Arizona CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Give the driver the benefit of the doubt.

To help reduce stress caused by the actions of other drivers, always give the other driver the benefit of the doubt. Try to imagine why he or she is driving that way. Whatever the reason, it has nothing to do with you. However, if you are confronted by an aggressive driver, get out of the driver's way and let the driver go by.

Not quite. The answer is hold the triangles between yourself and oncoming traffic.

As you carry the reflective triangles to place them around your vehicle, hold them between yourself and traffic to help you stay visible to other drivers.

Not quite. The answer is politely refuse.

The safety of the cargo is your responsibility. Never allow anyone who is unauthorized by your carrier to drive your truck. The person may be planning to drive off with your truck. Evidently, it's happened before.

Not quite. The answer is To mark significant points at the accident scene

If you're involved in an accident, you should take photos of the accident scene. Your photos will be more informative if you first use a can of white or brightly colored spray paint to mark significant points, such as the directions in which the vehicles were traveling and the precise points of impact. (The vehicles may have come to a complete stop elsewhere.)

Not quite. The answer is drive slowly around turns.

The higher the truck's center of gravity, the more likely it is to roll over. If the cargo is to one side, it will make the trailer lean, which can also make a rollover more likely. To help prevent a rollover, keep your cargo centered and as low as possible, and drive slowly around turns.

Not quite. The answer is both of the above.

How much liquid you can load into a tank depends on the following: (1) Heat makes liquid expand, so you must allow enough room at the top of the tank for outage. (2) A dense liquid may weigh so much that loading too much liquid into the tank may cause your vehicle to exceed state weight limits.

Not quite. The answer is the hours that you are normally awake.

To help prevent drowsiness while driving, schedule your trips for the hours during which you are normally awake, not the middle of the night. Get plenty of sleep (8–9 hours) before each trip.

Not quite. The answer is All of the above can help.

There are a variety of ways to help prevent cargo theft, and you should employ several of them. First, be aware of your surroundings. While driving, check frequently whether you're being followed. Park only in well-lit, relatively secure locations. Stay in communication with dispatch. Whenever you stop at a rest area or truck stop, let dispatch know about it. An uncoupled trailer should be locked so it can't be moved. Kingpin locks and landing gear locks are available for this purpose. Always lock your truck whenever you must leave it unattended.

Source: "How to stop cargo thieves dead in their tracks," American Trucker, August 31, 2019

Not quite. The answer is Provide for adequate air circulation in the cargo area.

Different foodstuffs need to be kept at different temperatures. Find out what the proper temperature should be for the load you'll be carrying. Make sure that the load is already at the proper temperature before you load it into the truck. Your refrigeration unit can maintain a load at the proper temperature, but it should not be expected to cool down a warm load. For the same reason, make sure that the cargo area is pre-cooled before you load it. Adequate air circulation is vital to ensure that all parts of the load are kept at the proper temperature. Space between parts of the load, a chute (air duct) at the ceiling to conduct air from the refrigeration unit, and pallets that allow for air to circulate can help maintain adequate airflow.

Not quite. The answer is 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic

This is required by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation 49 CFR 392.22. This regulation also specifies where to place warning devices on other types of roadways such as undivided two-way roads and curves. (These situations are also covered in section 2.5.2 of the Arizona Commercial Driver License Manual.)

Not quite. The answer is should be performed after every break you take while driving.

While the rules may vary by jurisdiction, your state CDL handbook states that you should check your cargo within the first 50 miles of your trip and then every 3 hours or 150 miles, as well as after each break you take.

Not quite. The answer is 15 psi.

According to federal regulation 49 CFR 393.75, if the average speed of a vehicle in the previous hour has been 41–55 mph, the tire pressure of a tire whose maximum load rating is 4,000 pounds or less should be about 5 psi higher than its cold tire pressure. The tire pressure of a tire whose maximum load rating is over 4,000 pounds should be about 15 psi higher than its cold tire pressure. This means that as the tire cools, it should lose about 15 psi again. According to that regulation, you may not drive a vehicle if its cold tire pressures are too low to support the load. This is grounds for placing your vehicle out of service at a roadside inspection.

Not quite. The answer is First-aid certification

As described in detail in section 2.2 of the Arizona Commercial Driver License Manual, the four basic skills for safe operation of a commercial motor vehicle are accelerating, steering, stopping, and backing safely. While first-aid certification might come in handy at some point in your career, it is not one of the four basic skills.

Not quite. The answer is Gauges, brakes, lights, tires, and cargo securement

During a trip, keep an eye on your gauges for signs of trouble. Whenever you stop, check such safety-critical items as the brakes, lights, tires, wheels, cargo securement devices if any, and trailer coupling devices if you're pulling a trailer.

Not quite. The answer is 7 pounds.

One gallon of diesel fuel weighs about 7 pounds, meaning that a full fuel tank in a tractor-trailer can weigh well over 1,000 pounds. Bear this in mind when calculating how your vehicle can remain within legal weight limits.

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above

To ensure that your vehicle's engine won't overheat, make sure that there is adequate coolant and engine oil, and check that the coolant hoses are in good condition and not leaking. (Both coolant and oil help an engine stay cool.) Also check that the v-belt is tight enough. (A loose belt may not turn the fan or water pump adequately, which can cause the engine to overheat.)

Not quite. The answer is Pump the brake pedal three times; then apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold it for five seconds. The pedal should not move.

To test a vehicle equipped with hydraulic brakes for leaks in the brakes, first pump the brake pedal three times. Next, apply firm pressure to the brake pedal for five seconds. If it moves, the brakes may have a leak or some other problem.

Not quite. The answer is 30 days.

You must notify your employer within 30 days of conviction for any traffic violation except parking, even if you weren't driving a CMV at the time. Legally, paying the fine on a traffic ticket constitutes an admission of guilt: you are waiving your right to challenge the ticket in court.

Not quite. The answer is Chains

Under federal regulations, a "large boulder" has a volume of more than 2 cubic meters or weighs more than 11,000 pounds. Each large boulder must be supported on at least two pieces of hardwood blocking that extend across the full width and 3/4 of the length of the boulder. Only chains can be used as tie-downs. The chains should be placed in valleys or notches on the top of the boulder, and arranged to prevent the chains from sliding across the rock surface.

Source: 49 CFR 393.136

Not quite. The answer is You can use the tachometer to tell you when to shift.

You can use your tachometer to determine when to upshift. Before driving your vehicle, check the driver's manual to find out the recommended operating rpm range. As you're driving, keep your eye on your tachometer as your vehicle increases speed. Upshift when engine rpm gets high enough. Double-clutching is a technique used mostly for shifting gears in an unsynchronized manual transmission, such as those found on some trucks. This technique helps you manually match engine speed to the speed of the gear you'll shift into. (A synchronized manual transmission matches the speed for you.)