When checking the exhaust system, you should verify that no parts of the system are loose, broken, or missing.

Before starting down a hill, decelerate and shift down into a gear that will allow you to control your vehicle without braking too hard. Using too much brake when driving downhill can cause the brakes to overheat, reducing the braking power.

Defects in an exhaust system are very dangerous because they can cause poisonous fumes to enter the cab or sleeper berth.

If confronted by an aggressive driver, the most important thing for you to do is get out of their way. Avoid making eye contact, do not challenge them by increasing your speed, and do not let yourself be provoked by any angry gestures they direct toward you.

After a tire has been changed, you should stop a short while later to re-check the tightness of the lug nuts.

There may be a delay of a few seconds between the sound of a tire failing and the time that the vehicle is affected by the tire failure. Because of the short delay, a driver may initially believe that the sound came from another vehicle.

If you must back up, it is safest to back toward the driver's side of the vehicle. This way, as the driver, you will have the best possible view of your path of travel.

Mental distractions can be just as dangerous as physical ones. It is possible for a person to look right at a hazard on the road but fail to notice it because their thoughts are occupied by something else.

Texting while driving is a dangerous distraction and is prohibited at all times when operating a CMV.

When you plan to slow down, it is often a good idea to lightly tap your brakes to make the brake lights flash. Doing this will help let drivers behind you know about your intentions.

Roads are particularly slippery when it first begins to rain. The water mixes with oil drippings on the road that have not yet washed away, creating a slippery and dangerous mixture.

When driving on packed snow, you should reduce your speed by one-half or more. It can be difficult to stop or turn when operating on a slippery surface, so you must adjust your speed to drive safely under such conditions.

Cargo must be properly loaded and secured to prevent it from falling or shifting dangerously. During a quick stop, improperly loaded cargo could injure or even kill the driver.

You should cover your cargo to protect people from the cargo if it spills, as well as to protect the cargo from the weather.

You should be cautious when driving near rental trucks because the people driving them may not be used to operating vehicles with limited views to the sides and rear. Drivers who cannot see others on the roadway are hazardous.

Always turn on your four-way emergency flashers if you must park on the side of the road. This is especially important when traveling at night.

As a part of earning your CDL, you will have to pass an inspection test and demonstrate that your vehicle is safe for operation. During the vehicle inspection test, you will have to walk around the vehicle and point to or touch each item and explain to the examiner what you are checking and why. You will not have to crawl under the hood or under the vehicle.

It is possible for students to be injured, or even killed, as a result of their clothing, accessories, or bodies getting caught on a handrail or door while exiting a school bus. The driver should closely watch students as they exit to ensure that they have all unloaded the bus successfully and have reached a safe location.

An operator should drive with care when transporting a cargo of hanging meat. Such a load is unstable, both because it has a high center of gravity and because the swinging of the meat can affect the driver's handling of the vehicle.

If your brakes fail on a downgrade, you will have to look outside your vehicle for a way to stop. Using an escape ramp is the safest way to stop your vehicle.