Permitting Training
Permitting Training
General Knowledge
1. A key principle to remember about loading cargo is to keep the load:
a. To the front
b. To the rear
c. Balance in the cargo area
d. On the passenger side of the cargo area to counter balance your weight on the driver's
2. A vehicle is loaded with very little weight on the drive axle. What may happen?
a. Poor traction
b. Damage to drive axle tires
c. Better handling
d. Makes it easier to stop the vehicle
3. An enroute inspection should include checking for:
a. Tire overheating and brake overheating
b. Cargo securement
c. If you did a pre-trip you don't have to worry about inspections until your trip is over
d. Two of the answers are correct
e. All of the above
4. As the blood alcohol concentration goes up, what happens?
a. The drinker more clearly sees how alcohol is affecting him/her
b. Judgment and self-control are affected
c. The drinker can sober up in less time
d. Reaction time decreases
5. Brake "fade":
a. Can be caused by the brakes getting very hot
b. Can be corrected by letting up on the brakes for 1-2 seconds and them on again
c. Is a problem that only occurs with drum brakes
d. Is not affected by adjustment
6. Cargo covers:
a. Protect people from spilled cargo
b. May be a safety requirement in some states
c. Protect cargo from the weather
d. All of the above
7. Cargo inspections:
a. Are most often not the responsibility of the driver
b. Should be performed after every break you take while driving
c. Are needed only if hazardous materials are being hauled
d. Only need to be done when you start the trip
8. Cargo that can shift should have at least ___________ tie downs(s):
a. One
b. Two
c. Three
d. Four
9. Controlled braking:
a. Can be used while you are turning sharply
b. Involves locking the wheels for short periods of time
c. Is used to keep a vehicles in a straight line when braking
d. Requires no steering
10. Escape ramps are:
a. Used to stop runaway vehicles
b. For tankers only
c. For combination vehicles only
d. For cars to stop and take pictures of the scenery
11. Every time you leave your vehicle you should:
a. Turn the steering wheel as far to the left as you can
b. Apply the brake
c. Leave it in gear (if it has a manual transmission)
d. Fasten your seatbelt
12. For your safety, when setting out reflective triangles you should:
a. Carry the triangles at your side
b. Hold the triangles between yourself and oncoming traffic
c. Keep them out of sight while you walk to the spots where you set them down
d. Put them in your coat to keep them warm
13. Heavy vehicles must sometimes travel more slowly than other traffic. Which of these is not a
good rule to follow when you are driving such a vehicle?
a. Signal other drivers when it is safe for them to pass you
b. Stay to the right
c. Turn on your flashers if it is legal to do so
d. Stay patient and let them determine what they will do
14. High beams should be:
a. Used when it is safe and legal to do so
b. Turned on when an oncoming driver does not dim his or her lights
c. Dimmed at the time that you get within 100 feet of another vehicle
d. In really thick fog to help you see well
15. How do you correct a rear-wheel acceleration skid?
a. Apply more power to the wheels
b. Stop accelerating
c. Apply the brakes
d. Upshifting so you can get more RPM’s
16. How do you test hydraulic brakes for leaks?
a. Move the vehicle slowly and see if it stops when you put on the brakes
b. Measure the free play in pedal with a ruler
c. Firmly push down the pedal for 5 seconds and see if it moves
d. Pump the pedal 7 times and then check something else
17. How far ahead of the truck should a driver look while driving?
a. 1-2 seconds
b. 5-8 seconds
c. 8-10 seconds
d. 12 – 15 seconds
18. Hydroplaning:
a. Only occurs at speed above 50 mph
b. Cannot occur when driving through a puddle
c. Is more likely if the tire pressure is low
d. Occurs more with brand new tires
19. If a straight vehicle (not trailer or articulation) goes into a front-wheel skid, it will:
a. Slide sideways and spin out
b. Go straight ahead even if the steering wheel is turned
c. Go straight ahead but will turn if you turn the steering wheel
d. Will rollover if you do turn the wheel
20. If you are being tailgated, you should:
a. Increase your following distance
b. Flash your brake lights
c. Signal the tailgater when it is safe to pass you
d. Slam on your brakes just to see how quick he reacts
21. If you are convicted of a traffic violation, you should notify your employer within 30 days if the
following is true:
a. The violation occurred in your personal vehicle
b. The violation was for a parking violation
c. The violation occurred in a commercial vehicle
22. If you must drive through deep puddles of flowing water, which of these steps can help keep
your brakes working?
a. Driving through quickly
b. Gently putting on the brakes while driving through the water
c. Applying hard pressure on both the brake pedal and accelerator after coming out of the
d. Going through sideways trying to keep at least one wheel dry at a time
23. If you need to leave the road in a traffic emergency, you should:
a. Try to get all wheels off the pavement
b. Brake hard as you leave the road
c. Avoid braking until your speed has dropped to about 20 mph
d. Don't stay on the shoulder because it could cause another accident
24. If your vehicle catches fire while you are driving, you should:
a. Park in an open area
b. Park where building or trees shelter your vehicle from the wind
c. Increase your speed to put out the flames
d. Drive to the nearest service station
25. It takes the body about _____ hours to get rid of the alcohol in four drinks:
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 6
26. Retarders:
a. Cause extra brake wear
b. Allow you to disconnect the steering axle braking
c. Can cause the drive wheels to skid when they have poor traction
d. Work only with vehicles that have manual transmissions
27. Safe drivers maintain space around their vehicles for the following reasons except:
a. In case you must stop suddenly
b. In case there are cars following too closely
c. In case there is an obstacle in the road
d. In case you need to test your brakes
28. Stab braking:
a. Should never be used
b. Involves releasing the brakes only after the wheels lock up
c. Involves steady pressure on the brake pedal without locking the wheel
d. Skids are never possible while performing this maneuver
29. The center of gravity of a load:
a. Should be kept as high as possible
b. Can make a vehicle more likely to tip over on curves if it is high
c. Is only a problem if the vehicle is overloaded
d. Is the point where the earth's gravity pulls down the hardest on the load
30. The most common cause of serious vehicle skids is:
a. Driving too fast for road conditions
b. Poorly adjusted brakes
c. Bad tires
d. Avoiding hazards in the roadway
31. The most important reason for being alert to hazards is so:
a. Accident reports will be accurate
b. Law enforcement personnel can be called
c. You will have time to plan your escape if the hazard becomes an emergency
32. The parking brake should be test while the vehicle is:
a. Parked
b. Moving forward slowly
c. Going down a hill
d. Going up a hill
33. The road you are driving on becomes very slippery due to glare ice. Which of these is a good
thing to do in such a situation?
