Tennessee CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Shift into a low gear.

When you're about to start down a steep downgrade, shift into a low gear and use engine braking to slow your vehicle. Don't try to downshift after your speed has already built up. You will not be able to shift into a lower gear. You may not even be able to get back into any gear and all engine braking effect will be lost.

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

Backing a large CMV is potentially hazardous. Before you start to back up, check your intended path of travel. Exit the cab and walk around the vehicle. Check your clearance to the sides and overhead, in and near the path of your vehicle. 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.

Not quite. The answer is antilock brakes.

In stab braking, you deliberately keep locking and unlocking the wheels. Hence, stab braking should not be used in a vehicle with antilock brakes. Use controlled braking instead.

Not quite. The answer is Pulling forward while backing a trailer to reposition it

When backing a vehicle, especially a tractor-trailer, you may need to pull forward to straighten the vehicle or reposition it for a better angle. This corrective maneuver is called a pull-up. Note, however, that you should be able to back your vehicle successfully without too many such corrections. During your CDL skills test, your examiner may penalize you for too many pull-ups.

Not quite. The answer is driving too fast for road conditions.

Always adjust your speed to fit current driving conditions including weather, visibility, tire traction, curves, and hills. In practice, this will sometimes mean driving at well below the posted speed limit.

Not quite. The answer is whenever you become drowsy.

To help prevent the onset of drowsiness, take a short break from driving every two hours or 100 miles, whichever comes first. However, if you start to feel drowsy anyway, get off the road and get some sleep.

Not quite. The answer is No.

If one-fourth or more of the leaves in any leaf spring are broken or missing, the vehicle will be put out of service until the problem is repaired.

Not quite. The answer is allow injured persons to become chilled.

If qualified medical personnel are at the accident scene, stay out of their way unless they ask for help. If they haven't arrived yet, try to keep injured persons warm (but neither chilled nor overheated). Don't move them unless there is a danger of fire or another accident from passing traffic.

Not quite. The answer is True

Tires that overheat can catch fire. Underinflation causes increased flexing of the tire, which increases tire temperature.

Not quite. The answer is All of the above are possible signs.

Human trafficking is modern slavery. People are bought and sold for forced labor or sex work. As a trucker, you can help combat this criminal practice by staying alert. Some of the warning signs that a person may be a victim of human trafficking include the following: (1) The person appears to be malnourished or a victim of physical abuse. (2) The person seems unaware of his or her whereabouts. (3) The person is not allowed to speak for himself or herself. (4) Other persons are speaking of pimps or meeting a quota. (5) Trucks are flashing their headlights, perhaps to indicate a "buyer" location. If you notice such signs, try to ask the suspected victim a few gentle questions, but do not confront suspected traffickers yourself; leave that to the authorities. Visit the Truckers Against Trafficking website (https://truckersagainsttrafficking.org/) to learn more.

Not quite. The answer is ½ second

If drivers react a half-second slower because of distractions, crashes double. This is why it is so important to avoid distractions while you're driving.

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

Alcohol first affects a driver's judgment and self-control, and then it affects coordination, vision, and muscle control. These are all essential driving skills. Impairment of these skills significantly increases the chance of an accident.

Not quite. The answer is You are about to exit the road and need to slow down.

Use your brake lights to warn other drivers that you are preparing to slow down or stop, or there is a hazard ahead for which you'll have to slow down. If you're being tailgated, avoid such tricks as flashing your brake lights. Handle tailgaters in a different way: Keep right and increase your following distance.

Not quite. The answer is To mark significant points at the accident scene

If you're involved in an accident, you should take photos of the accident scene. Your photos will be more informative if you first use a can of white or brightly colored spray paint to mark significant points, such as the directions in which the vehicles were traveling and the precise points of impact. (The vehicles may have come to a complete stop elsewhere.)

Not quite. The answer is All of the above

In the event of an emergency, you may complete your run without violating any Hours of Service regulations, provided that you would have satisfied the regulations if the emergency hadn't occurred. Federal regulations list the specific conditions that are considered emergencies. These include various extreme weather events, earthquakes, tsunamis, and electrical power outages, among others. [49 CFR 390.5T],

Source: 49 CFR 395.1

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 Exiting a tunnel

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 do both (a) and (c).

If you start to move your vehicle when facing uphill, you need to take steps to keep from rolling back. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the brake. Put on 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. But if you start your vehicle on level, dry pavement, you're unlikely to roll backward, so these steps are not necessary.

Not quite. The answer is 90 days.

Federal regulations define "coercion" as when a motor carrier, shipper, receiver, or transportation intermediary threatens to withhold work from, take employment action against, or punish a driver for refusing to operate in violation of federal regulations. The FMCSA's Coercion Rule explicitly prohibits motor carriers, shippers, receivers and transportation intermediaries from coercing drivers to operate in violation of certain FMCSA regulations. If you have been the victim of such coercion, you can file a coercion complaint with FMCSA, but you must do it within 90 days of when the coercion took place.

Not quite. The answer is Tie rod, spindle, and pitman arm

The pitman arm, spindle, tie rod, and steering gear box are all parts of the steering system.