On flatbed trailers and trailers without sides, cargo needs to 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.

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.

If your vehicle begins to hydroplane, do not apply the brakes. Instead, release the accelerator and push in the clutch. This will slow down your vehicle and help it regain traction.

Check each slack adjuster after parking on level ground, setting wheel chocks, and disengaging the parking brake. Pull the slack adjusters to make sure they do not move more than about one inch from where the push rod is attached. If they move more than one inch, they may be out of adjustment and will need to be fixed.

When starting a trip, be sure that all shut-off valves are in the open position, except for the last valves on the rear trailer. It is important that air reaches the brakes on all trailers and that it is not able to escape from the back of the vehicle.

On a downgrade, the braking effect of the engine should be your primary method of controlling speed. Shift down to a lower gear before starting down the hill and save the brakes for additional slowing or stopping that may be required by road or traffic conditions.

You should test the tractor protection valve by allowing the air supply to properly charge, turning off the engine, then releasing air from the system by pressing the brake pedal several times. The tractor protection valve should move into its emergency position when psi drops to an unsafe level.

When braking a vehicle equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), you should not brake any differently than you would if driving a vehicle with a different braking system.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the weight specified by the manufacturer as the maximum weight of a single vehicle and its load.

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

If you must drive in fog, you should use your low beam headlights and fog lights to maximize your visibility. Using high beam lights will only make it more difficult for you to see.

Tractor protection controls in older vehicles may be operated by levers instead of knobs. If an air supply control is set in its "normal" position, it is properly set for you to pull a trailer.

On a slippery road, you must adjust your driving speed to fit conditions. Because it will take longer for your vehicle to stop on a slippery road than on a dry road, you should increase your following distance when conditions are slippery. Avoid driving in a way that requires you to change speeds frequently.

Drivers are required by state and federal law to inspect their vehicles before beginning to drive.

It is critical that an engine have sufficient oil pressure. The engine can be destroyed rapidly if run without oil.

When a vehicle turns, its rear wheels follow a different path than its front wheels. This is referred to as off-tracking.

Never remove the radiator cap or any part of the pressurized cooling system until it has cooled. Opening the cap while the system is too hot could release steam and boiling water that could severely burn you. If the radiator cap is cool to the touch, the system is likely cool enough for you to open the cap.

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.

A one-way check valve is required to be between an air compressor and the first main reservoir. This valve prevents air from escaping the system if the air compressor develops a leak.

When driving at night, it is important that your lights be clean so that they provide as much light as possible. This will help others to see your vehicle.