CDL safety goes beyond standard passenger vehicle safety. Commercial vehicles are heavier, taller, and handle very differently than cars. This category covers the unique safety concerns that CDL drivers face every day.
Stopping distances for loaded commercial vehicles can be dramatically longer than for cars — a fully loaded truck at 55 mph can take over 400 feet to stop. Understanding perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance is critical for safe following distances.
This section also covers rollover prevention (especially in curves and on-ramps), the effects of vehicle height on clearance and wind, cargo securement to prevent shifting loads, and emergency maneuvers specific to large vehicles. Speed management on downgrades is particularly important.