There are many different types of auxiliary equipment that can be found on commercial trucks. Sometimes, a carrier may purchase a truck with extra equipment they don’t plan on using, and the equipment just sits there.
If your vehicle is equipped with controls and equipment you don’t know about, feel free to ask your company what the equipment does. Asking doesn’t mean you need to use it, but simply knowing what it does can give you a better understanding of your vehicle.
If, for example, your truck has a power takeoff (PTO), you want to know how it works so that you know how to check that it is disengaged. Unknown equipment can present hazards to your safety, so knowing how to make sure everything is safe is an important part of your job.
