USPS Exams 943, 944 & 945 | Latest Update 2026/2027 | 200
Practice Questions and Verified Answers | Automotive
Technician Certification | A+ Graded
1. Exam 943 is used to hire which type of USPS maintenance position?
A. Maintenance Support Clerk
B. Automotive Mechanics responsible for routine maintenance and repair
C. Automotive Technicians responsible for complex repairs
D. Mail Processing Equipment Mechanics
Answer: B. Exam 943 is a technical test used to hire Automotive Mechanics who perform routine types
of maintenance and repair on USPS vehicles. Exam 944 is used for Automotive Technicians who handle
more complex maintenance and repair.
2. Exam 944 is used to hire which type of USPS maintenance position?
A. Automotive Mechanics for routine repairs
B. Automotive Technicians for complex maintenance and repair
C. Maintenance Support Clerks
D. Building Maintenance Technicians
Answer: B. Exam 944 is used to hire Automotive Technicians who are responsible for more complex
types of maintenance and repair on USPS vehicles.
3. What is the primary difference between the responsibilities of Exam 943 and Exam 944 positions?
A. Exam 943 positions work on mail processing equipment; Exam 944 positions work on vehicles
,B. Exam 943 positions handle routine maintenance; Exam 944 positions handle complex repairs
C. Exam 943 positions are entrylevel; Exam 944 positions are supervisory
D. There is no difference
Answer: B. Exam 943 is for Automotive Mechanics who perform routine types of maintenance and
repair. Exam 944 is for Automotive Technicians who handle more complex maintenance and repair.
4. A USPS vehicle is brought in with a complaint of excessive vibration at highway speeds. The technician
should FIRST check:
A. Engine oil level
B. Tire balance and wheel alignment
C. Transmission fluid level
D. Brake pad thickness
Answer: B. Excessive vibration at highway speeds is most commonly caused by unbalanced tires or
misalignment. Tire balance and wheel alignment should be the first areas inspected.
5. When performing a brake inspection on a USPS LLV, the technician notices the brake pads are worn
below the minimum thickness. The minimum safe thickness for brake pads is generally:
A. 1 mm
B. 2 mm
C. 3 mm
D. 4 mm
Answer: B. Brake pads at or below 2 mm thickness are considered unsafe and require replacement. The
friction material becomes too thin to provide adequate stopping power and may cause metaltometal
contact, damaging the rotors.
,6. Which condition results when a brake drum is out of round?
A. Low pedal
B. Spongy pedal
C. High pedal
D. Pulsating pedal
E. Hard pedal
Answer: D. An outofround brake drum creates uneven contact between the brake shoes and the drum
surface during rotation. This causes the brake pedal to pulsate or vibrate when applied, as the shoes
alternately contact high and low spots on the drum.
7. What causes a soft, spongy brake pedal?
A. Bent caliper retainer
B. Air in the hydraulic system
C. Warped rotors
D. Worn brake pads
E. Glazed brake linings
Answer: B. Air in the hydraulic system compresses when brake pedal pressure is applied, resulting in a
soft, spongy feel. The hydraulic system must be bled to remove trapped air.
8. The parking brake typically operates which braking system?
A. Front disc brakes only
, B. Rear brakes only
C. All four wheels equally
D. Hydraulic system
E. ABS system
Answer: B. The parking brake (emergency brake) uses mechanical cables to actuate the rear brakes,
providing a mechanical backup separate from the hydraulic brake system. This ensures the vehicle can
be secured even if the main hydraulic system fails.
9. Brake fluid should be changed because it:
A. Evaporates over time
B. Becomes too thick
C. Absorbs moisture
D. Loses color
E. Turns acidic
Answer: C. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air over time. This absorbed
water lowers the boiling point of the fluid and can cause internal corrosion in brake components,
leading to system failure.
10. During a preventive maintenance inspection, the technician finds a loose drive belt. What is the
MOST appropriate corrective action?
