At the end of each day of driving, you may be required to make a written report on the vehicle or vehicles driven. Be sure to make note of any issues that could affect the safety of the vehicle or that could lead to a mechanical breakdown.

If you are not confident that your vehicle will have enough room to safely pass under an overhead object, you should slow down and seek another route, if possible.

While speaking on a hands-free phone while driving is less dangerous than speaking on a hand-held phone, it is just as likely to mentally distract a driver. Simply engaging in conversation takes their mental focus away from the task of driving.

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.

A trailer may swing out and strike other vehicles if its wheels lock up. This is especially likely with lightly-loaded trailers.

You should always complete an after-trip inspection of your vehicle at the end of a trip, day, or tour of duty. Complete a vehicle inspection report, if required.

When connecting a converter dolly to a second or third trailer, the trailer height should be correct. It should be slightly lower than the center of the fifth wheel.

You should accelerate very gradually when driving under slippery conditions. Using too much power in such conditions may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

On a downgrade, the force of gravity will cause a vehicle's speed to increase. When approaching a downgrade, choose to travel at a speed that will be safe for the size and weight of your vehicle.

When inspecting your brakes, you should check for cracked drums; shoes or pads covered in oil, grease, or brake fluid; and shoes that are missing, broken, or worn dangerously thin.

When carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, you should not park within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, or building, unless you are parking for a short period of time while performing an operational necessity, like refueling.

Large vehicles often have curved, convex mirrors, sometimes referred to as "fisheye," "spot," or "bug-eye" mirrors. These mirrors provide a wider view than flat mirrors. However, they also make objects seem smaller and farther away than they actually are.

If you are being tailgated, you should increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. This reduces the need for you to make sudden changes in speed or direction while making it easier for the tailgater to pass your vehicle.

When transporting hazardous materials, shipping papers should be kept in a pouch in the driver's side door, or in another location where the driver is able to easily reach them while their seat belt is fastened. The papers must be easily visible to anyone who is entering the cab.

Ice becomes wet when the weather is just warm enough to melt the ice slightly. Wet ice is much more slippery than ice that is not wet.

The doors of a trailer should be not be opened in the event of a cargo fire, especially if the cargo includes hazardous materials. Opening trailer doors would increase the fire's oxygen supply, potentially causing the fire to increase in size.

In general, vehicles carrying hazardous materials are required to display diamond-shaped warning signs on all four sides. These warning signs are called "placards."

A steering wheel should be held firmly with both hands, positioned on opposite sides of the wheel.

When stopping, it is best to gradually press down the brake pedal.

While the manual includes all of the information required to pass the hazardous materials knowledge test, you should consider reading the manual as only the first step to learning about the topic. You can learn more by reading and understanding the federal and state rules about the transportation of hazardous materials, as well as by attending hazardous materials training courses.