There are two indicators that determine when you need to shift into a higher gear. One indicator is the engine speed (rpm). You should read your vehicle's manual to learn its rpm range and shift up when you reach the top of that range. The other indicator is road speed (mph). You should learn which speeds each gear can accommodate, then keep an eye on the speedometer and shift up as needed.

If you are stopped at a railroad crossing and a gate fails to return to its open position after a train passes, call your dispatcher. Do not attempt to drive around the lowered gate.

While students are boarding a school bus, if the driver cannot account for a student outside, they should secure the bus, take the key with them, and check around and underneath the bus for the missing student.

Vehicles must be equipped with the appropriate emergency equipment. When inspecting a CMV, you should check for at least one fire extinguisher; spare electrical fuses, unless the vehicle is equipped with circuit breakers; and the appropriate warning devices to be used when the vehicle is parked.

Air expands as its temperature increases, so air pressure in your tires is likely to increase when you are driving in very hot weather. Under such conditions, stop periodically to ensure that your tires are not at risk of blowing out or catching fire.

If a federal or state inspector judges a CMV to be unsafe, they may put it out-of-service until it is fixed.

On flatbed trailers and trailers without sides, cargo must be tied down. There should be at least one tie-down for every 10 feet of cargo. Regardless of the size of the cargo, at least two tie-downs must be used.

Driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day. It is more difficult for drivers to see hazards, the glare of headlights can affect drivers' vision, and there are more fatigued and impaired drivers on the road.

A bus must always be inspected before it is driven. The inspection process must include a review of the inspection report made by the previous driver. You should operate the vehicle only if defects listed on the inspection report have been certified as repaired or as not needing to be repaired.

When inspecting your brakes, you should check for cracked drums; shoes or pads covered in oil, grease, or brake fluid; and shoes that are missing, broken, or worn dangerously thin.

At dawn or dusk, and in snowy or rainy conditions, you should turn on your headlights to make it easier for other road users to see your vehicle.

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.

Texting while driving a CMV is prohibited. "Texting" is defined as manually entering text into, or reading text from, an electronic device.

Particularly on curves, the maximum posted speed limit may be safe to be driven in a car but too fast to be driven in a bus. Be especially careful when the road has been made slippery by rain or snow.

"Axle weight" refers to the weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles.

Black ice is a thin layer of ice that is clear enough for the road surface to be seen through it. A road covered in black ice may look like it is merely wet instead of icy. Always be on the lookout for black ice if a road surface looks wet and temperatures are around the freezing mark.

If a school bus becomes stalled or trapped on railroad tracks, the driver should get everyone out of the bus and off of the tracks immediately. The driver and students should move away from the tracks at an angle and in the direction of any oncoming train.

A school bus driver should always approach bus stops slowly and cautiously.

Always signal your intentions before turning or changing lanes. Do not assume that other drivers will move out of your way simply because you are signaling to turn.

On a bus, it is permissible to lock some emergency roof hatches in an open position to allow in fresh air. However, this should not be a regular practice.