CDL General Knowledge Questions with Verified Answers
CDL GENERAL KNOWLEDGE inspection. - ANSWERS - front axle,
steering system, windshield, lights and reflectors
1. What is the most important reason for doing a
vehicle inspection? - ANSWERS - Road
safety 2. What should wheel bearing seals be checked
for? - ANSWERS - Leaks
2. What things should you check during a trip? -
ANSWERS - instruments, air pressure 3. How many red reflective triangles should you
gauge, temp gauge, pressure gauge, carry? - ANSWERS - 3
ammeter/voltmeter, mirrors, tires, cargo/ cargo
covers, lights.
4. How do you test hydraulic brakes for leaks? -
ANSWERS - pump the break pedal 3 times
3. Name some key steering system parts. - and then hold, the pedal should not move
ANSWERS - steering wheel, tie rod,
steering shaft, hydraulic fluid reservoir, gear box,
pitman arm, drag link, steering knuckle, spindle, 5. Can you bring the "vehicle inspection memory
steering arm, power steering cylinder aide" with you to the test? - ANSWERS -
False
4. Name some suspension system defects. -
ANSWERS - spring hangers that allow 6. Why put the starter switch key in your pocket
movement of axle from proper position, cracked during the pre-trip inspection? -
or broken spring hangers, missing or broken ANSWERS - For safety...somebody could
leaves in any leaf spring, leaking shock move the truck while you're underneath it.
absorbers, air suspension systems that are
damaged and or leaking, any parts of the
suspension or frame that is cracked or broken 1. Why should you back toward the driver's side?
- ANSWERS - Better visibility
5. What three kinds of emergency equipment
must you have? - ANSWERS - fire
2. What is a pull-up? - ANSWERS - A pull
extinguisher, 3 reflective triangles, spare fuses
up refers to when your parallel parking after you
back the truck up you "pull it up to straighten it
up"
6. What is the minimum tread depth for front
tires? - ANSWERS - 4/32 inch
3. If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving
without rolling back? - ANSWERS - partly
7. For other tires? - ANSWERS - 2/32 inch engage the clutch before you take your foot off
the brake, put on the parking brake whenever
necessary to keep from rolling back
1. Name some things you should check on the
front of your vehicle during the walk-around
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, CDL General Knowledge Questions with Verified Answers
4. When backing, why is it important to use a driving? - ANSWERS - Signaling your
helper? - ANSWERS - There are blind intentions
spots you won't be able to see.
5. Where should your reflectors be placed when
5. What's the most important hand signal that stopped on a divided highway? -
you and your helper should agree on? - ANSWERS - 10 feet 100 feet and 200 feet
ANSWERS - STOP toward the approaching traffic
1. What are the two special conditions where you 6. What three things add up to total stopping
should downshift? - ANSWERS - before distance? - ANSWERS - perception
starting down a hill, before entering a curve distance, reaction distance, braking distance
2. When should you downshift automatic 7. If you go twice as fast, will your stopping
transmissions? - ANSWERS - when going distance increase by twice or four times? -
down grades ANSWERS - Four times
3. Retarders keep you from skidding when the 8. Empty trucks have the best braking. True or
road is slippery. True or false? - false? - ANSWERS - False
ANSWERS - false
9. What is hydroplaning? - ANSWERS -
4. What are the two ways to know when to shift? Tires water-skiing across the road
- ANSWERS - RPMs or speed
10. What is "black ice?" - ANSWERS - a
1. How far ahead does the manual say you thin layer of ice that you can see the road through
should look? - ANSWERS - 12 to 15
seconds
1. How do you find out how many seconds of
following distance space you have? -
2. What are two main things to look ahead for? - ANSWERS - 1 second for every 10 feet of
ANSWERS - Look for vehicles coming onto vehicle length under 40 mph, over 40 mph add a
the highway, into your lane, or turning. Watch for second per 10 feet
brake lights from slowing vehicles
2. If you are driving a 30-foot vehicle at 55 MPH,
3. What's your most important way to see the how many seconds of following distance should
sides and rear? - ANSWERS - Mirrors you allow? - ANSWERS - 5
4. What does "communicating" mean in safe 3. You should decrease your following distance if
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CDL GENERAL KNOWLEDGE inspection. - ANSWERS - front axle,
steering system, windshield, lights and reflectors
1. What is the most important reason for doing a
vehicle inspection? - ANSWERS - Road
safety 2. What should wheel bearing seals be checked
for? - ANSWERS - Leaks
2. What things should you check during a trip? -
ANSWERS - instruments, air pressure 3. How many red reflective triangles should you
gauge, temp gauge, pressure gauge, carry? - ANSWERS - 3
ammeter/voltmeter, mirrors, tires, cargo/ cargo
covers, lights.
