Driving Large Vehicles and Heavy Equipment

Vehicles on public roadways come in many different shapes and sizes. Most passenger vehicles – cars, vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks – have similar configurations and controls, and drivers of these vehicles understand their capabilities and limitations. However, drivers of large trucks and heavy equipment must use extra caution in order to safely navigate and share the roads with smaller vehicles. This course covers some of the things that must be considered when driving large vehicles or operating heavy equipment in order to ensure the safety of operators and people who are nearby. Topics covered include blind spot awareness, how to safely back up, dealing with inclement weather and poor road conditions, construction and work zone considerations, and minimizing in-cab distractions.

•List the items you should check before starting up a large vehicle or piece of heavy equipment •List the additional limitations that large vehicles and heavy equipment have when compared to smaller vehicles •Identify the blind spots on a large semi-truck •Describe how you can safely back up a large truck or piece of heavy equipment •Describe how high winds, standing water, driving in rain or snow, potholes, and sun glare can be hazardous while driving •List the steps you should take if your vehicle begins to overheat or hydroplane •List the main reasons large vehicles have longer stopping distances •List rules that can help improve safety at construction zones and work zones