While testing for a CDL, an applicant will be required to go through a full vehicle inspection. The vehicle inspection test will include an engine oil level check.

Indicators of drowsiness while driving include your eyes closing or going out of focus by themselves, having trouble keeping your head up, and drifting between lanes.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic control skills test.

Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands, placing them on opposite sides of the wheel.

When inspecting a vehicle's suspension, you should look for broken or missing leaves in the leaf springs. Any defect of this kind is dangerous. If one-fourth or more of the leaves are missing from any leaf spring, the vehicle must be put out-of-service.

It is essential that your vehicle will be able to stop within the area of the road that you are able to see. This means that you must slow down whenever conditions reduce visibility.

The added weight of a heavy load will make a vehicle sit lower than usual. A vehicle will often be taller when carrying a light load than when carrying a heavy load. If your vehicle fits under an overpass while carrying a full load, it is not guaranteed that it will fit under the same overpass if it is empty.

An Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is in place as an addition to a braking system. It intervenes to prevent brakes from locking up during hard braking. If ABS is not working, the basic braking functions on a vehicle will still remain, so the driver can continue to drive and brake normally.

It is important to observe other drivers' actions and identify clues that a person could be driving impaired. Drivers who have had too much to drink, are sleepy, are on drugs, or are ill can present hazards to other drivers. One sign that a driver may be impaired is that they have their windows rolled down in cold weather.

Black ice is a layer of ice that is thin and clear enough for the road to be visible through it. This makes the road look as if it is merely wet.

The aisles and stairwells of a bus should always be kept clear. Luggage and freight must be placed in a location that allows passengers to exit through any window or door in the event of an emergency.

If there is a fire in your vehicle, the first thing you need to do is leave the road and stop. Park in an open area away from anything that could catch fire, such as plants or other vehicles. Do not pull into a service station.

You should never assume that you will hear an approaching train. The train operator may fail to sound the horn, or the use of a train's horn may be prohibited in a specific area. Even if the train does sound its horn, noise from inside your own vehicle may prevent you from hearing the train until it is dangerously close.

In low temperatures, bridges usually freeze before other road surfaces. When driving in cold weather, especially when weather conditions have been wet, use special caution on bridges and overpasses.

It takes a longer distance to stop a vehicle on a slippery road than it does on a dry road. Use caution when driving under conditions that could cause a road surface to become slippery.

Bus drivers and passengers should not be permitted to bring common hazardous items, such as gasoline or car batteries, onto a bus.

A bus should not be refueled while passengers are on board unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. In particular, a bus with riders on board should never be refueled inside an enclosed building.

You can tell that your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) if it has a yellow ABS malfunction lamp on the instrument panel.

You should be cautious when you are near people who are not paying attention to the road. Be wary of drivers who are engaged in conversation with passengers, children near the road, and road workers.

Mirror checks should be a normal part of your scanning routine. It is particularly important to make frequent mirror checks when driving in close quarters.