GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

1. Merging onto a road is safest if you?

a. Inch over onto the nearest lane so that other vehicles will give you room
b. Gain speed on the shoulder and then merge into your lane
c. Wait for a larger enough gap in traffic to enter the road

2. What three things add up to total stopping distance for your truck or bus?
a. Attention distance, reaction distance, slowing distance
b. Observation distance, response distance, braking distance
c. Perception distance, reaction distance, effective braking distance

3. You are checking your steering and exhaust systems during a pre trip
inspection which of these problems if found should be fixed before the
vehicle is driven?
a. Oil on the tie rod
b. Black smoke from the exhaust pipe
c. Steering wheel play of more than 10 degrees (2 inches on a 20 inch
wheel)

4. How does vehicle weight effect stopping?

a. Empty trucks take longer to stop than loaded ones, but this is not
always the case for buses
b. It doesn’t, brakes work the same no matter the weight of the vehicle for
trucks or buses
c. Loaded trucks take longer to stop, buses loaded with passengers stop in
less distance

5. When the roads are slippery you should?

a. Make turns as gently as possible
b. Stop and test the traction while going up hill
c. Decrease the distance that you look ahead of the vehicle

6. Which of these is NOT a good rule when caring for injuries at an accident
scene?
a. If a qualified person is helping them, stay out of the way unless asked to
assist
b. Move severely injured persons if there is a danger due to fire are passing
traffic
c. Keep injured persons cool

7. You are driving on a straight level highway at 50 MPH there are no vehicles
in front of you suddenly a tire blows out on your vehicle, what should you
do?
a. Stay off the brakes until the vehicle has slowed down
b. Begin light braking
 c. Begin emergency braking

8. After starting the engine

a. The coolant temperature gauge should begin a gradual rise to
normal
b. The oil pressure gauge should take 3-5 minutes to rise to normal
c. The engine temperature gauge will take 3-5 minutes to rise to normal

9. You are driving a heavy vehicle with a manual transmission , you have to stop
the vehicle on the shoulder while driving on a uphill grade which of these is a
good rule to follow when putting the vehicle back in motion up the grade?
a. Keep the clutch slipping while slowly accelerating
b. Use the parking brake to hold the vehicle until the clutch engages
c. Let the vehicle roll backwards a few feet before you engage the clutch but
turn the wheel so that the back moves away from the roadway

10. Which of these statements is true about speed management?

a. Shadly parts of the road allow better traction than do open areas
b. Road surfaces will freeze before the bridges
c. When the road is slippery it will take longer to stop and it will be
harder to turn without skidding

11. Where must you keep shipping papers when transporting hazardous
materials?
a. Under the drivers seat
b. In the pouch on the drivers door or in the seat
c. In the glove compartment, which must be locked

12. You should use your mirrors to check?

a. If your running lights are working
b. Blind spots
c. Where the rear of your vehicle is while you make turns

13. Extra care is needed to keep your vehicle centered in your lane because
commercial vehicles
a. Are often wider than other vehicles
b. Tend to sway from side to side
c. Require a lot of room to change lanes

14. Which of these would probably not help if your windshield were covered in
ice?
a. Scraper
b. Brush
c. Defroster

15. Which of these statements about causes of vehicle fires are true?
 a. Under-Inflated tires will not cause a vehicle fire
b. Carrying a properly charged fire extinguisher will help prevent fires
c. Poor trailer ventilation can cause cargo to catch fire

16. The purpose of retarders is to

a. Help slow the vehicle while driving to reduce brake wear
b. Apply extra braking power to the non-drive axles
c. Help prevent skids

17. Which of these is usually true about driving in hot weather?

a. You should check tire mounting and pressure before driving
b. If a tire is too hot to touch you should hose it down with water
c. A small amount of air should be let out so air pressure remains steady

18. Which of these is usually true about driving in tunnels?

a. Law requires head lights
b. There may be crosswinds when exiting
c. Speeds are limited to 30 MPH or less

