How should you brake when driving a tractor-trailer combination with ABS?

When driving a tractor-trailer combination equipped with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), you should brake as you normally would. The key feature of ABS is that it prevents the wheels from locking up during braking, allowing the driver to maintain steering control while effectively reducing stopping distance on slippery surfaces.

Using the brakes in the usual manner allows you to engage the ABS functioning optimally. When the ABS activates, it will automatically modulate brake pressure, which means that if you're braking normally, you can trust the system to manage the braking performance and protect against loss of control.

Braking harder than normal may lead to unnecessary wear on the braking system or cause the wheels to lock up, even with ABS, negating its benefits. Relying solely on emergency brakes does not utilize the advantages of ABS, and applying brakes intermittently can actually disrupt the ABS and reduce overall effectiveness.