Section 1
Whenever you stop for a break during your trip, you should
A. Call in and check with dispatch
B. Check critical items such as the tires, brakes, and cargo tie-downs
C. Check critical items such as the windshield wipers, heater, and defroster
B. Check critical items such as the tires, brakes, and cargo tie-downs
For an e-route inspection: check the tires, wheels, and truck body for signs of heat whenever you stop during a trip.
What effects can wet brakes cause?
A. Brakes can grab or become weak
B. Brakes can work better
C. Your foot can get tired.
A. Brakes can grab or become weak
Water in the brakes can cause the brakes to be weak, to apply unevenly, or to grab. This can cause lack of braking power, wheel lockups, pulling to one side or the other, and jackknife if you pull a trailer.
Which of the following is a key steering component?
A. Gear Box
B. Bearing plate
C. Torque rod
D. Leaf spring
A. Gear Box
The gear box is part of the steering system, and other choices are parts of the suspension system.
In your mirror, you see a car approaching from the rear. The next time you check your mirror, you don't see the car. To change lanes, you should
A. assume the car left the roadway and change lanes as usual
B. ease into the other lane slowly so the other car can get out of the way
C. wait until you are sure the car isn't in your blind spot
C. wait until you are sure the car isn't in your blind spot
Before you change lanes, you must first make sure that no vehicles are hiding in your blind spots.
Which of these is a proper use of vehicle lights and flashers?
A. Turning on your headlights during the day when visibility is reduced due to rain or snow
B. Flashing your brake lights to warn someone behind you of a hazard that will require slowing down
C. Flashing your brake lights to warn someone behind you that you're are going to stop on the road
D. All answers are correct
D. All answers are correct
Warn following drivers by flashing your brake lights, don't stop suddenly. If you see a hazard that will require slowing down, warn the drivers behind by flashing your brake lights. At dawn, dusk, in rain, or snow, you need to make yourself easier to see so turn on your lights.
The distance that you should look ahead of your vehicle while driving is about _______ at highway speed.
A. 25 feet
B. 1 mile
C. 1/4 mile
C. 1/4 mile
Most good drivers look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead. That means looking ahead the distance you will travel in 12 to 15 seconds. At lower speeds, that's about one block. At highway speeds it's about a quarter of a mile.
What is the minimum tread depth for tires other than front tires?
A. 4/32 inch
B. 2/32 inch
C. 3/32 inch
B. 2/32 inch
You must have at least 4/32-inch tread depth in every major groove on front tires and at least 2/32-inch on other tires
The reaction distance is the distance traveled from the time
A. the eyes see a hazard to the time the brain knows that it is a hazard
B. the eyes see a hazard to the time the foot pushes the brake pedal
C. the brain tells the foot to push the brake pedal to the time the foot actually pushes the pedal
C. the brain tells the foot to push the brake pedal to the time the foot actually pushes the pedal
¾ second to 1 second.
The distance that you should scan ahead in a congested area is about?
A. 32 feet
B. One block
C. Two Vehicle lengths ahead
B. One block
Most good drivers look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead. At lower speeds, that's about one block. At highway speeds it's about a quarter of a mile.
Stab braking
A. involves steady pressure on the brake pedal without locking the wheels
B. involves releasing the brakes only after the wheels lock up
C. should never be used
B. involves releasing the brakes only after the wheels lock up
With the stab braking method, you apply your brakes all the way and release brakes when wheels lock up.
A vehicle is loaded with very little weight on the drive axle. What may result:
A. Poor traction
B. A need to disconnect the steering axle brakes
C. Damage to drive axle tires
D. Better handling
A. Poor traction
Too little weight on the driving axles can cause poor traction. The drive wheels may spin easily.
The safety release valve is located on the Air tanks and is used by?
A. Pulling a hand valve
B. Self-operated when the air pressure is above 150 PSI
C. Must be pulled after every working day
B. Self-operated when the air pressure is above 150 PSI
A safety relief valve is installed in the first tank the air compressor pumps air to. The safety valve protects the tank and the rest of the system from too much pressure. The valve is usually set to open automatically at 150 psi.
What should you do if you get stuck on the railroad tracks?
