push the clutch in when the engine nears idle so it does not stall.

  8. The right way to apply the brake pedal for a normal stop is:
    1. Pump it hard several times
    2. Push it down gradually and control the pressure
    3. Press it fully all at once
    4. Use only the parking brake
    Show answer
    Push it down gradually and control the pressure

    Push the pedal down gradually, controlling pressure for a smooth, safe stop.

  9. Why should you back toward the driver's side when possible?
    1. It uses less fuel
    2. It is required by federal law
    3. Your helper can stand on the right
    4. You can see better by watching the rear out the side window
    Show answer
    You can see better by watching the rear out the side window

    Driver-side backing lets you watch the rear of the vehicle through your side window.

  10. Which gear should you use when backing?
    1. The lowest reverse gear
    2. The highest reverse gear
    3. Neutral, letting the vehicle coast
    4. Any gear that keeps the engine quiet
    Show answer
    The lowest reverse gear

    The lowest reverse gear lets you back slowly, fix steering errors and stop quickly.

  11. What is the most important hand signal for you and your backing helper to agree on?
    1. Turn left
    2. Go faster
    3. Stop
    4. Turn right
    Show answer
    Stop

    The “stop” signal is the most important, because it prevents a crash.

  12. Where should your backing helper stand?
    1. In the cab next to you
    2. Near the rear of the vehicle where you can see them
    3. Directly behind the vehicle in its path
    4. Across the street
    Show answer
    Near the rear of the vehicle where you can see them

    The helper should be near the back of the vehicle and visible to you.

  13. Why is it important to use a helper when backing?
    1. It is faster
    2. The helper can steer for you
    3. It lets you back at a higher speed
    4. There are blind spots you cannot see
    Show answer
    There are blind spots you cannot see

    A helper can see the blind spots that you cannot.

  14. Before backing, the manual says you should first:
    1. Get out and walk around the vehicle to check your path
    2. Sound the horn three times
    3. Turn on your headlights
    4. Back a few feet to test the steering
    Show answer
    Get out and walk around the vehicle to check your path

    Look at your path: get out, walk around, and check side and overhead clearance.

  15. Backing toward the right side (blind side) is just as safe as backing toward the driver's side.
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    False

    False. Backing to the right is very dangerous because you cannot see as well.

  16. When you park, the manual advises you to:
    1. Always back into the space
    2. Park as close to other trucks as possible
    3. Park so you can pull forward when you leave
    4. Leave the engine idling
    Show answer
    Park so you can pull forward when you leave

    Avoid backing: park where you can pull forward to leave.

  17. Why should you speed up smoothly and gradually?
    1. It keeps the brakes cool
    2. It makes the turn signals work
    3. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage, such as to the trailer coupling
    4. It is required only on downgrades
    Show answer
    Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage, such as to the trailer coupling

    Jerky starts can damage the vehicle; when pulling a trailer, rough acceleration can damage the coupling.