Nevada CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Depress the clutch pedal all the way to the floor.

In large CMVs, manual transmissions are usually unsynchronized. You can shift gears by double clutching or floating the gears. To shift into low gear when your vehicle is stopped and the engine is idling, you can engage the clutch brake. This stops the transmission's input shaft (connected to the engine) from rotating so you can smoothly shift into low gear. To engage the clutch brake, depress the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. Never engage the clutch brake while your vehicle is moving; doing so can damage the clutch brake.

Not quite. The answer is There may be strong winds when exiting.

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 the tracks have a steep approach.

Raised railroad crossings with steep approaches can cause your vehicle to get hung up on the tracks. This is more likely if you're driving a vehicle with low ground clearance (such as a lowboy, car carrier, or moving van).

Not quite. The answer is Slow down gradually.

Braking on a slippery surface can lock the wheels and cause a skid. Brake gently and slow down very gradually.

Not quite. The answer is gross combination weight.

The Gross Combination Weight is the sum of the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of the power unit and the GVW of each towed unit. (A vehicle's GVW is its weight when fully loaded.)

Not quite. The answer is 60 days.

Federal regulations impose tough penalties for texting while driving. If you are convicted of texting for the second time in three years, you will be disqualified from commercial driving for 60 days. If you are convicted of texting for the third time in three years, you will be disqualified from commercial driving for 120 days.

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

The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria includes many criteria for tires that if not met will cause the vehicle to be put out of service. These criteria supplement federal regulations on tires. Among these criteria are the following: No tire may have a leak that is noticeable (i.e., can be heard or felt), that has caused the tire to go flat, or that has reduced tire pressure to 50% or less of the maximum pressure marked on the tire sidewall.

Source: 49 CFR 393.75

Not quite. The answer is Brake adjustment

If your pre-trip inspection reveals problems with the brakes, note these on your vehicle inspection report. Your employer (the motor carrier) must repair any items in the report that affect safety, and certify on the report that repairs were made or were unnecessary.

Not quite. The answer is You should back slowly until you slightly bump into the dock.

To make backing up easier and safer, turn toward the driver's side so you can watch the rear of your vehicle through your window. Have a helper stand near the rear of your vehicle and observe areas that you cannot. He or she can signal you to stop before you hit something.

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 Reduced braking power

Brakes use friction to convert the kinetic energy of your moving vehicle into heat. If the brakes get wet, the brake shoes or brake pads may produce less friction. The brakes will grab, apply unevenly, or become weak. When you try to brake, your braking distance may increase, your vehicle may pull to one side, or the wheels may lock. On a wet road, locked wheels can cause a skid (or even a jackknife if you're pulling a trailer).

Not quite. The answer is They often make you sleepy. Therefore, they should not be used while driving.

Some cold and allergy medications can cause drowsiness, sedation, or disturbed coordination, which makes them dangerous for CMV operators. If you are unsure about the effects of a particular medication, check the warning label or ask your pharmacist or doctor.

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

A front-end header board is located behind the cab. The header board prevents cargo from moving forward (and possibly injuring you) in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Check to make sure that the header board is secure, upright, and undamaged (no dents, no corrosion, no missing rivets, etc.).

Not quite. The answer is Four times as much

When you double your speed, your braking distance increases by roughly the square of the speed increase – to about four times as much as before. For example, increasing your speed from 15 to 30 mph will increase your stopping distance from 46 to 184 feet.

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 4

The liver processes about one-third of an ounce of alcohol per hour, which is equivalent to at most one drink per hour.

Not quite. The answer is Learn the escape ramp locations on your route.

Before you drive in the mountains, you should know how to brake safely on grades, and you should learn the locations of escape ramps on your route. Escape ramps have been built on many steep mountain downgrades. Escape ramps are designed to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers and passengers.

Not quite. The answer is Yes, as long as the engine isn't overheated.

Some vehicles have sight glasses, see-through coolant overflow containers, or coolant recovery containers. These permit you to check the coolant level while the engine is hot. If the container is not part of the pressurized system, the cap can be safely removed and coolant added even when the engine is at operating temperature. Never remove the radiator cap or any part of the pressurized system until the system has cooled.

Not quite. The answer is In a pouch on the driver's door

Your life, and the lives of others, may depend on quickly locating the hazardous materials shipping papers. For that reason, you must identify shipping papers related to hazardous materials or keep them on top of other shipping papers. You must also keep shipping papers: in a pouch on the driver's door; or in clear view within reach while driving; or on the driver's seat when out of the vehicle.

Not quite. The answer is Provide for adequate air circulation in the cargo area.

Different foodstuffs need to be kept at different temperatures. Find out what the proper temperature should be for the load you'll be carrying. Make sure that the load is already at the proper temperature before you load it into the truck. Your refrigeration unit can maintain a load at the proper temperature, but it should not be expected to cool down a warm load. For the same reason, make sure that the cargo area is pre-cooled before you load it. Adequate air circulation is vital to ensure that all parts of the load are kept at the proper temperature. Space between parts of the load, a chute (air duct) at the ceiling to conduct air from the refrigeration unit, and pallets that allow for air to circulate can help maintain adequate airflow.