General Knowledge Flashcards
What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection?
Safety is the most important reason to inspect your vehicle
What things should you look for during a trip?
Brakes, tires rims,wheels, and watch gauges for signs of trouble
Name some key steering parts.
Spindle, tie rod, drag link
Name a suspension system defect.
Leaking shock absorbers
What three kinds of emergency equipment should you have?
Fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses, and warning device
What is the minimum thread depth for front tires and all other tires?
4/32 inch - 2/32
How are hydraulic brakes tested for leaks?
Pumping the brake pedal three times and applying firm pressure to pedal and holding for five seconds
Name some of the things you should check on the front of your vehicle during the walk around inspection
Signal, clearance lights, and headlights
What should wheel-bearing seals be checked for?
Leaking
How many reflective triangles should you carry?
Three
Why should you back towards the driver’s side?
Because you can see better
What is a pull-up?
Repositioning of your vehicle when backing
If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving without rolling back?
Partly engaged clutch before taking your foot off the brake
When backing, why is it important to use a helper?
To help avoid blind spots
What’s the most important hand signal that you and your helper should agree on?
Stop
What are the two special conditions where you should downshift?
Before starting down a hill and before entering a curve
When should you downshift automatic transmissions?
Before starting downgrade
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 and road speed
How far ahead should you look when driving?
12 to 15 seconds or 1/4 of a mile or one block
What are the two main things to look ahead for?
Traffic and road conditions
What’s your most important way to see the sides and the rear?
Use your mirrors
What does “communicating” mean in safe driving?
Signaling your intentions
Where should your reflectors be placed when stopped on a undivided highway?
10’/ 100’/ 100’ behind vehicle
What three things add up to total stopping distance?
Perception distance/ reaction distance/ braking distance
If you go twice as fast, how much will your stopping distance increase by?
4 times out of
Empty trucks have the best braking
true or false
False
What is hydroplaning?
Tires have no contact with the road due to water and have no traction
What is “black ice”?
Thin sheet of clear ice on the roadway
You should use low beams whenever you can.
true or false
False
What should you do before you drive if you are drowsy?
Sleep
What effects can wet brakes cause?
Lack of braking power
You should let air out of hot tires so the pressure goes back to normal
true or false
False
You can safely remove the radiator cap as long as the engine isn’t overheated
True or false
False
What factors determine your selection of a “safe” speed when going down a long, steep downgrade?
Weight of vehicle/ length of grade/ steepness/ road conditions/ weather
Why should you be in proper gear before starting down a hill?
You may not be able to shift back into any gear and all braking effect will be lost
Describe the proper braking technique when going down a long, steep downgrade.
When safe speed limit is reached, apply brakes to 5 mph below safe speed, release and repeat
Why make emergency plans when you see a hazard?
So, you will have more time to act
What is a hazard?
Any road condition or user that is a possible danger
Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency
True or false
True
What is an advantage of going right instead of left around an obstacle?
You will avoid a head on collision
What is an escape ramp?
A ramp in steep mountain areas made to stop runaway vehicles safely
If a tire blows out, you should put the brakes on hard to stop quickly
true or false
False
What is the first thing you should do at an accident scene?
If possible, move the vehicle to the side of the road to prevent another accident and wait for the police
Name two causes of tire fires
Under inflated tires and duals that touch
What kind of fire is a B:C extinguisher used for?
Electrical and fuel
When using your extinguisher, you should get as close as possible to the fire
true or false
False
Name a cause of vehicle fires
Flammable cargo
What three things related to cargo is the driver responsible for?
Inspection of cargo, balanced weight of cargo, secured cargo
How often while on the road, must you stop to inspect your cargo?
Every three hours or 150 miles
What is the “gross combination weight” (GCW) ?
Weight of power unit, plus trailer, plus cargo
Name a situation where legal maximum weight may not be safe
Mountain traveling, and bad weather
What can happen if you don’t have enough weight on the front axle?
Can cause poor traction
What is the minimum number of tie-downs for a 20 foot load?
At least one tie-down for every 10 feet
What is the minimum number of tie-downs for any flatbed load?
2
Cargo covers
*protect people from spilled cargo
*may be a safety requirement in some states
*protect cargo from weather
What must you check before transporting a sealed load?
Check that you do not exceed weight restrictions
Stab braking is not necessary on vehicles
Equipped with anti-lock brakes
What should you always do when traveling down a long downgrade?
Use the braking effect on the engine
Over the counter common cold medicine can make you sleepy,
true or false
True
Your vehicle will be placed out of service if more than 1/4 of one leave is broken or missing
true or false
True
What determines BAC (Blood-Alcohol Concentration)?
*The amount of alcohol you drink
*how fast you drink
*your body weight
Which statement is true about rear drive-wheel braking skids?
When pulling a trailer, the trailer can push the towing vehicle sideways
Which of the following will occur after you start your engine?
The water temperature gauge will rise to normal operating temperature
If your vehicle is 40 feet long and you are traveling 50 mph, what is the safe following distance?
Five seconds
What should you do when you see a hazard in the road in front of you?
Steer and counter steer around the hazard
What happens when a tire blows out at highway speed?
You will feel a vibration
Which of these statements is true about tire pressure?
the air pressure in the tire increases when the temperature rises
You should use your horn…
To help avoid a collision
Convex mirrors will…
Show a wider view than flat mirrors
What type of fire will water extinguish?
Tire
If you are traveling down a long grade and your brakes start to get weak, you should:
Stop as soon as possible
Why is it important to shift gears properly?
To help maintain control of the vehicle
Coffee and a little fresh air will help a drinker, sober up
true or false
False
With low-beam headlights on, you can see:
250 feet ahead
Which of these conditions can produce a skid?
Oversteering
over braking
driving too fast
In hot weather, tar that bleeds to the top of the pavement can make the surface very slippery,
true or false
True
What should you do if you are being tailgated?
Increase your following distance
When should you use controlled braking?
To keep the vehicle in a straight line when braking.
Which of the following is true when driving in cold weather?
Use antifreeze in your windshield washer fluid
When drinking alcohol, which is affected first?
Judgment and self-control
What is controlled braking?
Applying brake firmly, but not enough to lock up
When your brakes are wet, it is very easy to…
Jackknife the trailer
If you are stopped on the shoulder of the road on a divided highway, you must:
Place reflective triangles or flares within 10 minutes of stopping
When conducting a pre-trip inspection of the steering system, you would not inspect:
Leaking shock absorbers
Before entering a curve, you should:
Slow down to a safe speed and downshift before entering the curve
You must come to a full stop at all railroad crossings
When the nature of the cargo makes the stop mandatory under the state or federal regulations
How can you determine when to up shift gears using double clutching?
Watch the tachometer and shift up when the engine reaches the top range
When you double your speed, it takes _______ times as much distance to stop your vehicle
4
Which of these statements about brakes is true?
The heavier the vehicle, or the faster it is moving, the more heat the brakes will have to absorb to stop it
Retarder:
Can cause the drive wheels to skid when they have poor traction
Which of these statements about emergency braking is the most important to remember?
If your wheels are skidding, you cannot control the vehicle
Which of the following is a good thing to do when driving at night?
Keep your speed slow enough so that you can stop within the range of your headlights
You are starting your vehicle in motion from a stop. As you apply power to the drive wheels they start to spin. you should:
Take your foot off the accelerator
Which of these statements is true about tires and hot weather driving
You should inspect your tires every two hours or 100 miles when driving in hot weather
To avoid an accident, you have to drive onto the right shoulder. You are now driving 40 mph on the shoulder. How should you move back onto the pavement into traffic?
If the shoulder is clear, stay on it until your vehicle comes to a stop and then move back onto the pavement when it is safe to do so
Which of these statements is true about driving in areas with strong winds
Winds are especially a problem when coming out of a tunnel
Which of these statements is true on checking your tires for a pre-trip inspection
Tires of mismatched sizes should not be used on the same vehicle
What does a red triangle with an orange center on the rear of the vehicle in front of you mean?
It is a slow moving vehicle
You are transporting hazardous materials that require place cards. Where should they be placed?
Front, rear, and both sides
To correct a drive-wheel braking skid, you should:
Stop braking, turn quickly, and counter steer
Which of the statements are true about cargo?
State laws dictate legal weight limits
Which of these statements about speed management is true
You should choose a speed that allows you to stop within the distance that you can see ahead
Which of these can cause a fire?
Loose fuel connections
under inflated tires
electrical short circuit
An A:B:C: fire extinguisher can be used on:
Electrical fires
burning liquids
burning cloth
You are driving a long commercial vehicle that makes wide turns and there are two left turn lanes. which should you use?
The right one
An in-route inspection should include checking for:
Brake overheating
tire overheating
cargo securement
Which of these statements about backing a large vehicle is true
You should avoid backing whenever possible
turn toward the driver side whenever possible
when you park try to park so you will not need to back up if possible
The road suddenly becomes slippery due to black ice. What should you?
Stop driving as soon as you can safely do so
Which of these statements about marking a stopped vehicle is true?
If the vehicle is on a hill or curve and cannot be seen for 500 feet, triangles should be placed to give motorist adequate warning
You do not have a hazardous materials endorsement on your CDL. You can drive a vehicle hauling hazardous materials if a person with a hazardous material endorsement rides with you
true or false.
False
What is the proper way to hold a steering wheel?
With both hands on the wheel in the nine and three position
What is counter steering?
Turning the wheel back in the other direction after steering to avoid a traffic emergency
Which of these statements are true about using turn signals?
When planning to change lanes activate your turn signal at least 100 feet before changing lanes
Where and when should you test the stopping action of your service brakes?
When the vehicle is moving at about 5 mph
High beams should be…
Used when it is safe and legal to do so
You are going to make a right hand turn from a two-lane street onto another two-lane street. Your vehicle is so long that you will need to use extra space to make the turn. you should…
Stay in your lane and use extra space on the street you are turning onto
What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes?
Release the accelerator
It takes the body about ______ hours to get rid of the alcohol in four drinks
4
Which of these statements about accelerating is true
Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage
Which of these is a good thing to remember about using mirrors?
There are blind spots that your mirror cannot show you
You are checking your wheels and rims for a pre-trip inspection which of these statements is true
Rust around the wheel lug nuts may mean that they are loose
You are driving vehicle at 55mph on dry pavement. about how much total stopping distance will you need to bring it to a stop?
The length of a football field
If a straight truck or a bus goes into a front wheel skid, it will…
Go straight ahead, even if the steering wheel is turned but will not spin out
A key principle to remember about loading cargo is to keep the load
Balanced in the cargo area
You are driving on a straight level road at 50 mph. There are no vehicles in front of you. Suddenly a tire blows out on your vehicle. What should you do?
Stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down
You are driving on a Stanley highway when your vehicle breaks down where should you place your ref
One 10 feet behind another 100 feet behind and one 200 feet behind
When driving through a work zone you should:
Slow down
turn on your flashers
use your brake lights to warn drivers behind you
You are driving on a two-lane road. An oncoming driver drifts into your lane and is headed straight for you. which of the following is most often the best action to take?
Steer to the right
Which of these is a good thing to do when steering to avoid a crash?
Don’t turn any more than is needed to clear what is in your way
You should avoid driving through deep puddles or flowing water, but if you must, which of these steps can help keep your brakes working?
Gently apply the break while going through the water
Hydroplaning:
Is more likely to occur when tire pressure is low
For your safety, when setting out reflector triangles, you should do this
Hold the triangles between yourself and the oncoming traffic
Which of these statements is true about overhead clearance?
The weight of the vehicle will change its height
Resurfacing of streets could change the clearance.
You must drive on a slippery road. which of these are good things to do in such a situation
Slow down slowly
Why does a dry bulk tanker require special care?
It often has a high center of gravity, and the load could shift
During a pre-trip inspection you should check the following
Missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring
leaking shock absorbers
steering wheel play should be less than 10° or 2 inches
Which of these statements are true about cargo?
You, the driver are responsible for recognizing overloads and poorly balanced weight
Which of these statements about certain types of cargo is true
Unstable loads such as hanging meat or livestock, can require extra caution on curves
If you need to leave the road in a traffic emergency, you should:
Avoid braking until your speed has dropped to about 20 mph
When driving at night you should:
Adjust your speed to keep your stopping distance within your sight distance
That parking brake should be tested while the vehicle is:
Parked
Most front wheel skids are caused by
Driving too fast for conditions
When temperature drop, bridges:
Will freeze before the road
You are driving your vehicle on a two-lane highway when another vehicle suddenly pulls out in front of you
It is safer to leave the road
While being constantly aware of your vehicle’s size and weight when crossing or entering traffic, which of the following is also important to keep in mind?
*Due to slow acceleration and the space large vehicles require, you will need a larger gap to enter traffic than with a car
*Be aware of your acceleration
*Before you start across a road, make sure you can get all the way across before traffic reaches you
Three good rules for using turn signals are signal early, signal continuously, and…
Cancel your signal
While you are driving, You are forced to use emergency braking. what should you do?
Use the controlled or stab braking method, remembering that locked wheels mean that you cannot control the vehicle
If a tire fails, you should
Hold the steering wheel firmly
stay off the brakes
after stopping check all tires
Drivers should practice fire prevention by paying close attention to which of the following?
Pre-trip inspections
En-route inspections
monitoring of instruments and gauges
