SAND The major problem sand presents is to gain traction without digging in. Sand can be stabilized with a large volume of water but loosens as soon as it dries out. Often, tires spin and dig into the sand rapidly which causes a jerking motion in the drive line. NOTE:  This  jerking  motion  can  cause  severe damage to axles, differentials, and propeller shafts. All-wheel  drive  vehicles  have  less  difficulty,  but  they consume  considerable  power. Should you have to operate in sand, there are some actions you can take to help you out when a winch is not available. Partially deflate your tires; this gives your tires a wider footprint for traction. You can use mats of brush, wire, grass, lumber or anything that can “bridge over” and allow you to spread the load of your vehicle over a larger area. CROSS-COUNTRY Driving cross-country can produce many problems. Should you have to drive cross-country, it is best to have someone walk in front of your vehicle to look for holes, stumps, and ditches that may damage your vehicle. Proceed slowly and use the lowest gear possible. Avoid wet, marshy areas if possible because a marsh will crust over and break through if you drive over it. When it breaks through, there is little you can do but call for assistance  to  be  towed. Watch out for stumps, rocks, or anything on which you may get high center. Sometimes it is better to keep your tires on large rocks and go over them, rather than straddle them. Stumps may be cut off for your vehicle to clear. DRIVING HOURS Driving hours are regulated by the U.S. Department of  Transportation,  Code  of  Federal  Regulations,  Title 49. These regulations are reflected in the  Federal  Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Pocketbook, ORS-7A. You are restricted to drive no longer than 10 hours in a 15-hour period after 8 hours off duty. You, the operator, are responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle. As a safety measure, an operator should take breaks or  rest  stops  when  becoming  fatigued  or  sleepy.  After parking the vehicle, get out and walk around to stretch your muscles. Rest stops are especially important on a long trip requiring many hours of driving. WARNING Extended periods of driving often results in driver fatigue. Physical  and  mental  fatigue brought on by extended periods of time behind the wheel is a frequent problem encountered by operators. If operators are exhausted, they may doze at the wheel and lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a serious or fatal mishap. MOUNTAIN  DRIVING The force of gravity plays a major role in mountain driving. If you have a heavy load or a fully loaded bus, you must select lower gears to climb the hills. When going  down  steep  hills,  the  pull  of  gravity  speeds  you up. You must go slow so your brakes can hold you back without overheating. If the brakes become too hot, they may start to “fade.” This means that you have to apply them harder and harder to get the same stopping power. When the brakes continue to be used hard, they continue to fade until you cannot slow down or stop at all. Use of Gears No matter what size of vehicle you are descending long, steep grades in, going too fast can cause your brakes  to  fail.  Lower  gears  allow  engine  compression and friction to help slow the vehicle. This is true whether you have an automatic or a manual transmission. When  you  are  operating  a  large  vehicle  with  a manual transmission or a fully loaded bus, do not wait until you have started down a  hill to  shift  down.  You could get hung up in neutral and find yourself coasting, which  is  not  only  illegal  but  is  also  dangerous. Remember: Choose the right gear before starting down a hill. For older trucks, the rule of thumb for choosing gears is to use the same gear going down a hill that you would use to climb the hill. New trucks have low friction parts and streamlined shapes for fuel economy and often have more powerful engines. This allows them to go up hills in higher gears. They also have less friction and air drag to hold them back when going down a hill. For this reason, operators of newer trucks often have to use lower gears going down  a hill than needed to go up the hill. Proper  Braking When going downhill, brakes tend to heat up. When engaged, the brake pads and shoes rub against the brake 5-7