3 RD DECK Flashcards
50 FLASHCARDS
- If you must drive in reverse, it is helpful to:
› First exit the truck and walk the path to look for obstacles.
If you must drive in reverse, you should first walk around the vehicle to check for hazards in
your path of travel. Make frequent use of the mirrors on both sides of your vehicle while
backing. Always back up as slowly as possible.
- Dual tires should:
› Not come into contact with one another.
When inspecting a vehicle, you should verify that your dual tires do not come into contact
with one another, or with any other part of the vehicle.
- If you are turning left at an intersection where there are two available turn lanes:
› It is best to use the right lane.
You may have to swing right to safely make a left turn. If there are two left turn lanes
available at an intersection, you should always begin your turn in the rightmost lane.
- Most heavy vehicles require ____ to change gears.
› Double clutching
Most heavy vehicles with manual transmissions require double clutching to change gears. A
driver should release the accelerator, push in the clutch, and shift into neutral at the same
time. After releasing the clutch and allowing the vehicle to change to the necessary speed,
the driver should push in the clutch, shift gears, then simultaneously release the clutch and
accelerate.
- Slow down and be extra careful:
› When approaching a work zone.
Slow down and be especially careful when driving in and around work zones, in places where
the pavement drops off sharply at the edge of the road, when foreign objects are present on
the road, and on freeway on- and off-ramps.
- The two indicators that determine when you should upshift are:
› Engine speed and road speed.
There are two indicators that determine when you need to shift into a higher gear. One
indicator is the engine speed (rpm). You should read your vehicle’s manual to learn its rpm
range and shift up when you reach the top of that range. The other indicator is road speed
(mph). You should learn which speeds each gear can accommodate, then keep an eye on
the speedometer and shift up as needed.
- Leaking shock absorbers:
› Indicate a potentially dangerous defect.
The suspension system keeps a vehicle’s axles in place. Damaged suspension parts, such as
leaking shock absorbers, may be potentially dangerous defects on a vehicle.
- If you need to travel down a hill, you should switch into a lower gear:
› Before you start moving downhill.
Always downshift before beginning to drive downhill. Forcing an automatic transmission into
a lower gear at a high speed could damage the transmission and also lead to a loss of ability
to engine brake. Drive at a speed that will allow you to control your vehicle without overusing
your brakes. When determining a safe speed to drive, you should take into account the
steepness of the grade, the length of the grade, the weight of your vehicle, road conditions,
and weather conditions.
- For safety purposes, when should you turn off a retarder?
› When the roadways are slippery
Retarders are mechanisms in some vehicles that help slow a vehicle and reduce the need for
braking. However, using a retarder may cause wheels to skid when they have poor traction.
Turn off retarders when traveling under wet, snowy, or icy conditions.
- Texting while driving is especially dangerous because:
› It is both a mental and physical distraction.
Texting while driving is particularly dangerous because it is both a mental and physical
distraction to the driver. In addition to diverting a driver’s mental attention away from the
road, texting requires a person to remove at least one hand from the vehicle’s controls.
- When checking your vehicle’s lights before driving:
› The engine should be turned off.
To check your vehicle’s lights before a trip, you should set the parking brake, turn off the
engine, remove the key from the ignition, and take the key with you. Turn on your low beam
headlights and four-way flashers. Get out of the vehicle to make sure the lights are working
properly.
- When testing a parking brake, the vehicle should:
› Be placed in a low gear while the driver attempts to pull forward.
To test a parking brake, you should fasten your safety belt, set the parking brake for the
power unit, release the trailer parking brake (if applicable), place the vehicle in low gear, and
attempt to pull forward against the parking brake. If the parking brake does not hold while
you are attempting to pull forward against it, the brake is faulty and must be fixed.
- When parked on the side of the road, you should:
› Use your four-way flashers.
Always turn on your four-way emergency flashers if you must park on the side of the road.
This is especially important when traveling at night.
- If driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, you can prevent your vehicle from rolling
backward when starting from a stop by:
› Partly engaging the clutch before removing your foot from the brake pedal.
To prevent rolling backward when starting from a stop, you should partly engage the clutch
before removing your foot from the brake. Apply the parking brake whenever necessary to
prevent your vehicle from rolling back.
- In cool weather, as the temperature begins to rise and ice begins to melt:
› The road will become even more slippery.
As the temperature begins to rise and ice on the road begins to melt, the road surface will
often become even more slippery. Water from the slight melting will sit on top of the ice,
decreasing the available traction even more. Always decrease your speed and drive with
caution when traveling on slippery surfaces.
- How does doubling your speed from 20 mph to 40 mph affect your vehicle’s braking distance?
› It quadruples.
Increasing your vehicle’s speed will increase your vehicle’s striking power and braking
distance. Doubling your vehicle’s speed from 20 to 40 mph will multiply its braking distance
by four.
- When backing, it is best to:
› Use a helper, if possible.
If you must drive in reverse, you should back up slowly and use the mirrors on both sides of
your vehicle. Use a helper to monitor your blind spots whenever possible. You and the helper
should agree on a signal for “stop.”
- A truck should be parked:
› So that it can be pulled forward to leave the space.
Because you can’t see everything behind you, backing is always dangerous and should be
avoided whenever possible. Choose parking spaces from which you can pull forward when
you leave.
- In hot weather, spots on the pavement where tar is bleeding:
› Are very slippery.
Tar in road pavement often rises to the surface of the road, or “bleeds,” in very hot weather.
Watch for such areas because they can be very slippery.
- When near a railroad crossing:
› You may not hear a train, even if one is approaching.
You should never assume that you will hear an approaching train. The train operator may fail
to sound the horn, or the use of a train’s horn may be prohibited in a specific area. Even if
the train does sound its horn, noise from inside your own vehicle may prevent you from
hearing the train until it is dangerously close.
- When approaching a railroad crossing, you should:
› Not rely solely on warning signals to indicate if a train is approaching.
You should not rely solely upon the presence of warning signals, gates, or flaggers to alert
you to the approach of a train. Be especially alert to approaching trains at crossings that are
not controlled by gates or signals. At any railroad crossing, you should operate under the
assumption that a train is coming.
- When using your mirrors, you should frequently look at your tires to:
› Watch for tire fires.
Check your tires regularly when looking in your mirrors. This helps ensure that you will notice
a tire fire, if one should happen. Tire fires may occur when a tire is under-inflated, if dual tires
are touching, or if the tires are otherwise overheated.
- What should you do if your vehicle gets stuck on railroad tracks?
› Get out of the vehicle and call for assistance.
If your CMV gets stuck on railroad tracks, you should immediately leave the vehicle and get
away from the tracks. Check the signposts or signal housing at the crossing for emergency
contact information and call 911, or another appropriate emergency number.
- To avoid a hazard, you:
› May need to swerve your vehicle out of the way.
Stopping is not always the best way to avoid a hazard. If there is not enough space for you
to stop to avoid coming into contact with the hazard, swerving out of the way may be your
safest option.