A. Stay in your vehicle.
B. Scream for help
C. Get out of your vehicle and away from the tracks
C. Get out of your vehicle and away from the tracks
If for any reason you get stuck on the tracks, get out of the vehicle and away from the tracks. Check signposts or signal housing at the crossing for emergency notification information. Call 911 and give the location of the crossing using all identifiable landmarks, especially the DOT number, if posted.
Can federal inspectors inspect your truck or bus?
A. No
B. Yes, and they might place it out of service
C. Yes, but they will not place it out of service
B. Yes, and they might place it out of service
Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge the vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it "out of service" until it is fixed.
Truck escape ramps:
A. Are designed to protect vehicles from damage
B. Should not be used unless you have first tried all other ways to save your vehicle after brake failure on a downgrade
C. Cannot be used by certain types of heavy vehicles
A. Are designed to protect vehicles from damage
Escape ramps are made to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers and passengers.
How can you start moving without rolling backward?
A. Engage the clutch before removing your foot from the brake
B. Apply the trailer brake hand valve
C. Set the parking brake whenever necessary
D. Do all of the above
D. Do all of the above
Don't roll back when you start. You may hit someone behind you. If you have a manual transmission vehicle, partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the brake. Put on 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.
The total weight of the powered unit, the trailer, and the cargo is called
A. gross vehicle weight
B. gross combination weight
C. gross axle weight
B. gross combination weight
Gross Combination Weight (GCW) is the total weight of a powered unit, plus trailer(s), plus the cargo.
Is it legal to drive with one-fourth of a vehicle's leaf springs broken or missing?
A. Yes
B. No
C. It doesn't make any difference if you drive slowly
B. No
Check for missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring. If one-fourth or more are missing, it will put the vehicle "out of service", but any defect could be dangerous.
While driving, ice builds up on your wipers and they no longer clean the windshield. You should:
A. Keep driving, and reach out the window and knock the ice off
B. Keep driving, and turn your defroster on
C. Pull over in a safe place and remove the ice
C. Pull over in a safe place and remove the ice
Before the ice buildup becomes dangerous you should stop in a safe location and clear off the ice. With ice on the wiper blade it might not clear the windshield enough for safe driving.
High beams should be:
A. Used whenever it is safe and legal to do so
B. Turned on when an oncoming driver does not dim his or her lights
C. Dimmed when you are within 100 feet of another vehicle
A. Used whenever it is safe and legal to do so
Use high beams when it is safe and legal to do so. Use them when you are not within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle.
Gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR means the following:
A. Total weight of a single vehicle
B. Total weight of a single vehicle plus its load
C. Both above
D. No answers are correct
B. Total weight of a single vehicle plus its load
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.
Which of these statements about tires and hot weather driving is true?
A. You should inspect your tires more often because they are more likely to fail
B. If a tire it is too hot to touch you should drive on it to cool it off
C. Recapped tires are less likely to fail in hot weather than new tires
A. You should inspect your tires more often because they are more likely to fail
Inspect the tires more often than usual, or every two hours or every 100 miles when driving in very hot weather.
Which of these statements about backing a heavy vehicle is true?
A. You should avoid backing whenever you can
B. When you use a helper, they should use a clear spoken signal
C. It is safer to back toward the right side of the vehicle than toward the driver's side
A. You should avoid backing whenever you can
Because you cannot see everything behind your vehicle, backing is always dangerous. Avoid backing whenever you can. When you have to back, here are a few simple safety rules: Start in the proper position, look at your path, use mirrors on both sides, back slowly, back and turn toward the driver's side whenever possible, and use a helper with clear hand signals whenever possible.
Tank vehicles are used to carry any liquid and are dangerous to drive because:
A. High center of gravity
B. Danger of load surge
C. High center of gravity and danger of load surge
D. No answers are correct
C. High center of gravity and danger of load surge
Hauling liquids in tanks requires special skills because of the high center of gravity and liquid movement.
How often should you check your mirrors?
A. Every 1/4 mile
B. Every 8 to 10 seconds
C. When turning or changing lanes
B. Every 8 to 10 seconds
You should check your mirrors every 8 to 10 seconds to know what is going on around your vehicle at all times.