Truck Driving Courses: Preparing for the Multi-Combination Test

If you would like to advance your career in commercial transportation, you should think about getting a multi-combination licence. This licence will allow you to handle more complex vehicles than simple heavy rigid trucks. For instance, you will be able to handle low loader trailers, prime movers and road trains. In general, handling these types of long combination trucks can be challenging. Therefore, you should plan on signing up for an MC course. In addition, here are crucial tips to keep in mind when preparing for your test.

Know Pre-Operation Checks

You should be keen on pre-operational checks for multi-combination trucks. This is a core element in the driving course because it is critical for road safety. If you do not know how to check on the truck before driving, the risk of road accidents will be higher. Moreover, it will be difficult to pass your competency test. You should take note of the checklist for determining the condition of your truck before setting off on a journey. This process will involve inspecting components like axles, engine compartment, lights and tyres.

Understand Cabin Drills

Cabin drills are critical when handling a long combination truck. If everything in the driving compartment is not in the ideal position, you will not achieve the best results when driving. For instance, you might be too uncomfortable to focus on operating the vehicle. Also, if the elements in the cabin are not in an optimal state, you might not be able to control the truck as desired due to issues like poor visibility. Therefore, you should learn the proper procedure for checking the controls, adjusting mirrors and even setting up your seat for optimal comfort.

Check the Pertinent Rules

It is important to understand the rules and regulations imposed on drivers handling a multi-combination truck. You should not make assumptions based on your past experience with other commercial vehicles. Road trains are complex and a little harder to control. Therefore, there are rules in place to ensure the safety of the MC driver, their cargo and the other road users. It is advisable to learn the rules afresh with focus on long combination trucks. You should pay attention to the meaning of different road signs to avoid mishaps in the future. Oversights can lead to issues like taking a restricted road. Additionally, you should speak with your instructor about crush avoidance.

Finally, you should practise basic driving tasks which can be difficult in a multi-combination truck like braking, reversing and stopping and starting on slopes.