Smooth bore tanks lack internal baffles. Compared to other types of tanks, unbaffled tanks are the most prone to front-to-back surge.

Defects in an exhaust system are very dangerous because they can cause poisonous fumes to enter the cab or sleeper berth.

Black ice is a thin layer of ice that is clear enough for the road surface to be seen through it. A road covered in black ice may look like it is merely wet. You should be very careful when temperatures are below freezing and the road looks wet.

Always change lanes slowly and smoothly. If you did not see drivers who are already using the lane you wish to occupy, this will give them a chance to get out of your way or honk their horns to alert you. Always signal when changing lanes.

Many hazardous materials classified as poisonous are also flammable.

Your truck may block the views of drivers behind you, making them unaware of any upcoming hazards that require you to stop. For this reason, it is a good idea to flash your brakes and warn other drivers before slowing or stopping.

When driving at dawn, at dusk, or in inclement weather, you should use your headlights on their low beam setting to increase your visibility.

Placards must be placed on the front, the rear, and both sides of a vehicle carrying hazardous cargo. They must be readable from any direction.

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.

If your CMV gets stuck on railroad tracks, you should immediately leave the vehicle and get away from the tracks. Check the signposts or signal housing at the crossing for emergency contact information and call 911, or another appropriate emergency number.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)'s Emergency Response Guide provides information about hazardous materials, indexed by proper shipping names and hazardous materials identification numbers.

For your own safety, when placing reflective warning triangles, you should carry them between your body and the oncoming traffic.

In some vehicles, it may be necessary to leave the engine running when checking the automatic transmission fluid level.

When driving a tractor-trailer combination that is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), you should brake in the same manner that you would if the vehicle was not equipped with ABS.

Swerving out of the way of a hazard is sometimes safer than trying to stop before reaching the hazard. You can usually turn away from something more quickly than you can come to a complete stop.

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.

Fighting a hazardous materials fire requires specialized training and equipment. Unless you possess these yourself, it is best to let emergency personnel deal with the fire.

The National Response Center helps coordinate emergency response to chemical hazards. It should be contacted in the event of a hazardous materials spill.

A person attending a parked placarded vehicle must be either awake inside the vehicle or they must be within 100 feet of it. If not inside the vehicle itself, the person must have a clear view of the vehicle. The person attending may not be inside the sleeper berth.

If you experience an engine fire, you should turn off the engine as soon as safely possible. Avoid opening the vehicle's hood when extinguishing the fire.