Railroad crossings, alcohol, drugs and fatigue
Trains can't stop quickly; a freight train can need a mile or more. Never try to beat a train. Pick a gear that gets you all the way across before you start, and never shift gears on the tracks. Make sure there's room on the other side for your whole vehicle, and watch out for raised crossings, where low trailers can get stuck.
Commercial drivers are held to a stricter alcohol limit: 0.04%, half the usual limit for car drivers. Any detectable amount below that still puts you out of service for 24 hours. A first DUI in a commercial vehicle means losing your CDL for at least a year. Only time sobers you up; coffee and cold showers don't.
Fatigue causes crashes too. The only cure is sleep. If you start drifting or yawning, pull over somewhere safe and rest.
Phones are a big distraction. Federal rules ban texting and holding a phone while driving a commercial vehicle. Hands-free use only, and keep it short.
