When accelerating, speed up smoothly and gradually so your vehicle does not jerk. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage.

Be cautious when driving near people who are working on disabled vehicles. The task will likely consume their attention, so they may not be aware of traffic or other hazards on the road.

When starting a trip, be sure that all shut-off valves are in the open position, except for the last valves on the rear trailer. It is important that air reaches the brakes on all trailers and that the air is not able to escape from the back of the vehicle.

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.

Drivers are required by state and federal law to inspect their vehicles before beginning to drive.

You must have a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement to drive a vehicle of any size that is used to transport hazardous materials.

When applying for or renewing a HazMat endorsement, you must undergo a Federal Security Threat Assessment, which includes being fingerprinted.

The emergency air line controls the emergency brakes on a combination vehicle. A loss of air pressure in the emergency line will cause the emergency trailer brakes to activate.

At a minimum, emergency response information must include the basic descriptions and technical names of the materials being transported; immediate hazards to health; risks of fire or explosion; immediate precautions to be taken in the event of an accident or incident; immediate methods for handling fires; initial methods for handling spills or leaks in the absence of fires; and preliminary first aid measures.

If you must drive slowly, you should use your emergency flashers to warn other drivers. Be sure that the use of emergency flashers is permitted by local laws.

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.

Because they are exposed to less sunlight, shaded patches of road will stay cooler longer than other areas of the road. Due to the lack of direct sunlight, shady areas can remain icy and slippery after ice on other areas of the road has melted.

ABS increases a driver's control during braking. It will not necessarily change the distance needed for a vehicle to come to a complete stop.

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 before changing lanes.

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.

A shipping paper describes hazardous materials being transported. Shipping orders, bills of lading, and manifests are all shipping papers.

Speeding traffic is the main cause of death and injury in work zones. Drive with special caution when traveling near road workers.

After the engine is started, the warning lights and buzzers should deactivate immediately. The charging circuit warning, oil, coolant, and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) lights should all turn off.

If a trailer is attached to a tractor, the adjustment of the vehicle's mirrors can only be checked accurately if the trailer is straight.

Hydroplaning is most likely to occur on wet roads if tire pressure is low or if tire tread is worn. If there is enough water on the road, hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph.

Because of the risks presented by the nature of the materials, government on federal, state, and local levels may impose regulations on the transportation of hazardous materials.

A tank vehicle transporting liquids is less stable than other vehicles and may be prone to roll over or skid if not operated in a safe manner. If you must make a quick stop to avoid an accident while transporting liquid cargo, it safest to use either the controlled braking method or the stab braking method.

Always turn off your vehicle's engine before loading or unloading explosive materials. Never drop, throw, or roll packages containing explosives.

When backing with a trailer, turn the top of the steering wheel in the direction opposite of where you want to go. Once the trailer begins turning, you should then switch the direction of the steering wheel to follow the trailer.

To prevent rolling backward when starting from a stop, you should partly engage the clutch before removing your foot from the brake. Apply the parking brake whenever necessary to prevent your vehicle from rolling back.

The service air line carries air and is controlled by either the foot brake or trailer hand brake. The service air line is attached to relay valves, which allow the trailer brakes to be applied quickly.

Driving drowsy is dangerous and should always be avoided. Warning signs of drowsiness include frequent blinking, your eyes closing or going out of focus by themselves, frequent yawning, and drifting between lanes.

Always signal before a turn or lane change. Begin signaling well in advance of the movement and keep the signal on continuously during the turn. If it is not self-canceling, make sure to turn your signal off after your turn or lane change is complete.

Containers of hazardous materials must be braced so that they will not fall, slide, or bounce around during transportation.

Being under stress can lead to aggressive driving, which is dangerous. Playing calming music can help you become more relaxed if you are feeling stressed while driving.