When following another vehicle on a highway at 60 mph, what is the minimum following distance recommended for a CMV driver?

The FMCSA CDL Manual recommends a following distance of at LEAST ONE SECOND FOR EVERY 10 FEET OF VEHICLE LENGTH at speeds up to 40 mph, PLUS ONE ADDITIONAL SECOND for speeds above 40 mph. EXAMPLE CALCULATION for a 60-foot truck at 60 mph: 6 seconds (60 feet ÷ 10) + 1 additional second (over 40 mph) = 7 SECONDS MINIMUM. For a 70-foot combination vehicle at 60 mph: 7 seconds + 1 = 8 seconds minimum. WHY TRUCKS NEED MORE SPACE: loaded CMVs can weigh 80,000 lbs vs 4,000 lbs for a car; stopping distance is proportional to weight; a truck needs approximately 300-400 feet to stop at 55 mph compared to 130-160 feet for a passenger car; following at car-driver distances is essentially following too close to stop in time. THE 'LOOK AHEAD' TEST: to measure your following distance, pick a fixed point (sign, shadow, road marker); when the vehicle ahead passes it, count seconds until your front bumper reaches it; if it's less than your target, back off. ADVERSE CONDITIONS: increase following distance in rain, snow, ice, fog, or at night — at least double the minimum distance. PASSING LANE DISCIPLINE: many truck crashes occur when a truck must brake suddenly in the right lane while a car has squeezed into the space in front — maintain following distance and don't allow it to be cut.