CDL GENERAL KNOWLEDGE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH NEW UPDATE
SOLUTIONS
/. If you have an air brake restriction... - Answer-you may not operate a CMV
/.What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection? - Answer-Safety.
Safety for yourself and other road user.
/.What things should you check during a trip? - Answer-Watch gauges for signs of
trouble.
Use your senses to check for problems (look,listen,smell,and feel)
Check critical items when you stop : tires, wheels, rims, brakes, lights, reflectors,
electrical connections to trailers.
/.Name some key steering wheel parts - Answer-Gear box
pitman arm
steering knuckle
steering arm
tie rod
/.Name some suspension system defects - Answer-Broken leaf spring, spring hangers
that allow movement of axle.
U-bolts, or other axle poistioning parts that are cracked, or damaged.
/.What 3 kinds of emergency equiptment must you have? - Answer-Spare electrical
fuses
Three red reflective triangles
properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.
/.What is the minimum tread depth for front tires? For all other tires? - Answer-4/32 on
the front and 2/32 elsewhere
, /.Name some things you should check on the front of your vehicle during the walk
around inspection? - Answer-Headlights, low and high beam.
Windshield wiper arms for proper spring tension.
Wiper blades for damage.
Reflectors
Turn Signals both left and right.
/.What should wheel bearing seals be checked for? - Answer-Leaks, Leaks, LEAKS!!
/.How many red reflective triangles should you carry? - Answer-Three
/.How do you test hydraulic breaks for leaks? - Answer-Pump brake pedal three times
and apply firm pressure to the pedal, hold for five seconds. The pedal should not move.
/.Why put the starter switch key in your pocket during the pre-trip inspection? - Answer-
To keep someone from running over you.
/.Why should you back toward the driver's side? - Answer-So you can see better
backing toward the right side is very dangerous because you cant see as well.
/.If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving without rolling back? - Answer-For
manual transmission, partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the
brake, or put the parking brake on whenever necessary to keep you from rolling back.
On a tractor-trailer equipped with a trailer brake hand valve, the hand valve can be
applied to keep from rolling back.
/.When stopping a vehicle with a manual transmission, push the clutch in when the
engine is close to - Answer-Idle
/.When backing, why is it important to use a helper? - Answer-There are blind spots you
cant see!
/.What is the most important single you and your helper should agree on? - Answer-
stop, stop, stop!!
/.What are the two special conditions where you should downshift? - Answer-Before
entering a curve
Before starting down a hill
QUESTIONS WITH NEW UPDATE
SOLUTIONS
/. If you have an air brake restriction... - Answer-you may not operate a CMV
/.What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection? - Answer-Safety.
Safety for yourself and other road user.
/.What things should you check during a trip? - Answer-Watch gauges for signs of
trouble.
Use your senses to check for problems (look,listen,smell,and feel)
Check critical items when you stop : tires, wheels, rims, brakes, lights, reflectors,
electrical connections to trailers.
/.Name some key steering wheel parts - Answer-Gear box
pitman arm
steering knuckle
steering arm
tie rod
/.Name some suspension system defects - Answer-Broken leaf spring, spring hangers
that allow movement of axle.
U-bolts, or other axle poistioning parts that are cracked, or damaged.
/.What 3 kinds of emergency equiptment must you have? - Answer-Spare electrical
fuses
Three red reflective triangles
properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.
/.What is the minimum tread depth for front tires? For all other tires? - Answer-4/32 on
the front and 2/32 elsewhere
, /.Name some things you should check on the front of your vehicle during the walk
around inspection? - Answer-Headlights, low and high beam.
Windshield wiper arms for proper spring tension.
Wiper blades for damage.
Reflectors
Turn Signals both left and right.
/.What should wheel bearing seals be checked for? - Answer-Leaks, Leaks, LEAKS!!
/.How many red reflective triangles should you carry? - Answer-Three
/.How do you test hydraulic breaks for leaks? - Answer-Pump brake pedal three times
and apply firm pressure to the pedal, hold for five seconds. The pedal should not move.
/.Why put the starter switch key in your pocket during the pre-trip inspection? - Answer-
To keep someone from running over you.
/.Why should you back toward the driver's side? - Answer-So you can see better
backing toward the right side is very dangerous because you cant see as well.
/.If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving without rolling back? - Answer-For
manual transmission, partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the
brake, or put the parking brake on whenever necessary to keep you from rolling back.
On a tractor-trailer equipped with a trailer brake hand valve, the hand valve can be
applied to keep from rolling back.
/.When stopping a vehicle with a manual transmission, push the clutch in when the
engine is close to - Answer-Idle
/.When backing, why is it important to use a helper? - Answer-There are blind spots you
cant see!
/.What is the most important single you and your helper should agree on? - Answer-
stop, stop, stop!!
/.What are the two special conditions where you should downshift? - Answer-Before
entering a curve
Before starting down a hill
