When driving at night you should cdl driver

After cost, the most critical factor in choosing a cdl school, though, is how successful they are in placing you with a trucking company after graduation. The problems of night driving involve a combination of driver, roadway and vehicle factors. While driving a large vehicle, it is often difficult to see whether a vehicle is close behind you. Many drivers avoid night driving, and thats not a bad idea. Should you stop driving iowa department of transportation. Avoid certain driving situations, times and routes for example, intown vs. If you are a company driver and you have a fuel mileage bonus its a better chance to get it,by sleeping. According to the commercial drivers license manual, why should you limit the use of your. At night it is more difficult to judge distances and speeds. Differences when driving at night driver knowledge test.

Most crashes or nearmisses happen at the times you would expect drivers to be tired. Should you suspect someone else on the road is driving impaired, call 911 immediately. The typical route usually includes city and highway traffic situations. There could be a wild animal on the road such as a kangaroo which the vehicle in front doesnt see until the last minute, and then brakes heavily you wont be able to see the roo on the road, either and risk running into the back of the braking vehicle if you are travelling too closely. Always be vigilant for impaired drivers, and never get behind the wheel if youve been drinking. Driving at night is a situation that should be approached with special attention. Cdl general knowledge test free practice test cdl knowledge. I mean we are truck drivers, we do what it takes to git er done. When driving at night you should use your low beams when an oncoming vehicle is within how many feet. Jun 24, 2007 if you are an owner operator or lease driver and dont have a gen or ac or idle air,running days and sleeping nights pays dividends back to you in fuel saving if you take advantage of the cooler temps at night as compared to hot sunny days. Through highvolume, busy intersections and routes including. However, before you apply, make sure that you are ready to handle the job. According to the commercial drivers license manual, why should you limit the use of your vehicles horn.

If you drive through heavy rain or standing water, your brakes may get wet. You are driving a vehicle at 55 mph on drive pavement. You must use lowbeam lights if you are within 200300 ft of the vehicle you are following. Should be used by any driver who looses braking power. You are driving a long vehicle that makes a wide turns. A study conducted by the university of pennsylvania and sponsored by the federal motor carrier safety administration fmcsa and the american transportation research institute of the american trucking associations found that almost onethird 28 percent of commercial truck drivers have mild to severe sleep apnea. Driver drowsiness may impair a driver s response time to potential hazards, increasing the chances of being in a crash. Part of the reason driving at night is so dangerous is because you cant control the drivers around you. May 29, 2016 this video for new cdl truck drivers discusses the dangers of animals darting into the road in night driving and what i do to chase them off before they run in front of my truck. Drivers cannot see hazards as soon as in daylight, so they have less time to respond.

Apply to truck driver, tractor trailer driver, delivery driver and more. When driving at winter weather, you should check that the heater is working properly before starting your trip. If they do not point in the right direction, they will not give you a good view and can blind other drivers. A study conducted by the university of pennsylvania and sponsored by the federal motor carrier safety administration fmcsa and the american transportation research institute of the american trucking associations found that almost onethird 28 percent of commercial truck drivers have mild to. If you have to drive at night try to not eat or eat very little in the hours before driving.

Dec 18, 20 as a professional truck driver, its important to learn to deal with the natural fatigue that comes from night driving. Mar 09, 2017 you should expect to spend about 20 hours on a closed course learning pretrip and basic driving skills followed by about 20 more hours driving on a designated route through your community. When you drive in the mountains, you will have to use lower gears to drive safely down. Drivers caught by surprise are less able to avoid a crash. Which of the following is a common reason someone may tailgate a driver of a large vehicle.

Trucking at night versus during the day what should be. General knowledge practice test directions diesel truck driving. One of the best things about a trucking career, is that you can enrol in a cdl school at most any time, and start getting a pay check although it can be low during training, within a short time. The following are all probable signs of a tire blowout except. Drivers must never underestimate the precarious nature of night time driving. Driving at night can be dangerous for several reasons. The us bureau of labor statistics estimates that there will be over 400,000 job openings between 2016 and 2026. Nighttime safe driving tips high road online cdl training. Which of the following is a common reason someone may. And as the economy grows, the need for truck drivers will too. Whether you re just out of truck driver school or a seasoned veteran on the roads, winter weather can make operating your rig a tricky proposition use these winter driving safety tips for commercial drivers to make sound decisions and be safe out on the roads this winter. Which of the following statements about your mirrors is true.

Safety tips for truck drivers tips for truck drivers cdl. Simply click in your answer to each cdl practice test question. Youll likely spend over 10 hours of the day driving, so you dont want to skimp on rest. Should you suspect someone else on the road is driving. If youre sleeping in the semitruck and in a parking area, try to find a parking space away from other trucks and loud noises. Fatigue inevitably sets in and your body will force you to sleep. Fatigue is the result of physical or mental exertion that impairs performance. Terms in this set 27 when driving at night, you should. While it may be difficult to tell whether a black shape in front of your headlights is a deer or a pedestrian when youre driving late at night, its not hard to see why night driving can be so daunting for many drivers. Drivers should never take on more than they can handle and getting enough rest is critical for all truck drivers to ensure the safety of themselves and others on the. One of the most serious hazards in this industry is driving when your circadian rhythm says you should be asleep. In order to obtain a clp commercial learners permit which is the first step to getting a cdl, which you will need to operate any commercial vehicle, you will first have to take and pass the general knowledge test. Many drivers think its safer since far fewer vehicles are on the road, but still, driving at night remains the most dangerous time to be driving. In order to receive your cdl, it is required that you pass the states official cdl general knowledge exam.

