CDL Class B Quiz Questions

What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection?

Safety

What things should you check during a trip?

instruments, air pressure gauge, temp gauge, pressure gauge, ammeter/voltmeter, mirrors, tires, cargo/ cargo covers, lights.

Name some key steering system parts.

steering wheel, tie rod, steering shaft, hydraulic fluid reservoir, gear box, pitman arm, drag link, steering knuckle, spindle, steering arm, power steering cylinder

Name some suspension system defects.

spring hangers that allow movement of axle from proper position, cracked or broken spring hangers, missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring, leaking shock absorbers, air suspension systems that are damaged and or leaking, any parts of the suspension or frame that is cracked or broken

What three kinds of emergency equipment must you have?

fire extinguisher, 3 reflective triangles, spare fuses

What is the minimum tread depth for front tires?

4/32 inch

For other tires?

2/32 inch

Why should you back toward the driver's side?

Better visibility

If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving without rolling back?

partly engage the clutch before you take your foot off the brake, put on the parking brake whenever necessary to keep from rolling back

When backing, why is it important to use a helper?

There are blind spots you won't be able to see.

What's the most important hand signal that you and your helper should agree on?

STOP

What are the two special conditions where you should downshift?

before starting down a hill, before entering a curve

When should you downshift automatic transmissions?

when going down grades

Retarders keep you from skidding when the road is slippery. True or false?

FALSE. When your drive wheels have poor traction, the retarder may actually CAUSE them to skid and should be turned off whenever the road is wet, icy, or snow covered

What are the two ways to know when to shift?

RPMs or speed

How far ahead does the manual say you should look?

12 to 15 seconds

What are two main things to look ahead for?

Look for vehicles coming onto the highway, into your lane, or turning. / Watch for brake lights from slowing vehicles

What's your most important way to see the sides and rear of your vehicle?

Mirrors

What does "communicating" mean in safe driving?

Signaling your intentions

Where should your reflectors be placed when stopped on a divided highway?

10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward the approaching traffic

What three things add up to total stopping distance?

perception distance, reaction distance, braking distance

If you go twice as fast, will your stopping distance increase by twice or four times?

Four times

Empty trucks have the best braking. True or false?

FALSE. The brakes, tires, springs, and shock absorbers on heavy vehicles are designed to work best when the vehicle is fully loaded. Empty trucks require greater stopping distances because an empty vehicle has less traction.

What is hydroplaning?

Tires ""water-skiing"" across the road. Tires lose their contact with the road and have little or no traction.

What is "black ice?"

a thin layer of ice that you can see the road through

How do you find out how many seconds of following distance space you have?

1 second for every 10 feet of vehicle length under 40 mph, over 40 mph add a second per 10 feet

If you are driving a 30-foot vehicle at 55 MPH, how many seconds of following distance should you allow?

Five

You should decrease your following distance if somebody is following you too closely. True or false?

TRUE

If you swing wide to the left before turning right, another driver may try to pass you on the right. True or false?

TRUE

What is a hazard?

any road condition or other road user that is a possible danger

Why make emergency plans when you see a hazard?

to be prepared if you have to take action in an emergency

What are some tips to follow so you won't become a distracted driver?

Review and be totally familiar with all safety and usage features on any in-vehicle electronics, including you wireless cell phone, before you drive, pre-program radio stations, pre-load your favorite CDs or cassette tapes, clear the vehicle of any unnecessary objects, review maps and plan your route before you begin driving, adjust all mirrors for best all-around visibility before you start your trip, don't attempt to read or write while you are driving, avoid smoking, eating and drinking while you drive, and don't engage in complex or emotionally intense conversations with other occupants.

How do you use in-vehicle communications equipment cautiously?

When possible, pull off the road in a safe, legal place when making/receiving a call on communication equipment, if possible turn off the cell phone until you reach your destination, position the cell phone in easy reach, pre-program numbers into your cell phone, if you have to place a call pull off the road to a safe road ( do not place a call while you are driving), keep conversations short, do not use the equipment when approaching locations with heavy traffic, or server weather conditions, do not attempt to type or read messages on your satellite system while driving.

How do you recognize a distracted driver?

Watch for vehicles that may drift over the lane divider lines or within their own lane, vehicles traveling at inconsistent speeds, drivers who are preoccupied with maps, food, cigarettes, cell phones, or other objects, drivers who appear to be involved in conversations with their passengers.

What is the difference between aggressive driving and road rage?

