What steps should you take to recover from a skid in a CMV?

What steps should you take to recover from a skid in a CMV?

• A. Steer toward the direction of the skid, ease off the accelerator, avoid over-braking.
• B. Steer away from the skid, press the accelerator hard, brake.
• C. Stay straight and brake hard.
• D. Turn the wheel opposite of the skid and accelerate.

Answer: (D)

When a skid starts, the goal is to regain traction by steering in the direction you want the front of the truck to go and by reducing speed smoothly. Turn the steering wheel toward the direction of the skid so the front tires realign with the path you want to travel, and ease off the accelerator to stop fueling the slide. Avoid heavy braking or aggressive steering that could lock wheels or push the vehicle into a worse slide. In a CMV, this approach is especially important because of the vehicle’s weight and longer stopping distance, though with ABS you can brake as needed while still steering into the skid and not overreacting. The other options would worsen control: steering away from the skid, staying straight while braking hard, or accelerating would not help you recover and could make the skid worse.

When a skid starts, the goal is to regain traction by steering in the direction you want the front of the truck to go and by reducing speed smoothly. Turn the steering wheel toward the direction of the skid so the front tires realign with the path you want to travel, and ease off the accelerator to stop fueling the slide. Avoid heavy braking or aggressive steering that could lock wheels or push the vehicle into a worse slide. In a CMV, this approach is especially important because of the vehicle’s weight and longer stopping distance, though with ABS you can brake as needed while still steering into the skid and not overreacting. The other options would worsen control: steering away from the skid, staying straight while braking hard, or accelerating would not help you recover and could make the skid worse.