Keeping It Between The Lines

I'll be heading to Wisconsin soon and I just had a quick question. It may seem silly but I was hoping to get some tips before getting behind the wheel. Soooo......

How do you make sure to keep the trailer straight when driving? One piece of advice I have been given by a friend who drives is he lines his left hand up with the center line and it usually keeps straight. Just wanted everyone else's opinion becaise thats the biggest fear I have. Get out to drive on the road for training, the trailer gets out of hand and hits a car or God forbid a person.....

I'll be heading to Wisconsin soon and I just had a quick question. It may seem silly but I was hoping to get some tips before getting behind the wheel. Soooo......

How do you make sure to keep the trailer straight when driving? One piece of advice I have been given by a friend who drives is he lines his left hand up with the center line and it usually keeps straight. Just wanted everyone else's opinion becaise thats the biggest fear I have. Get out to drive on the road for training, the trailer gets out of hand and hits a car or God forbid a person.....

My truck has the 2 mirrors on the hood. I line up the left one with the white line. Works most of the time and keeps the trailer in the lane.

I have pulled trailers in the past that off tracked to the right but it wasn't a big deal.

I'm not sure you need to worry about that. If you keep your tractor between the lines, the trailer will be right behind. Your hood is wide enough it should not be a problem to keep looking down road between the dotted lines.

Unless you get into a windy situation, your trailer should not be wagging the tractor. But do not forget, in any turn, from sharp right turns at an intersection to "longer" turns of an off ramp, you will learn how the trailer's tandems track to the inside of the turn.

Honestly, you'll have to find your marks at first. For example, in other jobs, I drove peterbilt trucks, I knew that if I lined the inside right edge of the hood ornament on the white line, I'd pretty much be centered.

However, you'll only really do this for a little while. You eventually get a feel for the truck, and you'll not even look at centering any more, you'll just sense it instinctively. It's always a good idea to check every now and then, but for the most part, once you get a feel for the truck, centering will just come naturally.

😊

As far as going around corners, again, instinct. However, you generally want to aim high in the corner when going around a left curve. Keep the cab of the truck close to the white line and the trailer will off track but still be in your lane.

Going around right curves, you don't have to stay so far left, if you are in the inside, as your trailer will just off track in the shoulder or corner apron.

When going around sharp corners, just take it slow and swing wide and always be checking your mirrors. Turning a truck takes getting used to and practice, but again, once you have a feel for it, you'll the turning radius and how to handle it.

Just never become complacent. Even when you've been driving a long time and feel you are getting comfortable with it, don't lose that cautious nerve, when you do, that's when danger strikes.

Also, when you are sitting in the drivers seat, the trailer will not look as long as it does when you are standing outside the truck. It always amazes me when I get out of the truck and see that 53 foot trailer, how big it is, that people can take these things into some tight areas. From outside the truck, the trailer looks like it goes on forever lol.

Thanks everyone. I've been to a No-Name company school before. However, 1. They tried to force you into a lease right off the bat. And 2. The instructor my group had, well.... he started yelling right off the bat. Even though it was our first time driving a truck. Which of course made things a bit overly tense. But I thank everyone for their responses.

The real fun begins when you're going through a construction zone with those big arse concrete barriers on both sides of the road. Yeeehaaa...LOL!

JJ

Guys, these roll-overs have got to stop! We are wasting time and losing money every time you guys roll-over. Please stop this, and if you need help in understanding how to stop this please call me!"

Some of those Cattle Chutes are TIGHT!! Definately a pucker factor involved!!

Guys, these roll-overs have got to stop! We are wasting time and losing money every time you guys roll-over. Please stop this, and if you need help in understanding how to stop this please call me!"

Some of those Cattle Chutes are TIGHT!! Definately a pucker factor involved!!

Texas is pretty good about having those in places you don't want them to be.

Yes, heading west out of Houston. I think it's like 20 to 30 miles maybe, it'll definitely wake your arse up that's for sure. LOL!

JJ