Taking Curves Too Slow?

I've posted on this before and did a search on here but didn't seem to gain any more info other than to keep going as slow as I am comfortable.

In curves, our training is 10 to 15 under the posted warning, same with ramps. Load depending, I can't even manage that sometimes without feeling like the tractor is going to tip over to the outside of the turn.

I've had my suspension, air and shocks checked, my cab shocks and air checked, all good. (2020 KW T680 192k miles). The last load was heavy, 45k dogfood loaded mostly to the front, tandems at the 40' any curves I came into, felt like I had to take ridiculously slow like 20 under, yet truckers in my same truck are blowing by me at race pace.

How do they do it? Don't their trucks feel like they are leaning dangerously to the outside of the turn too? I feel like I'm creating a traffic hazard by going so slow and I'm WonderIng if I'm missing something that I should have learned along the way about curves. Is there a different strategy I should be using for curves?

Curves are the same as mountains. You’ll only take a curve too fast once. The hell with how fast anybody else is going. The second you try and keep up is the second you will wreck. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Trust me when I say when I first started pulling 48k of cream in an unbaffled tanker. I was taking those curves SLOW. Over time you will get more use to it. You’re doing just fine.

Curves and ramps are always short, we are talking about a few hundred yards, so how much time will you save? Five seconds? LOL And after all, you can always turn on your hazard lights.

I always take them slow. Doesn't matter what the posted speed limit is or how fast anyone else is going. I've heard enough horror stories of drivers in my building flipping sets to know better.

As a driver, you're only as valuable as your record. One rollover and it plummets, hard. Think of it like Enron. One minute you're at the top of the world and the next you're deleting emails and burning files.

Davy, if you notice most all curved ramps are slanted to the inside. This keeps your weight on the downside helping to prevent rollovers. You may just be mentally feeling like that. However, if you feel like 10 or 15 is too fast then do 5 or 10. Are you gonna catch crap on the radio? Absolutely but the time it takes to round the curve then straighten out is minimal compared to the time it takes to get a couple of wreckers out to clean up the mess and clear the road for traffic if you roll it. Again, its probably all in your head but better safe then sorry.

It takes time to get used to how a truck feels going around a curve over time you will feel more comfortable. Like stated above don't worry about how fast everyone else is going, I've been doing this 4 years now and still get passed by other trucks including other OD trucks. Guess what we arrive at the terminal at the time.

Just don't let that comfort become carelessness.

Another rule of thumb is if you are still braking after you entered the curve you were going to fast approaching it. You want to be at a slow steady speed.

Too many variables in determining one rule of thumb for every situation. Weight distribution, height of load, weight of the load, speed, weather, yada, yada. There are curves that I've taken at speed & other times I've had to take the same curve 30 mph under limit. As you gain experience, you'll get the feel for each situation. The why G-Town always stressed the importance of situational awareness. But as was said before, you can always survive any too slow situation, one wrong too fast? I know you've read enough on here to know the rest.

Davy, taking curves (and driving downhill) are two instances where you absolutely cannot exercise judgment based on other drivers’ actions. Your own speed on curves may vary depending upon your total gross weight, where the weight is centered, and the sharpness of the curb, to name a few variables. Continue to take curves at whatever speed you are most comfortable with, regardless of how slow you think you might be driving. These other drivers that are making you self-conscious about your performance on curves.. well, keep in mind that over-confidence, inexperience, and just plain irresponsibility or even recklessness are other variables that might be influencing their decisions… You keep on driving your truck the way you have been, safely, and never feel you need to apologize for it.

I completely agree with the advice to stay in your comfort zone and not worry about everyone else. That being said there is one thing no one else has mentioned that you might find helpful. I’ve had lots of driver training - CDL school, Emergency Vehicle Operators Certification, work related training, etc. One thing they all discuss is proper vehicle control in curves, specifically the process where you brake BEFORE entering the curve, then accelerate gently through the curve. Why? If you brake before the curve you reduce your speed and therefore momentum before trying to change direction, and basic physics says that things tend to want to go in a straight line, so to reduce that effect you reduce your momentum. That will let your truck “turn in” easier and feel less out of control.

Now the important part - accelerating through the curve. No, not like a race car! Gently, but with some authority. What this does is change the dynamic of your vehicle. If you’re coasting through a curve your load is pushing you - the load is in control, not you. By gently accelerating you are putting the tractor in control and forcing the load to follow rather than push. Try it a few times and I think you will find it helps. With practice you will find the right combination of entry speed and acceleration that lets you feel in control the whole way through.

Another thing to mention is to try to avoid braking after you enter the curve, known as trail braking. It can be done, but in a big truck with a hinge in the middle it can be a very scary situation because you are putting extremely high side loads on your tractors drive axle which will make it feel pretty unstable.

Gregg