CDL Class A License Questions and Answers 100% Pass

CDL Class A License Questions and Answers 100% Pass What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection? Saftey for yourself and for other road users. What things should you check during a trip? 1. Instruments 2. Air Pressure Gauge 3. Temperature Gauges 4. Pressure Gauges 5. Ammeter/Voltmeter 6. Mirrors 7. Tires 8.Cargo 9. Lights Name 7 key steering system parts? 1. Tie Rod 2. Steering Column 3. Gear Box 4. Resevoir 5. Steering Knuckle 6. Draglink 7. Spindle Name some suspension system defects? - Cracked or Broken spring hangers - missing or broken leaves - leaking shock absorbers - Air suspension systems broken or leaking What three kinds of emergency equipment must you have? 1. Fire extingushiers 2. Spare Eletrical fuses 3. Warning devixes for parked vehicles What is the minimum tread depth for front tires and for other tired? - 4/32 inch - 2/32 inch Name 7 things you should check on the front of your vehicle during a walk around inspection? 1. Front axle 2. Steering System 3. Windsheild 4. Windshield Wipers 5. Wiper Blades 6. Lights 7. Reflectors What 4 things should wheel bearing seals be check for? 1. Rips 2. Tears 3. Cracks 4. Leaks How many red reflective triangles should you carry? 3 How do you test hydraulic brakes for leaks? - Check pads or shoes for brake fluid on them - check hoses and reservoir Why put the starter switch key in your pocket during the pre-trip inspection? So there is no risk of the vehicle rolling or being cracked during the inspection. Why should you back towards the drivers side? You have a better line of sight towards the drivers side. If stopped on a hill how can you start moving without rolling back? Apply the parking brake or apply the accelerator until you move forward. When backing, why is it important to use a helper? A helper can see things you cannot and help direct your movement. What's the most important hand signal that you and the helper should agree on? STOP!! What are two so special conditions where you should downshift? Going into a downgrade or curve. When should you downshift automatics transmissions? On a downgrade or or curve. True or False Retarders keep you from skidding when the road is slippery? False What are the two ways to know when to shift? - engine speed - road speed How far ahead does the manual say you should look? 12 to 15 seconds ahead. What are the two main things to look for ahead? -Traffic - Changing roadways What is your most important way to see the sides snd rear of your vehicle? Mirrors What does communicating mean in safe driving? Signaling your intentions for your safety and others. Where should your reflectors be placed when stopped on a divided highway? 10' 100' 200' Toward approaching traffic. What 3 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 two or four times? Four Empty trucks have the best breaking? False What is hydroplaning? When tires lose traction across water. What is black ice? Ice thing enough to see the road beneath. How do you find out how many seconds of following distance space you have? Wait to the vehicle ahead passes a mark then count the seconds until you pass. If you are driving a 30 foot vehicle at 55mph how many seconds of following distance should you allow? 4 seconds. True or False You should decrease your following distance if somebody is following to closely? False. You should increase the distance. If you swing wide to left before turning right, another driver might try to pass you on the right. Turn wide during the turn. What is a hazard? Any road condition or road user that is a possible danger. Why make emergency plans when you see a hazard? So that you maybe prepared to handle the situation. What are 4 tips to follow so you won't become a distracted driver? - Radio - Do not eat or drink - Review maps - Adjust mirrors How do you use In Vehicle Communications equipment cautiously? Find a place to pull over and keep conversations short. How 3 things can you recognize if a driver is distracted? - Vehicles drifting - Inconsistent speeds - Preoccupied with other tasks What is the difference between aggressive driving and road rage? Aggressive is rude and Road rage intends harm to others. What should you do when confronted with an aggressive driver? Make every attempt to get out of there way. What are 4 things you can do to reduce your stress before and while you drive? - Listen to easy listening music - Give your drive the full attention - Expect delays - Accept realistic travel time True or False You should use low beams whenever you can. False Dim your lights with 500 feet of any vehicle. What should you do before you drive if you are drowsy? Getting off the road is the only safe thing do. What effects can wet brakes cause and how can you avoid these problems? Weak, uneven, or grabbing brakes and avoid deep or flowing water. True or False You should not let air our of hot tires so the pressure goes back to normal. True True or False You can safely remove the radiator cap as long as the engine is not overheated? False What 5 factors determine your selection of a safe speed when going down a long steep downgrade? - Total weight - Length of grade - Steepness - Road conditions - Weather Why should you be in the proper gear BEFORE starting down a hill? Because gravity can cause the speed of your vehicle to increase. Describe the proper braking technique when going down a long steep downgrade? Press breaks until 5mph below your "SAFE" speed then release and repeat. 