Mountain driving for truck drivers can be intimidating, especially for first time or rookie drivers. If you follow some basic safety rules and take advantage of the safety features available to you then you can quickly gain confidence on mountain routes.
It always helps if you are familiar with the area in which you are traveling. However, a driver can be surprised by an unexpected patch of ice, lurking around the corner.
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Follow these mountain driving tips especially for truck drivers, when travelling on risky terrain.
A major cause for accidents even on level routes is over-confidence. Just because you are in an area you are familiar with, doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. This is especially true when you are dealing with a steep grade.
If you are not familiar with the grade, don’t guess at the % of the grade when you are at the top ready to descend. Always look for the grade signs posted. They should be marked and will give you an idea of what speed you should maintain during your climb or descent.
Be aware that it takes some time to climb or descend a grade. It’s not something to rush. Take as much time as is needed to travel slowly or methodically.
Don’t make the mistake of letting the truck go as you near the bottom of the hill. Drivers can sometimes make the mistake of thinking they are in the clear as they near the bottom and pick up speed.
If you feel for whatever reason you are starting to lose control of the truck, try crowding the truck/trailer unit to the shoulder of the road if possible.
This will hopefully allow you to catch enough gravel to straighten the unit out. Also give the unit a bit of trailer brake, just gently. This MAY be enough to pull the unit straight.
