Knowledge Base

Driving Defensively for CDL/Large Vehicle Drivers... the Basics: The Mental Side of Driving Defensively

• The importance of the mental side of defensive driving.
  
• Some of the things you should be cognizant of in order to drive defensively.
  
• Why driving a large truck presents safety challenges that driving a smaller vehicle doesn't.
  
• Some things you do while driving could be a dangerous distraction.
  

Driving Defensively for CDL/Large Vehicle Drivers... the Basics: Preparing for Your Trip

• How properly preparing your vehicle can help to reduce potential hazards when you are on the road.
  
• What systems and parts of your truck should be checked before leaving on a trip.
  
• Why you should be sure that your load is properly secured.
  
• The types of safety equipment your vehicle should have on board when you're on a trip.
  

Driving Defensively for CDL/Large Vehicle Drivers... the Basics: Hitting the Road

• Some techniques and "rules of the road" that will help you to drive defensively.
  
• How you should adjust your driving to account for lower visibility and bad weather.
  
• What a driver might do that can put themselves and others in danger.
  

Driving Defensively for CDL/Large Vehicle Drivers... the Basics: Using Your Headlights

• How to properly use your headlights at night and when visibility is low.
  
• When high beams should be used to increase visibility and when using them may actually make visibility worse.
  

Driving Defensively for CDL/Large Vehicle Drivers... the Basics: Negotiating Curves and Downgrades

• How to safely control your truck when you are driving on curves and downgrades.
  
• How to slow down your truck safely and effectively when descending a grade.
  
• Why driving large vehicles like trucks presents different challenges on curves and downgrades than smaller vehicles.
  

Driving Defensively for CDL/Large Vehicle Drivers... the Basics: Right-of-Way, Lane Control and Passing

• Why it is important to know how to share the road safely with other drivers of all different types of vehicles.
  
• Why you should always be aware of what other drivers are doing.
  
• What you should do to ensure that you are changing lanes safely.
  

Driving Defensively for CDL/Large Vehicle Drivers... the Basics: Turns and Intersections

• How to safely make turns with trucks and other large vehicles.
  
• The different challenges you can have to deal with when making right and left turns.
  
• How the length of your vehicle and your rate of acceleration can affect your ability to cross an intersection safely.