TRUCKING RODEO STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔T or F : The gear selected for an upgrade should never be higher than that which a
driver uses for the downgrade. - ✔✔False
✔✔When a driver applies the brakes fully, then releases it once the wheels lock up, it is
referred to as ______. - ✔✔Stab braking
✔✔T or F: Using the hand lever only, to apply trailer brakes, can overheat the brakes,
causing a fire and/or brake failure. - ✔✔True
✔✔Professional drivers must be fully prepared to drive in almost any weather condition.
Two of the most important defensive driving techniques in bad weather are to: -
✔✔Reduce speed and increase following distance
✔✔T or F: When driving in adverse weather, drivers should understand that stopping
distances decrease while the ability to make quick, evasive actions increases. -
✔✔False
✔✔Every good defensive driver knows that the first step to operate safely is? - ✔✔A
good pre-trip
✔✔T or F: Typically during a CMV rollover the trailer begins to roll first. - ✔✔True
✔✔Which is the most contributing factor to a CMV rollover entering a curve? -
✔✔Speed
✔✔CMVs, with a gross weight rating over 10,000 lbs., require that cargo must be
secured to withstand a force in a left and right direction of? - ✔✔.5g
✔✔A tandem axle semi-trailer with a cargo weight of 50,000 lbs and cargo height of 102
inches, will have a roll threshold of? - ✔✔.35g
✔✔Vehicles traveling at a speed of about 40 mph on a ramp posted for 25 mph can
produce a lateral force to about ______. - ✔✔.5g
✔✔T of F: Vehicles traveling at a speed of about 40 mph on a ramp posted for 25 mph
can produce a lateral force up to about .5g, or 50% of the weight of cargo. - ✔✔True
✔✔In _______% of large truck- two vehicle "fatal" crashes, either the truck or other
vehicle was negotiating a curve. - ✔✔28
,✔✔In ________% of large-truck two-vehicle fatal crashes, either the truck or the other
vehicle were stopped or parked. - ✔✔6
✔✔T or F: A driver should be aware of his/her surroundings before backing up? -
✔✔True
✔✔Which is not true when using a spotter for backing?
A) Spotter should wear a safety vest
B) Position spotter at least 8 ft from vehicle
C) Trust your spotter, he is your eyes and ears
D) Maintain visual and verbal contact with spotter at all times - ✔✔C) trust your spotter,
he is your eyes and ears
✔✔What percentage of accidents, involving large trucks, is due to backing? - ✔✔25%
✔✔What is the general rule of a good defensive driver? - ✔✔Give the right of way don't
take it.
✔✔T or F: As a general rule, a good defensive driver will "Give the right of way, don't
take it." - ✔✔True
✔✔In 8% of large truck-two vehicle fatal crashes: - ✔✔the other vehicle was turning
✔✔Typically during a CMV rollover, which begins to roll first? - ✔✔Trailer
✔✔If a CMV doubles their speed, how much more distance is required to stop? - ✔✔4
times
✔✔T or F: An empty truck requires a greater stopping distance to stop because
generally they have less traction. - ✔✔True
✔✔Which is a true fact about CMVs and their following distances?
A) Allow another 2 seconds on wet pavement
B) Double the following distance on snow
C) Triple the following distance on ice
D) All of the above - ✔✔D) All of the above
✔✔CMV drivers should check their mirrors every? - ✔✔5 to 8 seconds
✔✔T or F: Convex mirrors make objects appear closer than they actually are. -
✔✔False
, ✔✔T or F: According to the FMCSA a defensive driver tries to recognize potentially
hazardous situations in advance and assumes other drivers may make mistakes and is
prepared in the event an error is made. - ✔✔True
✔✔A defensive driver..... - ✔✔Recognizes potentially hazardous situations in advance,
assumes other drivers may make mistakes, and commits no driving errors himself
✔✔A defensive driver gives the right of way when? - ✔✔Last to arrive at an intersection,
changing lanes, and entering traffic and turning left in front of approaching traffic
✔✔Which is not part of the equation to determine total stopping distance?
A) Perception distance
B) Reaction distance
C) Appliance distance
D) Braking distance - ✔✔C) Appliance distance
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a factor in determining total stopping distance?
A) Reaction distance
B) Braking distance
C) Perception distance
D) Anticipated distance - ✔✔D) Anticipated distance
✔✔T or F: Per FMCSA, a CMV traveling under 40 mph should leave at least one
second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. - ✔✔True
✔✔Which is true for CMVs and their following distance traveling over 40 mph?
A) Should leave 1 additional second plus 1 additional per trailer
B) Should leave 1 additional second per ten feet of trailer length
C) Should leave 1 additional second plus 1 additional second per 10 feet of vehicles
length
D) Should double the space required at speeds below 40 mph - ✔✔C) Should leave 1
additional second plus 1 additional second per 10 feet of vehicles length
✔✔A 70 foot unit driving on wet pavement at 60 mph should have a following distance
of how much? - ✔✔10 seconds
✔✔For an alert driver, the perception time is? - ✔✔3/4 second
✔✔The average driver has a reaction time of ________ seconds, which means 60 more
feet of distance at 55 mph? - ✔✔3/4
✔✔At 55 mph, on a dry pavement with good brakes, it takes between 41/4 to 41/2
seconds to finally stop, or approximately ________ feet. - ✔✔363
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔T or F : The gear selected for an upgrade should never be higher than that which a
driver uses for the downgrade. - ✔✔False
✔✔When a driver applies the brakes fully, then releases it once the wheels lock up, it is
referred to as ______. - ✔✔Stab braking
✔✔T or F: Using the hand lever only, to apply trailer brakes, can overheat the brakes,
causing a fire and/or brake failure. - ✔✔True
✔✔Professional drivers must be fully prepared to drive in almost any weather condition.
