GENERAL KNOWLEGDE Flashcards
As the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) goes up, what happens?
judgement and self control are affected
Implied consent means
you’ve giving consent to be tested for alcohol in your blood
The total weight of the powered unit, the trailer, and the cargo is called
gross combination weight
If you do not have a CB radio, what is the 1st thing you should do at an accident scene?
protect the area
Which of these is true about mirror adjustment?
you should adjust your mirrors prior to starting a trip
Brake fade
can be caused by the brakes getting very hot
On which fires can water be used
tires
Which of these statements about engine overheating is true?
you should never remove the radiator cap on a pressurized system until it has cooled
Which of these is not a danger of rough acceleration?
tire damage
Which of these is true about the use of a heater?
when driving in winter weather, you should check that the heater is working properly
What is the proper way to hold the steering wheel?
with both hands firmly, on opposite sides of the wheel
If you have a heavy load that is slowing you down on an upgrade, you should
shift into a lower gear
Which of these is not a danger when an automatic transmission is forced into a low gear at high speeds?
loss of steering control
If possible, a helper should be used to help back your vehicle:
whenever you have to back
When looking ahead of your vehicle while driving you should look
back and forth, near and far
How far ahead of the vehicle should the driver look while driving?
12-15 seconds
Which of these is the proper way to signal to change lanes?
signal early and change lanes slowly and smoothly
You should signal continuously while turning because:
you need both hands on the wheel to turn safely
The primary cause of fatal crashes is:
driving too fast
You should try to park so that
you can pull forward when you leave
You are driving a vehicle at 45 mph on dry pavement. About how much total
stopping distance will you need to bring it to a stop?
the length of a football field
When driving at night, you should use your low beams when an oncoming vehicle is within
500 ft
You are driving in an area with few streetlights on a clear night. If you cannot see well with your headlights, which of these actions would help?
use your high beams when legal and keep your interior light off
What happens to tar in road pavement when it gets extremely hot?
it bleeds, making the road surface slippery
What is the best advice for drivers when a heavy fog occurs?
park at a truck stop or rest area until the fog has lifted
Which of these statements about cold weather driving is true?
windshield washer antifreeze should be used
Strong winds most affect driving
upon exiting tunnels
Perception distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the time:
the eyes see a hazard to the time the brain knows it is a hazard
You are driving on a two lane road. An oncoming driver drifts into your lane
headed straight for you. Which of these is most often the best action to take?
steer to the right
You can see a marking on a vehicle ahead of you. The marking is a red triangle with an orange center. What does the marking mean?
it may be a slow moving vehicle
Hydroplaning
most likely occurs when tire pressure is low
What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes?
release accelerator
In the event of a rear tire failure, dual rear tires
usually prevent fishtailing
Which of these is correct about emergency or evasive action?
in order to turn quickly you must have a firm grip on the steering wheel
Most serious skids result from
driving too fast for conditions
Over length, over width, or over weight loads
require a special transit permit
Containerized loads
are generally used when freight is carried part way by rail or ship
Which of these statements about an inspection of suspension components is true?
axle mounts should be checked at each point where they are secured on the vehicle frame and axle
Should brake adjustment be checked often?
yes, because brakes can get out of adjustment when they are used a lot
Which of these is NOT part of the pre-trip inspection of the engine compartment?
valve clearance
A full stop is required at a railroad grade crossing when
the nature of the cargo makes a stop mandatory under state, or for incompatible
items
You do NOT have a Hazard Materials Endorsement on your commercial driver’s license. You can drive a vehicle hauling hazardous materials when
the vehicle doesn’t require placards
You are driving a heavy vehicle with a manual transmission. You have to stop the vehicle on the shoulder while driving on an uphill grade. Which of these is a good rule to follow when putting it back in motion up the grade?
use parking brake to hold the vehicle
If your brakes fail on a downgrade, you must first:
look outside your vehicle for another means of slowing it
To help you stay alert while driving, you should
Take short breaks before you get drowsy
Which of the following is a good way to react to an aggressive driver?
give the driver the benefit of the doubt
If you must use a cell phone while driving, you should
pull off the road onto a safe and legal position
Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true?
sleep is the only thing that can overcome fatigue
Medicines used to treat the common cold:
often makes you drowsy and thus should not be used while driving
Which of these statements about drugs is true?
use of drugs can lead to accidents and/or arrest
Which of these statements about causes of vehicle fires is true?
