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Saskatchewan Commercial: Truck handling: off-tracking, turns and turn-abouts

Turning radius and off-track, positioning for curves, left and right turns with a long unit, steering a semi-trailer backward, U-turns and the highway three-point and two-point turn-abouts.

  • 11 questions
  • Topic drill
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Truck handling: off-tracking, turns and turn-abouts · Question 1Score 0/0

Before a right turn with a long unit, why position the trailer as SGI shows?

Study reference: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook (2026-27), Ch. 6 Information for Class 1 and Class 3 — Steering forward, Steering backward, U-turn, Highway turn-about

All 11 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. Before a right turn with a long unit, why position the trailer as SGI shows?

    1. To stop traffic from squeezing in on your right
    2. To give pedestrians a wider crosswalk
    3. To keep the trailer off the centre line
    4. To let following cars pass on the left
  2. On a highway curve to the left, where should you keep the front wheels?

    1. In the middle of the lane
    2. Over the centre line slightly, to give the rear wheels room
    3. Close to the right edge
    4. Close to the centre line
  3. You need to turn a tractor-trailer around in a town. What does SGI advise?

    1. Use a three-point turn at the next corner
    2. Drive around the block instead of a U-turn
    3. Back into a driveway and pull out
    4. Make a U-turn on a wide four-lane street
  4. For a two-point highway turn-about, how far past the intersection should the trailer's rear be when you stop?

    1. At least 3 m (10 ft.)
    2. At least 30 m (100 ft.)
    3. At least 9 m (30 ft.)
    4. Exactly level with the approach
  5. What is off-tracking?

    1. Rear wheels following a shorter path than the front wheels
    2. Trailer tires sliding sideways on a wet road
    3. Front wheels drifting toward the outside edge of a sharp curve
    4. The tractor pulling away from the centre line
  6. Turning left with a semi-trailer from a two-way street, how close should the trailer stay to the centre line?

    1. Within about three metres
    2. Centred in the lane
    3. Straddling the centre line
    4. Within about one metre
  7. At what point in a turn is mirror vision of a tractor-trailer most limited?

    1. When the front wheels first begin to turn
    2. When the trailer is straight behind the tractor
    3. When the tractor is at its sharpest angle to the trailer
    4. When the unit has fully completed the turn and straightened out
  8. Backing a tractor and semi-trailer, which way do you turn the tractor's front wheels to move the trailer's rear left?

    1. Straight, letting the trailer find its path
    2. Fully left, then fully right in quick turns
    3. To the left, the same as the desired direction
    4. To the right, opposite the desired direction
  9. Signs allow two lanes to turn left. Which lane should a tractor-trailer use?

    1. Both lanes at once
    2. The lane furthest to the left
    3. Whichever lane has less traffic
    4. The lane furthest to the right
  10. On a highway curve to the right, where should you keep the front wheels of a long unit?

    1. Close to the right edge
    2. On the right shoulder
    3. Straddling the centre line
    4. Close to the centre line
  11. How does a longer wheelbase affect off-tracking?

    1. It increases the amount of off-track
    2. It has no effect on off-tracking
    3. It reduces the amount of off-track
    4. It removes off-track on gentle curves

Truck handling: off-tracking, turns and turn-abouts: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Ch. 6 Steering forward (pp. 104–110)

  • How sharply a vehicle turns depends on the front-wheel turning radius and the off-track of the rear wheels.
  • The inside front wheel pivots more sharply than the outside one.
  • Off-track: rear wheels follow a shorter radius than the front wheels; the longer the wheelbase, the greater the off-track.
  • A semi-trailer unit has off-track at the tractor's rear wheels and even more at the trailer's rear wheels.
  • On a curve to the right keep the front wheels near the centre line so the rear wheels do not drop off the edge; on a curve to the left keep the front wheels near the right edge so the rear wheels stay out of the other lane.
  • Left turns start from the left lane and should end in the left lane of the new street; keep the trailer within one metre of the centre line or curb to block traffic from passing on your left.
  • Where two or more lanes may turn left, use the lane furthest to the right for a wider radius.
  • Right turns start from the right lane close to the curb and end in the first available lane; position the trailer to block traffic passing on your right.
  • Soft shoulders may not support heavy vehicles during a turn.
  • Running rear wheels over curbs or sidewalks damages tires and endangers pedestrians.
  • The critical point of a turn is when the tractor is at its sharpest angle to the trailer, because mirror vision is limited.
  • Turning left from a one-way street with no multiple turn lanes: start from the far left and keep the trailer within one metre of the left side.

Steering backward, U-turns and turn-abouts (pp. 111–113)

  • When backing a semi-trailer, turn the tractor's front wheels opposite to the direction you want the trailer's rear to go.
  • A normal right-angle backing pattern is an S-shaped curve; otherwise the unit jackknifes.
  • Never U-turn a power unit and semi-trailer in a city, town or village; drive around the block. A U-turn is possible only on a wide divided four-lane highway when traffic permits.
  • Three-point turn-about: choose an intersection with a solid base, wide shoulders and clear views; turn off and stop well off the highway; flashers and horn; back straight across the highway when all four directions are clear; then turn onto the highway.
  • Two-point turn-about (no hard-surfaced intersection): signal right and get into the right lane, pass the intersection and stop with the trailer at least 9 m (30 ft.) past it, flashers and horn, start steering left about 9 m before the trailer reaches the approach, back in until straight, then signal and turn left onto the highway.
  • Use a guide whenever possible, because the two-point turn-about means backing to your blind side.

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