Maine CDL Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is quarter hours.

In your duty log, time is normally calculated in quarter hours or 15-minute intervals. However, for a short-duration status change (i.e., one lasting less than 15 minutes), draw a line from the status line, down to the Remarks section. You enter the location of the change, what the short change was, and how long it lasted.

Not quite. The answer is The cargo you're carrying makes stopping mandatory under federal or state regulations.

A full stop is required at railroad grade crossings whenever (a) the nature of the cargo makes a stop mandatory under state or federal regulations, or (b) such a stop is otherwise required by law. For example, federal regulations require any CMV that is placarded for carrying hazardous materials to stop at every railroad grade crossing.

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 Yes.

Because of the limited visibility, avoid backing up whenever possible. If you must back your vehicle, use a helper if possible. The helper can stand near the rear of your vehicle and keep an eye on your blind spots. He or she can signal you to stop before an accident can occur.

Not quite. The answer is Get out of your vehicle and away from the tracks.

If your vehicle gets stuck on a railroad track, get everyone including yourself out of your vehicle. Have everyone walk at about a 45-degree angle to the tracks in the direction from which you expect a train to approach. That way, if your vehicle is hit, none of you will be struck by flying debris. Once you've reached a safe location, call 911 or the telephone number on the railroad crossing sign.

Not quite. The answer is 3

Your truck's emergency equipment must include warning devices such as three reflective red triangles, three liquid burning flares, or six fusees.

Not quite. The answer is Differential

A differential uses a series of gears to accomplish several functions. First, it transfers torque from the driveshaft to the axle. Because the axle is at 90 degrees from the driveshaft, the differential also turns the torque by 90 degrees accordingly. The outside of a curved road is longer than the inside. On such a curve, the differential lets the outside half of the axle turn faster than the inside half of the axle, so that the outside wheels can cover a greater distance than the inside wheels. If there were no differential, the outside wheels would turn at the same rate as the inside wheels, causing at least some of the wheels to drag on the pavement.

Not quite. The answer is Start to turn your vehicle after you reach the center of the intersection.

Long vehicles are prone to significant off-tracking (the rear wheels following a quite different path than the front wheels). With two lanes going in your direction, enter the intersection from the outside lane because you may have to swing right to make the left turn. Make sure you have reached the center of the intersection before you start the left turn. If you turn too soon, the left side of your vehicle may hit another vehicle.

Not quite. The answer is One within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 100 feet in front of the vehicle

This is required by federal regulation 49 CFR 392.22. This regulation also specifies where to place warning devices on other types of roadways such as curves, one-way roads, and divided roadways. These situations are also covered in the section on "Communicating Your Presence" in the Maine Commercial Driver License Manual.

Not quite. The answer is Look outside your vehicle for another means of slowing down.

If your brakes fail, first look for an escape ramp. If no escape ramp is readily available, take the least hazardous escape route you can – such as an open field or a side road that flattens out or turns uphill. Do this as soon as you discover that your brakes have failed. The longer you wait, the faster your vehicle will go, and the harder it will be to stop.

Not quite. The answer is Much more than under normal driving conditions

Wet roads can double your stopping distance. Slow down and greatly increase your usual following distance.

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above

If the force applied to the wheels overcomes the tires' grip of the road, the tires will lose traction, which may lead to a skid. Two ways that this can happen are the following: (1) a sharp turn when the front wheels have insufficient traction because of insufficient weight on those wheels; (2) overacceleration supplying too much power to the drive wheels.

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 driving too fast for road conditions.

Always adjust your speed to fit current driving conditions including weather, visibility, tire traction, curves, and hills. In practice, this will sometimes mean driving at well below the posted speed limit.

Not quite. The answer is use low-beam headlights and fog lights.

If you must drive in fog, use low-beam headlights and fog lights for best visibility even in daytime, and be alert for other drivers who may have forgotten to turn on their lights.

Not quite. The answer is The vehicle must be equipped with a means of cradling the logs.

Under federal regulations, logs must be transported on a vehicle designed or adapted for the transportation of logs. Any such vehicle must be fitted with some means of cradling the logs (such as bunks, bolsters, stakes, or standards) to prevent the logs from rolling. Tiedowns must be used as well, unless (a) the logs are transported in a crib-type log trailer, and (b) the outer logs are resting against the bunks, bolsters, stakes, or standards.

Source: 49 CFR 393.116

Not quite. The answer is You should check tire mounting and air pressure before driving.

In hot weather, check the tire mounting and tire pressure carefully. Heat causes the air in the tire to expand, increasing tire pressure. Driving will make the tires even hotter. If the tire temperature and pressure rise too high, the tire may blow out or even catch fire.

Not quite. The answer is 13 days.

Whether you use an ELD or a paper log, you must submit your day's record of duty status to your carrier within 13 days of that day. If your ELD malfunctions, you must use a paper log to record your duty status. Keep a paper logbook in your vehicle in case your ELD fails.

Source: 49 CFR 395.8

Not quite. The answer is both of the above.

Each time you stop your vehicle during your trip, check the following: gauges, controls, mirrors, tires, lights, and securement of the cargo (if any). Use several of your senses—sight, hearing, feel, and smell—to detect signs of trouble.

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.