Louisiana CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is At night, keep your high beams on as you pass the vehicle.

Whenever you are about to pass a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist, assume they don't see you. They could suddenly move in front of you. Where it is legal, tap the horn lightly or, at night, flash your lights momentarily from low beams to high beams and back. (High beams can be distracting or even blinding if left on.)

Not quite. The answer is Many CMV accidents occur between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

Driving through the night when you would normally be asleep increases your risk of an accident. Many CMV accidents occur between midnight and 6:00 a.m. If you've had less than 6 hours of sleep before you drive, your risk of an accident is tripled. And one study has found that going without sleep for more than 24 hours can impair your coordination and reaction time as much as being legally intoxicated.

Not quite. The answer is It makes the road slippery.

On hot days, tar in the pavement can rise to the surface and create a slippery film on the road surface.

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

Sleep debt is a dangerous condition in which missing sleep adds up and you risk falling asleep at the wheel until you are fully rested. People are often surprised when they find out that getting less than six hours of sleep per night triples your risk of accident. To prevent drowsiness before a trip, the driver should get adequate sleep (adults need 8 to 9 hours to maintain alertness); prepare route carefully to identify total distance, stopping points and other logistic considerations; schedule trips for the hours you are normally awake, not the middle of the night; drive with a passenger; avoid medications that cause drowsiness; consult your physician if you suffer from daytime sleepiness, have difficulty sleeping at night or take frequent naps; incorporate exercise into your daily life to give you more energy.

Not quite. The answer is 2 tie-downs.

The rule is one tie-down for every ten feet of cargo, but at least two tie-downs regardless of how small the cargo is.

Not quite. The answer is File a complaint with OSHA.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than 20 whistleblower statutes protecting employees from retaliation for reporting violations of various federal workplace laws. If your employer retaliated against you for expressing a job-related safety concern, you may file a complaint with OSHA within 30 days.

Source: "The Whistleblower Protection Program," Occupational Safety and Health Administration, https://www.whistleblowers.gov/

Not quite. The answer is Increase your following distance.

Tailgating is a major cause of rear-end collisions. If you're being tailgated, increase your following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you. That way, if you have to stop or slow down, you can do so gradually, reducing the risk of being rear-ended by the tailgater. It will also make it easier for the tailgater to pass you. Never increase your speed to appease or outdistance a tailgater. No speed is too fast for some tailgaters.

Not quite. The answer is A burning tire should be cooled with water.

If the cargo is on fire, opening the trailer's doors will let more oxygen into the trailer and feed the fire. If a tire is on fire, it should be cooled, preferably with a lot of water.

Not quite. The answer is 2; 2

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 the full width of the boulder. Each cubic-shaped boulder must be secured with two or more chains placed transversely across the vehicle and as close as possible to the hardwood blocking. Each non-cubic-shaped boulder must be secured with two or more chains forming an "X" pattern over the boulder and passing over the center of the boulder. These two chains must be attached to each other at their intersection. If the boulder is non-cubic shaped and has an unstable base, it must be secured with one chain over the top of the boulder and four chains attached to that chain to block the boulder from moving.

Source: 49 CFR 393.136

Not quite. The answer is Bobtail tractor

The brakes and suspension of a truck are designed to handle heavy cargo. Trucks that are empty or only lightly loaded take longer to stop because the stiff suspension springs and strong brakes give poor traction and make it easier to lock the wheels. (This is not usually the case for buses, however.) Likewise, "bobtail" tractors (tractors without semitrailers) can take even longer to stop than an unloaded tractor-trailer. Be very careful when driving a "bobtail" tractor.

Not quite. The answer is Watch gauges and mirrors and use your senses to check for problems.

During your trip, you should be watching a number of things, such as your mirrors, gauges, instruments, lights, tires, and cargo. Use several of your senses – sight, hearing, smell, and feel – to detect possible trouble.

Not quite. The answer is Release the accelerator.

Hydroplaning is more likely at higher speeds. If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, avoid braking. Instead, release the accelerator and push in the clutch to let your vehicle slow down.

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 All of the above

The best advice for driving in fog is: don’t. It is preferable that you pull off the road into a rest area or truck stop until visibility is better. If you must drive, be sure to obey all fog-related warning signs and slow down before you enter fog. Turn on your 4-way flashers. This will give vehicles approaching you from behind a quicker opportunity to notice your vehicle. Use roadside highway reflectors as guides to determine how the road may curve ahead of you and listen for traffic you cannot see. Avoid passing other vehicles and don’t stop along the side of the road, unless absolutely necessary.

Not quite. The answer is Cab air conditioning

During Step 4 (Turn Off Engine and Check Lights) of the Seven-Step Inspection Method, check your headlights and four-way flashers. During Step 5 (Walk-Around Inspection), check that your cargo is secure and its weight is evenly distributed. While it's nice to be comfortable during your trip, checking the performance of the cab air conditioner isn't part of the Seven-Step Inspection Method.

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 at all

According to the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, the driver of a passenger-carrying vehicle must not drive for more than 10 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty. The driver may not drive at all after having been on duty for 15 hours.

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 help slow the vehicle while driving and reduce brake wear.

Retarders can be used to help slow a vehicle, reducing the need for braking and thus reducing brake wear. However, retarders should not be used on slippery roads because the retarders can cause the drive wheels to skid.

Not quite. The answer is release the parking brake as you apply engine power.

When you start your vehicle, make sure you don't roll backward, or else you may hit something behind you. Put on the parking brake whenever necessary to keep from rolling backward. (Note: this may not be necessary when you're on a level surface with good traction.) Release the parking brake only when you have applied enough engine power to keep from rolling back.

Not quite. The answer is They can make navigation errors.

Federal, state, and local regulations can restrict the routes that CMVs can legally and safely take. A GPS navigation device or smartphone app that is designed for CMV operators can choose an allowable route, even avoiding grades and sharp curves that might be difficult for your vehicle. But for these features to work properly, you must input the weight and dimensions of your vehicle as well as whether it is carrying hazardous materials (which is why you shouldn't use Google Maps or a car navigation device or app). If you don't do this properly, the device or app may choose an inappropriate route. Plus, it's always possible for your device to mislead you anyway because of erroneous or out-of-date software. Don't depend entirely on your GPS navigator while you're driving. Double-check the route before you attempt to drive it.