South Dakota CDL Practice Test

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 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 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).

Not quite. The answer is 2,000 rpm.

Most heavy-duty diesel engines are governed at 2,000 rpm. The typical operating range is 1,300 – 2,000 rpm.

Not quite. The answer is slow down to a safe speed before taking the curve.

On curves, the posted speed may be safe for cars but not for CMVs, especially CMVs that are more prone to rollovers. Slow down to a safe speed before you enter the curve. Taking a curve too fast can cause a rollover. Braking in a curve can cause a skid (or even a jackknife if you're pulling a trailer).

Not quite. The answer is Use the parking brake to hold the vehicle until the clutch engages.

When you start your vehicle, avoid rolling backward or else you may hit someone behind you. Set the parking brake whenever necessary to keep from rolling back. Release the parking brake only when you have applied enough engine power to keep from rolling back. If you have a manual transmission vehicle, partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the brake. On a tractor-trailer equipped with a trailer brake hand valve, the hand valve can be applied to keep from rolling back.

Not quite. The answer is To shift into a low gear when you're stopped

When driving a CMV with an unsynchronized manual transmission, you can shift gears by double clutching or floating the gears. To shift into low gear or reverse 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 or reverse. 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 Basic chemistry

For a HazMat endorsement, you must learn which materials require placarding your vehicle and which materials cannot be loaded together. Your training will emphasize safe and responsible practices rather than scientific theory.

Not quite. The answer is Set the parking brake and pull forward gently.

The parking brake is meant to keep your vehicle from moving. The best way to test it is to apply the parking brake and then try to pull forward gently. The parking brake should hold your vehicle in place. If you're pulling one or more trailers, test each trailer's parking brakes in the same way.

Not quite. The answer is The cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep

Sleep debt is a dangerous condition in which missing sleep adds up until you risk falling asleep at the wheel unless you get some rest. People are often surprised that getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night triples the risk of an accident. At least 15% of heavy truck crashes are believed to involve driver fatigue. Before a trip, you should get adequate sleep (adults need 8 to 9 hours to maintain alertness).

Not quite. The answer is Steering arm

Component G is the steering arm. It connects the drag link to the tie rod.

Not quite. The answer is avoid using your cell phone until you reach your destination.

A distraction is still a distraction, even on a straightaway or an empty road. Do not eat, drink, smoke, text, read, or have difficult conversations while driving. Avoid using your cell phone until you are done driving for the day.

Not quite. The answer is Stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.

When traveling on ice, your vehicle's braking distance can increase tremendously. On ice, slow down to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can do so safely.

Not quite. The answer is You should review it during your pre-trip inspection.

Before performing the pre-trip inspection on your vehicle, review the previous driver's post-trip inspection report. Check whether all problems discovered by the last driver have been repaired.

Not quite. The answer is label.

Federal regulations require shippers to warn drivers and others about the nature of the hazardous materials they are shipping. The shipper affixes US DOT-compliant HazMat labels to the packages and supplies the driver with the appropriate placards to attach to his or her vehicle. The shipper also notes the hazardous nature of the materials on the shipping papers. [49 CFR 172.400],

Source: 49 CFR 172.407

Not quite. The answer is signs on the outside of the vehicle that identify the hazard class of the cargo.

Hazardous materials placards are four regulated signs on the outside of the vehicle that identify the hazard class of the cargo for those who need to know, such as emergency service personnel or those who load and unload cargo.

Not quite. The answer is clean and adjust as necessary.

Before driving, make sure your field of view is clear. Check that your windshield and mirrors are clean, free of obstructions, and free of cracks. Also adjust your mirrors for an optimum view.

Not quite. The answer is 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic

This is required by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation 49 CFR 392.22. This regulation also specifies where to place warning devices on other types of roadways such as undivided two-way roads and curves. (These situations are also covered in section 2.5.2 of the South Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual.)

Not quite. The answer is In bias-ply tires, the plies criss-cross each other diagonally.

In a bias-ply tire, the plies are at an angle of 30–45 degrees to the centerline of the tread, so the plies crisscross each other diagonally. A radial tire has plies that are at an angle of 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.

Not quite. The answer is 2 holes forward

Under federal regulations, the maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) is 80,000 pounds, the maximum gross weight on the drive axles is 34,000 pounds, and the maximum gross weight on the tandem axles is also 34,000 pounds. This leaves 12,000 pounds on the steering axle. In this case, the steering axle is quite underweight (by 1,100 pounds), and the drive axles are overweight by 600 pounds. The weight on the steering axle should be close to 12,000 pounds without exceeding it. To better balance the weight on the tractor, we need to move some weight off the drive axles and put it on the steering axle. To add weight to the steering axle and remove weight from the drive axles, move the fifth wheel forward (toward the steering axle). Assuming 500 pounds per hole, moving two holes will move 1,000 pounds from the drive axle to the steering axle. The resulting weights are 11,900 pounds on the steering axle and 33,600 pounds on the drive axles.

Source: 23 CFR 658.17

Not quite. The answer is steer around it without making a sudden or unsafe move.

You have no way of knowing what may be inside a seemingly harmless-looking object on the roadway. Even cardboard boxes, paper or cloth sacks, or plastic containers may contain some solid or heavy material or a sharp object capable of causing damage. Always scan the roadway at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead so that you can spot such obstacles in time to steer around them safely.