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.

The body processes alcohol at a fixed rate that cannot be sped up through tricks like drinking coffee. The only way to sober up is to give the body the time it needs to remove the alcohol on its own.

While regular mirror checks should be part of your normal scanning routine, be especially sure to check your mirrors when changing lanes.

Containers of hazardous materials should be braced so they will not fall, slide, or bounce around during transportation.

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.

Hazardous materials placards must be placed on a vehicle at least three inches away from any other markings and must positioned so that the words or numbers are level and read from left to right.

If the brakes pull to one side or the other when used, it is an indication of brake trouble.

Explosives are placed in hazardous materials Class 1.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)'s Emergency Response Guide provides information about hazardous materials, indexed by proper shipping names and hazardous materials identification numbers.

When inspecting an exhaust system, you should verify that parts of the system are not loose, broken, or missing. The system's parts must be properly mounted and should not be rubbing against moving parts of the vehicle.

Some tanks are divided into multiple smaller tanks by bulkheads. When loading or unloading such tanks, pay attention to weight distribution. Be careful not to place too much weight on a single end of the tank.

A "G" in Column 1 of a hazardous materials shipping paper indicates that the description in Column 2 is the generic name for a material. A generic shipping name must be accompanied by a technical name.

If you choose to use a mobile phone while operating a CMV, you may only use a hands-free mobile phone that is located close to you. However, even a hands-free mobile phone can be a dangerous distraction while driving. Make sure you are aware of all cell phone laws in the state in which you are driving.

In vehicles equipped with an automatic tractor protection valve, the valve will pop out if air pressure drops to a level between 20 and 45 psi. When the valve pops out, the protection valve will close, stopping the flow of air.

Trailers built before 1975 are not required to have spring brakes. When parking a trailer without spring brakes, be sure to use wheel chocks to prevent the trailer from rolling.

Hydroplaning is most likely to occur when driving on wet roads with tire pressure that is too low and tire tread that is too worn. If there is enough water on the road, hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph.

If you must drive onto the shoulder to avoid a hazard, stay on it until you come to a stop; then signal, check your mirrors, and merge back into traffic. Avoid braking on the shoulder at speeds higher than about 20 mph. To help maintain control, always keep one set of wheels on the pavement, if possible.

The average driver has a reaction time between three-quarters of a second and one second. At 55 mph, this corresponds to a distance of 61 feet traveled.

You may be able to tell that another driver is distracted if you can see them drifting within a lane or across lane dividers; traveling at inconsistent speeds; being preoccupied with a cell phone, a map, food, or other items; or engaging in conversation with passengers.

It is best to avoid driving through large puddles or moving water. If there is no way to avoid driving through water, you should slow down, shift into a low gear, and gently apply the brakes. Pressing linings against the brake drums or discs will keep water, mud, silt, and sand from getting inside the brake mechanisms.