In general, vehicles carrying hazardous materials are required to display diamond-shaped warning signs on all four sides. These warning signs are called "placards."

When approaching your vehicle before an inspection, make note of its general condition and ensure that it is not damaged or leaning. Look under the vehicle for fresh leaks. Check around the vehicle for hazards to movement, such as people, other vehicles, or low-hanging wires or tree limbs.

Always decrease your speed when traveling through a construction area. Slow down even further if there are workers on or near the roadway.

The three main factors that determine a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are the amount of alcohol consumed, how quickly the alcohol is consumed, and the person's weight.

Always apply the parking brake when leaving your vehicle.

When transporting hazardous materials, shipping papers should be kept in a pouch in the driver's side door, or in another location where the driver is able to easily reach them while their seat belt is fastened. The papers must be easily visible to anyone who is entering the cab.

Frequently blinking, having difficulty focusing, or experiencing heavy eyelids are possible warning signs of fatigue. If you are fatigued, it is safest to stop driving and leave the road.

When operating a new vehicle, you should familiarize yourself with its features and equipment before getting behind the wheel.

When driving a combination vehicle, it is important to brake well in advance and look far ahead of your vehicle to avoid the need for sudden stops. Making habits of these actions will help you prevent your trailer from jackknifing.

Railroad crossings that are not controlled by any type of traffic control device are known as passive crossings. The decision to proceed across tracks at a passive crossing is entirely up to the driver.

The trailer hand valve (also referred to as the trolley valve or Johnson bar) is a mechanism that works the trailer brakes. It should only be used to test the brakes. Using it while the vehicle is being driven could cause a skid. Never use the trailer hand valve while parking because doing so may release the air pressure from the braking system, releasing the brakes that are holding the vehicle in place.

When passing a pedestrian or another vehicle, you should assume that they don't see you.

To avoid being blinded by the lights of oncoming vehicles, you can glance to the right side of the road until the vehicle has passed.

When accelerating, speed up smoothly and gradually so your vehicle does not jerk. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage.

If you are experiencing a truck fire, you should not attempt to open trailer doors without first feeling the doors to see if they are hot. If the doors are hot, there may be a cargo fire. Leave the doors closed if there is a cargo fire.

When confronted with an aggressive driver, your first priority should be to get out of their way. Do not provoke the driver by making eye contact, trying to race, or refusing to move out of your traffic lane. Additionally, ignore any gestures that are intended to provoke you.

When backing up, it is always a good idea for a driver to use a helper who can watch the vehicle's blind spots. The helper should stand near the back of the vehicle in a location where they are visible to the driver.

While the manual includes all of the information required to pass the hazardous materials knowledge test, you should consider reading the manual as only the first step to learning about the topic. You can learn more by reading and understanding the federal and state rules about the transportation of hazardous materials, as well as by attending hazardous materials training courses.

Increasing your vehicle's speed will increase your vehicle's striking power and braking distance. Doubling your vehicle's speed from 20 to 40 mph will quadruple its braking distance.

In bad weather, many automobile drivers will follow large trucks too closely, particularly if visibility is poor.