When stopping, apply gradual pressure to the brake pedal and stop smoothly. If stopping a manual transmission vehicle, push the clutch in when the engine is close to idle.

Always downshift before entering a curve. Decreasing your speed before entering the curve will allow you to maintain better control over the vehicle throughout the curve.

If you have an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) equipped on only the tractor, only the trailer, or only one axle, you will still have more control over the vehicle when braking than you would without ABS. You should brake normally.

If you are approaching a traffic light that has been green for a long time, there is a good chance that it will turn yellow before you reach it. Start slowing down and be ready to stop.

When a vehicle goes around a corner, the rear wheels follow a different path than the front wheels. This is called off-tracking. This effect is especially pronounced on vehicles with trailers.

After starting a vehicle's engine, the warning lights and buzzers should turn on, then quickly turn off.

Be sure to check your mirrors before beginning a drive. Your posture may change day to day and your mirrors may need to be adjusted.

Tractor protection controls in older vehicles may be operated by levers instead of knobs. If an air supply control is set in its "normal" position, it is properly set for you to pull a trailer.

The emergency air line controls the emergency brakes on a combination vehicle. A loss of air pressure in the emergency line will cause the emergency trailer brakes to activate.

Because air takes time to flow through the air lines to the brakes, air brakes cannot begin working instantly. There is often a brake lag of at least one-half of a second between the moment the brake pedal is pressed and the moment the brakes begin to work.

After starting a vehicle's engine, the oil pressure should come up to a normal level within seconds. Do not operate a vehicle if it has oil pressure that is low, dropping, or fluctuating.

Once you have begun to drive after a tire has been changed, you should stop after a short distance to recheck the tightness of the lug nuts.

Gravity causes a vehicle's speed to increase when traveling on a downgrade. Adjust your speed before reaching a downgrade.

To avoid becoming fatigued on a long trip, you should take a break after every 100 miles or two hours of driving. Driving through the night, or during any other time when you would normally be asleep, raises the danger of fatigue.

While driving downhill, you should hold down the brake pedal until your vehicle reaches a speed 5 mph below your safe speed, then release the brake pedal. Repeat this process.

Backing can be dangerous, so avoid doing it whenever you can. If possible, park in such a way that allows you to pull forward to exit your parking space.

On a downgrade, the braking effect of the engine should be your primary method of controlling speed. Shift down to a lower gear before starting down the hill and save the brakes for additional slowing or stopping that may be required by road or traffic conditions.

Check your engine during the pre-trip inspection. After starting the engine, you should listen for unusual noises.

Reduce your speed when traveling on surfaces that provide reduced traction. Reduce your speed by about one-third when driving on a wet road.

Because air pressure increases with temperature, you should pay special attention to the tire mounting and pressure when traveling in hot weather.