Virginia CDL DMV Combination 1

The trailer hand valve, also called the trolley valve or Johnson bar, is used to work the trailer brakes. It should be used only to test the brakes. Using it while a vehicle is in motion could cause a skid.

When connecting a converter dolly to a second or third trailer, the trailer height should correct. It should be slightly lower than the center of the fifth wheel.

Trailers can overturn as a result of the "crack-the-whip" effect. The last trailer in a combination is the most prone to tip over due to this effect. Drivers should be aware of the rearward amplification of their specific vehicles and drive accordingly.

Positioning the weight of a load on one side of a trailer may cause the trailer to lean to that side, increasing the risk of a rollover during turns and lane changes.

Every combination vehicle has two air lines: the service line and the emergency line.

Rollovers are caused by operators turning too fast. To avoid rolling over, drive slowly on entrance ramps, on exit ramps, and around corners. Avoid making quick lane changes when towing trailers.

To help prevent a rig from rolling over, you should keep the weight of the cargo as close to the ground as possible when loading. You should also drive slowly around turns.

An Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) helps prevent wheel lockup during hard braking. If ABS detects impending lockup, it reduces braking pressure to a safe level.

If a trailer is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) but the tractor is not, the driver will still have increased control while braking. A trailer with ABS is less likely to swing out of its lane than a trailer without ABS.

Before coupling together a tractor and a trailer, you should make sure the trailer is at the proper height. If the trailer is too low, the trailer nose may be damaged. If the trailer is too high, it may not be able to couple correctly.

Before a trip, ensure that air in the air brake system reaches all trailers. Do this by waiting for air pressure to build, then sending air to both the emergency and service lines and opening the shut-off valves on the rear of the last trailer. If air escapes from the shut-off valves in the rear of the combination, the air is being supplied to the entire vehicle.

The "crack-the-whip" effect is a result of rearward amplification. If not properly handled, a trailer can tip over due to rearward amplification.

Air lines are sometimes color-coded to help drivers avoid mistakes when coupling glad hands. Typically, blue is used for service lines and red is used for emergency lines.

The trailer hand valve (also referred to as the "trolley valve" or "Johnson bar") works the trailer brakes and should be used only when testing them. Using the trailer hand valve while driving could result in a skid.

If your trailer begins to drift while you are backing, you should correct the drift immediately by turning the top of the steering wheel in the direction of the drift.

Before a trip, be sure to inspect all couplings. There should be no space between the upper and lower fifth wheel.

Be sure to test the trailer emergency brakes before beginning a trip. After ensuring that the trailer rolls freely, you can test the emergency brakes by pulling out the trailer air supply control, or placing it in the "emergency" position. Pull forward slightly with the tractor and make sure the trailer does not move.

When coupling air brake hoses, you should make sure the proper pairs of gland hands are connected. They are sometimes color-coded to help drivers avoid mistakes. Typically, blue is used for service lines and red is used for emergency lines.

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 and listening for escaping air. Close both shut-off valves before beginning to drive.

The trailer hand valve (also referred to as the trolley valve or Johnson bar) is a mechanism that works the trailer brakes. It should only be used to test the brakes. Using it while the vehicle is being driven could cause a skid. Never use the trailer hand valve while parking because doing so may release the air pressure from the braking system, releasing the brakes that are holding the vehicle in place.