Oregon CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is You may never park on the ramps.

Freeway and turnpike exits can be particularly dangerous for commercial vehicles. Off ramps and on ramps often have speed limit signs posted - these speeds may be safe for cars, but not for larger vehicles or heavily loaded vehicles. Exits that go downhill and turn at the same time can be especially dangerous. The downgrade makes it difficult to reduce speed. Braking and turning at the same time can be a dangerous practice. Make sure you are going slowly enough before you get on the curved part of an off ramp or on ramp. Do not park on the ramps.

Not quite. The answer is You should never remove the radiator cap on a pressurized system until the unit has cooled.

Never remove the radiator cap or any part of the pressurized system until the system has cooled. Steam and boiling water can spray under pressure and cause severe burns. Antifreeze has both a relatively low freezing point and a relatively high boiling point, so it can keep your engine from overheating in warm weather.

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 Passenger side

Large CMVs have large blind spots, called "No-Zones," on all four sides. For a tractor-trailer or semi-truck, the front No-Zone extends up to 20 feet in front of the truck, and the rear No-Zone extends up to 200 feet behind the trailer. The driver's-side No-Zone extends from the driver's door, back to just past the front of the trailer. The passenger-side No-Zone is the largest No-Zone, and also the most dangerous. It can extend up to three lanes wide.

Not quite. The answer is one-third.

When a road is wet, stopping distance is increased, and you should reduce your speed by one-third. On snow, slow to one-half your usual speed. On icy roads, slow to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can do so safely.

Not quite. The answer is Driving too fast

More than half of truck driver deaths in crashes are the result of truck rollovers. Rollovers can happen when you turn too fast or drive through a curve too fast. If you drive through a curve too fast when poor weather has made the roadway slippery, your vehicle may slide off the road entirely, which can also result in a fatal accident.

Not quite. The answer is Ensuring the freshness of sealed cargo

You are not responsible for the state of sealed cargo, nor can you inspect it. You are only responsible for the safety of the cargo, ensuring that it is balanced, secured, and not overloaded, and does not get in the way of emergency equipment.

Not quite. The answer is For all of the above reasons

There are several reasons to cover your cargo, including protecting other people and the cargo itself. In addition, it will help you comply with regulations in several states.

Not quite. The answer is the vehicle does not require placards.

You must have a hazardous materials endorsement on your CDL to drive a vehicle that is placarded for hazardous materials. However, not all packages of hazardous materials require placarding your vehicle. Federal regulation 49 CFR 172.500 exempts certain amounts and types of hazardous materials from placarding, but states may impose more stringent requirements. Check with the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Not quite. The answer is both of the above.

Wet brakes can be weak, apply unevenly, or grab. This can cause loss of braking power, wheel lockups, pulling to one side or the other, and even a jackknife if you pull a trailer.

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 on-time performance.

FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program includes the following seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs): Unsafe driving, crash indicator, Hours of Service compliance, vehicle maintenance, controlled substances/alcohol, hazardous materials compliance, and driver fitness. Carriers who fail to correct unsafe behaviors can be taken off the road. Your performance as a truck driver is an important part of your company's record.

Source: "CSA: Compliance, Safety, Accountability," FMCSA, https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/

Not quite. The answer is 250 feet ahead.

Your low beams let you see about 250 feet ahead. Your high beams let you see about 350–500 feet ahead.

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, but only a hands-free phone.

Under FMCSA regulations, a CMV driver is not allowed to hold a mobile device to make a call, or dial by pressing more than a single button. While driving, a CMV driver can only use a hands-free device in close proximity. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving a CMV can result in driver disqualification, as well as stiff fines levied against both the driver and the driver's employer.

Source: "Mobile Phone Restrictions Fact Sheet," Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, May 2012

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 All of the above

A skid occurs when the tires lose their grip of the road. This can happen in any of four ways: (1) Over-braking: Braking too hard and locking the wheels. Skids can also occur if you use the speed retarder on a slippery road. (2) Over-steering: Turning the wheels more sharply than the vehicle can turn. (3) Over-acceleration: Supplying too much power to the drive wheels, causing them to spin. (4) Driving too fast: Most serious skids result from driving too fast for road conditions.

Not quite. The answer is 15 degrees.

Drive-wheel braking skids occur when braking causes the drive wheels to lock. Because locked wheels have less traction than rolling wheels, the rear wheels usually slide sideways in an attempt to "catch up" with the front wheels. With combination vehicles, a drive-wheel skid can let the trailer push the tractor sideways, leading to a sudden jackknife. You can recover from the skid and get the trailer back into position – if you act fast before the trailer swings out about 15 degrees. (You have only a couple of seconds to react.) Past that point, it will be very difficult to prevent a jackknife.

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 A vibrating feeling

The classic sign of a tire blowout is a loud "bang" sound. However, if you're driving a long vehicle and a rear tire blows out, you may not hear the sound. In this situation, a thumping or heavy vibration may be the first sign you get that a rear tire has failed.