Illinois CDL DMV Combination 1

When driving a tractor-trailer combination equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), you should brake in the same manner that you would in a vehicle without ABS.

The emergency air line (also known as the supply line) has two functions. The first is to supply air to the trailer air tanks on a combination vehicle, and the second is to control the emergency brakes.

If you are experiencing a trailer jackknife, you can help your tires regain traction by releasing the brakes. Using a trailer hand brake while experiencing a skid will only cause the skid to continue.

Combination vehicles need more space on the road than other commercial vehicles because they are longer and need more space to turn and stop. It is especially important to properly manage space when you are operating a combination vehicle.

An empty trailer will require a longer stopping distance than a loaded trailer. Additionally, a trailer is most likely to swing out and strike other vehicles when it is lightly loaded or empty.

Double and triple combinations are the most vulnerable to turning over as a result of the "crack-the-whip" effect.

To test the trailer service brakes, you should first ensure that the braking system has a normal air pressure level, then release the parking brake. You should then move the vehicle forward slowly and apply the brakes with the hand control. If the trailer service brakes are working properly, you will feel the brakes activate.

Because the weight of cargo gives them a higher center of gravity, fully-loaded rigs are 10 times more likely to roll over in a crash than empty rigs.

If your trailer starts to skid while you are braking, you should release the brakes and allow them to begin to regain traction. Once its wheels have regained their grip on the road, the trailer will begin to straighten out and follow the tractor.

To reduce the risk of a rollover, the weight of cargo in a trailer should be kept as low to the ground as possible. Weight should not be placed primarily on one side of the trailer as this could make the trailer lean, increasing the risk of a rollover.

The easiest way to spot a trailer skid is to use your mirrors. Any time you brake hard, check your mirrors to ensure that your trailer is still in its proper position.

At speeds below 40 mph, you should allow at least one second of following distance for every 10 feet of your vehicle. Follow the same formula when traveling at faster speeds, then add one additional second to your following distance. Remember that larger vehicles require more space to stop than smaller vehicles.

In comparison to driving a single vehicle, you should maintain an extended following distance when driving a combination rig. Combinations require longer stopping distances than smaller vehicles.

Railroad-highway crossings may be difficult to cross when pulling a trailer with a low underneath clearance. In particular, both low-slung units and single-axle tractors pulling long trailers are especially challenging to drive over raised crossings.

Before a trip, you should ensure that air reaches all air brakes on all trailers by opening up the rear emergency line and service line shut-off valves to listen for escaping air. Close both shut-off valves before beginning to drive.

To lower the risk of a rollover, load your cargo as closely to the ground as possible. To further reduce this risk, take curves and corners slowly.

The trailer hand valve should be used only to test the trailer brakes. It should not be used while driving because it may cause the trailer to skid.

When coupling, be sure to couple the proper glad hands. When glad hands are connected, the seals should be pressed together at a 90-degree angle.

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.

To reduce the risk of a rollover when driving a combination vehicle, you should keep the weight of the cargo as low to the ground as possible and drive slowly around turns.