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

Wheels or rims that have had welding repairs are not safe to be used.

Liquids expand as they get warmer and drivers must allow extra space in a tank to accommodate this expansion. Different liquids expand to different degrees, so drivers must be aware of the outage requirements of the specific load they are carrying.

A vehicle's regular stopping distance increases on slippery surfaces because there is less available traction.

If you discover a leak in a cargo of hazardous materials, identify the materials in question by using the shipping papers, labels, or package location. Do not touch the leaking material.

Avoid being an aggressive driver by being realistic about your travel time, making allowance for delays, maintaining reasonable following distances, and not making hand gestures that could anger another driver.

In the event of a vehicle fire, you should leave the road and stop in an open area. Do not pull into a service station as fuels at the service station could catch fire. Report the fire and your location to emergency services.

Use your senses during trips to help you identify mechanical issues. If you see, hear, smell, or feel anything that could indicate trouble, you should stop and check it out.

Before a trip, you should ensure that air reaches all air brakes on all trailers by opening up the rear emergency line and service line shut-off valves and listening for escaping air. Close both shut-off valves before beginning to drive.

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.

A tractor protection valve keeps air in a tractor or truck air brake system should the trailer break away or develop a bad leak. The valve will close automatically if the pressure drops to an unsafe level.

Texting and driving is dangerous for everyone on the road. It is illegal to text while operating a CMV.

The easiest way to become aware that your trailer has begun to jackknife is to observe it in your mirrors. Checking your trailer in your mirrors will also allow you to spot any skidding at the earliest possible moment.

When stopping, apply gradual pressure to the brake pedal and stop smoothly. If stopping a manual transmission vehicle, push the clutch in when the engine is close to idle.

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. When driving a vehicle with ABS, you should brake in the same way that you would in a vehicle without ABS. It will not necessarily shorten your stopping distance.

Hydroplaning is most likely to occur when driving on wet roads with tire pressure that is too low and tire tread that is too worn. If there is enough water on the road, hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph.

You should always slow down to a safe speed and shift into a lower gear before entering a curve.

A vehicle inspection should be completed in the same order every time. This will make it easier for you to learn all of the steps and will make it less likely that you will forget to check something.

When driving a vehicle with ABS, you should brake in the same manner as you would in a vehicle without ABS.

When a shipper packages hazardous materials, they certify that the package has been prepared according to Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). Unless a package is clearly unsafe or noncomplying with HMR, you may accept the shipper’s certification concerning the proper packaging of a material.