What general driving principle is most important for safely operating any tanker?

THE CORE TANKER DRIVING PRINCIPLE — SMOOTHNESS: Everything about safe tanker operation comes down to SMOOTH, GRADUAL, ANTICIPATED driving. KEY PRACTICES: Accelerate gradually; brake smoothly and early (not hard or late); steer gently (no sudden movements); anticipate stops, turns, and lane changes well in advance; slow down for curves, ramps, and turns (well below posted advisory speeds); allow extra following distance and stopping distance; avoid quick evasive maneuvers when possible; WHY: Liquid surge (front-back and side-to-side) and the high center of gravity mean that sudden moves cause the liquid to shift violently, which can push the truck, upset balance, and cause skids, jackknifes, or rollovers; smooth inputs keep the liquid calmer and the vehicle stable; EXPERIENCE: Even experienced drivers crash tankers by being too aggressive on a ramp or in an emergency maneuver; the liquid load demands respect; THINK AHEAD: Anticipation is the tanker driver's best tool — planning moves early avoids the sudden inputs that cause loss of control; smooth driving is the single most important habit for tanker safety and underlies all the specific techniques.