A semi-trailer tractor is a special type of vehicle, which is obviously much more difficult to drive than a single vehicle, so it has high requirements for the driver’s experience and level. For example, when starting to drive a semi-trailer, the tractor and the trailer cannot be in a blind spot, that is, 90 degrees, otherwise the vehicle will easily overturn. Drivers should pay special attention to this. When driving, you should also pay attention to avoid slamming the gas or “snake-like” swings, and the speed change must be balanced. Do not force the vehicle when encountering uneven roads; do not speed up and down or accelerate and slide on a straight road. These are the safety rules for semi-trailer tractor driving.
- When meeting vehicles on a narrow road, try not to brake. Instead, accelerator should be slightly used to straighten the trailer and the main vehicle to prevent the vehicle body from shaking and hitting the other vehicle. When yielding to another vehicle, you should drive less on curves, do not refuse to yield due to grudges, and generally do not overtake.
- When going uphill, wait until the trailer passes the top of the slope before shifting into high gear. When going downhill, apply engine traction braking and reduce foot braking to avoid the trailer from violently colliding with the main vehicle and causing sideslip when turning. When parking, choose a good location, tighten the handbrake, and engage the first gear or reverse gear.
- When reversing, aim at the side of the main trailer compartment according to the angle of the trailer steering wheel, move back in a straight line, and operate in the opposite direction of the single vehicle. If you want to turn the trailer, you should turn the steering wheel to the right, and vice versa;
- When the trailer needs to be reversed into the garage at a right angle or make a sharp turn, the inner side should be close to the corner, and the wheel should be slowly turned after the rear corner of the trailer compartment passes the corner; when the center of the rear axle of the trailer passes the corner, it will gradually return to the correct direction, and short-distance forward and backward reversing can also be used.
- Turn around in a narrow area. If necessary, the semi-trailer can be disassembled and turned around by manpower. These methods are conducive to driving safety in special conditions such as semi-trailer tractor driving.
In short, the above five aspects require every semi-trailer driver to be aware of the technical condition of the semi-trailer tractor he is driving. Drive safely according to regulations and don’t let your car travel with “diseases”.