Remember, driving at night is the most dangerous time to be on the roadways. Be sure to get an adequate amount of sleep each night. Each question has three or four possible answer choices. The risk of sharing the road with an impaired driver increases at night as people are leaving restaurants and bars. Adjust your speed to keep your stopping distance within your sight distance. Apr 23, 2019 youll likely spend over 10 hours of the day driving, so you dont want to skimp on rest. Start studying cdl general knowledge 2 learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This video for new cdl truck drivers discusses the dangers of animals darting into the road in night driving and what i do to chase them off before they run in front of my truck. For many, this typically includes avoiding driving.

Orange signs warn you that you must be prepared for people and slow moving equipment on the road. The drivers manual suggests several things to do when you pass a vehicle. This license is required for driving any legal combination of vehicles, with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gvwr of a trailer exceeds 10,000 pounds to receive this license, applicants must pass a 50question test. Talking to other people is a great way to stave off driving fatigue, and the calm, pitchblack surroundings can often encourage surprisingly intimate conversations. The safe driving portion of the cdl manual will be on the general knowledge portion of the cdl permit written exam. Apr, 2020 one of the most serious hazards in this industry is driving when your circadian rhythm says you should be asleep. Apply to truck driver, driver, local driver and more. How far should a driver look ahead of the vehicle while driving. What should you do if a car coming towards you at night keeps its high beams on. First and foremost if you feel too sleepy to continue driving, pull over and take a little cat nap.

If you want to enter the world of truck driving, then you should apply for a cdl or commercial drivers license training. Day in the life of an otr truck driver drive my way. The following nine tips will assist you in making your afterdark drive. If you decide to attend a truck driving school outside of the state you reside in, make sure your new cdl is transferable. You will be tested to see if you know whether your vehicle is safe to drive. You can make u turns in the middle of the street and no one cares. Keep in mind that even though these tips seem basic and obvious, they are still the most important. Night driving issues, sleepiness page 2 truckersreport. New cdl truck driver tips night driving precautions rural. Today we have over 90 pieces of equipment and have graduated over 2,000 cdl drivers in the past 10 years. This is a rather large section of the cdl manual and also includes basic information on hazardous materials hazmat that all drivers should know.

If possible, do not drive while your body is naturally drowsy, between the hours of 12 a. How to choose a truck driving cdl school class a drivers. Using foam earplugs is also a smart choice so you can block out sounds which will be disturbing. If you are driving with your highbeam lights on, you must dim them at least 500 ft from any oncoming vehicle, so you dont blind the oncoming driver. You should expect to spend about 20 hours on a closed course learning pretrip and basic driving skills followed by about 20 more hours driving on a designated route through your community. If youre ready to jump in the fast lane and head for a lucrative career, let us help you find a cdl training school. As a professional truck driver, its important to learn to deal with the natural fatigue that comes from night driving. You ll want to get on a set sleeping schedule if you ll be driving overnight.

The problems of night driving involve a combination of. You will be asked to do a vehicle inspection of your vehicle and explain to. Certain loads may require you to do some night driving, but you will develop your own style of getting things done, and if you want to be really good at this and make some really good money, you had better get accustomed to the idea of driving during conditions that are not ideal. One of the best things about a trucking career, is that you can enrol in a cdl school at most any time, and start getting a pay check although it can be low during training, within a short time there arent many programs which offer this kind of opportunity to get earning asap. About how much total stopping distance will you need to bring it to a stop. Apr 02, 2020 for instance, if you have a passenger in the car with you while you re driving at night, you may want to partially engage yourself in a light conversation with him or her. Drivers must never underestimate the precarious nature of driving at night. Our truck driver training program started in 1990 with one truck and a few students. These staggering numbers are backed up by a report by nhtsa that 100,000 policereported crashes are a result of driver fatigue. Always be vigilant for impaired drivers, and never get behind the wheel if you ve been drinking. To pass, applicants must answer 40 questions correctly.

Here are some tips for staying safe and alert in the wee hours of the morning. This is cdl general knowledge test 11 in our original classic mode. Lets start with the basics of general truck driver safety. There are two left turn lanes marked a and b on ocean street. Whether youre just out of truck driver school or a seasoned veteran on the roads, winter weather can make operating your rig a tricky proposition use these winter driving safety tips for commercial drivers to make sound decisions and be safe out on the roads this winter. The benefits of a truck driving career able to get into a career fast. Make sure you are driving slow enough so you can stop within the range of your headlights in an emergency. As a truck driver, youve had a lot of experience and training that makes you a smart and safe driver. Use your brake lights to worn the drivers behind you. You want to make a left turn from ocean street onto atlantic street. Night driving 5 things all professional truck drivers should know. Keep reading to learn some important cdl driver safety tips for truck drivers that will help you keep your license, your job, and your life. To keep yourself safe when driving under the stars, be sure to do the following. Despite the fact that the majority of driving is done during the day, about 4050% of accidents occur at night.

Bad weather or if the driver of the large vehicle is travelling too slowly. This free cdl general knowledge test will examine your knowledge of general trucking, safe transportation of cargo, safe driving, and the correct way to perform a pretrip vehicle inspection. As we age, we have greater difficulty seeing at night. Although you should not be afraid to drive at night, you should respect the increased level of danger of nighttime driving. If you are an owner operator or lease driver and dont have a gen or ac or idle air,running days and sleeping nights pays dividends back to you in fuel saving if you take advantage of the cooler temps at night as compared to hot sunny days.