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.

The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) indicator light should come on after an engine is started. The light will then turn off. If the light remains on, the ABS it not working properly.

On a vehicle with one or more trailers, mirror adjustment can only be checked accurately if the trailers are straight. Mirror adjustment should be checked before the start of every trip.

One way to know when it is time to shift gears is to learn your vehicle's operating rpm range. You should shift up when your engine reaches the top of that range. You can also learn which speeds each gear is good for and shift up based on your speedometer.

Alcohol impairment can begin with the first drink consumed. It is both illegal and dangerous to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol.

If you must drive onto the shoulder to avoid a hazard, stay on it until you come to a stop; then signal, check your mirrors, and merge back into traffic. Avoid braking on the shoulder at speeds higher than about 20 mph. To help maintain control, always keep one set of wheels on the pavement, if possible.

If your trailer begins to drift while you are backing, you should correct the drift immediately by turning the top of the steering wheel in the direction of the drift.

Among other information, shipping papers must include a description of the specific hazardous materials being transported.

Convex mirrors are curved to provide drivers with wider views of the road than can be provided by flat mirrors. However, convex mirrors also make objects appear to be smaller and farther away than they really are.

A retarder is a device that helps to slow a vehicle, reducing the need for a driver to use the brakes. However, these devices can be noisy and are not permitted everywhere.

A vehicle's weight is an important factor affecting its stopping distance. The heavier a vehicle is, the more work the brakes will need to do to bring it to a complete stop.

When liquid surges in a tank that is partially filled, the truck tends to be pushed in the direction of the wave. If a truck is being stopped on a slippery surface, the surge may push it forward into an intersection or another vehicle.

When doing a pre-trip inspection during the winter, you should pay extra attention to the coolant level and amount of antifreeze; the defrosting and heating equipment; the wiper blades and windshield washer; the tires and tire chains; the lights and reflectors; the windows and mirrors; the hand holds, steps, and deck plates; the radiator shuttles and winterfront; and exhaust system.

Transporting liquids or gases in a leaking tank is both unsafe and against the law.

Federal and state laws require drivers to inspect their vehicles before every trip, regardless of length.

Information about hazardous chemicals is found in the Emergency Response Guide (ERG) provided by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The ERG is indexed by the proper shipping names and identification numbers of substances.

It is illegal to transport liquids or gases in a leaking tank. If you do drive a leaking tank, you may be liable for the costs of cleaning up the spilled material.

If you are experiencing a truck fire, you should not attempt to open trailer doors without first feeling the doors to see if they are hot. If the doors are hot, there may be a cargo fire. In this case, leave the doors closed because opening the doors could worsen the fire by supplying it with more oxygen.

During a pre-trip inspection, you should verify that the air pressure is neither too low nor too high in any of your tires.

Stay as far away from a fire as possible and aim your fire extinguisher at the source or base of the fire, not at the flames. It may be appropriate to extinguish certain fires with water. If you are unsure of how to treat a specific fire, you should wait for trained firefighters to arrive.