The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has released a pair of videos demonstrating the importance of tackling steep grades safely in your truck.

Focused on Cunninghams Gap, infamously known for being difficult to traverse, Bill Manton from the QTA demonstrates how to safely navigate major inclines and declines in a SAR 610, fully loaded.

This is particularly important in the area at the moment, which is undergoing significant roadworks and still has significant traffic, meaning more stopping and starting on steep grades.

“PBS vehicles, higher performance vehicles, have a bigger size and higher mass. More care and attention needs to be given to that going up and down the hills,” Bill says.

“A doubles coming over the range can be up to the 9o tonne mark. It takes a bit to take off again without doing damage to the vehicle. It’s a hill that has to be treated with a lot of respect.”

Bill’s advice is to make sure you know your vehicle’s capability before attacking the Cunningham Highway, specifically at Cunninghams Gap.

 

For more stories like ‘Tackling Steep Grades Safely’ – see below