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 tractor trailer unit to clear a double track? More than 15 seconds. True or False Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency? True You may have to steer away from whats ahead. What are some advantages of going right instead of left around an obstacle? So you will not force any other drivers off the road or cause a collision. What is an escape ramp? A detour usually a few miles form the top of a downgrade to stop after brake failure. True or False If a tire blows out, you should put the brakes on hardtop and stop quickly? False Stay off of the brake. How do you know if your vehicle has anti-lock brakes? ABS light should come on during the bulb check. What is the proper braking technique if your vehicle has anti-lock brakes? Brake as you always have and use only the brake force that is necessary. How do anti-lock brakes help you? ABS helps you avoid wheel lock up and maintain control. What are 3 things to do at an accident scene to prevent another accident? - Protect the area - Notify authorities - Care for injured Name 2 causes of tire fires? - Under inflation - Duals that touch What kinds of fires is a B:C extinguisher not good for? Fires in combustable metals Wood, paper, and ordinary combustable True or False When using your extinguisher, should you get as close as possible to the fire. False Stay far away as possible and aim at the base of the fire. Name 3 causes of vehicle fires. - After Accidents - Spilled fuel - Improper use of flares Name 2 causes of vehicle fires from the electrical system? - Short circuits due to damaged insulation - Loose connections Name 3 causes of vehicle fires from the fuel? - Driver smoking - Improper fueling - Loose fuel connections Name 3 causes of vehicle fires from the cargo? - Flammable cargo - Improperly sealed or loaded cargo - Poor ventilation True or False Common medicines for colds can make you sleepy? True What should you do if you become sleepy while driving? Pull off of the road and find a safe place to sleep. True or False Coffee and a little fresh air will help a drinker sober up? False What is a hazardous materials placard? Are signs put on the outside of a vehicle that identify the hazard class of the cargo and they are at least 10 3/4 inches square, turned upright on a point, in a diamond shape. Why are placards used? Placards are used to warn others of hazardous materials you are carrying. What is "sleep debt"? Depriving yourself of necessary sleep. What are the 8 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 4 things related to cargo are drivers responsible for? - Inspecting cargo. - Recognizing overloads and balanced weight. - Cargo is properly secured and does not obscure your view ahead or to the sides. - Cargo does not restrict your access to emergency equipment. How often must you stop while on the road to check your cargo? - Inspect the cargo and its securing devices before departing and again within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip. - After you have driven for 3 hours or 150 miles. - After every break you take during driving. How is Gross Combination Weight Rating different from Gross Combination Weight? - Gross Combination Weight (GCW). The total weight of a powered unit, plus trailer(s), plus the cargo. - Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR). The maximum GCW specified by the manufacturer for a specific combination of vehicles plus its load. Name 2 situations where legal maximum weights may not be safe. - During bad weather - In mountains What 4 things can happen if you don't have enough weight on the front axle? - Can make the steering axle weight too light to steer safely. - Can cause poor traction. - Front wheels may spin easily. - During bad weather, the truck may not be able to stop properly What is the minimum number of tie-downs for any flat bed load? No matter how small the cargo, it should have at least two tie-downs. What is the minimum number of tie-downs for a 20-foot load? 10 Name the 2 basic reasons for covering cargo on an open bed. - To protect people from the cargo - To protect the cargo from the weather What must you check before transporting a sealed load? That it doesnt exceed gross weight and axle weight limit. Why must air tanks be drained? Keep oil and water build up in the air tanks which can freeze in cold weather and cause brake failure. What is a supply pressure gauge used for? Supply pressure gauges tell you how much pressure is in the air tanks. True or False All vehicles with air brakes must have a low pressure warning signal. True What are spring brakes? Spring brakes are brakes that power is derived through strong mechanical springs. (Emergency and Parking brakes