Question 1

If a commercial driver is on the road and needs to make or take a cell phone call, they should:

Accepted Answer

If a commercial driver on the road needs to make or take a cell phone call, they should pull over in a safe area, in a safe manner, and take or make the call. Answering a cell phone or making a call while driving has caused many accidents and some states now have laws restricting the use of cell phones while driving. These laws apply to commercial drivers as well as to non-commercial drivers. Commercial drivers should NEVER text while driving.

Question 2

Due to the nature of their work, commercial drivers will face oncoming drivers much more often than non-commercial drivers. Which of the following might suggest an oncoming driver is distracted?

Accepted Answer

Commercial drivers will face hundreds of oncoming drivers during the course of a normal work day. It is important that commercial drivers be aware of drivers who may be distracted. Signs of driver distraction include, but are not limited to, drifting out of lanes, drivers who are on a cell phone or texting, and drivers who are speeding up and slowing down for no reason. These are just a few of the signs that commercial drivers should be looking for when meeting oncoming traffic.

Question 3

If a commercial driver comes upon a distracted driver, either oncoming or ahead of the driver, they should:

Accepted Answer

The best course of action for a commercial driver to take when confronted with a distracted driver is to keep a close eye on the driver and to give the driver plenty of room. It is not advisable to honk or flash your lights unless you believe the other driver is about to endanger themself or someone else and getting their immediate attention is required. If you encounter a distracted driver in oncoming traffic who is drifting between lanes, be ready to take evasive action.

Question 4

When driving at night, commercial vehicle drivers should dim their high beams when they are within _______ feet of oncoming traffic and ______ feet when following another driver?

Accepted Answer

When driving at night, commercial drivers should dim their high beams when they are within 500 feet of oncoming traffic. It is important to also dim high beams within 500 feet if you are following another driver. The glare in their rearview mirror may cause them problems. Keep in mind that the headlights on some commercial vehicles can be brighter than those found on other vehicles.

Question 5

When a commercial driver, driving at night, comes upon an oncoming vehicle with its bright lights on, the commercial driver should:

Accepted Answer

When a commercial driver driving at night comes upon an oncoming vehicle with its bright lights on, the commercial driver should look slightly to the right. This takes the driver's eyes out of direct contact with the bright lights. By looking slightly right, drivers can use the lane markings as a temporary guide to help them stay on the road and in their own lane. Turning on your own high beams will only create two half-blinded drivers instead of one.

Question 6

If a commercial driver gets stuck on railroad tracks and cannot move forward or backward, they should:

Accepted Answer

Should a commercial driver get stuck on railroad tracks, they should first exit the vehicle and get away from it. Once out of the vehicle, drivers should look at the signal housing (if there is one) and get the information contained on or in it, including the location of the crossing and the DOT number. Drivers should call 911 and/or the emergency number located on the housing and relay the information as soon as possible.

Question 7

When confronted by an aggressive driver on the road, commercial drivers should:

Accepted Answer

When confronted with an aggressive driver on the road, the best action is no action. Drivers should avoid making direct eye contact and should not challenge the other driver. Allow the aggressive driver to pass or move on. If the confrontation is serious, get the other driver's license plate number and vehicle make and model and notify the police when it is safe to do so.

Question 8

In terms of over-wide, over-long, or over-weight loads, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Certain types of loads, such as over-wide, over-long, and over-weight loads, usually require special permits. These permits must be obtained before taking the load on the road. Drivers must have access to these permits if asked to produce them by authorities. Special equipment is usually required when transporting these unique loads.

Question 9

Generally speaking, if a load projects beyond the rear of the trailer by 48 inches or more, that load must have:

Accepted Answer

If transporting a load that extends 48 inches or more from the rear of the trailer, drivers must ensure that a solid red or fluorescent orange flag of at least 12 inches square is attached to the extreme end of the load. This flag helps other drivers to see the end of the load and can prevent very serious accidents from happening. The flag size and color requirements may vary from state to state, so drivers should find out what the requirements are for each state they plan to travel through.