19. When driving thru work zones you should?

a. Reduce speed only if workers are close to the roadway
b. Turn on your parking lights
c. Watch for sharp pavement drop offs

20. When passing another vehicle pedestrian or bicyclist you should assume that
a. They know you want to pass
b. They see your vehicle because it is so large
c. They may move into your traffic lane

21. If you are not sure what to use to put out a hazardous material fire you
should
a. Use water
b. Use dirt
c. Wait for qualified fire fighters

22. What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes?

a. Start stab braking immediately
b. Release the accelerator
c. Accelerate slightly and steer toward the slide

23. Which of these is true regarding the use of drugs while driving
a. Prescription drugs are allowed if the drugs will not affect safe
driving ability
b. No prescription or non prescription drugs are allowed at any time for any
reason
 c. Use of amphetamines like (speed) is allowed if you are using the drugs to
stay awake

24. Which of these statements about brakes are true?

a. The heavier a vehicle or the faster it is moving the more heat the
brakes have to absorb to stop
b. Brake drums cool very quickly when the vehicle is moving fast
c. Brake fade is not caused by heat

25. You are driving a new truck with a manual transmission , what gear will you
probably have to use to take a long steep down grade hill?
a. The same gear you would use to climb the hill
b. A lower gear than you would use to climb the hill
c. A higher gear than you would use to climb the hill

26. Which of these statements about certain types of cargo is true?

a. Unstable loads such as hanging meat or livestock require extra
caution in curves
b. Over size loads can be hauled without special permits when roads are not
busy
c. When liquids are hauled the tank should always be completely full

27. Which of these statements about marking a stopped vehicle is true?

a. You must put out your emergency warning devices within 5 minutes
b. The vehicles tail lights should be kept on to warn other drivers
c. If a hill or curve keeps drivers behind you from seeing the vehicle
within 500 feet the reflective triangle should be moved back to give
adequate warning

28. Which of these is true about rear wheel braking skids?

a. Locked wheels usually have more traction than rolling wheels
b. Front wheels slide sideways to try to catch up with rear wheels
c. On vehicles with trailers the trailer can push the towing vehicle
sideways

29. Which of these statements about double clutching and shifting is true?
a. Double clutching should not be used when the road is slippery
b. Double clutching should only be used with a heavy load
c. You can use the tachometer to tell you when to shift.

30. Which of these is true about your overhead clearance?

a. Paving a road does not affect the clearance height under bridges or
overpasses
b. The weight of the cargo can change the height of the vehicle
c. Warnings are always posted for low clearance areas like bridges or
overpasses
31. How far should a driver look ahead of the vehicle while driving?
a. 5-8 seconds or 1/8 of a mile
b. 12-15 seconds or ¼ of a mile
c. 18-21 seconds or ½ of a mile

32. If you need to leave the road due to a traffic emergency you should
a. Try to get all of the wheels off of the pavement
b. Avoid braking until your speed has dropped to about 20 MPH
c. Avoid the shoulder because most shoulders will not support a large
vehicle

33. Which of these statements about backing a heavy vehicle is NOT true?
a. You should back and turn toward the drivers side whenever possible
b. You should use a helper and communicate with hand signals
c. Because you cant see behind you, you should back slowly until you
bump onto the dock

34. Which of these lights cannot be checked at the same time?

a. Head lights brake lights and clearance lights
b. Turn signals tail lights and clearance lights
c. Turn signals brake lights and four-way flashers

35. Which of these is correct about emergency or evasive actions

a. Stopping is always the safest thing to do in a emergency
b. In order to turn quickly you must have a firm grip on the steering
wheel
c. You can usually stop more quickly than you can turn to miss an obstacle

36. You are driving a vehicle that can safely be driven at 55 MPH on a open road,
But traffic is now heavy moving at 35 MPH though the speed limit is 55 MPH
the safest speed for your vehicle is most likely
a. 25 MPH
b. 35 MPH
c. 45 MPH