poor trailer ventilation can cause cargo to catch on fire
What will help keep an engine cool in hot weather?
making sure the engine has the right amount of oil
Which of these statements about marking a stopped vehicle is true?
if a hill or curve keeps others from seeing the vehicle within 500 feet, the rear triangle should be moved back down the road to give adequate warning
Which of these do not provide extra gears on some trucks?
automatic transmissions
Which of these actions is not recommended for a left turn?
start in the inside lane and swing right as you turn
What is counter steering?
turning the wheel back in the opposite direction after steering to avoid an
emergency
Which of these statements about downshifting is true?
when you downshift for a curve, you should do so before you enter the curve
Why is it important to shift gears correctly?
keep control of the vehicle
Backing a commercial vehicle is
always dangerous
You see a car approaching from the rear; the next time you check your mirror the car is gone. You wish to change lanes. You should:
wait to change lanes until you are sure the car isn’t in your blind spot
The distance you should look ahead of your vehicle while driving is _ of a mile at highway speed
1/4
You are driving a heavy vehicle. You must exit a highway using an off ramp that curves downhill. You should:
slow down to a safe speed before the curve
When you are driving on a snow packed road you should reduce your speed by at least
1/2
Merging onto a road is safest if you
wait for a large enough gap in traffic to enter the road
If you are being tailgated you should
increase your following distance
What should you do if a car coming toward you at night keeps its high beams on?
look at the right side of the road
The road you are traveling on becomes very slippery due to glare ice. Which of these is a good thing to do in such a situation?
stop driving as soon as you can safely do so
Your brakes can get wet when driving through heavy rain. What can this cause when the brakes are applied?
trailer jackknife
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 putting on the brakes while driving through the water
When driving through work zones you should:
use your 4-way flashers or brake lights to warn others
The best drivers are those that watch and prepare for hazards. This is called being:
defensive
Which of the below is not a characteristic of a front tire failure?
vehicle fishtail
When hydraulic brakes fail while driving, what action should you take?
pump the brake pedal to generate pressure
Your vehicle has hydraulic brakes. While traveling on level road you press the pedal and it goes to the floor. Which of these statements is true?
pumping the pedal may bring pressure up so you can stop the vehicle
Which of these happens when a tire blows out at highway speed?
a vibrating feeling
How do you correct a rear wheel acceleration skid?
stop accelerating
Which of these systems should receive extra attention during cold weather inspections?
exhaust
Can federal inspectors inspect your truck or bus?
yes and they can put it out of service if it is unsafe
Which of these statements about tires is true?
you should inspect your tires every 2 hours or every 100 miles when driving in hot weather
If you are not sure what to use to put out hazardous materials fires, you should:
wait on qualified firefighters
When you are driving on grades, which of these is the best way to choose a safe speed?
based on your vehicle and its cargo, select a safe speed that is within the posted speed
When confronted by an aggressive driver, the very first thing you should do is:
make every attempt to get out of their way
In bad weather, many cars tailgate large vehicles. What should you do?
increase your following distance so you can avoid quick maneuvers
Which of these is a good thing to remember about drinking alcohol?
alcohol affects judgment and self control, which are necessary for safe driving
Which of these statements about vehicle fires is true?
a burning tire should be cooled with water
Optional safety equipment may include emergency numbers, tire chains, and:
tire changing equipment
After starting the engine
the coolant temperature gauge should begin a gradual rise to the normal range
Retarders can be used:
only where permitted by the law
Which of these statements about brakes is true?
the heavier a vehicle or the faster it is moving the more heat the brakes have to absorb to stop it
What is the term for a commercial vehicle’s habit of swinging wide in a turn?
off tracking
Which of these statements about double clutching and shifting are true?
you can use the tachometer to tell when to shift
According to the driver’s manual, why should you limit the use of your horn?
it can startle other drivers
You are driving a vehicle that could be safely driven at 55, but traffic is heavy and moving at 35 even though the limit is 55. What is the safest speed for you?
35 MPH
Whenever you double your speed, how much more distance does it take to stop?
