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What should you do before driving in the mountains as a CDL driver?
I’m preparing to take my CDL test soon. I know that once I pass it and get a job working as a long-distance truck driver, I’ll have to drive on mountain roads. I’ve heard some horror stories about big rigs and accidents in the mountains. What should CDL drivers know about mountain driving?
Michelle Ballestrasse · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s great you’re asking this question before driving in the mountains as a CDL driver!
Truck drivers
deal with tricky conditions and have difficult jobs at the best of times, and driving on mountain roads can be hard for anyone. So combining the two means that extra diligence must be paid to avoid any major accidents.For starters, the factors you should be aware of at all times while driving a truck with a trailer are the weight and size of your truck and load. These can severely affect the handling of your truck, which is the most important part of driving through steep, winding mountain roads.
Then, before you approach inclines on mountain roads, decide on the following three things:
- Speed: The incline will affect how fast you can go and can slow you down. Match your speed to the road conditions while remaining mindful of the speed limit.
- Gear: You’ll need to use lower gears when climbing or descending, and make sure you downshift before you start picking up speed. Waiting until after you accelerate can cause damage to your transmission.
- Brakes: You may be surprised to learn that you want to avoid using your brakes as much as you can. Overuse can lead to malfunction, which is a step away from disaster, so be sparing with your brakes.
Safe driving
is paramount no matter what you drive, be it a big rig or a family sedan. It not only helps keep roads safe for you and other drivers but also helps you save money on your car insurance
. And if you want to save even more, go to Jerry
!Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that can collect quotes from over 50 top-rated car insurance companies in minutes. After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $887 per year.
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- Gregory R.
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