Potential warning signs of fatigue include difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids; yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes; daydreaming; wandering or disconnected thoughts; trouble remembering the last few miles you've driven; missing exits or traffic signs; having trouble keeping your head up; drifting from your lane; following too closely; hitting a shoulder rumble strip; or feeling restless and irritable.

A vehicle inspection should be completed in the same order every time. This will make it easier for you to learn all of the steps and will make it less likely that you will forget to check something.

Backing a large CMV is always dangerous because you will not be able to see everything behind you. If you must back up, use a helper, if possible.

Gross Combination Weight (GCW) is the total weight of a powered unit, its trailer(s), and the cargo being carried.

Retarders are mechanisms in some vehicles that help slow a vehicle and reduce the need for braking. However, using a retarder may cause wheels to skid when they have poor traction. Turn off retarders when traveling under wet, snowy, or icy conditions.

When making mirror checks, you should look at the mirrors fairly quickly. If you spend too much time looking in a mirror, you may travel a substantial distance down the road without seeing what is coming up ahead.

Bus passengers should never be allowed to leave baggage in the aisle or doorway of a bus. All luggage and cargo must be positioned in a manner that ensures riders are able to exit by any window or door in an emergency.

To let drivers behind you know that you plan to slow down, lightly tap your brake pedal a few times to flash your brake lights. It is important to communicate your intentions to other drivers.

If you are being tailgated, avoid making quick changes in speed and open up your following distance. This will make it easier for the tailgater to pass you. Increasing your speed is not a good idea because the driver may continue to tailgate you at the higher speed, only increasing the danger.

All commercial motor vehicles must carry appropriate emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers.

When backing with a trailer, you should pull up to reposition your vehicle as needed.

You may have to swing right to safely make a left turn. If there are two left turn lanes available at an intersection, you should always begin your turn in the rightmost lane.

To check your vehicle's lights before a trip, you should set the parking brake, turn off the engine, remove the key from the ignition, and take the key with you. Turn on your low beam headlights and four-way flashers. Get out of the vehicle to make sure the lights are working properly.

Swerving out of the way of a hazard is sometimes safer than trying to stop before reaching the hazard. You can usually turn away from something more quickly than you can come to a complete stop.

The liver removes alcohol from the body at a fixed rate that cannot be increased through tricks like drinking coffee or taking a cold shower. The only way to sober up after drinking is to wait for the alcohol to be removed from your system.

All commercial motor vehicles are required to be equipped with the proper emergency equipment. This may include spare electrical fuses; three red reflective triangles, six fuses, or three liquid burning flares; and at least one properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.

After starting a vehicle's engine, the warning lights and buzzers for oil, coolant, charging circuits, and the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) should go out right away.

The person driving a vehicle is responsible for its safe operation. Be sure to perform routine vehicle inspections before operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Warning signs that a driver may be impaired include that they are having trouble staying in their lane, they are having trouble maintaining an appropriate driving speed, or they are stopping without a clear reason.

Hydroplaning is similar to water skiing: your vehicle's tires glide along the road on a film of water without having traction with the surface of the road.