As part of your Vehicle inspection, make sure the truck is not overloaded and the cargo is balanced and secured properly.

As part of your vehicle inspection, make sure the truck is not overloaded and the cargo is balanced and secured properly.

Tire Problems: too much or too little air pressure, bad wear. Less than 4/32-inch tread depth on front tires, less than 2/32 inch on other tires, cuts or other damage, tread separation, dual tires that come in contact with each other or parts of the vehicle, mismatched sizes, and radial and bias-ply tires used together.

Controlled Braking: applying the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels. Keep steering wheel movements very small while doing this. If you need to make a larger steering adjustment or if the wheels lock, release the brakes, brakes should only be locked for a short period of time. Re-apply the brakes as soon as you can.

Federal regulations require the driver and all passengers in a moving CMV to wear seat belts unless, the vehicle isn't equipped with them.

Re-check the cargo and securing devices as often as necessary during a trip to keep the load secure. You need to inspect again: after you have driven for 3 hours or 150 miles, and after every break you take during driving.

You should always be able to stop within the distance you can see ahead. Fog, rain, or other conditions may require that you slowdown to be able to stop in the distance you can see.

Blocking is used in the front, back, and/or sides of a piece of cargo to keep it from sliding. Blocking is shaped to fit snugly against cargo. It is secured to the cargo deck to prevent cargo movement.

The distance your vehicle travels, in ideal conditions; from the time your eyes see a hazard until your brain recognizes it is perception distance.

¾ seconds. At 55 mph this accounts for 142 feet traveled.

You can select a low range to get greater engine braking when going down grades. The lower ranges prevent the transmission from shifting up beyond the selected gear.

Retarders help slow a vehicle, reducing the need for using your brakes. When your drive wheels have poor traction, the retarder may cause them to skid. Therefore, you should turn the retarder off whenever the road is wet, icy, or snow covered.

When a driver stops and reverses direction to get a better position while backing, it is scored as a "pull-up". Stopping without changing direction does not count as a pull-up.

The steering tires must have traction to steer the vehicle. Enough tread is especially important in winter conditions. You must have at least 4/32-inch tread depth in every major groove on front tires and at least 2/32 inch on other tires.

If you're carrying open cargo, you can use the mirrors to check it. Special situations require more than regular mirror checks including; lane changes, turns, merges, and tight maneuvers. Use your mirrors to make sure the gap in traffic is large enough for you to enter safely.

Do a normal Vehicle inspection but pay special attention to the following items: tires, engine oil, engine coolant, engine belts, and hoses. High speeds create more heat for tires and the engine. In desert conditions the heat may build up to the point where it is dangerous.

Make sure the parking brake is set, turn off the engine, and take the key with you when you are not in the cab during your vehicle inspection.

When putting out the triangles, hold them between yourself and the oncoming traffic for your own safety, so other drivers can see you.

You look for the hazards in order to have time to plan a way out of any emergency. When you see a hazard, think about the emergencies that could develop and figure out what you would do.

ABS is a computerized system that keeps your wheels from locking up during hard brake applications.

When your drive wheels have poor traction, the retarder may cause them to skid. Therefore, you should turn the retarder off whenever the road is wet, icy, or snow covered.

Never leave your vehicle unattended without applying the parking brakes or chocking the wheels. Your vehicle might roll away and cause injury and damage

Do not turn any more than needed to clear whatever is in your way. The more sharply you turn, the greater the chances of a skid or rollover.

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.

The use of brakes on a long and/or steep downgrade is only a supplement to the braking effect of the engine.

Speed up smoothly and gradually so the vehicle does not jerk. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage. When pulling a trailer, rough acceleration can damage the coupling.

Use your horn when needed. However, it can startle others and could be dangerous when used unnecessarily.

When you discover a fire, call for help. You may use the fire extinguisher to keep minor truck fires from spreading to cargo before firefighters arrive.

To maintain alertness while driving: protect yourself from glare and eyestrain with sunglasses, keep cool, avoid heavy foods, be aware of down time during the day, have another person ride with you, take periodic breaks, or stop driving and get some rest or take a nap.

In stab braking you deliberately keep locking and unlocking the wheels, and ABS is a computerized system that keeps your wheels from locking up during hard brake applications. Do not use Stab braking with ABS, use controlled braking instead.

Vehicles must be equipped with emergency equipment: Fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses unless the vehicle is equipped with circuit breakers, and warning devices for parked vehicles.

The seats must be safe for riders. All seats must be securely fastened to the bus, and not lose or missing.

Oil pressure. Should come up to normal within seconds after engine is started.

In addition to checking for spare electrical fuses (if equipped), three red reflective triangles, and a properly charged and rated fire extinguisher, a school bus must also have: emergency kit, and body fluid cleanup kit

Your most important consideration is to select a speed that is not too fast for the: total weight of the vehicle and cargo, length of the grade, steepness of the grade, road conditions, and weather.

Placards are signs put on the outside of a vehicle that identify the hazard class of the cargo. A placarded vehicle must have at least four identical placards. They are put on the front, rear, and both sides.

If you stop on a two-lane road carrying traffic in both directions or on an undivided highway, place warning devices within 10 feet of the front or rear corners to mark the location of the vehicle and 100 feet behind and ahead of the vehicle, on the shoulder or in the lane you stopped in.

The basic steps to be taken at any accident are to: protect the area, notify authorities, care for the injured.

Steering wheel play of more than 10 degrees (approximately 2 inches movement at the rim of a 20-inch steering wheel) can make it hard to steer.

Skids caused by acceleration usually happen on ice or snow. Taking your foot off the accelerator can easily stop them. If it is very slippery, push the clutch in. Otherwise, the engine can keep the wheels from rolling freely and regaining traction.