If your CMV gets stuck on railroad tracks, you should immediately leave the vehicle and get away from the tracks. Check the signposts or signal housing at the crossing for emergency contact information and call 911, or another appropriate emergency number.

Passing an accident scene can be hazardous because the people involved in the accident may not be watching traffic, and the scene itself may distract other passing drivers. Ice cream trucks can create hazardous conditions because they attract children who may not pay attention to nearby vehicles. Shoppers near the roadway are often paying attention to stores, not passing traffic.

Be cautious when driving near people who are working on disabled vehicles. The task will likely consume their attention, so they may not be aware of traffic or other hazards on the road.

Tires should never have too much air pressure. Be sure to check your tires' air pressure with a gauge during inspections.

The most important reason to inspect your vehicle before a trip is to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road. Safety inspections before every trip are required by state and federal laws.

On a vehicle with one or more trailers, mirror adjustment can only be checked accurately if the trailers are straight. Mirror adjustment should be checked before the start of every trip.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications may have side effects that can impair a person's ability to drive safely. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any other controlled substance, including some over-the-counter medications.

To ensure that your vehicle does not roll backward when beginning to move after a stop, you should partly engage the clutch before removing your right foot from the brake pedal.

A bus driver should always reduce speed when entering a curve. If a bus leans toward the outside of a banked curve, it is moving too fast.

When inspecting the interior of a bus, you must make sure everything is safe and in proper working condition. Make sure emergency exits are properly marked and easy to use.

If your brakes fail on a downgrade, you will need to quickly find something outside that can stop your vehicle. An escape ramp is the best option. If no escape ramp is available, use the least hazardous available option, such as driving into an open field or side road that flattens out or turns uphill.

For the first step of a vehicle inspection, you should review the last inspection report on your vehicle, if there is one. The carrier should have repaired any problems noted on the report.

Most heavy vehicles with manual transmissions require double clutching to shift gears. Learning to effectively change gears by double clutching takes practice.

If possible, you should avoid all cell phone distractions by turning it off before starting a trip and leaving it off until you reach your destination.

Most cases of hydraulic brake failure come from one of two causes. The brakes may fail due to a loss of hydraulic pressure or due to overuse on long hills, causing the brakes to fade.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic control skills test.

Cargo needs to be secured appropriately to prevent it from moving in transit. Cargo should be arranged to keep the vehicle's center of gravity low and well-distributed.

The most important reason to inspect your vehicle is to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users.

When a bus arrives to an intermediate stop or its final destination, the driver should announce the location, the reason for stopping, the next departure time, and the bus number.

When checking your vehicle's pedals during a pre-trip inspection, you should ensure that there is nothing under or around the pedals that will obstruct their use. Make sure the pedals are in proper working condition and that the surfaces of the pedals are grooved, if applicable.