Navigating mountainous terrain poses significant challenges for truckers due to the complex skills needed to safely drive through hills, valleys, and sharp turns. These can expose drivers to numerous hazards if they are not adequately and effectively prepared.
To help address this issue and provide drivers with additional training, RoadAware Safety Systems has introduced a new program tailored for drivers who want or need to enhance their skills in safely traversing these specific regions. The Mountain Ready Certificate program offers a comprehensive curriculum aimed at improving CDL-A driver proficiency in navigating mountainous terrain.
According to a news release, the program emphasizes practical training sessions focusing on effectively managing a commercial motor vehicle on intense curves and steep descents. Drivers not only learn how to handle their vehicles in these situations but also gain an understanding of why employing specific techniques is crucial for ensuring truck safety on difficult terrain.
“Drivers don’t really lose their brakes,” said Scott Maurer, head of driver training at CDL 303. “They fail the brakes by overheating them on long descents. Drivers are not taught the basics of physics and vehicle dynamics that they must manage in mountainous terrain and difficult road geometries.”
The training covers a range of topics, including vehicle dynamics, proper braking techniques, selecting appropriate speeds during descents, conducting pre-and post-trip inspections, and understanding mountain weather patterns. Through this comprehensive approach, the Mountain Ready Certificate program equips drivers with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate mountainous terrain safely and efficiently, getting them home safely and making them even more capable drivers.
“The Mountain Ready Training Certification program has never been offered in such detail, founded on data from our Road-Aware truck safety application,” said Brian Bullock, principal of RoadAware Safety Systems. “Our goal is to provide professional drivers with the tools and understanding to enable safe passage through mountainous terrain, sharp curves, and other potentially hazardous features of our nation’s highways.”
Source: The Trucker
