Final answer:
A fully loaded tractor-trailer is likely to take a longer stopping distance than a passenger vehicle due to its increased mass, affecting reaction time and braking distance. Additionally, a heavily loaded trailer tends to bounce slowly on the highway because its suspension is more dampened.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Safety Council and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety data indicate that a fully loaded tractor-trailer may take a longer stopping distance compared to a passenger vehicle. This is due to the increased mass of the trailer, which requires more time and distance to slow down and come to a stop, especially when the trailer is fully loaded. The longer stopping distance encompasses: the time the driver takes to perceive and react to a hazard (reaction time), the time and distance it takes for the brakes to bring the vehicle to a complete stop after the brakes are applied (braking distance), and the total distance covered from the moment the driver perceives the danger to the moment the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
If you observe a trailer bouncing up and down slowly on the highway, it is more likely to be heavily loaded. A fully loaded trailer has a dampened suspension system due to the weight pressing down on it, which makes the bounces slower and less frequent compared to an empty trailer, where the suspension would be more reactive leading to quicker and more frequent bounces.