A. Tighten the belt to the manufacturer's specified tension
B. Replace the belt only if it shows visible wear
C. Apply belt dressing to stop squealing
D. Ignore it until the next service
Practice Questions and Verified Answers | Automotive
Technician Certification | A+ Graded
1. Exam 943 is used to hire which type of USPS maintenance position?
A. Maintenance Support Clerk
B. Automotive Mechanics responsible for routine maintenance and repair
C. Automotive Technicians responsible for complex repairs
D. Mail Processing Equipment Mechanics
Answer: B. Exam 943 is a technical test used to hire Automotive Mechanics who perform routine types
of maintenance and repair on USPS vehicles. Exam 944 is used for Automotive Technicians who handle
more complex maintenance and repair.
2. Exam 944 is used to hire which type of USPS maintenance position?
A. Automotive Mechanics for routine repairs
B. Automotive Technicians for complex maintenance and repair
C. Maintenance Support Clerks
D. Building Maintenance Technicians
Answer: B. Exam 944 is used to hire Automotive Technicians who are responsible for more complex
types of maintenance and repair on USPS vehicles.
3. What is the primary difference between the responsibilities of Exam 943 and Exam 944 positions?
A. Exam 943 positions work on mail processing equipment; Exam 944 positions work on vehicles
,B. Exam 943 positions handle routine maintenance; Exam 944 positions handle complex repairs
C. Exam 943 positions are entrylevel; Exam 944 positions are supervisory
D. There is no difference
Answer: B. Exam 943 is for Automotive Mechanics who perform routine types of maintenance and
repair. Exam 944 is for Automotive Technicians who handle more complex maintenance and repair.
4. A USPS vehicle is brought in with a complaint of excessive vibration at highway speeds. The technician
should FIRST check:
A. Engine oil level
B. Tire balance and wheel alignment
C. Transmission fluid level
D. Brake pad thickness
Answer: B. Excessive vibration at highway speeds is most commonly caused by unbalanced tires or
misalignment. Tire balance and wheel alignment should be the first areas inspected.
5. When performing a brake inspection on a USPS LLV, the technician notices the brake pads are worn
below the minimum thickness. The minimum safe thickness for brake pads is generally:
A. 1 mm
B. 2 mm
C. 3 mm
D. 4 mm
Answer: B. Brake pads at or below 2 mm thickness are considered unsafe and require replacement. The
friction material becomes too thin to provide adequate stopping power and may cause metaltometal
contact, damaging the rotors.
,6. Which condition results when a brake drum is out of round?
A. Low pedal
B. Spongy pedal
C. High pedal
D. Pulsating pedal
E. Hard pedal
Answer: D. An outofround brake drum creates uneven contact between the brake shoes and the drum
surface during rotation. This causes the brake pedal to pulsate or vibrate when applied, as the shoes
alternately contact high and low spots on the drum.
7. What causes a soft, spongy brake pedal?
A. Bent caliper retainer
B. Air in the hydraulic system
C. Warped rotors
D. Worn brake pads
E. Glazed brake linings
Answer: B. Air in the hydraulic system compresses when brake pedal pressure is applied, resulting in a
soft, spongy feel. The hydraulic system must be bled to remove trapped air.
8. The parking brake typically operates which braking system?
A. Front disc brakes only
, B. Rear brakes only
C. All four wheels equally
D. Hydraulic system
E. ABS system
Answer: B. The parking brake (emergency brake) uses mechanical cables to actuate the rear brakes,
providing a mechanical backup separate from the hydraulic brake system. This ensures the vehicle can
be secured even if the main hydraulic system fails.
9. Brake fluid should be changed because it:
A. Evaporates over time
B. Becomes too thick
C. Absorbs moisture
D. Loses color
E. Turns acidic
Answer: C. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air over time. This absorbed
water lowers the boiling point of the fluid and can cause internal corrosion in brake components,
leading to system failure.
10. During a preventive maintenance inspection, the technician finds a loose drive belt. What is the
MOST appropriate corrective action?
A. Tighten the belt to the manufacturer's specified tension
B. Replace the belt only if it shows visible wear
C. Apply belt dressing to stop squealing
D. Ignore it until the next service