are spring brakes.) (Spring brakes will usually apply between 20-40 PSI) True or False Front wheel brakes are good under all conditions. True How do you know if your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes? Vehicles with ABS have yellow malfunction lamps to tell you if something isn't working. Tractors, trucks will have yellow ABS malfunction lamps on the instrument panel. Trailers will have yellow ABS malfunction lamps on the left side, either on the front or rear corner. Dollies manufactured on or after March 1, 1998 are required to have a lamp on the left side. What is a dual air brake system? A dual air brake system has two separate air brake systems, which use a single set of brake controls. What are the slack adjusters? Slack Adjusters connected to the push rod that adjusts the brake pads slack. What 4 things can use to check slack adjusters? - Park on level ground and chock the wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving. - Release the parking brakes to move the slack adjusters. - Use gloves and pull hard on each slack adjuster that you can reach. - If a slack adjuster moves more than about one inch where the push rod attaches to it, it probably needs adjustment What three things can 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 air tank (or tank with the lowest air pressure, in dual. What 4 things can you use to check that the spring brakes come on automatically? - 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 vehicle and the parking brake valve should close (pop out) - On other combination and single vehicle types when the air pressure falls to the manufacturer's specification (20 - 40 psi). What are the maximum leakage rates? - Apply 90 psi or more with the brake pedal - After the initial pressure drop, if the air pressure falls more than three psi in one minute for single vehicles (more than four psi for combination vehicles), the air loss rate is too much Why should you be in the proper gear before starting down a hill? - Wont be able to shift into a lower gear - May not even be able to get back into any gear - All engine braking effect will be lost What factors can cause brakes to fade or fail? Heat can caused brakes to fade or fail by excessive use of the service brakes. True or False The use of brakes on a long, steep downgrade is only a supplement to the braking effect of the engine. True True or False If you are away from your vehicle only a short time, you do not need to use the parking brake. False How often should you drain air tanks? Drain your air tanks at the end of each working day. What 3 thing do you use to brake when you are driving a tractor-trailer combination with ABS? - Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely and stay in control. - Brake the same way, regardless of whether you have ABS on the tractor, the trailer, or both. - As you slow down, monitor your tractor and trailer and back off the brakes (if it is safe to do so) to stay in control. True or False You still have normal brake functions if your ABS is not working. True What 2 things are important to prevent rollover? - Keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible - Drive slowly around turns When you turn suddenly while pulling doubles, which trailer is most likely to turn over? The last trailer. Why should you not use the trailer hand brake to straighten out a jackknifing trailer? Because the trailer wheels will loose their traction and continue to jackknife the trailer. What is off-tracking? When a vehicle goes around a corner, the rear wheels follow a different path than the front wheels. True or False When you back a trailer, you should position your vehicle so you can back in a curved path to the driver's side. True What might happen if the trailer is too high when you try to couple? It may not couple correctly causing the trailer to be unsecured. After coupling, how much space should be between the upper and lower fifth wheel? None. True or False You should look into the back of the fifth wheel to see if it is locked onto the kingpin True True or False To drive you need to raise the landing gear only until it just lifts off the pavement. False How do you know if your trailer is equipped with anti-lock brakes? Trailers will have yellow ABS malfunction lamps on the left side, either on the front or rear corner. Which shut-off valves should be open and which closed? Both Emergency and Service Line Shut-off valve. How can you test that air flows to all trailers? - Open the service line valve to check that service pressure goes through all the trailers How can you test the tractor protection valve? Push in the "air supply" knob, step on and off the brake pedal several times to reduce the air pressure in the tanks. How can you test the trailer emergency brakes? - Charge the trailer air brake system and check that the trailer rolls freely. - Then stop and pull out the trailer air supply control ( also called tractor protection valve. How can you test the trailer service brakes? At normal air pressure, release the parking brakes. Move the vehicle forward slowly, and apply trailer hand brake.