Ohio CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Upshift.

If your hydraulic brakes fail while you're driving, try pumping the brake pedal to build up enough hydraulic pressure to stop your vehicle. If this fails, downshift to use engine braking and apply the parking brake. Release the parking brake before you lock the wheels. If all else fails, look for an escape route. Head for an escape ramp or an open field and let your vehicle slow to a stop.

Not quite. The answer is control of the vehicle.

For full control of your vehicle, you need to know when and how to upshift or downshift. Learn under what special conditions you should downshift. For example, learn how to use engine braking to slow your vehicle on a steep descent.

Not quite. The answer is Brake hard and immediately.

Hard braking could cause your vehicle to go out of control, so brake gently only after the vehicle has slowed down and you have regained control.

Not quite. The answer is Vibration

If the vehicle thumps or vibrates heavily, it may be a sign that one of the tires has gone flat. With a rear tire, that may be the only sign you get. A blowout is more likely to make a loud bang than a hiss.

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 at the front, back, or sides of a piece of cargo.

Blocking and bracing can prevent cargo from shifting. Use blocking and bracing to keep cargo from shifting in whichever directions it might move. Blocking fits snugly against cargo; bracing runs from the upper part of the cargo to the floor or walls of the cargo compartment.

Not quite. The answer is Warning devices for stopped vehicles

Federal regulations require every commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to carry one of the following types of warning devices in case the vehicle must be stopped on the road: three reflective triangles and six fusees. Federal regulations also require every CMV to carry a fire extinguisher. Your state may also require extra emergency equipment (such as a first-aid kit) on certain vehicles.

Source: 49 CFR 393.95

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

Sadly, the valuable cargo that you're carrying makes you a target for criminals. Take a variety of steps to ensure your safety at truck stops. First, study reviews of truck stops written by other drivers, and try to avoid truck stops that have been reported as dangerous. At a truck stop, park in a well-lit area, and lock the cab doors and cargo doors on your vehicle. Hide valuables in the cab from view. Let your carrier know where you'll be staying. Don't talk about the cargo that you're carrying; some criminal might overhear you.

Source: "Truck Stop Guide: Safety Tips and Tricks for Truckers," LubeZone, August 4, 2021

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above are advantages.

Steering to the left of a hazard can cause you to move into the path of an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle that is trying to pass you on the left.

Not quite. The answer is Short circuits and loose connections

Smoking, flammable cargo, and spilled fuel are potentially dangerous. Properly managed, however, they should not start a fire except under special circumstances such as a short circuit or loose connection.

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above

Leaking shock absorbers and broken or missing leaves are two of the more common defects that may occur in a suspension system.

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above answers are correct.

If you must drive through water, slow down, shift into a low gear, and keep applying the brakes gently to prevent water, mud, or other contaminants from getting into the brakes.

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 14 consecutive hours.

According to the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, the driver of a cargo-carrying vehicle must not drive after a period of 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty. The driver may not drive for more than 11 hours during this on-duty period.

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 All of the above are true.

An automated manual transmission (AMT) is designed rather like an ordinary manual transmission. That is, unlike an automatic transmission that usually employs a torque converter, an AMT employs gears mounted on shafts, and it shifts with the aid of a clutch. However, in an AMT, a computer controls various linkages to handle the clutching and gear shifting (there is no shifter stick), freeing the driver to focus more on the road. Some older AMTs used to come with a clutch pedal for manual shifting when starting or stopping. With today's AMTs sold in the United States, however, there is no clutch pedal, making the driving experience more like that of a fully automatic transmission.

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 used to stop runaway vehicles.

Escape ramps are located on many steep mountain grades. Escape ramps are built to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers or passengers. Escape ramps use a long bed of loose, soft material such as gravel to slow a runaway vehicle, sometimes in combination with an upgrade.

Not quite. The answer is balanced in the cargo area.

Keep your load of cargo balanced. You need enough weight on both the steering and drive axles for adequate traction. However, too much weight on the steering axle can cause hard steering and even damage the steering axle and tires. Too much weight on one side can increase the risk that the cargo will shift.

Not quite. The answer is Gauges, brakes, lights, tires, and cargo securement

During a trip, keep an eye on your gauges for signs of trouble. Whenever you stop, check such safety-critical items as the brakes, lights, tires, wheels, cargo securement devices if any, and trailer coupling devices if you're pulling a trailer.

Not quite. The answer is Robotic

There are four basic types of retarders: electric, engine, exhaust, and hydraulic.