Section 1
What BAC levels will put a CMV driver out of service for 24 hours?
0.01-0.03 BAC (i.e. any detectable level under 0.04 BAC)
How many leaf springs must be broken or missing in order for the CMV to be placed out-of-service?
1/4 of the total number of assembled leaves.
What 3 things add up to total stopping distance?
Perception Distance + Reaction Distance + Braking Distance = Total Stopping Distance.
How soon should you check your cargo after starting a trip?
Within the first 50 miles.
Re-check the cargo and securing devices as often as necessary during a trip to keep the load secure. You need to inspect again:
• After you have driven for 3 hours or 150 miles.
• After every break you take during your trip.
Why must air tanks be drained?
Compressed air usually has some water and some compressor oil in it, which is bad for the air brake system. The water can freeze in cold weather and cause brake failure. The water and oil tend to collect in the bottom of the air tank.
How many days will your CDL be suspended for if you are convicted of serious traffic violations in a CMV?
at least 60 days for 2 violations (in a three year period)
at least 120 days for 3 violations (in a three year period)
What emergency equipment must be carried on a CMV?
• Fire extinguisher(s).
• Spare electrical fuses (unless equipped with circuit breakers).
• Warning devices for parked vehicles (for example, 3 red reflective warning triangles, 6 fuses, or 3 liquid burning flares).
Empty trucks have the best braking. True or False?
False. Empty trucks require greater stopping distances because an empty vehicle has less traction.
What 4 things related to cargo are drivers responsible for?
• Inspecting your cargo.
• Recognizing overloads and poorly balanced weight.
• Knowing your cargo is properly secured and does not obscure your view ahead or to the sides.
• Knowing your cargo does not restrict your access to emergency equipment.
How can you check slack adjusters?
Park on level ground and chock the wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving. Release the parking brakes so you can move the slack adjusters. Use gloves and pull hard on each slack adjuster that you can reach. If a slack adjuster moves more than about one inch where the push rod attaches to it, it probably needs adjustment.
What accumulated point counts will cause your CDL to be revoked?
• 4 points in 12 months
• 6 points in 24 months
• 8 points in 36 months
How do you test hydraulic brakes for leaks?
Pump the brake pedal 3 times. Then apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for 5 seconds. The pedal should not move. If it does, there may be a leak or other problem.
What effects can wet brakes cause? How can you avoid these problems?
Water in the brakes can cause the brakes to be weak, apply unevenly, or grab. This can cause lack of braking power, wheel lockups, pulling to one side or the other, and jackknife if you pull a trailer.
Gently put on the brakes. This presses linings against brake drums or discs and keeps mud, silt, sand, and water from getting in.
What is the minimum number of tie-downs for any flatbed load?
At least one tie-down for each 10 feet of cargo.
What are spring brakes?
All trucks, truck tractors, and buses must be equipped with emergency brakes and parking brakes. They must be held on by mechanical force (because air pressure can eventually leak away). Spring brakes are usually used to meet these needs.
What is the maximum length allowed for a single vehicle?
40 feet
If stopped on a hill, how can you start moving without rolling back?
If you have a manual transmission vehicle, partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the brake. Apply the parking brake whenever necessary to keep from rolling back. Release the parking brake only when you have applied enough engine power to keep from rolling back. On a tractor-trailer equipped with a trailer brake hand valve, the hand valve can be applied to keep from rolling back.
What is a HazMat placard?
Placards are used to warn others of HazMat. Placards are signs put on the outside of a vehicle that identify the hazard class of the cargo. A placarded vehicle must have at least 4 identical placards. They are put on the front, rear, and both sides. Placards must be readable from all 4 directions.
Name the 2 basic reasons for covering cargo on an open bed.
• To protect people from spilled cargo.
• To protect the cargo from weather.
Front wheel brakes are good under all conditions. True or False?
True. Front wheel braking is good under all conditions. Tests have shown front wheel skids from braking are not likely even on ice.
14 feet, measure from the surface of the roadway.
Exceptions:
• Double deck buses may not exceed 14 feet 3 inches. • Farm equipment moved incidentally over a highway.
If you are driving a 30-foot vehicle at 55 mph, how many seconds of following distance should you allow?
1 second required for each 10 feet of vehicle length (at speeds under 40 MPH).
Above 40 MPH use same formula, then add 1 second for the additional speed.
What factors determine your selection of a “safe” speed when going down a long, steep downgrade?
• Total weight of the vehicle and cargo.
• Length of the grade.
• Steepness of the grade.
• Road conditions.
• Weather.
How is gross combination weight rating different from gross combination weight?
Gross Combination Weight (GCW). The total weight of a combination of vehicles including the load.
Gross CombinationWeight Rating (GCWR). The value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination (articulated) vehicle. In the absence of a value specified by the manufacturer, GCWR will be determined by adding the GVWR of the power unit, the total weight of the towed unit, and any load thereon.
The use of brakes on a long, steep downgrade is only a supplement to the braking effect of the engine. True or False?
True.