California CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Unstable loads such as hanging meat or livestock can require extra caution on curves.

Hanging meat can sway on curves, and livestock can move around. These motions can affect the handling of your vehicle. One reason that you must drive a tanker vehicle carefully is that liquid surge can push the vehicle in the same direction as the surge. This can be especially hazardous on icy roads, where your truck may be pushed forward a dangerous amount, maybe past a red light into an intersection. Another concern is that liquid expands when it warms. Outage is the space in the tank that must be allocated to handle the expansion. Different types of liquids expand by different amounts. Therefore, the amount of outage you will need depends on the type of liquid.

Not quite. The answer is The Working Load Limit is the maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service. It is usually assigned by the manufacturer of the component.

The Working Load Limit (WLL) is the maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service. It is usually assigned by the manufacturer of the component. No component of the cargo securement system should exceed its WLL during normal service.

Not quite. The answer is In the front, back, or sides of the cargo

Two ways to secure cargo are blocking and bracing. Blocking is used in the front, back, or sides of a piece of cargo to keep it from sliding. Blocking is shaped to fit snugly against cargo. It is secured to the cargo deck to prevent cargo movement. Bracing is another way to prevent movement of cargo. Bracing goes from the upper part of the cargo to the floor or walls of the cargo compartment.

Not quite. The answer is immediately get out of the cab and move away from the tracks.

If your vehicle gets stuck on railroad tracks, your safety comes first. Immediately leave the vehicle and get away. Do not risk your life to save belongings, paperwork, cargo, or even the vehicle.

Not quite. The answer is Look toward the right edge of your lane or the right edge of the road.

If an oncoming vehicle has not dimmed its headlights, don't retaliate with your own high beams. Instead, slow down, keep right, look away from the vehicle, and steer by the right edge of the road until the vehicle has passed you.

Not quite. The answer is Do all of the above.

Sadly, the valuable cargo that you're carrying makes you a target for criminals. Take a variety of steps to ensure your safety at truck stops. First, study reviews of truck stops written by other drivers, and try to avoid truck stops that have been reported as dangerous. At a truck stop, park in a well-lit area, and lock the cab doors and cargo doors on your vehicle. Hide valuables in the cab from view. Let your carrier know where you'll be staying. Don't talk about the cargo that you're carrying; some criminal might overhear you.

Source: "Truck Stop Guide: Safety Tips and Tricks for Truckers," LubeZone, August 4, 2021

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above are true.

Alcohol first affects a driver's judgment and self-control, and then it affects coordination, vision, and muscle control. These are all essential driving skills. Impairment of these skills significantly increases the chance of an accident. For a first offense of driving a commercial vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will lose your CDL for at least one year. In fact, you will also lose your CDL for a first offense of driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or higher, even though 0.04% is below the legal limit for licensed adult car drivers.

Not quite. The answer is Move the rear reflective triangle back if the driver's vision is obscured to within 500 feet.

Other drivers should be able to see your stopped vehicle or its warning devices from at least 500 feet away in either direction. If your vehicle is obscured by a hill or curve, set out a warning device up to 500 feet behind your vehicle.

Not quite. The answer is All of the above

The B: C type fire extinguisher is designed to work on electrical fires and burning liquids. The A: B: C type is designed to work on burning wood, paper, and cloth as well. To fight a fire in combustible metals, you need a specialized D type fire extinguisher.

Not quite. The answer is For both of the above reasons

California and most other states require you to signal continuously before starting a turn. As you approach the turn and perform the turn, keep both hands on the wheel for safety.

Source: CVC § 22108

Not quite. The answer is Laws and restrictions can vary from place to place.

You must always follow federal, state, and local regulations for your location. These regulations cover such aspects of commercial driving as vehicle weight, cargo, and allowed routes. The regulations can vary from one jurisdiction to another, so know which jurisdictions you'll be driving through.

Not quite. The answer is 38,000 pounds

Federal regulations impose maximum weight limits on CMVs traveling on interstate highways. The maximum allowable Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is 80,000 pounds. The single axle weight rating is 20,000 pounds, and the tandem axle weight rating is 34,000 pounds for typical tandem axles that are spaced 40 to 96 inches apart, from center to center. For tandem axles spaced 97 inches apart, the axle weight rating is 38,000 pounds. The tridem axle, or three-axle, weight rating is 42,000 pounds if the outermost two axles are 97 inches apart.

Not quite. The answer is True

Tires that overheat can catch fire. Underinflation causes increased flexing of the tire, which increases tire temperature.

Not quite. The answer is stop faster than you.

Large vehicles like CMVs tend to have longer braking distances than smaller vehicles. Always maintain an adequate following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. Otherwise, if it suddenly slows down, you may not have enough space to avoid rear-ending it.

Not quite. The answer is Prescription drugs are allowed as long as your doctor says the drugs will not affect safe driving ability.

Some prescription drugs can impair your driving abilities. Take a prescription drug only if your doctor assures you that it won't impair your driving abilities.

Not quite. The answer is The weight of the cargo changes a vehicle's height.

Cargo changes the height of a vehicle and thus can affect your overhead clearance. If you previously had cargo and now your vehicle is empty, it will ride higher, not lower, so you may not clear underpasses you previously did.

Not quite. The answer is when a wheel may lock up.

Hard braking risks locking the wheels, resulting in a skid. An antilock braking system (ABS) is a computerized system that keeps your wheels from locking up during hard braking. A sensor at each wheel monitors how fast the wheel is turning and sends that information to a central electronic control unit (ECU), which acts like a little computer. As you're applying the brakes, if the ECU determines that one wheel is rotating much slower than the other wheels (indicating it may be about to lock up), it releases the brake on that wheel to let it turn freely. Then it reapplies the brake.

Not quite. The answer is Medical history

The Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) is a national database of all CDL holders and their driving records. CDLIS enables state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs; popularly known as DMVs) to ensure that each commercial driver has only one driver license and one complete driver record. When you apply for a CDL with the SDLA or DMV of your state, that agency must check CDLIS to ensure that you don't already hold a CDL from some other state, and you weren't already disqualified by some state from holding a CDL. After you obtain a CDL, if you move to another state, your state SDLA or DMV will also use CDLIS to transfer your driving record to the new state's SDLA or DMV. Moreover, whenever you are convicted of a moving violation, your state is required to enter that information into CDLIS. Whenever you apply for a commercial driving job, your prospective employer will check your driving record through CDLIS. Any moving violation convictions you've received from any state will show up there.

Not quite. The answer is back in as straight a line as possible.

Try to keep everything straight while backing. This involves correcting drift as soon as it occurs and backing as straight as you can. You must also turn the wheel opposite to the direction in which you want to go. Then turn the wheel the other way once the trailer starts to turn. Pull forward as often as needed to make corrections and reposition.

Not quite. The answer is Depress the clutch pedal all the way to the floor.

In large CMVs, manual transmissions are usually unsynchronized. You can shift gears by double clutching or floating the gears. To shift into low gear when your vehicle is stopped and the engine is idling, you can engage the clutch brake. This stops the transmission's input shaft (connected to the engine) from rotating so you can smoothly shift into low gear. To engage the clutch brake, depress the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. Never engage the clutch brake while your vehicle is moving; doing so can damage the clutch brake.