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Home›Courses›Driver & Fleet Safety›Best Practices for CMV Drivers: Right-of-Way and Intersections

Best Practices for CMV Drivers: Right-of-Way and Intersections

10 minutesENDriver & Fleet Safety49 CFR Part 380 - ELDT Requirements; 49 CFR 392.10 - Railroad Grade Crossings
Quick Answer

Best Practices for CMV Drivers: Right-of-Way and Intersections is a 10-minute online course that trains commercial motor vehicle drivers on safe intersection navigation and right-of-way practices specific to large trucks and buses. It is designed for CDL holders and CMV operators, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Intersections are the most common location for crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. The longer stopping distances, wider turning radii, and extensive blind spots of large trucks make every intersection a potential conflict point with passenger vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. FMCSA data consistently identifies intersection-related incidents as a leading crash type for commercial fleets, and failure to yield right-of-way is among the most frequently cited driver-related factors in fatal CMV crashes.

This course covers one focused topic from the broader Safe Driving Practices for CMV Drivers curriculum: navigating intersections safely and understanding right-of-way rules as they apply to commercial vehicles. Your drivers will learn about intersection approach procedures, visual search patterns for identifying crossing traffic and pedestrians, the unique challenges of making left and right turns with a large vehicle, and defensive techniques for roundabouts, uncontrolled intersections, and railroad crossings.

What You'll Learn

  • Intersection approach procedures for commercial vehicles - scanning, speed reduction, and cover braking
  • Right-of-way rules and their specific application to large trucks at controlled and uncontrolled intersections
  • Left-turn and right-turn procedures for tractor-trailers, including off-tracking and trailer swing
  • Defensive strategies for roundabouts, traffic circles, and multi-lane intersection approaches
  • Railroad crossing procedures and FMCSA mandatory stop requirements for certain CMVs
  • Visual search patterns for identifying cross-traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists at intersections

Who Needs This Training

  • CDL holders operating commercial vehicles in urban and suburban environments with frequent intersections
  • CMV drivers with recent intersection-related incidents, violations, or near-miss reports
  • Fleet managers targeting intersection crash reduction in their safety improvement plans
  • New CMV drivers completing entry-level driver training supplemental coursework
  • Safety directors reviewing crash data that shows intersection-related trends

Regulatory Background

FMCSA's entry-level driver training requirements under 49 CFR Part 380 include intersection navigation, right-of-way practices, and visual search as mandatory curriculum components. Under 49 CFR 383.111, CDL knowledge test topics include right-of-way rules, railroad crossing procedures, and space management at intersections. Section 49 CFR 392.10 requires certain CMVs, including those carrying passengers and hazardous materials, to make a full stop at railroad crossings before proceeding. Intersections are the most common crash location for commercial motor vehicles, and failure to yield right-of-way is consistently among the top driver-related factors in fatal large truck crashes. Carriers with elevated unsafe driving BASIC scores face FMCSA investigation and potential out-of-service orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Under 49 CFR 392.10, commercial motor vehicles carrying passengers and certain types of cargo must stop at all railroad-highway grade crossings. This includes buses carrying passengers, vehicles carrying chlorine, vehicles with hazardous materials requiring placarding, and cargo tanks (whether loaded or empty). These vehicles must stop within 15 to 50 feet of the nearest rail, listen and look for approaching trains, and not proceed until it is safe. The stop requirement applies regardless of whether signals or gates are present.
Right turns are hazardous for large CMVs because of the off-tracking effect - the trailer's rear wheels follow a tighter path than the tractor's front wheels. This creates two risks: first, the driver may swing wide into adjacent lanes to compensate, exposing the truck to side-impact collisions. Second, as the trailer cuts inward, it can strike pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles that entered the gap between the truck and the curb. The extensive right-side blind spot compounds these dangers.
The recommended approach for CMV drivers is to begin scanning an intersection 12 to 15 seconds ahead, checking left-right-left for cross-traffic as the vehicle approaches. At the intersection, check mirrors for vehicles in blind spots, look for pedestrians in crosswalks, and verify that the path of travel is clear before proceeding. At stale green lights, CMV drivers should cover the brake and scan for vehicles that might run a changing signal. This systematic approach compensates for the limited visibility inherent in large vehicles.
Roundabouts present unique challenges for large commercial vehicles due to the tight turning radii and the need to yield to circulating traffic. CMV drivers should reduce speed well before the entry point, watch for signs indicating truck routes through the roundabout (some have designated lanes or modified mountable curbs for large vehicles), yield to all traffic in the circle, stay in the right lane unless the roundabout directs otherwise, and maintain awareness of off-tracking throughout the turn. Drivers should also watch for passenger vehicles in their blind spots during the circling maneuver.
Yes. Failure-to-yield violations are recorded in the Unsafe Driving BASIC within FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability system. Repeated violations can increase a carrier's percentile ranking in this category, potentially triggering FMCSA warning letters, interventions, or carrier investigations. Additionally, intersection crashes resulting from failure-to-yield are recorded in the carrier's crash indicator, compounding the CSA scoring impact. Training drivers on intersection safety directly addresses one of the most actionable factors in CSA performance.

Related Courses

This module is commonly paired with CMV Drivers: Pedestrians and Passengers, since intersections are where most pedestrian encounters occur. For a complete urban driving skills package, employers often assign both alongside CMV Drivers: Changing Lanes and Passing to address the three highest-risk driving scenarios for commercial vehicles in traffic.

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$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$24.95
per person