Most good drivers look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead. That means looking ahead the distance you will travel in 12 to 15 seconds.

If the cargo contains hazardous materials, you must inspect for proper papers, labeling, and placarding.

Sometimes pumping the brake pedal will generate enough hydraulic pressure to stop the vehicle.

Escape ramps are made to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers and passengers.

Air lines and electrical wiring needs to be secured against snagging, rubbing, wearing.

If possible, try to schedule trips for the hours you are normally awake. Many heavy motor vehicle accidents occur between midnight and 6 a.m.

Be alert for drivers whose vision is blocked. Vans loaded station wagons, and cars with the rear window blocked are examples. Rental trucks should be watched carefully. Their drivers are often not used to the limited vision they have to the sides and rear of the truck.

Wet roads can double stopping distance. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. Reduce speed by about one-third on a wet road. On packed snow, reduce speed by a half, or more. If the surface is icy, reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.

First and foremost, make every attempt to get out of their way. Do not challenge them by speeding up, avoid eye contact, ignore gestures and refuse to react to them, and report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities.

Empty trucks require greater stopping distances because an empty vehicle has less traction.

Most good drivers look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead. At lower speeds, that's about one block. At highway speeds it's about a quarter of a mile.

The liver can only process one-third an ounce of alcohol per hour, which is considerably less than the alcohol in a standard drink. This is a fixed rate, so only time, not black coffee or a cold shower, will sober you up.

Check for missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring. If one-fourth or more are missing, it will put the vehicle "out of service", but any defect could be dangerous.

When checking the wheels and rims check for: damaged rims. rust around wheel nuts may mean the nuts are loose--check tightness, missing clamps, spacers, studs, or lugs, mismatched, bent, or cracked lock rings, and wheels or rims that have had welding repairs are not safe.

This includes a variety of prescription and over-the counter drugs or cold medicines, which may make the driver drowsy or otherwise affect safe driving ability.

Safety requirements call for three red reflective triangles.

Hazardous materials drivers must also know which products they can load together, and which they cannot, when to use placards.

If you find yourself being tailgated, here are some things you can do to reduce the chances of a crash: avoid quick changes, increase your following distance opening up room in front of you will make it easier for the tailgater to get around you, don't speed up.

Too little weight on the driving axles can cause poor traction. The drive wheels may spin easily.

Containerized loads generally are used when freight is carried part way by rail or ship. Delivery by truck occurs at the beginning and/or end of the journey.

Many large vehicles have curved mirrors that show a wider area than flat mirrors. This is often helpful, but everything appears smaller in a convex mirror than it would if you were looking at it directly. Things also seem farther away than they really are.

Hanging meat and dry bulk can be a very unstable load with a high center of gravity. Particular caution is needed on sharp curves such as off ramps and on ramps. Go slowly.

Tar in the road pavement frequently rises to the surface in very hot weather. Spots where tar "bleeds" to the surface are very slippery.

Keeping the parking brake set until you can feel the pull of the vehicle against the brakes will help you get moving on an uphill grade without rolling backwards.

You need to check your mirrors to make sure no one is alongside you or about to pass you. Check your mirrors: before you change lanes, after you have signaled, right after you start the lane change, and after you complete the lane change.

If a qualified person is at the accident and helping the injured, stay out of the way unless asked to assist. Otherwise, do the best you can to help any injured parties: don't move a severely injured person unless the danger of fire or passing traffic, stop heavy bleeding by applying, and keep the injured person warm.

The ABC type is designed to work on electrical fires, burning liquids, wood, paper, and cloth as well.

Most GPS devices are made for cars or other smaller vehicles, and so not have the size or weight of large vehicles programmed in. Make sure your GPS device is designed for large commercial vehicles.

If you are driving a truck or bus that cannot make the right turn without swinging into another lane, turn wide as you complete the turn. Don't turn wide to the left as you start the turn. A following driver may think you are turning left and try to pass you on the right.

Learn how to check v-belt tightness on your vehicle by pressing on the belts. Loose belts will not turn the water pump and/or fan properly. This will result in overheating. Also, check belts for cracking or other signs of wear.

To respond to tire failure: you must immediately: hold the steering wheel firmly, stay off the brake, and check the tires after you've come to a stop.

Stopping distance is the sum of your Perception Distance + Reaction Distance + Braking Distance. In vehicles with air brakes you must include the brake lag distance.

If line of sight view is obstructed due to hill or curve, move the rear-most triangle to a point back down the road (up to 500 feet) so warning is provided.

You will lose your CDL for at least 60 days for your first violation of the following six offenses: failing to stop if the tracks are not clear, failing to slow down and check that the tracks are clear of an approaching train, failing to stop before driving onto the crossing, failing to have sufficient space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping, failing to obey a traffic control device or the directions of an enforcement official at the crossing, failing to negotiate a crossing because of insufficient undercarriage clearance.

Activities inside of the vehicle that can distract your attention include: talking to passengers; adjusting the radio, CD player or climate controls; eating, drinking or smoking; reading maps or other literature; picking up something that fell; reading or sending text messages. To name a few.

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.

Before the ice buildup becomes dangerous you should stop in a safe location and clear off the ice. With ice on the wiper blade it might not clear the windshield enough for safe driving.

Driving too fast is a major cause of fatal crashes. You must adjust your speed depending on driving conditions. These include traction, curves, visibility, traffic and hills.

Under-inflated tires and duals that touch are the most common causes of tire fires.