When you are overtaking a truck on the highway, you should only do it when you are sure it is safe, do it decisively (not slowly alongside it), and leave plenty of space before and after the manoeuvre.

Key steps before overtaking

  • Check that overtaking is legal and safe where you are (no solid no‑overtaking lines, no bends or crests blocking your view).
  • Make sure you have a long enough clear stretch of road; large trucks can take 20–25 seconds or even several kilometres to overtake on two‑way roads.
  • Keep a good following distance behind the truck so you can see its mirrors and react if it brakes or signals.
  • Check your mirrors and blind spots, and be sure no one behind is already pulling out to overtake you and the truck.

How to overtake the truck

  • Always overtake on the left or “proper” overtaking side for your country’s road rules (in many places this is the left lane on multi‑lane highways; where passing is on the right, use the right lane only).
  • Indicate clearly before moving out, then accelerate smoothly so you pass the truck promptly without exceeding the speed limit.
  • Do not linger alongside the truck; its side areas are major blind spots where the driver may not see you.

Imagine the truck has a “bubble” of space around it that it cannot see well—your job is to spend as little time as possible inside that bubble.

Pulling back in safely

  • Do not cut closely in front of the truck; they need much more distance to stop than a car.
  • Keep going until you can see the entire front of the truck (or both its headlights) clearly in your interior rear‑view mirror. Only then signal and move back into the lane.
  • After returning to the lane, maintain a steady speed so the truck does not need to brake sharply.

Situations where you should not overtake

  • If you cannot see far enough ahead because of a bend, hill, rain, fog, or night‑time glare.
  • Near intersections, side roads, or places where other vehicles may suddenly enter the highway.
  • On short passing zones where you might be forced to cut in sharply to avoid oncoming traffic.
  • When the truck has its indicator on to change lanes or turn; wait and let the truck complete its move first.

Quick checklist in plain language

  1. Stay back until you can see the truck’s mirrors and the road ahead.
  1. Decide if you truly have time and space to pass a long vehicle safely.
  1. Signal, move out, and pass smoothly without hanging beside the truck.
  1. When you see the full front of the truck in your mirror, signal and return—leaving generous space.

TL;DR: Only overtake a truck when you have a long, clear view, pass on the correct side without lingering in its blind spots, and do not pull back in until you can clearly see the whole front of the truck in your mirror with plenty of room left for its longer stopping distance.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.