4. How do you test hydraulic brakes for leaks? -
ANSWERS - pump the break pedal 3 times
3. Name some key steering system parts. - and then hold, the pedal should not move
ANSWERS - steering wheel, tie rod,
steering shaft, hydraulic fluid reservoir, gear box,
pitman arm, drag link, steering knuckle, spindle, 5. Can you bring the "vehicle inspection memory
steering arm, power steering cylinder aide" with you to the test? - ANSWERS -
False
4. Name some suspension system defects. -
ANSWERS - spring hangers that allow 6. Why put the starter switch key in your pocket
movement of axle from proper position, cracked during the pre-trip inspection? -
or broken spring hangers, missing or broken ANSWERS - For safety...somebody could
leaves in any leaf spring, leaking shock move the truck while you're underneath it.
absorbers, air suspension systems that are
damaged and or leaking, any parts of the
suspension or frame that is cracked or broken 1. Why should you back toward the driver's side?
- ANSWERS - Better visibility
5. What three kinds of emergency equipment
must you have? - ANSWERS - fire
2. What is a pull-up? - ANSWERS - A pull
extinguisher, 3 reflective triangles, spare fuses
up refers to when your parallel parking after you
back the truck up you "pull it up to straighten it
up"
6. What is the minimum tread depth for front
tires? - ANSWERS - 4/32 inch
3. If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving
without rolling back? - ANSWERS - partly
7. For other tires? - ANSWERS - 2/32 inch engage the clutch before you take your foot off
the brake, put on the parking brake whenever
necessary to keep from rolling back
1. Name some things you should check on the
front of your vehicle during the walk-around
1/6
, CDL General Knowledge Questions with Verified Answers
4. When backing, why is it important to use a driving? - ANSWERS - Signaling your
helper? - ANSWERS - There are blind intentions
spots you won't be able to see.
5. Where should your reflectors be placed when
5. What's the most important hand signal that stopped on a divided highway? -
you and your helper should agree on? - ANSWERS - 10 feet 100 feet and 200 feet
ANSWERS - STOP toward the approaching traffic
1. What are the two special conditions where you 6. What three things add up to total stopping
should downshift? - ANSWERS - before distance? - ANSWERS - perception
starting down a hill, before entering a curve distance, reaction distance, braking distance
2. When should you downshift automatic 7. If you go twice as fast, will your stopping
transmissions? - ANSWERS - when going distance increase by twice or four times? -
down grades ANSWERS - Four times
3. Retarders keep you from skidding when the 8. Empty trucks have the best braking. True or
road is slippery. True or false? - false? - ANSWERS - False
ANSWERS - false
9. What is hydroplaning? - ANSWERS -
4. What are the two ways to know when to shift? Tires water-skiing across the road
- ANSWERS - RPMs or speed
10. What is "black ice?" - ANSWERS - a
1. How far ahead does the manual say you thin layer of ice that you can see the road through
should look? - ANSWERS - 12 to 15
seconds
1. How do you find out how many seconds of
following distance space you have? -
2. What are two main things to look ahead for? - ANSWERS - 1 second for every 10 feet of
ANSWERS - Look for vehicles coming onto vehicle length under 40 mph, over 40 mph add a
the highway, into your lane, or turning. Watch for second per 10 feet
brake lights from slowing vehicles
2. If you are driving a 30-foot vehicle at 55 MPH,
3. What's your most important way to see the how many seconds of following distance should
sides and rear? - ANSWERS - Mirrors you allow? - ANSWERS - 5
4. What does "communicating" mean in safe 3. You should decrease your following distance if
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