AD is driving the vehicle in a pushy, bold, or a selfish manner without regard for the rights of safety of others. RR is operating the vehicle with the intent of doing harm to others or physically assaulting a driver or their vehicle.

What should you do when confronted with an aggressive driver?

First make every attempt to get out of their way, put your pride in the back seat, avoid eye contact, ignore gestures and refuse to react to them, report aggressive driving to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description of license number, location, and if possible, direction of travel, if you have a cell phone and can do it safely call the police, and if the aggressive driver is involved in an accident farther down the road, stop at a safe distance, wait for the police to arrive, and report the driving behavior you witnessed.

What are some things you can do to reduce your stress before and while you drive?

Listen to easy listening music, give your drive your full attention, be realistic about your travel time, deal with being late if you will be, give other drivers the benefit of the doubt, slow down and keep your following distance reasonable, avoid gestures, and be a cautious and courteous driver.

You should use low beams whenever you can. True or false?

FALSE. Some drivers make the mistake of always using low beams. This seriously cuts down on their ability to see ahead. Use high beams when it is safe and legal to do so.

What should you do before you drive if you are drowsy?

Sleep

What effects can wet brakes cause? How can you avoid these problems?

Wet brakes will be less effective. Avoid by not driving through deep puddles, if possible. If not, you should: slow down, place transmission in low gear, gently put on brakes, increase engine RPM and cross the water while keeping light pressure on brakes. When out of water: maintain light pressure on brakes for a short distance to heat them and dry them.

You should let air out of hot tires so the pressure goes back to normal? True or false?

FALSE. Do not let air out or the pressure will be too low when the tires cool off. If a tire is too hot to touch, remain stopped until the tire cools off. Otherwise the tire may blow out or catch fire.

You can safely remove the radiator cap as long as the engine isn't overheated. True or false?

False, only remove when engine is cooled.

What factors determine your selction of a "safe" speed when going down a long, steep downgrade?

Total weight of vehicle/cargo, length of grade, steepness of grade, road conditions, weather.

Why should you be in the proper gear before starting down a hill?

Because you will not be able to downshift after your speed has already built up.

Describe the proper braking technique when going down a long, steep downgrade.

Apply brakes just hard enough to feel a definite slowdown. When your speed has been reduced approx. 5 MPH below your "safe" speed, release the brakes. When your speed has increased to your "safe" speed, repeat first 2 steps.

What type of vehicles can get stuck on a railroad-highway crossing?

Low slung units (lowboy, car carrier, moving van, possum-belly livestock trailer). / Single-axle tractor pulling a long trailer with its landing gear set to accommodate a tandem-axle tractor

How long does it take for a typical tractortrailer unit to clear a double track?

More than 15 seconds

Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency. True or false?

TRUE. You can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can stop.

What are some advantages of going right instead of left around an obstacle?

There is usually no one in the shoulder of the road, as there could be someone passing on your left, or oncoming traffic to the left.

What is an "escape ramp?"

A traffic device that enables vehicles that are having braking problems to safely stop. It is typically a long, sand or gravel-filled lane adjacent to a road with a steep grade, and is designed to accommodate large trucks. The deep gravel allows the truck's momentum to be dissipated in a controlled and relatively harmless way, allowing the operator to stop it safely.

If a tire blows out, you should put the brakes on hard to stop quickly. True or false?

FALSE. Braking when a tire has failed could cause loss of control.

How do you know if your vehicle has antilock brakes?

They will have yellow malfunction lamps on the instrument panels and yellow malfunction lamps on the trailers. Dollies after 1998 are required to have a lamp on the left side

What is the proper braking technique when driving a vehicle with antilock brakes?

Use only the force necessary to stop safely an stay in control.

How do antilock brakes help you?

Help you avoid wheel lock up and maintain control.

What are some things to do at an accident scene to prevent another accident?

Protect the area, notify authorities, and care for the injured.

Name two causes of tire fires.

Under inflated tires and duals that touch.

What kinds of fires is a B: C extinguisher NOT good for?

Fires in combustible metals, wood, paper, ordinary combustibles.

When using you extinguisher, should you get as close as possible to the fire?

No, stand as far away as possible.

Name some causes of vehicle fires.

Spilled fuel, improper use of flares, under inflated tires and duals that touch, short circuits due to damaged insulation, loose connections, driver smoking, improper fueling, loose fuel connections, flammable cargo, improperly sealed or loaded cargo, poor ventilation.

Common medicines for colds can make you sleepy. True or False.

True.

What should you do if you do become sleepy while driving?

Stop at a safe place and sleep.

