NYS TOW TRUCK ENDORSEMENT COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM SHEET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔grab hook - ✔✔a chain hook that will not slide; used with safety chains and some
tow sling hook-ups.
✔✔gross axle weight rating (GAWR) - ✔✔the front or rear axle weight. This is the value
specified by the vehicle manufacturer as the load-carrying capacity of a single axle
system, measured where the tires touch the ground.
✔✔gross combination weight rating (GCWR) - ✔✔the GVWR of the tow truck plus the
GVWR of each vehicle in the combination being towed our transported.
✔✔gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) - ✔✔the weight of a vehicle, consisting of the
unladen weight plus the maximum carrying capacity recommended by the vehicle's
manufacturer.
✔✔hazard light - ✔✔flashing, rotating/revolving or oscillating yellow or amber lights on a
tow truck.
✔✔headboard - ✔✔a vertical device of sufficient strength, permanently affixed (usually
to the bed) between the load and the cab of the towing vehicle, that serves to protect
the cab and its occupants.
✔✔heavy duty - ✔✔a tow truck with a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds that is designed to
tow or transport large buses, trucks or trailers, heavy construction equipment and/or
farm machinery.
✔✔j-hook - ✔✔an attachment device used for towing that is placed under the lower
control arms of a disabled vehicle's suspension.
✔✔L arm - ✔✔same as "Wheel Arm": a device that attaches to the lift bar for engaging
the tires of a towed vehicle.
✔✔lift bar - ✔✔a transverse, horizontally pivoting member attached to the boom of a
wheel-lift or underlift, to which towing accessories can be attached.
✔✔light duty - ✔✔a tow truck with a GVWR of 8,600 to 10,000 pounds that is designed
to tow or transport automobiles, pickup trucks and small vans.
✔✔mast - ✔✔a structure that houses the boom and winches. also called a "winch
frame" or "wrecker frame".
, ✔✔medium-duty - ✔✔a tow truck with a GVWR of 10,001 to 26,000 pounds that is
designed to tow or transport medium-size trucks, buses and recreational vehicles, as
well as smaller vehicles.
✔✔overhang - ✔✔the horizontal distance from the centerline of a single rear axle or the
center point of a tandem rear axle, where the vertical component load is imposed, to the
center of the lift point.
✔✔power takeoff (PTO) - ✔✔a mechanical device used to transmit engine power to
auxiliary equipment. A power takeoff can be mounted on either a main or an auxiliary
transmission. Front-mounted and flywheel-mounted power takeoffs are also used in
various applications.
✔✔pulley - ✔✔a wheel grooved for a cable/belt to transfer power.
✔✔pusher axle - ✔✔in a tandem axle, the rear drive axle, with a free-rolling or "dead"
axle in front of it. Also see "Tandem Axles".
✔✔rear bed stabilizer - ✔✔the fixture extending below the tilt bed of a car carrier that
makes contact with the ground prior to full extension.
✔✔safe towing capacity (STC) - ✔✔the amount of weight or load that does not cause
more than a 50% loss of the original unloaded front axle weight (FAW).
✔✔Safety Chains/Cables - ✔✔devices used as a secondary coupling system to connect
the towing and towed vehicles, and to help prevent separation of a vehicle trailer,
converter dolly, or towed vehicle from the towing vehicle.
✔✔Safety Wrap - ✔✔to wrap the tow chain(s) around the grab hooks of the tow bar
inboard of chain.
✔✔securing devices - ✔✔a strap, chain or mechanical device which, when attached
from the bed or the lift bar , limits the potential for separation of a disabled vehicle from
the carrier of the tow lift bar.
✔✔sheaves - ✔✔same as "Pulley": wheels grooved for a cable/belt to transfer power.
✔✔Shock load - ✔✔a force that results from rapid impacting and/or jerking.
✔✔snatch block - ✔✔a single or multiple pulley used to reduce line tension or change
cable direction
✔✔spacer block - ✔✔a device used in conjunction with a 4-inch x 4-inch wood beam to
provide additional clearance between the tow bar, chains and the body of the vehicle.
