Utah CDL: Double & Triple Trailers Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is the trailer will be raised slightly when the converter dolly is backed under it.

To connect the rear trailer to the converter dolly, the trailer must be at the right height. It should be slightly lower than the center of the dolly's fifth wheel so that the trailer will be raised slightly when the dolly is pushed underneath it.

Not quite. The answer is Lower the second semitrailer's landing gear.

When uncoupling a set of standard doubles, the first unit to be uncoupled is the second semitrailer. To do this, lower its landing gear just enough to take some weight off the dolly. Then close the air shut-off valves on the first semitrailer and on the dolly (if so equipped). Disconnect the dolly's air and electrical lines from the second semitrailer. Release the dolly's fifth wheel latch, and pull the tractor forward so it pulls the dolly out from under the second semitrailer. After this is done, start to uncouple the dolly from the first semitrailer. These steps include lowering the dolly's landing gear and unhooking the dolly from the first semitrailer's pintle latch.

Not quite. The answer is If there are vehicles on both sides of you, a move to the right may still be best.

To avoid a head-on collision, steer right toward the shoulder or curbline. Even if you are blocked on both sides by other vehicles, a move to the right may still be best. At least you won't force other drivers into an opposing traffic lane, possibly involving them in a head-on collision. Prepare to drive entirely off the roadway to the right if necessary to avoid a head-on collision. Head-on collisions are often fatal.

Not quite. The answer is a separate air tank.

Federal regulations require brakes on every wheel of a combination vehicle, including the wheels of the semitrailers and converter dollies. Like semitrailers, dollies have their own air brakes and their own air tanks.

Source: 49 CFR § 393.42

Not quite. The answer is a coupling device that connects a semitrailer to the rear of a tractor-trailer.

The converter dolly connects a semitrailer to the rear of a tractor-trailer, forming a double or triple combination.

Not quite. The answer is Use the engine brake or speed retarder.

A retarder supplements the braking force on the drive wheels. On a slippery surface, this may cause the wheels to lock, resulting in a skid. Turn off your retarder when driving on wet, icy, or snowy roads. Instead, slow down, increase your following distance, and try to brake gently.

Not quite. The answer is using the dolly's parking brake control.

To connect the converter dolly to the first semitrailer, release the dolly's brakes so it can be moved. You release the dolly's brakes by opening the air tank petcock (valve) or using the dolly's parking brake control if the dolly is equipped with spring brakes.

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

In bad weather or mountain driving or on slippery roads, use extreme caution. When you drive a double or triple, you're pulling a lot of dead axles with just a few drive axles. This increases the chance of loss of traction, causing a skid. Also, rearward amplification makes the rearmost trailer much more prone to rolling over. Drive slowly around curves and turns and avoid sudden moves.

Not quite. The answer is less

Double and triple vehicles are more prone to rolling over or jackknifing than single vehicles are. Avoid sudden braking or steering changes. Look far enough ahead that you can slow down or change lanes gradually when necessary.

Not quite. The answer is Charge the trailer's air tank and then disconnect the emergency air line.

If the second trailer doesn’t have spring brakes, drive the tractor close to the trailer, connect the emergency line, charge the trailer air tank, and disconnect the emergency air line. This will set the trailer emergency brakes (assuming the slack adjusters are correctly adjusted). Chock the wheels if you have any doubt about the brakes.

Not quite. The answer is closed.

To uncouple the second trailer, start by applying the parking brakes to keep your vehicle from moving. Lower the landing gear of the second trailer. Close the shut-off valves at the rear of the first trailer (and on the dolly if so equipped) to keep air from going out of the vehicle. Then disconnect the dolly air and electric lines, release the dolly brakes, and release the dolly fifth wheel latch. You are now ready to pull the first trailer and the dolly away from the second trailer.

Not quite. The answer is Overloaded front axles can make the steering axle weight too light to steer safely.

Underloaded front axles (caused by shifting weight too far to the rear) can make the steering axle weight too light to steer safely.

Not quite. The answer is Never

Older vehicles may be equipped with manual front-wheel limiting valves. A control in the cab allows the driver to cut air pressure to the front brakes in half. It was thought that doing this would help reduce front-wheel skids on slippery roads. According to the CDL manual, however, more recent tests have shown that front-wheel braking is safe even on icy roads. Federal regulations now prohibit manual front-wheel limiting valves in vehicles manufactured since March 1, 1975. Automatic ratio valves, which limit front-axle braking only when brake applications are approximately 60 psi or less, are still permitted. These valves cannot be controlled manually by the driver. Note: The advent of antilock brakes (ABS) may make automatic ratio valves less useful as well.

Source: 49 CFR § 393.48

Not quite. The answer is the tractor protection valve control (trailer air supply control) will pop out or go from "normal" to "emergency."

When you test the tractor protection valve, the tractor protection valve control (also called the trailer air supply control) should pop out or go from the "normal" to the "emergency" position. This shows that the tractor protection valve has closed automatically to keep the air pressure from falling too far.

Not quite. The answer is air escape from the open valve.

Test the trailer brakes by opening the service line valve at the rear of the rig. You should hear the telltale hiss of air escaping. If you don't, it means that air is not flowing through the entire line, and you will need to investigate.

Not quite. The answer is How the rear wheels follow a different path from the front wheels in a turn

Off-tracking is defined as the different paths taken by the front and rear wheels in a turn. The longer the vehicle, the greater the difference will be. As a result, the path followed by a tractor will be wider than the path of the rig itself. To compensate, you must steer the tractor wider to keep the rig from overrunning the curb or hitting some object.

Not quite. The answer is park the vehicle in a straight line on firm level ground.

To uncouple the rear trailer, the first thing you do is park the vehicle in a straight line on firm level ground. Apply the parking brakes to keep the vehicle from moving. If the second trailer doesn't have spring brakes, chock its wheels.

Not quite. The answer is Some do; some don't.

All converter dollies built since 1975 are required to have spring brakes. Older converter dollies that don't have spring brakes have emergency air brakes, which work from the air stored in the trailer air tank.

Not quite. The answer is more likely to turn over.

In a double or triple combination, each trailer is more likely to roll over than the one in front of it. The rear trailer of a triple is 3.5 times as likely to roll over as a five-axle tractor-trailer. This is known as the "crack-the-whip" effect, caused by rearward amplification. For safety, position the heaviest trailer in front and the lightest trailer in the rear.

Not quite. The answer is Turnpike double trailer

A double pup trailer consists of two 28.5-foot trailers, known as "pup trailers." A double pup trailer is also known as an STAA trailer, named for the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA). This is the only type of double trailer that is allowed nationwide. A Rocky Mountain double trailer consists of a 40- to 53-foot trailer followed by a 28.5-foot pup trailer. Rocky Mountain doubles are allowed in certain Western states. A turnpike double trailer consists of two 48-foot trailers. Turnpike doubles can be found traveling on expressways in the Eastern states.