WA CDL General Knowledge Test
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1. Most serious vehicle skids result from: A. Driving too fast for road
A. Driving too fast for road conditions conditions
B. Poorly adjusted brakes
C. Bad Tires
2. You're driving a new truck with a manual transmission. C. A lower gear than you
What gear will you probably have to use to take a long, would use to climb the hill
steep downhill grade?
A. Higher gear than you would use to climb the hill
B. The same gear you would use to climb the hill
C. A lower gear than you would use to climb the hill
3. There are 2 things a driver can do to prevent a rollover. B. Keep the cargo as close
They are: (1) Go slow around turns; and (2): to the ground as possible
A. Make sure that the brakes are properly balanced
B. Keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible
C. Keep both hands firmly on the steering wheel
4. Which of these can cause a fire? C. All of the above
A. Under inflated tires
B. Loose fuel connections
C. All of the above
5. If you're driving a slow-moving vehicle on a 2-lane A. 5 or more
highway, you must pull off at the first safe turnout if
the number of vehicles behind you is:
A. 5 or more
B. 3 or more
C. 7 or more
6. Rust around a lug nut indicates: B. A loose lug nut
A. No danger is present the wheel needs cleaning
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B. A loose lug nut
C. The lug nut needs to be replaced
7. When checking the adjustment on air brakes, slack A. 1 inch of travel
adjusters should have no more than:
A. 1 inch of travel
B. 2 inches of travel
C. 3 inches of travel
8. You're coupling a semi-trailer to your tractor but B. It will be raised slightly
haven't yet backed under. The trailer is at the right when the tractor is backed
height when: under it.
A. The end of the kingpin is even with the top of the
fifth wheel.
B. It will be raised slightly when the tractor is backed
under it.
C. The kingpin is about 1¼ inches above the fifth
wheel.
9. The braking power of the spring brakes: C. Depends on the ser-
A. Increases when the service brakes are hot. vice brakes being in ad-
B. Isn't affected by the condition of the service brakes. justment.
C. Depends on the service brakes being in adjustment.
10. Your brakes are fading when: A. You have to push hard-
A. You have to push harder and harder to get the same er and harder to get the
stopping power on a downgrade. same stopping power on a
B. The brake pedal feels firm when you apply pres- downgrade.
sure.
C. You release pressure on the brake pedal and speed
increases.
11.
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You're driving on a slippery road during the day. What C. Allow "more space" than
does the CDL Guide say about how much space you is needed for ideal driving
should keep ahead of your truck? conditions.
A. Allow "the same amount of space you would at
night."
B. Allow "one vehicle length for every 10,000 lb. of
gross vehicle weight."
C. Allow "more space" than is needed for ideal driving
conditions.
12. If your bus has an emergency exit door, it must: B. Be closed when operat-
A. Be free to open for fresh air. ing the bus.
B. Be closed when operating the bus.
C. Always have a red door light on.
13. The most common bus collisions often happen at: A. Intersections.
A. Intersections.
B. Stop signs.
C. Railroad crossings.
14. You should know the outage needed for the liquids C. Some liquids expand
you carry because: more than others do when
A. Tank baffles aren't always legal with outage. they get warm.
B. Some of the heaviest liquids don't need any.
C. Some liquids expand more than others do when
they get warm.
15. The amount of liquid to load into a tank depends on: C. All of these.
A. The weight of the liquid.
B. The legal weight limits.
C. All of these.
16.
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Empty trucks: B. Require greater stop-
A. Need less space ahead than full ones. ping distance than full
B. Require greater stopping distance than full ones. ones.
C. Have better traction when stopping than full ones.
17. When the wheels of a trailer lock up, the trailer will A. Empty or lightly loaded.
tend to swing around. This is more likely to happen
when the trailer is:
A. Empty or lightly loaded.
B. Fully loaded or very heavy.
C. Out of brake adjustment.
18. The trailer hand valve (also called the trolley valve or B. Testing the trailer
Johnson bar) works the trailer brakes. Don't use it in brakes after hooking up to
driving because of the danger of making the trailer a trailer.
skid. The trailer hand valve should only be used when:
A. There is ice and snow, to prevent skidding.
B. Testing the trailer brakes after hooking up to a
trailer.
C. You will be parked for a short time.
19. What action should you take if your bus stalls on a C. Evacuate all passengers
railroad tracks? immediately.
A. If a train schedule is maintained in the bus and no
train will pass within 1 hour, passengers can stay on
the bus.
B. Passengers can stay in the bus provided you can
clearly see no trains for 500 feet in both directions.
C. Evacuate all passengers immediately.
20. If you're in an accident that causes injury to anyone, or C. 4 working days from the
if the damage amounted to $700 or more, you must date of the accident.
file a state accident report within:
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