37. According to the CDL drivers manual why should you limit the use of your
horn
a. On vehicles with air brakes it can use air pressure that may be needed to
stop
b. You should keep both hands tightly gripping the wheel at all times
c. It can startle other drivers

38. Which of these statements are true about bad weather and driving condition
a. The road is more slippery as rain continues than when it begins
b. When the temperature drops bridges will freeze before the road
does
 c. Driving conditions become more dangerous as the temperature rises
about freezing

39. To determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a person it is necessary

to know
a. How often the person drinks alcohol (tolerance)
b. The age of the person drinking
c. How much the person weighs

40. What does emergency braking mean?

a. Using the vehicle emergency brake
b. Responding to a hazard by slowing the vehicle
c. Pushing down the brake pedal as hard as you can

41. Which of these happens when a tire blows out a t highway speed?
a. A vibrating feeling
b. A hissing sound
c. A rapid drop in speed to less than 20 MPH

42. You are driving a 40 foot vehicle at 35 MPH, the road is dry and visibility is
good. What is the least amount of space that you should keep in front of your
vehicle to be safe?
a. 3 seconds
b. 4 seconds
c. 5 seconds

43. Truck escape ramps?

a. Help avoid damage to vehicles
b. Cannot be used by certain types of heavy vehicles
c. Are not for buses

44. When hydraulic brakes fail while driving the system will not build up
pressure and the brake pedal will feel spongy or go to the floor what action
should you take?
a. Push down on the brake pedal as hard as you can
b. Pump the brake pedal to generate pressure
c. Put the vehicle in neutral and set the parking brake

45. Which of the following items are not checked in a pre-Trip inspection?
a. Whether all vehicle lights are working clean and the proper color
b. Cargo security
c. Amount of fuel in the vehicle

46. Which of these systems should receive extra attention during a winter
weather inspection?
a. Exhaust
 b. Steering
c. Suspension

47. The total weight of a powered unit, the trailer and the cargo is called?
a. Gross vehicle weight
b. Gross combination weight
c. Gross axle weight

48. Which of the following statements are true?

a. Most people are more alert at night than during the day
b. Most hazards are easier to see at night than during the day
c. Most heavy vehicles accident’s occur between midnight and 6am

49. Controlled braking

a. Involves locking the wheels for a short period of time
b. Is used to keep a vehicle in a straight line when braking
c. Should only be used with hydraulic brakes

50. When a coolant container is part of a pressurized system which of these is

true?
a. The radiator cap can be safely removed and coolant added while the
engine is hot
b. You never need to check the antifreeze in such a system
c. You can check the coolant level of a hot engine

51. Which of these is a good thing to do when driving at night?

a. Keep your speed slow enough that you can stop within the distance
of your headlights
b. Look directly at oncoming headlights but only briefly
c. Keep your dash instrument lights bright

52. You should avoid driving thru deep puddles or flowing water but if you must
which of these steps can help keep your brakes working?
a. Apply hard pressure on the brake pedal and accelerator after coming out
of the water
b. Gently putting on the brakes while driving thru the water
c. Turning on your brake heaters

53. Stab braking should not be used on vehicles with

a. Trailers
b. Hazardous materials
c. Anti lock brakes

54. Implied consent means

a. It is understood that you may drink when you are not driving
b. You have given your consent to inspection of your vehicle for alcohol
 c. You have given your consent to be tested for alcohol in your blood

55. Which of these should be tested while the vehicle is stopped

a. Service brakes
b. Parking brakes
c. Hydraulic brakes

56. If you have to make a vehicle inspection report you must sign it
a. When any defects are noted whether they are certified to be
repaired or not
b. Only when defects are noted that are certified to be repaired
c. Only when defects are noted that are certified to not need repair

57. Which of the following is not a characteristic of front tire failure?

a. Steering wheel twisting
b. Vehicle fishtail
c. Difficult steering

58. What is the proper way to hold a steering wheel?

a. With both hands close together, near the top of the wheel
b. With both hands close together, near the bottom of the wheel
c. With both hands, on opposite sides of the wheel

