1. You are about to go down a long, steep, downhill grade in a newer truck. You should:

• ✓ Use a lower gear than you would use to climb the uphill grade.
• Use the same gear you would use to climb the uphill grade.
• Use a higher gear than you would use to climb the uphill grade.

Newer trucks with more aerodynamic designs and improved drivetrains require a lower gear going down a steep grade than they would going up the same grade.

2. Which of these items is checked during a pre-trip inspection?

• Cargo securement.
• Whether all vehicle lights are working and are clean.
• ✓ Both cargo securement and vehicle lights.

A complete pre-trip inspection covers cargo securement, all vehicle lights, brakes, tires, fluid levels, and many other safety items.

3. If you are stopped on a one-way or divided highway, you should place reflective triangles at:

• ✓ 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic.
• 25 feet, 100 feet, and 250 feet toward approaching traffic.
• 50 feet, 100 feet, and 300 feet toward approaching traffic.

On a one-way or divided highway, place reflective triangles at 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic.

4. When heavy fog occurs, you should:

• Use high beams for best visibility.
• Park off to the right side of the road with parking lights on.
• ✓ Park at a rest area or truck stop until the fog has lifted.

The safest option in heavy fog is to wait it out at a safe location. If you must drive, use low beams (high beams reflect off fog and reduce visibility).

5. You should plan ahead when you park your vehicle so that:

• ✓ It will be very easy for you to check your vehicle before you get back on the road.
• You are only required to pull forward when you leave.
• You don't need to back up more than ten feet.

Parking strategically lets you easily inspect the vehicle before continuing and helps you leave without dangerous blind-side backing maneuvers.

6. The term 'Gross Combination Weight' refers to:

• Total weight of a powered unit and the trailer.
• Total weight of the trailer and the load.
• ✓ Total weight of a powered unit, the trailer, and the cargo.

Gross Combination Weight (GCW) is the total weight of the powered unit (tractor), the trailer, and the cargo being carried.

7. A driver should look how far ahead of the vehicle while driving?

• 2 to 5 seconds.
• ✓ 12 to 15 seconds.
• 20 to 30 seconds.

Commercial drivers should look 12 to 15 seconds ahead (about a quarter mile at highway speed) to anticipate hazards early.

8. Which of the following statements is true about overhead clearance?

• Posted signs for overhead clearance are always correct.
• Paving a road does not affect the clearance height under bridges.
• ✓ Cargo weight may change the height of your vehicle.

A heavily loaded truck rides lower than an empty one. Cargo weight (and changes to roadway pavement) can affect actual clearance, so posted heights are not always reliable.

9. Which of the following statements is true when performing a pre-trip inspection on brakes and suspension?

• ✓ Brake shoes should be free of oil, grease, and brake fluid.
• One missing leaf spring is not dangerous.
• A cracked spring hanger is not dangerous.

Contaminants on the brake shoes greatly reduce braking effectiveness. Any missing leaf spring or cracked spring hanger is dangerous and must be repaired.

10. A broken exhaust system is dangerous because:

• Exhaust noise will damage the driver's ears.
• ✓ Toxic fumes and gases could enter the cab or sleeper berth.
• The leaking exhaust smoke pollutes the air.

A leaking exhaust can allow carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes into the cab, which can sicken or kill the driver.

11. Whenever you stop for a break during your trip, you should:

• Call in and check with dispatch.
• ✓ Check critical items such as the tires, brakes, and cargo tie-downs.
• Check critical items such as the windshield wipers, heater, and defroster.

En-route inspections (during breaks) require checking critical safety items: tires, brakes, and cargo securement, in particular.

12. What is the most important hand signal that you and your helper should agree on when backing?

• A signal meaning 'slow down.'
• ✓ A signal meaning 'stop.'
• A signal meaning 'turn left.'

Stop is the most critical signal because it is needed to prevent collisions during backing. Driver and helper must agree on it clearly before starting.

13. What two things should you do if a fire happens in your tire on the road?

• ✓ Park the vehicle as soon as possible and use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
• Drive to the nearest fire station.
• Pour water from a water bottle on the tire.

Stop right away in a safe location and use a fire extinguisher. Continuing to drive will fan the flames and could damage the vehicle further.

14. When using a fire extinguisher, you should:

• Stay as close to the fire as possible.
• ✓ Stay upwind so the fire blows away from you, and aim at the base of the fire.
• Aim at the top of the flames.

Stand upwind 6 to 8 feet from the fire, aim the extinguisher at the base of the flames, and sweep side to side until the fire is out.

15. Which of these is a sign of fatigued driving?

• ✓ Drifting from your lane and missing exits.
• Singing along with the radio.
• Drinking water frequently.

Drifting out of your lane, missing exits, frequent yawning, and trouble keeping your eyes open are all warning signs of fatigue. Pull over and rest.