Coffee and a little fresh air will help a drinker sober up. True or false?

False.

What is a hazardous materials placard?

Placards are signs put on the outside of a vehicle that identify the hazard class of the cargo.

Why are placards used?

They are used to warn others of hazardous materials.

What is "sleep debt"?

A building up of lack of sleep.

What are the danger signals of drowsy driving?

Your eyes close or go out of focus by themselves.

You have trouble keeping your head up.

You can't stop yawning.

You have wandering, disconnected thoughts.

You don't remember driving the last few miles.

You drift between lanes, tailgate, or miss traffic signs.

You keep jerking the truck back into the lane.

You have drifted off the road and narrowly missed crashing.

What four things related to cargo are drivers responsible for?

1: Inspecting your cargo.

2: Recognizing overloads & poorly balanced weight.

3: Knowing Cargo is properly secured & does not obscure your view ahead or to the sides.

4: Knowing your cargo does not restrict your access to emergency equipment.

How often must you stop while on the road to check your cargo?

Within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip.

How is Gross Combination Weight Rating different from Gross Combination Weight?

The GCWR is the maximum GCW specified by the manufacturer for a specific combination of vehicles plus its load, whereas the GCW is the total weight of a powered unit, plus trailer(s), plus the cargo.

Name two situations where legal maximum weights are not safe.

Bridges and going up or down steep grades.

What can happen if you do not have enough weight on the front axle?

It can make the steering axel too light to steer safely.

What is the minimum number of tiedowns for any flat bed load?

Two

What is the minimum number of tiedowns for a 20-foot load?

Two (one for every 10 foot of load)

Name two basic reasons for covering cargo on an open bed.

To protect people from spilled cargo and the cargo from weather.

What must you check before transporting a sealed load?

Check that you do not exceed gross weight and axel weight limits.

Why must air tanks be drained?

The air tanks can have water and compressor oil in it that will freeze when in cold weather and cause brake failure.

What is a supply pressure gauge used for?

It shows how much air pressure you have in your tank.

All vehicles with air brakes must have a low air pressure warning signal. True or False?

TRUE

What are spring brakes?

Spring brakes are a backup braking system for the air brakes. If there is a leak in the tank the spring will automatically come on.

Front wheel brakes are good for under all conditions. True or False?

TRUE

How do you know if your vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes?

If the vehicle was manufactured on or after March 1, 1998.

What is a dual air brake system?

It has two separate air brake systems, which use a single set of brake controls. Each system has its own air tanks, hoses, lines, etc. One system typically operates the regular brakes on the rear axle or axles. The other system operates the regular brakes on the front axle (and possibly one rear axle). Both systems supply air to the trailer (if there is one). The first system is called the "primary" system. The other is called the "secondary" system.

What are the slack adjusters?

They are what determine how hard you have to press on the brakes to have them engage.

How can you check slack adjusters?

Use gloves and pull hard on the slack adjuster, if the slack adjuster moves more than an inch, it needs adjusting.

How can you test the low pressure warning signal?

Shut the engine off when you have enough air pressure so that the low pressure warning signal is not on. Turn the electrical power on and step on and off the brake pedal to reduce air tank pressure. The low air pressure warning signal must come on before the pressure drops to less than 60 psi in the tank (or tank with the lowest air pressure, in dual air systems).

How can you check that the spring brakes come on automatically?

Continue to fan off the air pressure by stepping on and off the brake pedal to reduce tank pressure. The tractor protection valve and parking brake valve should close (pop out) on a tractor-trailer combination and single vehicle types when the air pressure falls to the manufacturer's specification (20-40 psi). This will cause the spring brakes to come on.

What are the maximum leakage rates?

2 psi in a minute for single vehicles and 3 psi in a minute for combination vehicles. When applying 90 or more psi to the brakes the loss should be 3 psi per minute in single vehicles and 4 psi for combination vehicles in a minute.

Why should you be in the proper gear before starting down a hill?

It will slow down the engine speed and help in continuing normal stopping distances.

What factors can cause brakes to fade or fail?

Too much heat by using the brakes too much. They can also be out of adjustment, also caused by too much heat.

The use of brakes on a long, steep downgrade is only a supplement to the braking effect of the engine. True or False?

TRUE

If you are away from your vehicle only a short time, you do not need to use the parking brake. True or False?

FALSE

How often should you drain air tanks?

After each working day.

How do you brake when you drive a tractor-trailer combination with ABS?

Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely and stay in control.

You still have normal brake functions if your ABS is not working. True or False?

TRUE