Two of the most important defensive driving techniques in bad weather are to: -
✔✔Reduce speed and increase following distance
✔✔T or F: When driving in adverse weather, drivers should understand that stopping
distances decrease while the ability to make quick, evasive actions increases. -
✔✔False
✔✔Every good defensive driver knows that the first step to operate safely is? - ✔✔A
good pre-trip
✔✔T or F: Typically during a CMV rollover the trailer begins to roll first. - ✔✔True
✔✔Which is the most contributing factor to a CMV rollover entering a curve? -
✔✔Speed
✔✔CMVs, with a gross weight rating over 10,000 lbs., require that cargo must be
secured to withstand a force in a left and right direction of? - ✔✔.5g
✔✔A tandem axle semi-trailer with a cargo weight of 50,000 lbs and cargo height of 102
inches, will have a roll threshold of? - ✔✔.35g
✔✔Vehicles traveling at a speed of about 40 mph on a ramp posted for 25 mph can
produce a lateral force to about ______. - ✔✔.5g
✔✔T of F: Vehicles traveling at a speed of about 40 mph on a ramp posted for 25 mph
can produce a lateral force up to about .5g, or 50% of the weight of cargo. - ✔✔True
✔✔In _______% of large truck- two vehicle "fatal" crashes, either the truck or other
vehicle was negotiating a curve. - ✔✔28
,✔✔In ________% of large-truck two-vehicle fatal crashes, either the truck or the other
vehicle were stopped or parked. - ✔✔6
✔✔T or F: A driver should be aware of his/her surroundings before backing up? -
✔✔True
✔✔Which is not true when using a spotter for backing?
A) Spotter should wear a safety vest
B) Position spotter at least 8 ft from vehicle
C) Trust your spotter, he is your eyes and ears
D) Maintain visual and verbal contact with spotter at all times - ✔✔C) trust your spotter,
he is your eyes and ears
✔✔What percentage of accidents, involving large trucks, is due to backing? - ✔✔25%
✔✔What is the general rule of a good defensive driver? - ✔✔Give the right of way don't
take it.
✔✔T or F: As a general rule, a good defensive driver will "Give the right of way, don't
take it." - ✔✔True
✔✔In 8% of large truck-two vehicle fatal crashes: - ✔✔the other vehicle was turning
✔✔Typically during a CMV rollover, which begins to roll first? - ✔✔Trailer
✔✔If a CMV doubles their speed, how much more distance is required to stop? - ✔✔4
times
✔✔T or F: An empty truck requires a greater stopping distance to stop because
generally they have less traction. - ✔✔True
✔✔Which is a true fact about CMVs and their following distances?
A) Allow another 2 seconds on wet pavement
B) Double the following distance on snow
C) Triple the following distance on ice
D) All of the above - ✔✔D) All of the above
✔✔CMV drivers should check their mirrors every? - ✔✔5 to 8 seconds
✔✔T or F: Convex mirrors make objects appear closer than they actually are. -
✔✔False
, ✔✔T or F: According to the FMCSA a defensive driver tries to recognize potentially
hazardous situations in advance and assumes other drivers may make mistakes and is
prepared in the event an error is made. - ✔✔True
✔✔A defensive driver..... - ✔✔Recognizes potentially hazardous situations in advance,
assumes other drivers may make mistakes, and commits no driving errors himself
✔✔A defensive driver gives the right of way when? - ✔✔Last to arrive at an intersection,
changing lanes, and entering traffic and turning left in front of approaching traffic
✔✔Which is not part of the equation to determine total stopping distance?
A) Perception distance
B) Reaction distance
C) Appliance distance
D) Braking distance - ✔✔C) Appliance distance
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a factor in determining total stopping distance?
A) Reaction distance
B) Braking distance
C) Perception distance
D) Anticipated distance - ✔✔D) Anticipated distance
✔✔T or F: Per FMCSA, a CMV traveling under 40 mph should leave at least one
second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. - ✔✔True
✔✔Which is true for CMVs and their following distance traveling over 40 mph?
A) Should leave 1 additional second plus 1 additional per trailer
B) Should leave 1 additional second per ten feet of trailer length
C) Should leave 1 additional second plus 1 additional second per 10 feet of vehicles
length
D) Should double the space required at speeds below 40 mph - ✔✔C) Should leave 1
additional second plus 1 additional second per 10 feet of vehicles length
✔✔A 70 foot unit driving on wet pavement at 60 mph should have a following distance
of how much? - ✔✔10 seconds
✔✔For an alert driver, the perception time is? - ✔✔3/4 second
✔✔The average driver has a reaction time of ________ seconds, which means 60 more
feet of distance at 55 mph? - ✔✔3/4
✔✔At 55 mph, on a dry pavement with good brakes, it takes between 41/4 to 41/2
seconds to finally stop, or approximately ________ feet. - ✔✔363