16. If your vehicle hydroplanes, you should:

• Brake hard immediately.
• ✓ Release the accelerator and push in the clutch to let the wheels slow down.
• Accelerate to power through the water.

Hard braking can cause skidding. Releasing the accelerator (and clutching) lets the tires regain contact with the road surface.

17. On wet roads, you should reduce your speed by:

• ✓ About one-third (e.g., from 55 to 35 mph).
• About one-quarter.
• About one-half.

Reduce speed by about one-third on wet roads. On snow, reduce speed by one-half. On ice, reduce speed to a crawl and stop as soon as it is safe.

18. Which axle of a commercial vehicle is most likely to skid because it has less weight?

• The drive axle.
• ✓ The trailer axle on an empty trailer.
• The steering axle.

A lightly loaded or empty trailer has less weight pressing the tires down, which means less traction and a higher chance of skidding.

19. What is the most common cause of serious vehicle skids?

• Worn-out brake pads.
• ✓ Driving too fast for road conditions.
• Worn tires.

Driving too fast for road conditions is the leading cause of skids. Speed should always be adjusted for weather, traffic, and road surface.

20. If a drive-wheel skid occurs (the rear wheels slide sideways), you should:

• ✓ Stop braking, push in the clutch, and steer in the direction you want to go.
• Brake hard and hold the wheel straight.
• Speed up to straighten the vehicle.

Stop braking to let the wheels turn freely, push the clutch in to disconnect the drive train, and counter-steer toward where you want the vehicle to go.

21. What is the proper way to hold the steering wheel?

• With one hand at the bottom.
• ✓ With both hands on opposite sides of the wheel.
• With both hands inside the wheel for better grip.

Keep both hands firmly on opposite sides of the wheel (about 9 and 3 o'clock). Hands inside the wheel can cause severe injury if the wheel jerks.

22. When making a right turn at an intersection in a large vehicle, you should:

• Swing wide to the left before turning.
• ✓ Turn wide as you complete the turn (keep the rear of the vehicle close to the curb).
• Use the left lane to make the turn.

Keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb while turning to prevent other drivers from passing on the right and being trapped between you and the curb.

23. How can you avoid jackknifing a trailer?

• Brake hard with the trailer hand valve.
• ✓ Avoid hard braking, especially while turning, and use the service brake gently.
• Always speed up through curves.

Jackknifing happens when the trailer pushes the tractor sideways, often from braking too hard. Brake gently, especially in curves, and never rely on the hand valve.

24. When uncoupling a trailer, what should you do before pulling the tractor away?

• ✓ Lower the landing gear until it firmly supports the trailer.
• Drive forward a few feet to test the connection.
• Apply the trailer parking brake only.

The landing gear must be fully supporting the trailer's weight before the kingpin is released, or the trailer can fall when the tractor pulls away.

25. When inspecting the air brake system, the warning device for low air pressure should activate before pressure drops below:

• 20 psi.
• ✓ 60 psi.
• 100 psi.

The low-air warning must activate before pressure falls below 60 psi. Below that level, brakes lose stopping power and emergency brakes may apply.

26. What does it mean if the spring brakes apply automatically while you are driving?

• The system is functioning normally.
• ✓ There is a major air loss, and you should stop and have the system checked.
• You should release the parking brake and continue driving.

Spring (emergency) brakes apply automatically when air pressure drops too low. This indicates a major leak, and the vehicle must be repaired before continuing.

27. Which of the following is true about cargo securement?

• Cargo should be inspected once at the start of the trip.
• ✓ Cargo must be inspected within the first 50 miles and every 150 miles or 3 hours after that.
• Only oversize loads require securement inspection during a trip.

Drivers must re-check cargo within the first 50 miles, then every 150 miles or every 3 hours (whichever comes first), and after every break.

28. What is the best way to check that your headlights are working before a trip?

• ✓ Turn them on and walk around the vehicle to look at them.
• Listen for a clicking noise.
• Wait until it gets dark.

Walk around the vehicle to confirm all lights actually illuminate. Doing so finds burned-out bulbs, dirty lenses, and wiring problems.

29. Which of the following is a sign your vehicle's brakes are out of adjustment?

• ✓ Stopping power is reduced and stopping distance increases.
• The brakes feel firmer than usual.
• The engine runs rougher.

Out-of-adjustment brakes cannot deliver full braking force, which increases stopping distance. Brakes must be inspected and adjusted regularly.

30. Empty trucks require ____ stopping distances than fully loaded trucks because empty trucks have ____ traction.

• Shorter; more.
• ✓ Longer; less.
• The same; equal.

An empty truck has less weight pressing the tires onto the road, which reduces traction and means brakes can lock up sooner, lengthening stopping distance.