Question 10

Any load that extends 48 inches or more from the back of the commercial vehicle that is being transported at night must have:

Accepted Answer

When transporting a load that extends 48 inches or more from the rear of the vehicle or trailer, two red lights which can be seen from a distance of 500 feet must be attached. These lights must be kept on during the hours of darkness. In addition, these lights must be visible from both the rear and the sides of the vehicle.

Question 11

When starting the engine of a commercial vehicle with a manual transmission, drivers should:

Accepted Answer

When starting the engine of a commercial vehicle that has a manual transmission, drivers should depress the clutch, put the vehicle in neutral, and start the engine. Starting the engine, even with the clutch depressed, while it is in gear can lead to the vehicle lurching forward, or backward if the vehicle is in reverse. This can lead to serious injuries to those who may be standing near the vehicle.

Question 12

When drivers need to remove water and oil from the air brake system, they should use the:

Accepted Answer

In order to drain oil and water from the air tanks drivers must use the air tank drain. The alcohol evaporator forces alcohol into the air system in order to help reduce the risk of ice forming during cold weather. The safety valve is used to protect the tank and system from gaining too much air pressure. A treadle valve is another name for the brake pedal.

Question 13

If drivers notice that the air safety valve opens and is releasing air, it usually means?

Accepted Answer

If the air safety valve opens and is releasing air it means that the air tanks have reached or exceeded 150 psi. The valve is set to open at this pressure. If the valve is releasing air, the driver should have a qualified mechanic look at the system.

Question 14

What should the air pressure loss be in a single vehicle with a fully charged air brake system?

Accepted Answer

The air pressure loss in a single vehicle with a fully charged air brake system should be less than 2 psi per minute. This test should be performed during all pre-trip inspections. It is also a part of the CDL test. If a single vehicles loses air pressure in excess of 2 psi per minute, the vehicle must be inspected by a qualified mechanic.

Question 15

What should the air pressure loss be in a combination vehicle with a fully charged air brake system?

Accepted Answer

The air pressure loss in a combination vehicle with a fully charged air brake system should be less than 3 psi per minute. This test should be performed during all pre-trip inspections. It is also a part of the CDL test. If combination vehicles lose air pressure in excess of this amount, the vehicles must be inspected by a qualified mechanic.

Question 16

In both single commercial vehicles and combination commercial vehicles, compressed air is stored where?

Accepted Answer

Compressed air in both single and combination vehicles is stored in the main reservoirs. The main reservoirs are also commonly known as the air storage tanks. The air stored in these tanks is produced by the air compressor. The service and emergency lines deliver the air to where it is needed.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is FALSE when backing up a commercial vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Backing toward the passenger side of the vehicle (the right side) is FALSE. Drivers should always back toward the driver's side (left side). Backing toward the left gives drivers much more visibility than right side backing.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT true when looking ahead during highway driving?

Accepted Answer

When driving on the highway, drivers should NOT look ahead by only 4-5 car lengths. This distance (60-75 feet) is not enough to give drivers the time they need to react should anything happen ahead of them. Drivers should try to look ahead by 12-15 seconds, which is equivalent to one city block, or ¼ mile. These distances allow drivers the time and distance they need to react should they have to.

Question 19

In certain commercial vehicles that have air brakes, which device tells the driver how much air pressure is being applied to the brakes?

Accepted Answer

In some types of commercial vehicles that use air brakes, the vehicle will have a device that shows how much pressure is being applied to the brakes. This device is not the same as the supply pressure gauge that ALL air brake vehicles have in place. Also, all vehicles have a low air pressure warning system that alerts drivers when air pressure falls below 60 psi. The air governor controls the air compressor, allowing new air into the tanks when it is needed.

Question 20

Having too much weight on the steering axles can cause which of the following problems?

Accepted Answer

Having too much weight on the steering axles can cause a variety of problems. The most common problem is drivers will find it hard to steer the vehicle. In addition, the weight can damage the tires and axles. All of these can render the vehicle unsafe to drive.

Quiz 8: Standard Driving