New Hampshire CDL DMV Combination 2

The trailer service air line may also be referred to as the control line or signal line.

Rollovers can happen when a combination vehicle is turned too quickly. To help prevent the risk of rollover, it is important to keep the vehicle's center of gravity low by loading cargo as close to the ground as possible.

In a combination vehicle with air brakes, the tractor protection valve keeps air in the tractor or truck brake system in the event of the trailer breaking away or developing a leak.

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.

The service air line carries air and is controlled by either the foot brake or trailer hand brake. The service air line is attached to relay valves, which allow the trailer brakes to be applied quickly.

When a combination vehicle is lightly loaded, it may have poor traction. It is very easy for wheels to lock up on lightly-loaded vehicles when they are being stopped.

You should test the tractor protection valve by allowing the air supply to properly charge, turning off the engine, then releasing air from the system by pressing the brake pedal several times. The tractor protection valve should move into its emergency position when psi drops to an unsafe level.

When making a turn, be sure to steer gently and smoothly. Making a quick turn while pulling trailers is dangerous and can increase the risk of the last trailer rolling over.

To reduce the risk of a surge in a tank vehicle, slow or stop while keeping a steady pressure on the brakes and do not release the brakes too early. Brake well in advance of a stop and increase your following distance.

Correctly following the steps to couple and uncouple trailers is vital to safely operating a combination vehicle. After connecting the air lines to the trailer while coupling, you should supply air to the trailer.

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

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.

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.

Due to the "crack-the-whip" effect caused by rearward amplification, changing lanes too quickly in a combination vehicle can result in a rollover.

Never use the trailer hand valve while operating your vehicle. Using the trailer hand valve while driving can cause your trailer to skid.

A trailer may swing out and strike other vehicles if its wheels lock up. This is especially likely with lightly-loaded trailers.

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.

If a vehicle has anti-lock brakes on just one axle, the driver will still have more control during braking than they would without any anti-lock brakes.

If your trailer begins to skid, you should release the brakes to help regain traction. Once the wheels grip the road again, the trailer will begin to straighten out and follow the path of the tractor.

Trailers and converter dollies manufactured on or after March 1, 1998 are required to have Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS).