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CDL Test > General Knowledge > Flashcards

General Knowledge Flashcards

1
Q

What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection?

A

Safety is the most important reason to inspect your vehicle

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2
Q

What things should you look for during a trip?

A

Brakes, tires rims,wheels, and watch gauges for signs of trouble

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3
Q

Name some key steering parts.

A

Spindle, tie rod, drag link

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4
Q

Name a suspension system defect.

A

Leaking shock absorbers

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5
Q

What three kinds of emergency equipment should you have?

A

Fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses, and warning device

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6
Q

What is the minimum thread depth for front tires and all other tires?

A

4/32 inch - 2/32

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7
Q

How are hydraulic brakes tested for leaks?

A

Pumping the brake pedal three times and applying firm pressure to pedal and holding for five seconds

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8
Q

Name some of the things you should check on the front of your vehicle during the walk around inspection

A

Signal, clearance lights, and headlights

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9
Q

What should wheel-bearing seals be checked for?

A

Leaking

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10
Q

How many reflective triangles should you carry?

A

Three

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11
Q

Why should you back towards the driver’s side?

A

Because you can see better

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12
Q

What is a pull-up?

A

Repositioning of your vehicle when backing

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13
Q

If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving without rolling back?

A

Partly engaged clutch before taking your foot off the brake

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14
Q

When backing, why is it important to use a helper?

A

To help avoid blind spots

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15
Q

What’s the most important hand signal that you and your helper should agree on?

A

Stop

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16
Q

What are the two special conditions where you should downshift?

A

Before starting down a hill and before entering a curve

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17
Q

When should you downshift automatic transmissions?

A

Before starting downgrade

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18
Q

True or false
Retarders keep you from skidding when the road is slippery

A

False

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19
Q

What are the two ways to know when to shift?

A

Engine speed and road speed

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20
Q

How far ahead should you look when driving?

A

12 to 15 seconds or 1/4 of a mile or one block

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21
Q

What are the two main things to look ahead for?

A

Traffic and road conditions

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22
Q

What’s your most important way to see the sides and the rear?

A

Use your mirrors

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23
Q

What does “communicating” mean in safe driving?

A

Signaling your intentions

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24
Q

Where should your reflectors be placed when stopped on a undivided highway?

A

10’/ 100’/ 100’ behind vehicle

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25
Q

What three things add up to total stopping distance?

A

Perception distance/ reaction distance/ braking distance

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26
Q

If you go twice as fast, how much will your stopping distance increase by?

A

4 times out of

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27
Q

Empty trucks have the best braking
true or false

A

False

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28
Q

What is hydroplaning?

A

Tires have no contact with the road due to water and have no traction

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29
Q

What is “black ice”?

A

Thin sheet of clear ice on the roadway

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30
Q

You should use low beams whenever you can.
true or false

A

False

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31
Q

What should you do before you drive if you are drowsy?

A

Sleep

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32
Q

What effects can wet brakes cause?

A

Lack of braking power

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33
Q

You should let air out of hot tires so the pressure goes back to normal
true or false

A

False

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34
Q

You can safely remove the radiator cap as long as the engine isn’t overheated
True or false

A

False

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35
Q

What factors determine your selection of a “safe” speed when going down a long, steep downgrade?

A

Weight of vehicle/ length of grade/ steepness/ road conditions/ weather

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36
Q

Why should you be in proper gear before starting down a hill?

A

You may not be able to shift back into any gear and all braking effect will be lost

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37
Q

Describe the proper braking technique when going down a long, steep downgrade.

A

When safe speed limit is reached, apply brakes to 5 mph below safe speed, release and repeat

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38
Q

Why make emergency plans when you see a hazard?

A

So, you will have more time to act

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39
Q

What is a hazard?

A

Any road condition or user that is a possible danger

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40
Q

Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency
True or false

A

True

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41
Q

What is an advantage of going right instead of left around an obstacle?

A

You will avoid a head on collision

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42
Q

What is an escape ramp?

A

A ramp in steep mountain areas made to stop runaway vehicles safely

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43
Q

If a tire blows out, you should put the brakes on hard to stop quickly
true or false

A

False

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44
Q

What is the first thing you should do at an accident scene?

A

If possible, move the vehicle to the side of the road to prevent another accident and wait for the police

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45
Q

Name two causes of tire fires

A

Under inflated tires and duals that touch

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46
Q

What kind of fire is a B:C extinguisher used for?

A

Electrical and fuel

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47
Q

When using your extinguisher, you should get as close as possible to the fire
true or false

A

False

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48
Q

Name a cause of vehicle fires

A

Flammable cargo

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49
Q

What three things related to cargo is the driver responsible for?

A

Inspection of cargo, balanced weight of cargo, secured cargo

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50
Q

How often while on the road, must you stop to inspect your cargo?

A

Every three hours or 150 miles

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51
Q

What is the “gross combination weight” (GCW) ?

A

Weight of power unit, plus trailer, plus cargo

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52
Q

Name a situation where legal maximum weight may not be safe

A

Mountain traveling, and bad weather

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53
Q

What can happen if you don’t have enough weight on the front axle?

A

Can cause poor traction

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54
Q

What is the minimum number of tie-downs for a 20 foot load?

A

At least one tie-down for every 10 feet

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55
Q

What is the minimum number of tie-downs for any flatbed load?

A

2

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56
Q

Cargo covers

A

*protect people from spilled cargo
*may be a safety requirement in some states
*protect cargo from weather

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57
Q

What must you check before transporting a sealed load?

A

Check that you do not exceed weight restrictions

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58
Q

Stab braking is not necessary on vehicles

A

Equipped with anti-lock brakes

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59
Q

What should you always do when traveling down a long downgrade?

A

Use the braking effect on the engine

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60
Q

Over the counter common cold medicine can make you sleepy,
true or false

A

True

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61
Q

Your vehicle will be placed out of service if more than 1/4 of one leave is broken or missing

true or false

A

True

62
Q

What determines BAC (Blood-Alcohol Concentration)?

A

*The amount of alcohol you drink
*how fast you drink
*your body weight

63
Q

Which statement is true about rear drive-wheel braking skids?

A

When pulling a trailer, the trailer can push the towing vehicle sideways

64
Q

Which of the following will occur after you start your engine?

A

The water temperature gauge will rise to normal operating temperature

65
Q

If your vehicle is 40 feet long and you are traveling 50 mph, what is the safe following distance?

A

Five seconds

66
Q

What should you do when you see a hazard in the road in front of you?

A

Steer and counter steer around the hazard

67
Q

What happens when a tire blows out at highway speed?

A

You will feel a vibration

68
Q

Which of these statements is true about tire pressure?

A

the air pressure in the tire increases when the temperature rises

69
Q

You should use your horn…

A

To help avoid a collision

70
Q

Convex mirrors will…

A

Show a wider view than flat mirrors

71
Q

What type of fire will water extinguish?

A

Tire

72
Q

If you are traveling down a long grade and your brakes start to get weak, you should:

A

Stop as soon as possible

73
Q

Why is it important to shift gears properly?

A

To help maintain control of the vehicle

74
Q

Coffee and a little fresh air will help a drinker, sober up
true or false

A

False

75
Q

With low-beam headlights on, you can see:

A

250 feet ahead

76
Q

Which of these conditions can produce a skid?

A

Oversteering
over braking
driving too fast

77
Q

In hot weather, tar that bleeds to the top of the pavement can make the surface very slippery,
true or false

A

True

78
Q

What should you do if you are being tailgated?

A

Increase your following distance

79
Q

When should you use controlled braking?

A

To keep the vehicle in a straight line when braking.

80
Q

Which of the following is true when driving in cold weather?

A

Use antifreeze in your windshield washer fluid

81
Q

When drinking alcohol, which is affected first?

A

Judgment and self-control

82
Q

What is controlled braking?

A

Applying brake firmly, but not enough to lock up

83
Q

When your brakes are wet, it is very easy to…

A

Jackknife the trailer

84
Q

If you are stopped on the shoulder of the road on a divided highway, you must:

A

Place reflective triangles or flares within 10 minutes of stopping

85
Q

When conducting a pre-trip inspection of the steering system, you would not inspect:

A

Leaking shock absorbers

86
Q

Before entering a curve, you should:

A

Slow down to a safe speed and downshift before entering the curve

87
Q

You must come to a full stop at all railroad crossings

A

When the nature of the cargo makes the stop mandatory under the state or federal regulations

88
Q

How can you determine when to up shift gears using double clutching?

A

Watch the tachometer and shift up when the engine reaches the top range

89
Q

When you double your speed, it takes _______ times as much distance to stop your vehicle

A

4

90
Q

Which of these statements about brakes is true?

A

The heavier the vehicle, or the faster it is moving, the more heat the brakes will have to absorb to stop it

91
Q

Retarder:

A

Can cause the drive wheels to skid when they have poor traction

92
Q

Which of these statements about emergency braking is the most important to remember?

A

If your wheels are skidding, you cannot control the vehicle

93
Q

Which of the following is a good thing to do when driving at night?

A

Keep your speed slow enough so that you can stop within the range of your headlights

94
Q

You are starting your vehicle in motion from a stop. As you apply power to the drive wheels they start to spin. you should:

A

Take your foot off the accelerator

95
Q

Which of these statements is true about tires and hot weather driving

A

You should inspect your tires every two hours or 100 miles when driving in hot weather

96
Q

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?

A

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

97
Q

Which of these statements is true about driving in areas with strong winds

A

Winds are especially a problem when coming out of a tunnel

98
Q

Which of these statements is true on checking your tires for a pre-trip inspection

A

Tires of mismatched sizes should not be used on the same vehicle

99
Q

What does a red triangle with an orange center on the rear of the vehicle in front of you mean?

A

It is a slow moving vehicle

100
Q

You are transporting hazardous materials that require place cards. Where should they be placed?

A

Front, rear, and both sides

101
Q

To correct a drive-wheel braking skid, you should:

A

Stop braking, turn quickly, and counter steer

102
Q

Which of the statements are true about cargo?

A

State laws dictate legal weight limits

103
Q

Which of these statements about speed management is true

A

You should choose a speed that allows you to stop within the distance that you can see ahead

104
Q

Which of these can cause a fire?

A

Loose fuel connections
under inflated tires
electrical short circuit

105
Q

An A:B:C: fire extinguisher can be used on:

A

Electrical fires
burning liquids
burning cloth

106
Q

You are driving a long commercial vehicle that makes wide turns and there are two left turn lanes. which should you use?

A

The right one

107
Q

An in-route inspection should include checking for:

A

Brake overheating
tire overheating
cargo securement

108
Q

Which of these statements about backing a large vehicle is true

A

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

109
Q

The road suddenly becomes slippery due to black ice. What should you?

A

Stop driving as soon as you can safely do so

110
Q

Which of these statements about marking a stopped vehicle is true?

A

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

111
Q

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.

A

False

112
Q

What is the proper way to hold a steering wheel?

A

With both hands on the wheel in the nine and three position

113
Q

What is counter steering?

A

Turning the wheel back in the other direction after steering to avoid a traffic emergency

114
Q

Which of these statements are true about using turn signals?

A

When planning to change lanes activate your turn signal at least 100 feet before changing lanes

115
Q

Where and when should you test the stopping action of your service brakes?

A

When the vehicle is moving at about 5 mph

116
Q

High beams should be…

A

Used when it is safe and legal to do so

117
Q

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…

A

Stay in your lane and use extra space on the street you are turning onto

118
Q

What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes?

A

Release the accelerator

119
Q

It takes the body about ______ hours to get rid of the alcohol in four drinks

A

4

120
Q

Which of these statements about accelerating is true

A

Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage

121
Q

Which of these is a good thing to remember about using mirrors?

A

There are blind spots that your mirror cannot show you

122
Q

You are checking your wheels and rims for a pre-trip inspection which of these statements is true

A

Rust around the wheel lug nuts may mean that they are loose

123
Q

You are driving vehicle at 55mph on dry pavement. about how much total stopping distance will you need to bring it to a stop?

A

The length of a football field

124
Q

If a straight truck or a bus goes into a front wheel skid, it will…

A

Go straight ahead, even if the steering wheel is turned but will not spin out

125
Q

A key principle to remember about loading cargo is to keep the load

A

Balanced in the cargo area

126
Q

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?

A

Stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down

127
Q

You are driving on a Stanley highway when your vehicle breaks down where should you place your ref

A

One 10 feet behind another 100 feet behind and one 200 feet behind

128
Q

When driving through a work zone you should:

A

Slow down
turn on your flashers
use your brake lights to warn drivers behind you

129
Q

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?

A

Steer to the right

130
Q

Which of these is a good thing to do when steering to avoid a crash?

A

Don’t turn any more than is needed to clear what is in your way

131
Q

You should avoid driving through deep puddles or flowing water, but if you must, which of these steps can help keep your brakes working?

A

Gently apply the break while going through the water

132
Q

Hydroplaning:

A

Is more likely to occur when tire pressure is low

133
Q

For your safety, when setting out reflector triangles, you should do this

A

Hold the triangles between yourself and the oncoming traffic

134
Q

Which of these statements is true about overhead clearance?

A

The weight of the vehicle will change its height
Resurfacing of streets could change the clearance.

135
Q

You must drive on a slippery road. which of these are good things to do in such a situation

A

Slow down slowly

136
Q

Why does a dry bulk tanker require special care?

A

It often has a high center of gravity, and the load could shift

137
Q

During a pre-trip inspection you should check the following

A

Missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring
leaking shock absorbers
steering wheel play should be less than 10° or 2 inches

138
Q

Which of these statements are true about cargo?

A

You, the driver are responsible for recognizing overloads and poorly balanced weight

139
Q

Which of these statements about certain types of cargo is true

A

Unstable loads such as hanging meat or livestock, can require extra caution on curves

140
Q

If you need to leave the road in a traffic emergency, you should:

A

Avoid braking until your speed has dropped to about 20 mph

141
Q

When driving at night you should:

A

Adjust your speed to keep your stopping distance within your sight distance

142
Q

That parking brake should be tested while the vehicle is:

A

Parked

143
Q

Most front wheel skids are caused by

A

Driving too fast for conditions

144
Q

When temperature drop, bridges:

A

Will freeze before the road

145
Q

You are driving your vehicle on a two-lane highway when another vehicle suddenly pulls out in front of you

A

It is safer to leave the road

146
Q

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?

A

*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

147
Q

Three good rules for using turn signals are signal early, signal continuously, and…

A

Cancel your signal

148
Q

While you are driving, You are forced to use emergency braking. what should you do?

A

Use the controlled or stab braking method, remembering that locked wheels mean that you cannot control the vehicle

149
Q

If a tire fails, you should

A

Hold the steering wheel firmly
stay off the brakes
after stopping check all tires

150
Q

Drivers should practice fire prevention by paying close attention to which of the following?

A

Pre-trip inspections
En-route inspections
monitoring of instruments and gauges

CDL Test (2 decks)

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