59. What is counter steering?

a. Turning the steering wheel counter clockwise
b. Using the steering axle brakes to prevent over steering
c. Turning the wheel back in the other direction after steering to avoid
traffic emergency

60. The distance that you should look ahead of your vehicle while driving
amounts to about _____ Mile at highway speeds?
a. 1/8
b. ¼
c. ½

61. Why will your vehicles speed naturally increase on down grades?
a. The engine runs smoother
b. Gravity
c. Lack of traction

62. Which of these pieces of emergency equipment must always be carried in

your vehicle?
a. Circuit brakes
b. First aid kit
c. Warning devices for parked vehicles
63. During a vehicle inspection checking the ______ Will not help prevent a fire?
a. Cargo ventilation
b. Battery fluid level
c. Electrical system insulation

64. You should signal continuously while turning because?

a. You need both hands on the wheel to turn safely
b. It is illegal to turn off your signal before completing a turn
c. Most vehicles have self canceling signals

65. Why is a broken exhaust system dangerous?

a. Poison fumes could enter the cab or sleeper berth
b. You could pollute the air with exhaust smoke
c. Loud noise could damage the drivers ears

66. You can see a marking on a vehicle ahead of you, the marking is a red triangle
with an orange center. What does the marking mean?
a. It is driven by a student driver
b. The vehicle is hauling hazardous material
c. It may be a slow moving vehicle

67. Most serious skids result from?

a. Turning sharply
b. Decelerating too fast
c. Driving too fast for conditions

68. When you are parked at the side of the road at night you must?
a. Put out your emergency warning devices within 30 minutes
b. Turn on your 4-Way flashers to warn others
c. Use your tail lights to give warning to other motorists

69. You do not have a hazardous materials endorsement on your CDL License
you can drive a vehicle hauling hazardous material when?
a. The GVWR is 26, 001 lbs or less
b. The vehicle does not require placards
c. A person who has a hazardous materials endorsement rides with you

70. To avoid a crash you had to drive on the right shoulder you are now driving
at 40 MPH on the shoulder. How should you move back onto the pavement?
a. If the shoulder is clear stay on it until your vehicle has come to a stop
then move back onto the pavement when it is safe
b. Brake hard to slow the vehicle then seer sharply onto the pavement
c. Keep moving at the present speed and steer very gently back onto
the pavement
71. Containerized loads
a. Should come with their own tie down devices or locks
b. Are generally used when freight is carried part way by rail, ship or
air
c. Do not require inspection or special securing by the driver

72. In your mirror you can see a car approaching from the rear the next time you
check your mirror you do not see the car you wish to change lanes you
should?
a. Wait to change lanes until you are sure the car isn’t in your blind
spot
b. Ease into the other lane very slowly so the car isn’t in your blind spot
c. Assume the care left the road and change lanes as normal

73. Whenever you double your speed your vehicle has about _____Times more
destructive power?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4

74. You are starting your vehicle in motion from a stop as you apply power to the
drive wheels they start to spin you should
a. Take your foot off the accelerator
b. Take your foot off the accelerator and gently apply the brakes
c. Try a lower gear

75. Placards must be

a. Displayed on all vehicles hauling any amount of hazardous material
b. Placed only on the front and rear of the vehicle
c. Placed on all four sides of the vehicle

76. A car cuts in front of you creating a hazard, what should you NOT do?
a. Honk and slow stay close behind the car
b. Slow down to prevent a crash
c. Signal and change lanes to avoid the car

77. What should you do if you are unsure whether you have enough overhead
clearance?
a. Slow down slightly and try to drive under the object
b. Find another route that will not require driving under the object
c. Estimate the height of an overhead object if it is posted

78. You are driving a heavy vehicle you must exit a highway using a off ramp that
curves downhill you should?
a. Slow down to a safe speed before the curve
b. Slow to the posted speed limit for the off ramp
 c. Wait until you are in the curve before down shifting

