Wisconsin CDL: General Knowledge Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is select a gear that will keep your vehicle at a safe speed on steep downgrades.

If you keep applying the brakes to control your speed on steep downgrades, the brakes may fade (lose their effectiveness). Instead, shift into a low gear. This will generate a braking effect to slow the vehicle, known as engine braking. The lower the gear, the greater the engine braking effect. Apply the brakes only when engine braking is insufficient or you want to stop.

Not quite. The answer is You could get hung up halfway across.

Many drivers forget about the space under their vehicles. That space can be very small when a vehicle is heavily loaded. This is often a problem on dirt roads and in unpaved yards. Don't take a chance on getting hung up. Drainage channels across roads can cause the ends of some vehicles to drag. Cross such depressions carefully. Railroad tracks can also cause problems, particularly when pulling trailers with a low underneath clearance. Don’t take a chance on getting hung up halfway across.

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

If you're stopping at an accident scene, pull your vehicle as far away from traffic and as close to the side of the road as possible. If you're stopping to help at an accident scene, park a short distance away to leave the immediate area clear for emergency vehicles.

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

Escape ramps have been built on many steep mountain downgrades. Escape ramps are made to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers and passengers. Escape ramps use a long bed of loose, soft material to slow a runaway vehicle, sometimes in combination with an upgrade.

Not quite. The answer is Front axle hanger

A front (steering axle) suspension, like the one shown here, may also employ shock absorbers to further reduce up-and-down movements, producing a smoother ride. The axle is fastened to the suspension with a U-bolt.

Not quite. The answer is from the time that your eyes see something, to the time that your brain recognizes it.

Perception distance is the distance that your vehicle travels from the time that your eyes see something, to the time that your brain recognizes it. For the average alert driver, this time is about 1¾ seconds. Reaction distance is the distance that your vehicle travels from the time that your brain decides to brake, to the time that you start to press the brake pedal. For the average driver, this time is about ¾ second to 1 second.

Not quite. The answer is It can only be paid off by sleeping.

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 each trip, you should get adequate sleep. (According to the Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual, adults need eight to nine hours of sleep to maintain alertness.)

Not quite. The answer is read the weight limit sign.

The maximum weight will be posted in advance of a bridge. After going over a bridge, you may be asked to tell the examiner what the posted weight limit was.

Not quite. The answer is 4/32 inch.

Front tires require a tread depth of at least 4/32 inch. All other tires require a tread depth of at least 2/32 inch.

Not quite. The answer is 320 feet

Distracted driving is dangerous. 55 mph equals 80.7 feet per second. In 4 seconds, your CMV will travel 4 × 80.7 = 323 feet. For that entire distance, your eyes will be watching your phone, not the road. Studies have shown that drivers take an average of 3.8 seconds to dial their cell phones. The length of a football playing field (i.e., not counting the two end zones) is 300 feet.

Not quite. The answer is You should remove ice from the radiator shutters.

In extremely cold weather, very cold air flowing onto the radiator and through the engine compartment can prevent the engine from warming up (and also keep your heater from working well). Radiator shutters or a winterfront restrict this air flow to let the engine warm up. However, don't overdo it. Keep the winterfront partially open or keep the radiator shutters free of ice. If the shutters freeze shut or the winterfront is closed too tightly, the engine may overheat from a lack of sufficient air.

Not quite. The answer is 150 miles

A short-haul driver is exempt from the Hours of Service regulations, if he or she meets all the following requirements: (1) the driver operates within a 150-mile radius of the driver's home terminal or yard; (2) the driver goes off duty within 14 consecutive hours of work; (3) each 14 hours on duty is followed by at least 10 off-duty hours for a truck driver or 8 off-duty hours for a bus driver; and (4) the driver's employer keeps accurate records of the driver's duty status for the next six months.

Source: 49 CFR 395.1

Not quite. The answer is Trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers, and tractor-pole trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds

Federal cargo securement rules apply to trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers, and tractor-pole trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

Not quite. The answer is U-joint

A universal joint (U-joint) connects two shafts to enable them to rotate together, even if they are at an angle to each other. As part of the drivetrain, one U-joint connects the transmission shaft to the drive shaft, and another U-joint connects the drive shaft to the input shaft of the differential. These U-joints are critical. If the drive shaft comes loose at one end, it may dig into the pavement, causing loss of vehicle control.

Not quite. The answer is provide enough traction to steer and push the vehicle through snow.

Snow-covered road surfaces provide much less traction than dry surfaces. Your tires must provide enough traction to maneuver your vehicle on snow safely. Under federal regulations, your front tires must have a tread depth of at least 4/32 inch, and all other tires must have a tread depth of at least 2/32 inch. For best traction, however, make sure that the treads are even deeper before you try to drive on snow.

Source: 49 CFR 570.62

Not quite. The answer is Mirrors

In the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, by CVSA, the critical vehicle inspection items are the most critical systems in the vehicle. These are the brakes, the cargo securement, the driveline, the suspension, the steering, and others. Mirrors are not considered a critical vehicle inspection item. To pass inspection, the vehicle must not have any defects in any of these critical vehicle inspection items. Furthermore, if inspectors discover a defect in one of these items that is likely to cause a crash or breakdown, they will place the vehicle out of service.

Not quite. The answer is The trailer can push the tractor sideways.

The most common type of skid by far is the drive-wheel skid. Drive-wheel acceleration skids can occur on slippery roads. 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, causing a sudden jackknife.

Not quite. The answer is show a wider area than flat mirrors.

A convex mirror has a wider field of view than a flat mirror. However, objects viewed in a convex mirror look smaller and farther away than they really are. Bear this in mind when you're trying to judge the distance of an object that you're viewing in a convex mirror.

Not quite. The answer is There are “blind spots” that your mirrors cannot show.

"Blind spots" are areas around your vehicle that your mirrors cannot show you. Large CMVs have large blind spots to the front, the rear, and both sides of the vehicle. Convex mirrors can show a wider area than flat mirrors, but at the expense of making objects appear smaller and farther away than they would in a flat mirror.

Not quite. The answer is increase your following distance.

Tailgating is a major cause of rear-end collisions. If you're being tailgated, increase your following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you. That way, if you have to stop or slow down, you can do so gradually, reducing the risk of being rear-ended by the tailgater. It will also make it easier for the tailgater to pass you.