A truck does not turn like a car. Because the rear wheels do not pivot, they follow a tighter path than the front wheels through a turn, this is off-tracking. The longer the vehicle (or the longer the trailer), the greater the off-track distance.
- Right turns: keep the truck far enough out from the curb that the rear wheels do not climb it or strike it. Do not swing wide to the left first; that invites another driver to slip up your right side.
- Left turns: watch that the rear of the trailer does not sweep into oncoming or adjacent lanes.
- Signal early, check mirrors, and complete the turn at low speed.
🧠 Memory hook: "The back cuts the corner." The rear wheels always take a shorter line, plan every turn for the back of the rig.
Recall: What is off-tracking, and how does vehicle length affect it?