Basic control: steering, shifting and backing
Hold the wheel firmly with both hands on opposite sides. If you hit a curb or pothole, the wheel can jerk out of a loose grip.
Many trucks have manual transmissions that need double clutching: press the clutch and shift to neutral, release the clutch, let the engine speed match the next gear, then press the clutch again and shift. Shift down before hills and curves, not in the middle of them.
Backing is one of the riskiest things you'll do, because you can't see everything behind you. Avoid it when you can. When you must back, get out and look first, back slowly, use your mirrors on both sides, and use a helper. Back toward the driver's side whenever possible, so you can see the rear of the vehicle out your window.
Turns take planning. For a right turn, go straight until the rear clears the corner, then turn, keeping the back of the vehicle close to the curb so cars can't slip in beside you. For a left turn, reach the center of the intersection before you turn. If there are two left-turn lanes, use the right-hand one.
