hey everyone nice to be on here im a 28 year old new tractor trailer driver but not new to driving a truck. My question is is there something that i should try to help with my right turns. Sometimes they are good sometimes they are the worst ever which is what my supposivly instructor said. any help much appreciated safe drivin

take all the space you can without hitting anything ?

Sometimes you have to take part of the next lane to the left to do the swing to the right. The cab has to go farther into the intersection. Remember you cannot start the swing too early. The rear drags and starts the swing about 30 feet back. The cars you meet will have to back up. It makes more sense. Backing up for the turn in the truck is not wise. You cannot see behind you. WATCH for 4 wheelers passing on the right at all times. If you are getting close to the curbing and obstacles turn the wheel to the left and straiten it out a little.

Do the turn slowly, there is no reason to hurry.

Your instructor should not be telling you that you are the worse ever, period... The idiot obviously does not know he is insulting his teaching ability by telling you that...

Here are some things you need to do when making a right turn..
Approaching the corner you should be judging if it is going to be a button hook or not...
What would make you need to do a button hook? things to look for..
1. object really close to the corner such as
Light pole
telephone pole
ext....

The lane you will be tuning into (not the lane you are in)
another words you need to look at how many lanes are there, in the direction you will be turning into..
1 lane (button hook)
2 lane (possible need a slight button hook)
3 lanes no need to do one.

Another thing you need to look at is a island in the middle (possible a button hook. basically it goes by a case by case situation)

Cars that are past the white line in the direction you are turning (this will happen to you everyday, another words they are turning in the direction you just came from and sitting in the turn lane past the white line, limiting you room)

That pretty much covers that part (if not listed you probaly get the ideal now)


How to set up a button hook?

Stay 3-4 feet off of the curb (try your best not to give cars a chance to cut in on your right) this will vary but this is how you should try to do it. Anymore room then that and cars will cut in on the right side. Again it will not be possible with every turn..

At 25-30 feet from the corner you should start cutting over into the left lane.. (Stop and wait if you have to for it to be clear to do so. Let me tell you people will not have a clue that you are turning and blow thier horns at you left and right..) once in the left lane (or if only 1 lane into the oncoming traffic lane.. Be careful when doing any of this)

This part will very a little and take time.. basically use all the room possible going forward then cut sharp right...
Watch the right side, keep checking during the turn to make sure you are clear and nobody (car) cut in on you..

Hope that helps

last note..
Every right turn is a button hook unless determined not to be..

Watch your trailer tandems in your right mirror. Pull straight out into the intersection. Do not "cheat" the curve by turning prematurely. Do not begin your turn until the middle of the tandems reaches the apex of the curve. Cut the wheel hard to the right, pull into the right-hand lane. Straighten out and your trailer will follow you like a puppy.

Just remembering on how far to go out to make your turn, is really the basics here.

If you are in traffic, stay in your lane and go out into the intersection, when you start to make your turn.
And if someone is crowding you from the other way, wait him out.

Do not cross the center line, cause you will be at fault. Do not swerve into the other lane as you will be at fault if something should happen.

Remember to check your mirrors before you start your turn.

__________________

Ah but there are times when if you don't cross the center line, you just aren't going to make that turn. If you have to use those lanes, you have to use them. Just don't hit anyone while doing it.

10-4

Absolutely true. They sure don't make roads with big trucks in mind..

wow thanks guys thats alot of good info, its def alot easier to drive a straight truck lol im thinking of trying out driver solutions in indiana but they want me to take my written over and change my ny to an indiana license. Do you think its worth it or am i to close to doing on my own, also any suggestions on the school would be great thanks everyone nice forum

Just FYI, I've never seen anyone attempt to make a turn in the fashion truckerjo mentioned and (not trying to be rude) would never attempt it like that. First off, it doesn't matter how many lanes there are, it should be a button-hook; you always have to turn into the farthest right lane unless there are multiple right turn lanes. Even then, you should buttonhook to ensure you don't hit someone in the turn lane next to you. What s/he attempts to describe is the jug-handle turn which should almost never be used. Crossing into oncoming traffic more than necessary is dangerous. If I ever saw someone cross the yellow line 25-30 feet before the intersection, his company would hear about it (sans tandems on a 53' being all the way back). Jughandles do have to be done though and you should approach the intersection as far to the left of your lane as possible and only pull ahead as far as possible. When it's SAFE, you'll have to go at about a 45-degree angle to the left just up to the point where you can still cut the hard right and not hit the curb. Once you clear the curb, follow right along side it with the left steer tire until your tandems clear the apex and turn the steering wheel hard right to bring the tractor and trailer back in the lane.

The button-hook's simple. With the trucks I was trained in, we stayed as far left in our lane as possible. When it was safe to do so, drive straight out until your shoulders are parallel with the yellow line of the intersectiong street, then steer hard right. If it's going to be close, follow the left curb. When the tandems reach the apex of the corner, steer hard right back into your lane.

In class we had 2 turns we had to jughandle. They wanted us to know how to do it in the event we absolutely had to, but strongly discourage the jughandle and promote the button-hook. With the jug-handle, you're probably going to have a visitor between your trailer and the light post.