EXAM SHEET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔grab hook - ✔✔a chain hook that will not slide; used with safety chains and some
tow sling hook-ups.
✔✔gross axle weight rating (GAWR) - ✔✔the front or rear axle weight. This is the value
specified by the vehicle manufacturer as the load-carrying capacity of a single axle
system, measured where the tires touch the ground.
✔✔gross combination weight rating (GCWR) - ✔✔the GVWR of the tow truck plus the
GVWR of each vehicle in the combination being towed our transported.
✔✔gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) - ✔✔the weight of a vehicle, consisting of the
unladen weight plus the maximum carrying capacity recommended by the vehicle's
manufacturer.
✔✔hazard light - ✔✔flashing, rotating/revolving or oscillating yellow or amber lights on a
tow truck.
✔✔headboard - ✔✔a vertical device of sufficient strength, permanently affixed (usually
to the bed) between the load and the cab of the towing vehicle, that serves to protect
the cab and its occupants.
✔✔heavy duty - ✔✔a tow truck with a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds that is designed to
tow or transport large buses, trucks or trailers, heavy construction equipment and/or
farm machinery.
✔✔j-hook - ✔✔an attachment device used for towing that is placed under the lower
control arms of a disabled vehicle's suspension.
✔✔L arm - ✔✔same as "Wheel Arm": a device that attaches to the lift bar for engaging
the tires of a towed vehicle.
✔✔lift bar - ✔✔a transverse, horizontally pivoting member attached to the boom of a
wheel-lift or underlift, to which towing accessories can be attached.
✔✔light duty - ✔✔a tow truck with a GVWR of 8,600 to 10,000 pounds that is designed
to tow or transport automobiles, pickup trucks and small vans.
✔✔mast - ✔✔a structure that houses the boom and winches. also called a "winch
frame" or "wrecker frame".
, ✔✔medium-duty - ✔✔a tow truck with a GVWR of 10,001 to 26,000 pounds that is
designed to tow or transport medium-size trucks, buses and recreational vehicles, as
well as smaller vehicles.
✔✔overhang - ✔✔the horizontal distance from the centerline of a single rear axle or the
center point of a tandem rear axle, where the vertical component load is imposed, to the
center of the lift point.
✔✔power takeoff (PTO) - ✔✔a mechanical device used to transmit engine power to
auxiliary equipment. A power takeoff can be mounted on either a main or an auxiliary
transmission. Front-mounted and flywheel-mounted power takeoffs are also used in
various applications.
✔✔pulley - ✔✔a wheel grooved for a cable/belt to transfer power.
✔✔pusher axle - ✔✔in a tandem axle, the rear drive axle, with a free-rolling or "dead"
axle in front of it. Also see "Tandem Axles".
✔✔rear bed stabilizer - ✔✔the fixture extending below the tilt bed of a car carrier that
makes contact with the ground prior to full extension.
✔✔safe towing capacity (STC) - ✔✔the amount of weight or load that does not cause
more than a 50% loss of the original unloaded front axle weight (FAW).
✔✔Safety Chains/Cables - ✔✔devices used as a secondary coupling system to connect
the towing and towed vehicles, and to help prevent separation of a vehicle trailer,
converter dolly, or towed vehicle from the towing vehicle.
✔✔Safety Wrap - ✔✔to wrap the tow chain(s) around the grab hooks of the tow bar
inboard of chain.
✔✔securing devices - ✔✔a strap, chain or mechanical device which, when attached
from the bed or the lift bar , limits the potential for separation of a disabled vehicle from
the carrier of the tow lift bar.
✔✔sheaves - ✔✔same as "Pulley": wheels grooved for a cable/belt to transfer power.
✔✔Shock load - ✔✔a force that results from rapid impacting and/or jerking.
✔✔snatch block - ✔✔a single or multiple pulley used to reduce line tension or change
cable direction
✔✔spacer block - ✔✔a device used in conjunction with a 4-inch x 4-inch wood beam to
provide additional clearance between the tow bar, chains and the body of the vehicle.
