Florida CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is use a lower gear than you would use to climb the hill.

With older trucks, you typically used the same gear for driving uphill and driving downhill. Today's trucks tend to have more powerful engines and be more efficient than older trucks. Hence, you can drive such a truck uphill in higher gears than you would use to drive downhill with engine braking.

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.

Not quite. The answer is 6 months.

Under federal regulation 49 CFR 395.8, your carrier is responsible for keeping a copy of your duty logs and supporting documentation for six months. An example of supporting documentation is your fuel bills, with time stamps. As the driver, you must keep your copy of the log for today and the last 7 days.

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above

When changing lanes, check your mirrors at each of the following times: (1) before you change lanes, to make sure there is enough room; (2) after you have signaled, to check that no one has moved into your blind spot; (3) right after you start the lane change, to double-check that your path is clear; and (4) after you complete the lane change.

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

49% of CMV drivers smoke, compared with 27% of the general adult population. 73% of CMV drivers are obese, compared with 33% of the general population. 33% of CMV drivers have hypertension (high blood pressure), compared with 26% of the general population. Finally, only 8% of CMV drivers exercise regularly, compared with 25% of the general population.

Not quite. The answer is All of the above

In the event of an emergency, you may complete your run without violating any Hours of Service regulations, provided that you would have satisfied the regulations if the emergency hadn't occurred. Federal regulations list the specific conditions that are considered emergencies. These include various extreme weather events, earthquakes, tsunamis, and electrical power outages, among others. [49 CFR 390.5T],

Source: 49 CFR 395.1

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above

Be sure to use the right fire extinguisher to put out a fire. A Class A fire involves ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, or rubber. A Class B fire involves flammable liquids such as gasoline, grease, or oil. A Class C fire involves electrical equipment. A Class D fire involves combustible metals such as magnesium or potassium. An A:B:C extinguisher can put out Class A, Class B, and Class C fires.

Not quite. The answer is does not change the way you normally brake.

ABS does not have much effect on your everyday driving. It does not affect your braking capability or necessarily shorten your stopping distance. It just helps you keep control of your vehicle by activating when your wheels are about to lock up.

Not quite. The answer is 170 to 195 °F

After you've started your engine, the coolant temperature should start to rise gradually to the normal operating range. The typical normal operating range is 170 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. If your coolant temperature gauge starts to rise above this range, pull over and shut off the engine before it overheats.

Not quite. The answer is 3 years.

When you apply for a CMV driver's job with a prospective DOT-regulated employer, that employer is required to query the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse to find out whether you failed any DOT-regulated employer's test for drugs or alcohol within the past three years. ("DOT-regulated" employers include all employers that are subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.) You must give the prospective employer written authorization to perform this background check on you. If the employer finds that you were guilty of a drug or alcohol violation within the past three years for which you have not successfully completed a return-to-duty (RTD) process, they are prohibited from employing you to drive CMVs or perform any other safety-sensitive functions. [49 CFR §382.501],

Source: 49 CFR § 382.701

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 Check your mirrors regularly.

To find out what's happening behind and to the sides of your vehicle, check your mirrors frequently. Before driving your vehicle, adjust your mirrors to show parts of your vehicle as well as what's around your vehicle.

Not quite. The answer is 150 miles

A short-haul driver is exempt from the Hours of Service regulations, if he or she meets all the following requirements: (1) the driver operates within a 150-mile radius of the driver's home terminal or yard; (2) the driver goes off duty within 14 consecutive hours of work; (3) each 14 hours on duty is followed by at least 10 off-duty hours for a truck driver or 8 off-duty hours for a bus driver; and (4) the driver's employer keeps accurate records of the driver's duty status for the next six months.

Source: 49 CFR 395.1

Not quite. The answer is Basic chemistry

For a HazMat endorsement, you must learn which materials require placarding your vehicle and which materials cannot be loaded together.

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 It can startle other drivers.

Your horn can startle other drivers, pedestrians, or animals. Hence, it should only be used to warn others of a potential hazard, not for general communication and certainly not to express anger or frustration.

Not quite. The answer is Chronic marijuana use

Many chronic health conditions are not necessarily disqualifications for driving CMVs. Your medical examiner will make a determination as to whether your condition is adequately controlled by treatment so you can still operate a CMV safely. However, regular use of a Schedule I controlled substance is an automatic disqualification from driving CMVs. Federal law prohibits Schedule I drugs from being legitimately prescribed for any purpose. Schedule I drugs include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy). Marijuana is still a federal Schedule I drug and hence still illegal at the federal level, so if you smoke marijuana regularly, you will not be qualified to drive CMVs even if marijuana is legal in your state. Federal regulation 21 CFR 1308.11 contains the full list of Schedule I controlled substances.

Not quite. The answer is Brush

In the wintertime, remove snow and ice from your windshield, windows, and mirrors before you drive. Your vehicle's defroster will help melt some ice and snow to the point that you can clear them more easily. Clear the ice with an ice scraper. A snow brush can clear snow but isn't designed to clear ice. However, some snow brushes come with an ice-scraper attachment at the other end.

Not quite. The answer is Turning the wheel back in the other direction after steering to avoid a hazard

In a quick turning maneuver such as recovering from a drive-wheel braking skid or moving from the shoulder onto the roadway at a higher speed, your vehicle will tend to overshoot and keep turning in the same direction more than you want it to. Be ready to counteract this by turning your steering wheel in the opposite direction. This is known as countersteering.

Not quite. The answer is Your tires will last longer.

Keep your tires properly inflated. (Use a tire pressure gauge to get an accurate reading.) Overinflated tires are more likely to fail prematurely. Low tire pressures cause faster tire wear and reduced cornering ability and increase the effect of hydroplaning. Underinflation also causes increased flexing of the tire, which increases tire temperature. Tires that overheat can catch fire. Of course, even properly inflated tires are no guarantee against skids.