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Are Trucks Easy To Drive: A Driving Comparison

Are Trucks Easy To Drive: A Driving Comparison

Trucks might seem like a more difficult vehicle to drive due to their large build and high stance, but is this true? This might not be true to many people, and we wanted to find out about why. 

Trucks are very comparable to large cars and SUVs when it comes to ease of driving. While their higher position may improve immediate visibility, drivers will also have to make small adjustments to accommodate for longer braking and turning due to their longer wheelbase and heavier build.

Driving a truck is a little different, but that doesn’t have to mean that it’s a bad thing. So, we wanted to find out how driving a truck differs from a car and how they are more similar than different. 

How is Driving a Truck Different Than a Car?

Although driving a truck shouldn’t be hard to learn how to do, that doesn’t mean that doing it will be the same as driving a car. Trucks are bigger, which means that some adjustments need to be made to drive properly, and safely, while behind the wheel of a truck.

So, what is so different about driving a truck, and are trucks easy to drive? 

#1 Braking 

Well, the first difference is that you have a much heavier vehicle. This means that stopping and braking will take a longer time to do. 

With a smaller vehicle, you can get a bit closer to the car in front of you because your brakes will easily stop your vehicle in time. However, with the heavier weight of a truck, you will see a longer braking time. 

You need to keep more space between you and the car ahead of you and start braking much earlier. This will ensure that your truck will stop in time and not get too close to the vehicle in front of you or cause a fender bender. 

So, leaving more space between vehicles and braking sooner will ensure that you have the time to stop before hitting another car. 

#2 Turning 

When you are behind the wheel of a small sedan or compact car, you will have the ability to speed through turns better without issues because you are closer to the ground and have more space to maneuver. 

In a truck, you don’t have that same ability because of the size of the vehicle and the taller build. Having a taller vehicle will increase the chances of a rollover when making tight or fast turns, which could be dangerous for you and your passengers. 

So, you will have to be more cautious when driving a truck and slow down around corners and turns so you have the ability to make your turn. You don’t want to speed through turns with a truck, and slowing down will keep you safe. 

#3 Turning Radius 

There are times when you are driving and need to do a U-turn, which heavily depends on your vehicle’s turning radius. This term refers to the full distance that you can turn when turning your wheel all the way to one side. 

A small car might come with a very good turning radius because the wheel can easily turn the small car around to make a U-turn without any issue. But a truck is larger and needs to make wide turns, which can affect its turning radius. 

With a small turning radius, you may not be able to make very tight U-turns on roads that are blocked or where there is a car stuck in the road. A car might be able to navigate around anything in the road much easier, while a truck could have a harder time. 

#4 Blind Spots 

When driving a truck, you have more blind spots than you would have when in a car. This is often due to the size and shape of the vehicle. 

It also is higher than cars, so those that are very small or low to the ground can be much harder to see when you are driving.

However, with the help of mirrors and staying alert of what is going on around you, this won’t feel like as much of an issue as you might think at first.

They’re More Similar Than Different!

Although we have highlighted the main differences between driving a car and truck, there are many more similarities between driving these vehicles. Getting used to driving a new vehicle can be a bit disorienting, but once you have practiced, you will get the hang of it faster than you might think. 

Because of the size of a truck, especially if the truck is much larger than the car you are used to driving, you will likely have to get used to driving it. However, the differences might not feel as prominent after a while. 

With having to do tighter turns, start braking sooner, and having a smaller turning radius can feel limiting at first. However, if you drive around for a while, your body will adjust to the new features of the truck and it will become second nature after driving for a good amount of time. 

Driving around an empty parking lot or taking a few trips around the block will get you used to driving a truck in no time. It is just important that you do this before you head out for a long trip in a truck or drive in inclement weather. 

Are Trucks Easier to Drive Than Cars?

Now that we have discussed the few differences between driving a truck and car and why it is not harder to drive a truck, we want to get into another question that is commonly asked: are trucks easier to drive than cars? 

Well, it is not really a comparison between easy and hard, but rather how long it will take to get used to driving a truck when you are used to driving a car. Driving a truck is not hard, but it is a little different because of the large size.

So, you just need to get used to it. However, with that being said, trucks are fairly simple to drive. 

You could say that they are easy to drive if that is what you learn how to drive in. But they can feel more difficult if you are used to being behind the wheel of a sedan. 

There is always a little learning curve when it comes to driving a new car, and this doesn’t just apply to trucks, but the size of the truck will also have an effect on your driving. 

Larger Trucks 

Some trucks come with a more compact build and are not that much bigger than a car, but others that are made for hauling large loads for work or towing trailers will be larger. The bigger trucks will likely be tougher to get used to. 

One of the major issues when driving a much larger truck is that you have more blind spots. When you are used to a car or even a smaller truck, this could seem like a huge issue.

But like I mentioned earlier, the use of your mirrors will help you notice what is going on around you at all times to prepare for this. You will also want to check around the truck before taking off, and watch what drivers around you are doing. 

This will let you stay alert when a smaller car is zipping through traffic to get ahead, which might end up in your blind spot. You can notice them immediately and not switch lanes until they are passed you. 

Safe Driving 

Driving is not difficult, but there are a lot of things to think about at once, and this can leave room for things to go wrong. However, if you are driving safely at all times whether you are in a truck or a car, then you can avoid many issues. 

Just remember to get used to driving in a vehicle before you take a long trip with it, and you will have the confidence to take a truck any way you need to go.

Final Words 

Driving a car and a truck are different, but that doesn’t mean that driving a truck is hard or easy. All cars take time to get used to, and you always need to stay as safe as possible in any vehicle you drive in. 

But for those of you that might have been wondering if driving a truck would be hard to learn how to do, you have no reason to worry. Trucks are a bit different, but they are fairly easy to drive, even if you have never driven one before. 

You will just want to remember the differences between driving a truck versus a car and you will be able to adjust. When you check what is happening on the road, keep ensuring that your blind spots aren’t a problem and that you adjust to the new braking a turning radius, you will find that driving a truck is not hard at all.

Zach Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of VehicleAnswers.com! Having owned a wide variety of vehicles in my life, I was astounded at how hard it can be to find answers to common automotive questions. Rather than sit idly, I decided to create this website to help others!