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CDL · Driving Combination Vehicles

What is 'off-tracking' in a combination vehicle?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

The phenomenon where the rear wheels of a turning vehicle follow a different (inner) path than the front wheels, so the trailer wheels track inside the tractor's turning path

  1. A Losing GPS signal
  2. B Driving off the road
  3. C The phenomenon where the rear wheels of a turning vehicle follow a different (inner) path than the front wheels, so the trailer wheels track inside the tractor's turning path
  4. D A type of brake

Why this is the answer

OFF-TRACKING (also called 'cheating' or 'tracking') is the phenomenon where, when a vehicle turns, the REAR wheels follow a DIFFERENT path than the front wheels — they track to the INSIDE of the turn. CDL combination. The longer the vehicle (and the more it bends at the articulation point), the GREATER the off-tracking.

Effect: the trailer's rear wheels cut the corner inside the tractor's path, so the driver must turn WIDE enough that the trailer doesn't hit curbs, objects, or vehicles on the inside of the turn. This is why combination vehicles need extra room for turns and why drivers turn wide (keeping the rear near the curb on approach, swinging out as they complete the turn). Knowing off-tracking (rear wheels track inside the turn) and its effect on turning is commonly tested.

Source: FMCSA CDL Manual — Combination, Off-Tracking

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About this topic: Driving Combination Vehicles

Off-tracking, jackknife risk, and rearward amplification mean a tractor-trailer behaves nothing like a single vehicle. Smooth inputs and conservative speed prevent the worst outcomes. This is one of 20 Combination Vehicles questions on driving combination vehicles, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our CDL exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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