The tire load is the maximum safe weight a tire can carry at a specified pressure. This rating is stated on the side of each tire.

The total stopping distance is the total minimum distance your vehicle has traveled, in ideal conditions; with everything considered, including perception distance, reaction distance and braking distance, until you can bring your vehicle to a complete stop. At 55 mph, your vehicle will travel a minimum of 450 feet.

Be familiar with the laws in the states you drive in. These laws can cover aspects such as vehicle weight, cargo, and allowed routes. The regulations can vary from one jurisdiction to another, so know which jurisdictions you'll be driving through.

Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands. Your hands should be on opposite sides of the wheel. If you hit a curb or a pothole, the wheel could pull away from your hands unless you have a firm hold.

Slow down to a safe speed, and downshift to the right gear before entering the curve. This lets you use some power through the curve to help the vehicle be more stable while turning. It also allows you to speed up as soon as you are out of the curve.

Check the tire mounting and air pressure, inspect the tires every two hours or every 100 miles, air pressure increases with temperature, do not let air out or the pressure will be too low when the tires cool off, if a tire is too hot to touch remain stopped until the tire cools off.

Don't look directly at bright lights when driving. Look at the right side of the road. Watch the sidelines when someone coming toward you has very bright lights on.

Water in the brakes can cause the brakes to be weak, to apply unevenly, or to grab. This can cause lack of braking power, wheel lockups, pulling to one side or the other, and jackknife if you pull a trailer.

It is very important to distribute the cargo, so it is as low as possible. Put the heaviest parts of the cargo under the lightest parts.

Right after it starts to rain, the water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles. This makes the road very slippery. If the rain continues, it will wash the oil away.

Use high beams when it is safe and legal to do so. Use them when you are not within 500 feet of another vehicle.

Axle weight is the weight transmitted from one axle or a set of axles to the ground.

The average person needs seven or eight hours of sleep every 24 hours. Leaving on a long trip when you're already tired is dangerous. If you have a long trip scheduled, make sure that you get enough sleep before you go.

When any vehicle starts to skid, you must act to restore traction to the wheels.

There are three good rules for using turn signals: signal early, signal continuously, cancel your signal after the turn is completed.

To get in and start the engine, make sure: the parking brake is on, gearshift is in neutral.

Basic method for shifting up: release accelerator, push in clutch and shift to neutral at the same time. Release clutch. Let engine and gears slow down to the rpm required for the next gear. Push in clutch and shift to the higher gear at the same time. Release clutch and press accelerator at the same time.

Some drivers make the mistake of always using low beams. This seriously cuts down on their ability to see ahead. Use high beams when it is safe and legal to do so. Use them when you are not within 500 feet of another vehicle. Keep the interior light off and adjust your instrument lights as low as you can to still be able to read the gauges.

If you must stop on a road or the shoulder of any road, you must put out your emergency warning devices within ten minutes.

Over-length, over-width, and/or overweight loads require special transit permits. Driving is usually limited to certain times. Special equipment may be necessary such as "wide load" signs, flashing lights, flags, etc. Such loads may require a police escort or pilot vehicles bearing warning signs and/or flashing lights. These special loads require special driving care.

Your CDL will be disqualified after two or more convictions of any state law on texting while operating a CMV. No motor carrier shall allow or require its drivers to engage in texting while driving.

Emergency personnel look for these things on the shipping paper. That is why it is vital that the proper shipping name, identification number, label, and placards are correct.

Inspect mirrors and windshield for cracks, dirt, illegal stickers, or other obstructions to seeing clearly. Clean and adjust as necessary.

Other drivers can't know what you are going to do until you tell them. Signaling what you intend to do is important for safety. Also, other drivers may not notice your vehicle even when it's in plain sight. To help prevent accidents, let them know you're there.

At a BAC of .40 most people will lose consciousness, and some will die.

Too much weight on the steering axle can cause hard steering. It can damage the steering axle and tires.

Newer trucks have low friction parts, streamlined shapes for fuel economy, more powerful engines meaning they can go up hills in higher gears. For that reason, drivers of modern trucks may have to use lower gears going down a hill than would be required to go up the hill.

Whenever you are about to pass a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist, assume they don't see you, or that they could suddenly move in front of you. When it is legal, tap the horn lightly or, at night, flash your lights from low to high beam and back. Drive carefully enough to avoid a crash even if they don't see or hear you.

You must review the inspection report made by the previous driver. Only if defects reported earlier have been certified as repaired or not needed to be repaired, should you sign the previous driver's report.

Some drivers try to help out others by signaling when it is safe to pass. You should not do this. You could cause an accident. You could be blamed, and it could cost you many thousands of dollars.

A stale green light is a traffic light that is green when you first see it, thus you do not know how long it has been green - so we have to assume it will change at any moment.

If you must stop on or by a one-way or divided highway, place warning devices 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward the approaching traffic.

If you operate a CMV, you shall be deemed to have given your consent to alcohol testing.

Check for optional emergency items such as: chains, tire changing equipment, list of emergency phone numbers, and accident reporting kit.

—the rest builds up in your blood.

Leaking shock absorbers and broken or missing leaves are two of the more common defects that may occur in a suspension system.

You must select an appropriate safe speed, then use a low gear, and proper braking techniques.

Make sure you have enough tread on your tires. The drive tires must provide traction to push the rig over wet pavement and through snow. The steering tires must have traction to steer the vehicle. Enough tread is especially important in winter conditions.

Do the following to correct a drive-wheel braking skid: stop braking letting the rear wheels roll again and keep the rear wheels from sliding; counter-steer as a vehicle turns back on course, it tends to keep on turning. Unless you turn the steering wheel quickly the other way, you may find yourself skidding in the opposite direction.

Possession and use of any drug given to a driver by a doctor is permitted if the doctor informs the driver that it will not affect safe driving ability.