Instructor
CDL Study Buddy Team
Intersections are among the most hazardous areas for commercial vehicles, and proper approach and turning technique is heavily scrutinized during your CDL driving test. This video teaches the specific skills CDL examiners look for at intersections.
The video begins with intersection approach technique. You will learn the importance of covering the brake pedal (not just taking your foot off the accelerator) as you approach, scanning the intersection — left, right, then left again — and establishing proper speed well before the intersection rather than braking at the last moment. The instructor demonstrates the differences between controlled and uncontrolled intersections.
Stopping position at intersections is explained with precise measurements. For stop signs and red lights, you must stop with your front bumper behind the stop line or crosswalk. If there is no stop line, stop before the sidewalk or at the point where you can see cross traffic without entering the intersection. The video shows common stopping errors that result in test deductions.
Right turn technique for tractor-trailers is one of the most critical skills. The instructor demonstrates the "button hook" turn — swinging wide to the left before turning right to prevent the trailer's rear wheels from climbing the curb (off-tracking). You will learn how to judge when a button hook is necessary based on the intersection width and the length of your trailer. The video shows why turning too early from the right lane almost guarantees a curb strike.
Left turn technique is demonstrated with attention to proper lane selection before, during, and after the turn. The instructor explains right-of-way rules when turning left across oncoming traffic and demonstrates how to yield properly when the intersection has a green light but not a green arrow. The "square turn" technique is shown — keeping the combination straight through the turn rather than cutting the corner.
Off-tracking management is explained with animations showing how the trailer's rear wheels follow a tighter path than the tractor's front wheels. The instructor identifies the critical moment during a turn when off-tracking is most pronounced and shows how to compensate with wider entry paths.
The video also covers intersection hazards unique to commercial vehicles: traffic light timing (heavy vehicles may not clear the intersection before the light changes), pedestrians and cyclists in blind spot zones during turns, and the risk of vehicles squeezing into your right side during a wide right turn setup.
For official guidance on intersection safety, visit the FMCSA at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/. Combine this video with our CDL practice tests and on-road practice sessions for complete preparation.
