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.

If you begin to feel sleepy while driving, the only safe response is to stop driving and get some sleep. Attempting to fight off exhaustion is dangerous and a major cause of fatal crashes. Stimulants are not a safe solution because they may help keep you awake but will not make you more alert. Once stimulants wear off, you will be even more tired than you were originally.

A hot, poorly-ventilated area can make a person sleepy. Opening a window, opening a vent, or using the air conditioning can help keep the cab cool and reduce the risk of fatigue.

When coupling, make sure you couple matching glad hands. They are often color-coded to help drivers avoid mistakes. Typically, blue is used for service lines and red is used for emergency lines.

A driver should inspect wheels before a drive, specifically looking for damage on the wheels and rims. Wheels or rims that have had welding repairs are not safe for use.

The risk of hydroplaning begins when water has collected on the surface of a road.

When inspecting cargo, a driver must ensure that the cargo is balanced and properly secured. To reduce the risk of a rollover, the weight of a load of cargo should be kept as low as possible. A trailer should not be overloaded.

When stopping, press down the brake pedal smoothly and gradually.

Double and triple combinations are the most vulnerable to turning over as a result of the "crack-the-whip" effect.

A retarder may cause a skid when traction is poor, such as when a road is icy, and should therefore be turned off in such conditions.

The securement of cargo must be checked before beginning a trip, within the first 50 miles of a trip, and then again every three hours or 150 miles thereafter.

Having tires of mismatched sizes on a vehicle is a problem that should be fixed if discovered during a vehicle inspection.

When stopping, you should push the brake pedal down gradually. Braking gradually will help you to maintain proper control of your vehicle.

All trucks, truck tractors, and buses must be equipped with emergency brakes and parking brakes. Because air pressure can eventually leak away, emergency and parking brakes should be held on by mechanical force.

If an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is not working, the vehicle's basic braking functions are still intact. The driver should continue to drive and brake in a normal fashion.

Be sure that you are able to accelerate without first rolling back. Rolling backwards may cause you to collide with a vehicle or other obstacle behind your truck.

Blocking is used in the front, in the back, and/or on the sides of a piece of cargo to keep it from sliding while the vehicle is in motion.

When braking, push the pedal down gradually to ensure that the vehicle comes to a smooth, safe stop.

Front-end header boards, also known as "headache racks," protect the driver from cargo moving in the event of a crash or emergency stop.

Alcohol consumption impairs muscle coordination, reaction time, depth perception, vision, judgement, and inhibition. For some people, signs of impairment may begin with the first drink of alcohol. It is safest to not operate any motor vehicle after consuming alcohol in any amount.