Using the brakes excessively will cause them to overheat, making them less effective. This is referred to as "fading."

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.

Retarders are mechanisms in some vehicles that help slow the vehicle and reduce the need for braking. The four basic types of retarders are exhaust, engine, hydraulic, and electric.

Compressed air in an air brake system usually has a certain amount of water and oil in it. This can harm the system if allowed to accumulate. Air tanks have drain valves to aid in removing water and oil from the compressed air.

If you must drive in reverse, you should back up slowly and use the mirrors on both sides of your vehicle. Use a helper to monitor your blind spots whenever possible. You and the helper should agree on a signal for "stop."

To maintain proper control of your vehicle, the steering wheel should be held firmly with both hands. Your hands should be positioned on opposite sides of the wheel.

To ensure that you can see as well as possible, don't wear sunglasses when driving at night. If you wear eyeglasses, make sure they are clean and unscratched. Make sure you are rested and alert before driving at night.

Landing gear, or trailer supports, should always be completely raised before a vehicle is driven. When uncoupling, landing gear should be lowered to make firm contact with the ground. If a trailer is loaded when it is being uncoupled, you should lower the landing gear and turn the crank a few additional times to remove some weight from the trailer.

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 of oil, grease, or fuel. Check around the vehicle for hazards to movement, such as people, other vehicles, or low-hanging wires or tree limbs.

You should not assume that signs marking the height of a bridge or overpass are exactly correct. If the road was repaved after the sign went up, or if snow is on the ground, the clearance may be different than what the sign indicates.

If you have an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) equipped on only the tractor, only the trailer, or only one axle, you will still have more control over the vehicle when braking than you would without ABS. You should brake normally.

Components of an air brake system include an air compressor, an air compressor governor, air storage tanks, air tank drains, an alcohol evaporator, a safety valve, a brake pedal, foundation brakes, supply pressure gauges, an application pressure gauge, a low air pressure warning signal, a stop light switch, a front brake limiting valve (on some older vehicles), spring brakes, and parking brake controls.

It is always important to have enough water and antifreeze in a vehicle's cooling system. Despite the name, antifreeze is beneficial to an engine even in hot weather.

The average driver has a reaction time of between three-quarters of a second and one second.

The trailer hand valve should not be used for parking. This could cause all of the air to leak out of the braking system, resulting in the brakes releasing. Instead, use the parking brake.

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.

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

Doubles and triples need more space than other vehicles, both because they are longer than other vehicles and because their size and weight prevent them from turning or stopping suddenly. When driving a double or triple, always make sure you have enough space before entering traffic, crossing traffic, or changing lanes.

A maximum posted speed limit is the fastest a vehicle may travel under ideal circumstances. A driver should decrease their driving speed as conditions require. A driver should never exceed the legal speed limit.

Be especially cautious when driving on ice that has begun to melt. Ice that is wet is much more slippery than ice that is dry.