All commercial motor vehicles must carry appropriate emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers.

When backing a vehicle with a trailer, you must turn the steering wheel in the direction opposite of where you want to go. Once your trailer starts to turn, you should turn the steering wheel the other way to follow the trailer.

A broken exhaust system can let poisonous fumes into a vehicle's cab or sleeper berth. Be sure to inspect your exhaust system for any loose, broken, or missing parts.

A vehicle that lacks the proper placards for any hazardous materials on board may not be driven, except as necessary to protect life and property in an emergency.

When positioning trailers in a combination, the most heavily-loaded trailer should be the closest to the tractor. The lightest trailer should be positioned in the rear.

When inspecting the engine compartment, you should check the oil level, coolant level, and windshield washer fluid level, among other things.

More than half of all accident-related truck driver deaths are a result of truck rollovers. To help prevent a rollover, be sure to load cargo low to the ground and centered on your rig. Take corners slowly and carefully.

Always speed up smoothly and gradually so that your vehicle does not jerk. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage.

As the temperature begins to rise and ice on the road begins to melt, the road surface will often become even more slippery. Water from the slight melting will sit on top of the ice, decreasing the available traction even more. Always decrease your speed and drive with caution when traveling on slippery surfaces.

The trailer hand valve, also called the trolley valve or Johnson bar, is used to work the trailer brakes. It should be used only to test the brakes. Using it while a vehicle is in motion could cause a skid.

When checking the engine compartment during the vehicle inspection test, you will need to check the engine oil level.

Because they are exposed to less sunlight and warm up more slowly, shaded areas will remain icy and slippery after ice on other areas of the road has melted.

A vehicle will be slowed down by gravity on any uphill grade. You may need to switch to a lower gear to climb a steep grade.

Being properly rested is essential to the safe operation of a CMV. To maintain alertness, most people need eight to nine hours of sleep per night.

You can prevent skidding by steering, accelerating, and braking smoothly. If your drive wheels or trailer wheels begin to skid while you are driving a tank vehicle, the vehicle could jackknife.

While regular mirror checks should be a part of your driving routine, it is particularly important to check your mirrors when changing lanes, turning, merging, and making tight maneuvers.

If you begin to feel tired while driving, the only safe action to take is to stop and get some sleep. Trying to fight the fatigue and press on is very dangerous and can result in a fatal crash. You should not rely on artificial stimulants; these may help keep you awake a while longer, but they won't make you more alert.

If you see a crash involving an aggressive driver, you should stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for police to arrive, and inform them of the aggressive behavior you witnessed.

Vehicles with trailers are vulnerable to rollover due to the "crack-the-whip" effect, which is caused by rearward amplification.

When inspecting your tank vehicle before operation, make sure all specialty equipment is in safe working condition. This includes vapor recovery kits, grounding and bonding cables, and emergency shut-off systems.