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Home›Courses›Driver & Fleet Safety›Best Practices for CMV Drivers: Start-Up, Back-Up and Parking Procedures

Best Practices for CMV Drivers: Start-Up, Back-Up and Parking Procedures

10 minutesENDriver & Fleet Safety49 CFR Part 380 - ELDT Requirements; 49 CFR 392.7 - Parts and Accessories
Quick Answer

Best Practices for CMV Drivers: Start-Up, Back-Up and Parking Procedures is a 10-minute online course that trains commercial motor vehicle drivers on proper vehicle start-up inspection, safe backing techniques, and parking procedures for large trucks and buses. It is designed for CDL holders and CMV operators, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Backing accidents are among the most frequent and preventable incidents in commercial fleet operations. While they are often classified as low-speed incidents, backing crashes account for a significant percentage of fleet insurance claims and can result in serious injuries to pedestrians and ground personnel. The large blind spots behind CMVs make every backing maneuver a high-risk activity, and proper start-up procedures ensure that vehicles are safe to operate before leaving the yard. These routine operations - starting up, backing, and parking - are where many preventable fleet incidents occur.

This course covers one focused topic from the broader Safe Driving Practices for CMV Drivers curriculum: the procedures that bookend every trip. Your drivers will learn systematic pre-trip start-up checks, safe backing techniques including the use of spotters and get-out-and-look (GOAL) procedures, proper parking selection and setup, and shut-down procedures that secure the vehicle and comply with FMCSA requirements.

What You'll Learn

  • Systematic pre-trip vehicle start-up procedures and pre-drive checks
  • Safe backing techniques - the GOAL (Get Out And Look) method, spotter use, and mirror scanning
  • Alley dock, straight-line, and offset backing procedures for tractor-trailers
  • Parking selection criteria - grade, surface, clearance, and traffic considerations
  • Proper parking setup including parking brake application, wheel chocking, and trailer coupling security
  • Shut-down and securing procedures that comply with FMCSA regulations

Who Needs This Training

  • CDL holders operating tractor-trailers, straight trucks, and other commercial motor vehicles
  • Delivery drivers performing frequent backing maneuvers at customer locations
  • Yard drivers and jockeys operating vehicles in terminal and warehouse environments
  • Fleet managers addressing a high rate of backing-related incidents and insurance claims
  • New CMV drivers developing safe habits for routine vehicle operations

Regulatory Background

FMCSA entry-level driver training requirements under 49 CFR Part 380 include vehicle inspection and basic control maneuvers (including backing) as mandatory behind-the-wheel curriculum topics. Under 49 CFR 392.7, drivers must ensure all required parts and accessories are in safe and proper operating condition before driving. Section 49 CFR 392.9 addresses safe loading and vehicle operation requirements. Additionally, 49 CFR 393 establishes equipment standards that drivers must verify during pre-trip inspections. While there is no standalone federal regulation governing backing procedures, FMCSA's CDL skills test under 49 CFR 383.113 includes backing maneuvers as a mandatory component. Backing incidents are among the most common and costly types of fleet accidents, and carriers that fail to train drivers on safe backing procedures face increased insurance costs and potential negligence liability.

Frequently Asked Questions

GOAL stands for Get Out And Look. It is the practice of the driver physically exiting the cab and walking to the rear of the vehicle to assess the backing path before beginning any backing maneuver. Drivers should check for obstacles, overhead clearances, surface conditions, pedestrians, and other vehicles. GOAL should be performed before every backing maneuver - not just the first one in a sequence - because conditions behind the vehicle can change in seconds.
Under 49 CFR 392.7 and 396.13, CMV drivers must verify that all required safety equipment and vehicle components are in proper working condition before operating the vehicle. This includes lights, brakes, tires, mirrors, horn, windshield wipers, coupling devices, steering, and all required emergency equipment. Drivers must also review the previous driver's vehicle condition report (if applicable) and sign the report acknowledging that repairs have been made or that no repairs were needed.
Best practice is to use a spotter any time a backing maneuver is performed in an area with limited visibility, pedestrian activity, or obstacles. The spotter should position themselves where they can see both the backing path and the driver's mirror, and the driver and spotter must agree on hand signals before the maneuver begins. The driver should stop immediately if they lose sight of the spotter at any point during the maneuver. Many fleet safety programs require spotter use for all backing maneuvers.
When parking a CMV, drivers should select a level surface whenever possible, set the parking brake, place the transmission in the lowest forward gear (manual) or park (automatic), and chock the wheels when parking on any grade. The vehicle should be positioned to avoid the need for backing when departing. Drivers should also ensure the vehicle does not obstruct traffic, complies with posted parking restrictions, and that all lights and reflective devices required for parked vehicles are active if parked on a roadway or shoulder.
Backing accidents are common because CMVs have extensive blind spots behind the vehicle - typically 30 feet or more behind a tractor-trailer where the driver has no visibility. Additionally, backing maneuvers often occur in tight spaces at customer locations, loading docks, and parking areas where other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles are present. Time pressure and overconfidence contribute to drivers skipping the GOAL procedure. These incidents are highly preventable with proper training and consistent use of safe backing techniques.

Related Courses

This module covers the procedures that start and end every trip. Employers typically assign it alongside CMV Drivers: Pedestrians and Passengers, since backing and parking are the situations where CMV drivers are most likely to encounter pedestrians at close range. The full-length Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for Drivers course provides comprehensive coverage of all driving operations including the topics in this module.

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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