Connecticut CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Stop accelerating.

To recover from a skid, first stop doing what caused it in the first place. To recover from a drive-wheel acceleration skid, first take your foot off the accelerator. To recover from a drive-wheel braking skid, stop braking. To recover from a front-wheel skid that was caused by driving too fast for current conditions, slow down.

Not quite. The answer is steer around it without making a sudden or unsafe move.

You have no way of knowing what may be inside a seemingly harmless-looking object on the roadway. Even cardboard boxes, paper or cloth sacks, or plastic containers may contain some solid or heavy material or a sharp object capable of causing damage. Always scan the roadway at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead so that you can spot such obstacles in time to steer around them safely.

Not quite. The answer is “Stop.”

Unfortunately, once an accident happens, you can't take it back. That's why it's absolutely essential for you and your helper to have a clear hand signal for "Stop." That way, you'll be able to quickly stop what you are doing before an accident can occur.

Not quite. The answer is grayish white.

In the wintertime, road salt used to clear snow and ice makes a road look grayish white. Therefore, if the road ahead looks black and shiny, be suspicious. It may be covered with a thin layer of ice known as black ice, which can be very slippery.

Not quite. The answer is anti-lock brakes.

In stab braking, you deliberately keep locking and unlocking the wheels. Hence, stab braking should not be used in a vehicle with antilock brakes. Use controlled braking instead.

Not quite. The answer is perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance.

Total stopping distance is the sum of your perception distance (how far your vehicle goes from when you see the hazard until your brain processes it), reaction distance (how far the vehicle goes from when your brain orders your foot to take action until your foot actually starts to brake), and braking distance (how far the vehicle continues to travel once you apply the brake).

Not quite. The answer is are typically used for freight carried partway by rail or ship.

Containerized loads usually travel partway by rail or ship. They are transported by truck at the start or toward the end of their journey. Containerized loads are sealed. Usually, you are not allowed to break the seals to inspect them. However, you are responsible for ensuring that the load is secured on your vehicle and it won't cause your vehicle to exceed gross weight or axle weight limits.

Not quite. The answer is You should never remove the radiator cap on a pressurized system until the unit has cooled.

Never remove the radiator cap or any part of the pressurized system until the system has cooled. Steam and boiling water can spray under pressure and cause severe burns. Antifreeze has both a relatively low freezing point and a relatively high boiling point, so it can keep your engine from overheating in warm weather.

Not quite. The answer is When going down grades

To use engine braking on a downgrade to control the speed of a CMV with an automatic transmission, select a low gear range that prevents the transmission from shifting up beyond the selected gear.

Not quite. The answer is up to 500 feet behind the vehicle.

According to federal regulation 49 CFR 392.22, if you must stop beyond a curve or the crest of a hill that obstructs the view of your vehicle, you must set out one warning device (such as a reflective triangle) 10 feet behind your vehicle, and another warning device 100–500 feet behind your vehicle. This regulation also specifies where to place warning devices on other types of roadways such as divided highways and undivided two-way roads. These situations are also covered in the section on "Communicating Your Presence" in your state CDL manual.

Not quite. The answer is from the time that your eyes see something, to the time that your brain recognizes it.

Perception distance is the distance that your vehicle travels from the time that your eyes see something, to the time that your brain recognizes it. For the average alert driver, this time is about 1¾ seconds. Reaction distance is the distance that your vehicle travels from the time that your brain decides to brake, to the time that you start to press the brake pedal. For the average driver, this time is about ¾ second to 1 second.

Not quite. The answer is Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage.

From a stopped position, accelerate smoothly and gradually. Jerking forward or rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage (possibly including damage to the coupling if you're pulling a trailer).

Not quite. The answer is 2 hours.

According to the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, if you encounter adverse driving conditions during your trip that prevent you from completing your trip within the allowed driving time, you may extend your allowed driving time by an additional two hours. "Adverse driving conditions" include bad weather and unusual road or traffic conditions that were not known about in advance.

Source: "Summary of Hours of Service Regulations," FMCSA, https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/summary-hours-service-regulations

Not quite. The answer is someone could start and move the truck.

While you are performing the pre-trip inspection, you do not want someone (such as a co-driver) who is unaware of your location to start your vehicle and accidentally injure you.

Not quite. The answer is can be caused by the brakes becoming too hot.

Brakes use friction to convert the kinetic energy of your moving vehicle into heat. However, overuse of the brakes (which can happen if you don't use engine braking enough) can generate so much heat that brakes can fade (lose their effectiveness) or fail.

Not quite. The answer is 36 inches

As part of your basic control skills test, the examiner will ask you to perform a Reverse Offset Backing maneuver (i.e., offset back your vehicle and park it at the end of an alley). You must bring the rear of your vehicle within three feet of the rear of the alley without touching boundary lines or cones. When you have completed this, your vehicle must be straight within the alley and completely within the defined maneuver boundaries.

Not quite. The answer is Wind is a big problem when your truck comes out of a tunnel.

Inside a tunnel, you don't feel the effect of crosswinds pushing you sideways. But once you emerge from the tunnel into an open space, the crosswinds will hit you. If your vehicle is traveling alongside another vehicle, there is some chance that the crosswinds will push one of the vehicles against the other.

Not quite. The answer is go straight ahead even if the steering wheel is turned.

In a front-wheel skid, the front end tends to go in a straight line regardless of how much you turn the steering wheel.

Not quite. The answer is Both of these answers are correct.

Federal regulations require shippers to warn drivers and others about the nature of the hazardous materials they are shipping. The shipper affixes US DOT-compliant HazMat labels to the packages and supplies the driver with the appropriate placards to attach to his or her vehicle. The shipper also notes the hazardous nature of the materials on the shipping papers. [49 CFR 172.400],

Source: 49 CFR 172.407

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.