79. You are driving a vehicle at 55 MPH on dry pavement about how much total
stopping distance will you need to bring the vehicle to a stop?
a. Half the length of a football field
b. Twice the length of the football field
c. The length of a football field

80. Which of these is not part of the pre-trip inspection of the engine
compartment
a. Engine oil level
b. Valve clearance
c. Worn electrical wiring

81. Truck escape ramps

a. Help avoid damage to vehicles
b. Cannot be used by certain types of heavy vehicles
c. Are not for buses

82. On which fires can you use water on

a. Electrical
b. Gasoline
c. Tires

83. What is the term for a commercial vehicle habit of swinging wide on turns?
a. Off tracking
b. Wide rounding
c. Side winding

84. Backing a commercial vehicle is

a. Always dangerous
b. Not dangerous if you have a helper
c. Not dangerous if you do not have to turn

85. Convex (curved or spot) mirrors

a. Make object appear larger than they really are
b. Make objects appear closer than they really are
c. Show a wider area than flat mirrors show

86. Your brakes can get wet when you drive thru heavy rain what can cause this
when brakes are applied
a. Hydroplaning
b. Excessive brake wear
c. Trailer jack knife
87. If you are being tail gated you should?
a. Flash your brake lights
b. Increase your following distance
c. Signal the tail-gater when it is safe to pass

88. When driving in cold weather your tire tread should

a. Should be checked every 100 miles or every 2 hours
b. Be double the depth required in normal weather
c. Provide enough traction to be able to steer and push the vehicle
through snow

89. Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true

a. A half hour break for coffee will do more to keep you alert than a half
hour nap
b. If you must stop to take a nap it should be at a truck stop or other rest
area never on the side of the road
c. Sleep is the only thing that can overcome fatigue

90. You are checking your brakes and suspension system for a pre-Trip
inspection which of these statements is true?
a. Just one missing leaf spring is not dangerous
b. Spring hangers that are cracked but still tight are not dangerous
c. Brake shoes should not have oil, grease, or brake fluid on them

91. For a first offense of driving a commercial vehicle under the influence of
alcohol or drugs you will loose your CDL for at least_______
a. 6 months
b. 1 year
c. 2 years

92. A full stop at a railroad crossing is required when?

a. The nature of the cargo makes a stop mandatory under state or
federal regulations
b. The crossing is located in a city or town with frequent train traffic
c. There are no flagmen, warning signals, or gates at the crossing

93. If you have a road emergency and must park on the shoulder how soon
should you put out your triangles?
a. 10 minutes
b. 20 minutes
c. 30 minutes

94. You are driving on a two lane road and a oncoming driver drifts into your
lane, which of the following is the best action to take?
a. Brake hard
b. Steer to the right
 c. Steer to the left

95. How often should you check your mirrors for a lane change?
a. After you have signaled and after you complete the change
b. You should not have to check your mirrors more than Twice
c. Before you change lanes, after you have signaled after you start the
lane change and after you complete the lane change

96. What does communicating mean in safe driving?

a. Talking on your CB radio
b. Calling home to talk to your relatives
c. Tapping your horn when passing flashing your lights signaling or
using triangles

97. Freeway exits can be dangerous for heavy vehicles at what speed should you
enter the exit?
a. At the posted speed
b. Whatever speed you feel comfortable with
c. At least 5 miles below the posted speed limit

98. When driving in heavy traffic you should travel

a. In the right lane to avoid a car from passing
b. 5 MPH less than automobiles
c. At a speed consistent with the flow of other traffic

99. The best drivers are those who watch for and prepare for hazards this is
called being
a. Offensive
b. Defensive
c. Objective

100. If you are not sure what extinguisher to use on a hazardous material
fire you should?
a. Use water to extinguish the fire
b. Throw dirt on the fire to smother it out
c. You should wait for qualified fire fighters