Michigan CDL Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Under wet or icy road conditions

Retarders can slow your vehicle on a downgrade so you can avoid straining the service brakes. Many retarders can absorb as much or more horsepower as the engine can develop. But when the drive wheels have poor traction (such as on a slippery surface), some retarders can cause the drive wheels to lock, which can result in a skid. Therefore, you should turn the retarder off whenever the road is wet, icy, or snow covered.

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 1 year.

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 A thin layer of ice clear enough that you can see the road underneath it

Black ice is a thin layer of ice that is clear enough for you to see the road beneath. Black ice is treacherous because it makes the road only look wet, not icy.

Not quite. The answer is Check the electrical connections.

If your trailer lights aren't working properly, the cause may be as simple as a loose electrical cable connection to the trailer, or perhaps to the tractor. Electrical connections can loosen over time from constant use. Wiggle each connector back and forth to see if it's loose. If it is, tie something around it to keep it from moving. If the connector isn't loose, check if the pins in the receptacle are clean and make good contact. Lastly, check if the cable itself is bad. If none of these are the cause of the problem, the next thing to check is the fuses or circuit breakers, and finally, the trailer light bulbs. Note: Don't ignore the problem. If any required trailer lights aren't working properly, your vehicle is in violation of federal regulation 49 CFR 393.23 and can be placed out of service at a roadside inspection.

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 Your judgment and self-control are affected.

Alcohol affects the body in many different ways, but it first affects your judgment and self-control. As a result, you may not realize how drunk you are becoming, and you may start to make dangerous decisions.

Not quite. The answer is Quieter operation

For large CMVs, diesel engines offer several advantages over gasoline engines. A diesel engine's high compression ratio gives it higher thermal efficiency, and therefore, about 25% greater fuel efficiency. Diesel engines produce a lot of power at low rpms. Diesel engines can last more than twice as long as gasoline engines (although this obviously depends on the specific models of engines). Finally, diesel fuel is safer than gasoline. Gasoline is highly flammable, and its vapors are highly explosive. Diesel fuel won't burn readily unless it's compressed (as in the cylinders of diesel engines). However, diesel engines are typically louder than gasoline engines.

Not quite. The answer is At the border

The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is a commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the United States from Canada and Mexico. The FAST program offers pre-authorized importers, carriers, and drivers expedited clearance for eligible products. FAST enrollment is open to truck drivers from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Dedicated FAST vehicle lanes at certain border crossings process commercial cargo to speed up the process of crossing the border. To obtain a FAST card, you must have a valid US passport and apply for the card at the Trusted Traveler Programs website of the Department of Homeland Security. Then you'll need to schedule an in-person interview. Note that you need one FAST card to cross the Mexican border and a different FAST card to cross the Canadian border.

Not quite. The answer is Steer to the right.

To avoid a head-on collision, steer right, toward the shoulder or edge of the roadway. Do not steer left; the other driver may try to steer back into the proper lane. Prepare to drive entirely off the roadway to the right if necessary to avoid a head-on collision. Head-on collisions are often fatal.

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 Warning devices

Federal regulations require every CMV to carry one of the following warning devices in case the driver must stop the CMV on the road: three reflective triangles, three liquid-burning flares, or six fusees. Federal regulations also require every CMV to carry a fire extinguisher. Your state may also require a first-aid kit or seat belt cutter be carried on certain types of CMVs such as school buses.

Source: 49 CFR 393.95

Not quite. The answer is Yes, if the driver passes a skills test.

A missing or impaired finger, hand, arm, foot, or leg is not an automatic disqualification for driving CMVs. FMCSA's Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) program allows drivers with missing or impaired limbs to drive CMVs, even across state lines, if they wear the right kind of prosthetic device and can demonstrate the ability to operate the CMV safely by completing on- and off-road activities. If the driver passes a skills test, he or she will receive a SPE certificate. Drivers who have been issued an SPE certificate must carry it with them at all times. To date, FMCSA has granted thousands of SPE certificates to truck drivers who were missing limbs but have shown that they can operate CMVs safely.

Source: "Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate Program," FMCSA, https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/medical/driver-medical-requirements/skill-performance-evaluation-certificate-program

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 Using mirrors and turn signals, turn sharply to get back onto the road.

If you've left the road but you must return to the road before stopping on the shoulder, the recommended recovery procedure is as follows: 1. Hold the wheel tightly and turn sharply enough to get right back onto the road safely. 2. Don't try to edge gradually back onto the road. If you do, your tires might grab unexpectedly and you could lose control. 3. When both front tires are on the paved surface, countersteer immediately. The two turns should be made as a single "steer-countersteer" move.

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 perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance.

Total stopping distance is the sum of your perception distance (how far your vehicle goes from when you see a 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 the brain tells the foot to push the brake pedal to the time the foot actually pushes the pedal.

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). An average driver's perception time is about 1 3/4 seconds. His or her reaction time is between 3/4 second and 1 second. (Note: 55 mph is equal to about 81 feet per second. At this speed, a reaction time of 3/4 second is equivalent to a reaction distance of 61 feet.)

Not quite. The answer is Trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers, and tractor-pole trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds

Federal cargo securement rules apply to trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers, and tractor-pole trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

Not quite. The answer is When the road is slippery, you should keep much more space in front of your vehicle.

Large, heavy vehicles have long braking distances. On slippery roads, the braking distance will be even longer. Make sure you leave an adequate following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you. The formula for following distance under ideal conditions is one second per ten feet of vehicle, plus an extra second if you are traveling over 40 mph. On slippery roads, increase your following distance even more.