District Of Columbia CDL DMV Endorsement Tank 2

Bobtail tractors are tractors that are not attached to any semitrailers. When operating a bobtail, you should be aware that stopping can be difficult and that it will take a longer distance to bring the bobtail to a complete stop than it would a tractor attached to a loaded semitrailer.

When traveling at speeds below 40 mph, you should maintain at least one second of following distance for every 10 feet of your vehicle's length. At higher speeds, add an additional second.

If your vehicle gets stuck on railroad tracks for any reason, you should immediately exit the vehicle and walk away from the tracks. Contact the proper emergency authorities.

Before inspecting the engine compartment, make sure that the parking brakes are on and/or the wheels are chocked. Check the engine compartment before entering the cab and starting the engine.

Shippers of hazardous materials are required to provide emergency response information to drivers.

While driving, you should continually scan the road ahead to spot potential hazards well in advance. Make emergency plans for how to deal with the hazards in the event that they become dangerous.

Roads are especially slippery when it first begins to rain. Rain water initially mixes with oil and grease on the road to form a slippery film. As the rain continues, this mixture will eventually wash away.

When inspecting a vehicle's brakes, you should make sure the shoes and pads do not have oil, grease, or brake fluid on them.

If a federal or state inspector judges a CMV to be unsafe, they may put it out-of-service until it is fixed.

Driving tank vehicles requires special care because they have high centers of gravity. Drivers should be particularly aware of their speeds when operating in turns and curves

Pre-trip inspections should be conducted in the same way every time. This will reinforce the steps, making it less likely that you will forget to inspect something important.

The loading and unloading of a tank must be watched by a qualified person. They must be alert; have a clear view of the tank; stay within 25 feet of the tank; know the hazards of the materials involved; know the procedures to follow in an emergency; and be authorized and able to move the tank if necessary.

When starting a trip, be sure that all shut-off valves are in the open position, except for the last valves on the rear trailer. It is important that air reaches the brakes on all trailers and that the air is not able to escape from the back of the vehicle.

When transporting hazardous materials, you may leave your vehicle unattended in a safe haven. A safe haven is a location that has been approved for parking unattended vehicles that are loaded with explosives.

To travel safely, it is essential that you know what is happening on all sides of your vehicle at all times. Check all mirrors frequently while driving.

When making a right turn, avoid turning too wide to the left. If you must swing into another lane to complete the turn, you should keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb. Leaving space to the right of your vehicle while turning right may indicate to other drivers that you are turning left, so they may attempt to pass you on your right.

Be careful around pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists who are wearing headphones. They may not be able to clearly hear surrounding traffic and may not be aware that you are there.

The three main factors that determine a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are how much alcohol was consumed; how fast it was consumed; and the person's body weight. The only thing that can lower a person's BAC is waiting for the alcohol to leave their system naturally.

If the interior of your cab is too bright when you are driving at night, you may have difficulty seeing things outside. Keep the interior light off and adjust your instrument lights to the lowest possible level that still allows you to easily read the gauges.

When inspecting the engine compartment, you should check the oil level, coolant level, and windshield washer fluid level, among other things. In both cold and hot weather, it is important that the engine have enough coolant.