4x the distance
How does vehicle weight effect stopping?
empty trucks can take longer to stop than loaded ones, but this is usually not the case for buses
Which of these statements about overhead clearance is true?
the weight of a vehicle changes its height
Which of these is a good thing to do when driving at night?
keep your speed slow enough that you can stop in the range of your headlights
Which vehicle will be most affected by strong winds?
a set of empty doubles
When the roads are slippery, you should:
make turns as gently as possible
Which of these is not true about emergency braking?
it is not important how you brake in an emergency
Where or how is cargo blocking used?
in the front, sides, and back of cargo, usually at the floor
Bridge formulas
permit less maximum axle weight for axles that are closer together
You are checking your brakes and suspension in a pre trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?
brake shoes should not have oil, grease, or fluid on them
What is the most important reason to inspect your truck or bus?
safety
Drivers of trucks and tractors with cargo must check the securement of the cargo within how many miles of starting the trip?
50 miles
You do not have the hazardous materials endorsement on your CDL. You are asked to haul a load of hazardous materials requiring placards. You should:
refuse to haul load
What is the first thing you should do if your brakes fail while going down a hill?
get off the road asap
Escape ramps
should be used by any driver who looses braking power
Which of the following best describes how sleep debt can be paid off?
it can only be paid off by sleeping
If you have been drinking alcohol, you should:
wait for it to wear off
When a doctor prescribes medication for you and you know you will be driving, you should
ask the doctor if the medication will affect your driving
To determine the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a person, it is necessary to know what?
how much the person weighs
Which of these is not a good rule to follow when caring for the injured at an accident scene?
keep the injured person cool
You should use your mirrors to check:
where the rear of the vehicle is while you make turns
Which of these statements about backing a heavy vehicle is true?
you should avoid backing whenever you can
If you must cross into the oncoming lane as you make a turn, you should:
watch for oncoming traffic
When you are parked at the side of the road, you must:
turn on your 4-way flashers to warn others
Which of these statements about speed management is true?
you should choose a speed that lets you stop in the distance you can see ahead
When driving on roads where truck speed limits are lower than cars. You should
use extra caution when changing lanes or passing
You are driving a 40 foot vehicle at 35 MPH. What is the least amount of space you should keep between your vehicle and the one in front of you?
4 seconds
What 3 things add up to the total stopping distance for your truck or bus?
perception distance, reaction distance, braking distance
When driving at night you should use your low beams when an oncoming vehicle is within:
500 ft
What should you do before driving in mountains?
know the escape ramp locations on your route
A car cuts in front of you creating a hazard. Which of these actions should you not take?
honk and stay close behind the car
What should you do when you see a hazard in the roadway ahead of you?
use your 4-way flashers or brake lights to warn others
You are driving on a level highway at 50 MPH. there are no other vehicles around you. A tire blows out on your vehicle. What should you do first?
stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down
What does emergency braking mean?
responding to a hazard by slowing the vehicle
Having ABS on only the tractor will
give you more control over the vehicle
Which of these statements about cargo is true?
unstable loads such as hanging meat or livestock can require extra caution in curve
A principle to remember about loading cargo is to keep the load:
balanced in the cargo area
Which of these is not a brake check you normally do during the walk around inspection?
hydraulic cylinder leaks
Which of these items is not checked in the pre-trip inspection?
amount of fuel in the vehicle
Which of these statements about shipping hazardous materials is true?
a diamond-shaped hazardous label must be on the package
placards must be:
placed on all 4 sides of the vehicle
You must stop on a hill or a curve on a divided highway. How far back should you place the rear most triangle?
as far back as necessary to warn others
You are driving a newer truck with a manual transmission. What gear will you need to take a long downhill grade?
a lower gear than you used to climb the hill
Aggressive driving
driving a vehicle in a bold, selfish, pushy manner
ABS uses sensors and computers to sense:
potential wheel lockup
The distance you should look ahead of your vehicle while driving at low speeds is what distance?
1 block
At dawn or dusk or in snow, it can be hard to see and be seen. You can let others know you are there by:
turning on your lights
You are driving through a work zone. You should:
lower your speed even farther any time workers are present
When driving down a mountain you will have to use lower gears to drive safely, Which of these does not affect your choice of gears?
tire tread depth
Which of these is a danger of crossing tracks on a dirt road?
you could get hung halfway across the tracks
Which of these is a good thing to do when steering to avoid a crash?
don’t turn more than needed to miss whatever is in your way
If a straight truck goes into a front wheel skid, it will:
go straight ahead even if the wheels are turned
Which of these lights cannot be checked at the same time?
turn signals, brake lights, and 4-way flashers
When driving in cold weather, your tire tread depth should:
provide enough traction to steer and get through the snow
If you react _ slower, your chances of a crash can double
1/2 second
Which of these is true about hours of service?
you should balance you hours of service with enough sleep to keep you alert