a. Stop driving as soon as you can safely do so
b. Downshift to stop
c. Apply the brakes often to keep the linings dry
d. Just keep driving and get load there on time
34. To correct a drive-wheel braking skid, you should:
a. Stop braking, turn quickly, and counter steer
b. Increase braking
c. Increase braking, turn quickly, and counter steer
d. This is fairly easy to do and requires no practice
35. To help you stay alert while driving, you should:
a. Schedule trips for hours you are normally asleep
b. Take medicine if you have a cold
c. Take short breaks before you get drowsy
d. A nice warm cab will keep you alert on a long night
36. To prevent a load from shifting, there should be at least one tie down fort every _____ feet of
a. 10
b. 15
c. 20
d. 5
37. Vehicle is loaded with most of the weight on the steering axle. What may result?
a. Hard steering and possible damage to the tires
b. Better handling
c. Too little traction on the steering axle
d. There is no problem and you are fine to proceed
38. What is counter steering?
a. Steering in the opposite direction from what other drivers expect you to
b. Using the steering axle brakes to prevent oversteering
c. Turning the wheel back in the other direction after steering to avoid a traffic emergency
d. Turning the wheels more sharply than the vehicle can turn
39. What is the proper way to hold a steering wheel?
a. With both hands close together, near the top of the wheel
b. With both hands close together, near the bottom of the wheel
c. With both hands place on opposite sides of the wheel
d. With one hand while the other does something else
40. What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes?
a. Accelerate slightly
b. Counter steer hard
c. Release the accelerator
d. Brake as quickly as possible
41. When driving at night, you should:
a. Adjust your speed to keep your stopping distance within your sight
b. Look to the left side of the road when a vehicle is coming toward
c. Drive faster when your low beams are on
d. Keep the cab warm and quiet so you can concentrate
42. When driving through work zones, you should:
a. Turn on your flashers
b. Use your brake light to warn drivers behind you
c. Drive slowly and carefully
d. All of the above
43. When looking ahead of your vehicle while driving you should look:
a. To the right side of the road
b. To the left side of the road
c. Back and forth, near and far
d. At the car's bumper in front of you
44. When roads are slippery, you should:
a. Drive alongside other vehicles
b. Make turns as gently as possible
c. Stop and test the traction while going up hills
d. Pass slower vehicles whenever possible
45. When should you wear seat belts?
a. Any time you are in a moving vehicle
b. Only in states where law requires it
c. Only when engaged in interstate commerce
d. Only when you remember to do so
46. When your cargo is living, what does it do it your center of gravity?
a. Nothing because you still have to balance your load
b. Makes it shift especially around curves
c. Can move around if bulkheads are used and it is bunched together
d. Rollovers are less likely with living cargo
47. Where or when should you test the stopping action of your service brakes?
a. In a parking lot when the vehicle is not moving
b. When the truck is moving at about 5 mph
c. At a special brake testing center only
d. When you are headed down a hill of any size
48. Which fires can you use water to put out?
a. Gasoline fires
b. Electrical fires
c. Tire fires
d. Grease fire
49. Which of these best describes how you should use the brake pedal on a steep downhill grade?
a. Light steady pressure
b. Repeated light pressure then release
c. With stronger and stronger pressure as you go downhill
d. Immediately downshift then brake hard
50. Which of these is a good rule to follow when using a fire extinguisher?
a. Keep as close to the fire as possible
b. Stay downwind of the fire
c. Aim at the base of the fire
d. Doesn't require any aim to put out the fire
51. Which of these is a good thing to do when driving at night?
a. Keep your speed slow enough that you can stop within the range of your headlights
b. Look directly at oncoming headlights only briefly
c. Keep your instrument lights bright
d. Keep the cab nice and warm to stay alert
52. Which of these is a good thing to do when steering to avoid a crash?
a. Apply the brakes while turning
b. Steer with one hand so that you can turn the wheel more quickly
c. Do not any more than needed to clear what is in your way
53. Which of these is a good thing to remember about using mirrors?
a. You should look at a mirror for several seconds at a time
b. Convex mirrors make things look larger and closer than they really are
c. There are "blind spots" that your mirror cannot show you
d. Mirrors are more important than a helper when backing up
54. Which of these is a good thing to remember when crossing or entering traffic with a heavy
a. Heavy vehicles need larger gaps in traffic than cars
b. The best way to cross traffic is to pull the vehicle partway across the road and block one
lane while waiting for the other to clear
c. Because heavy vehicles are easy to see, you can count on other drivers to move out of
your way or slow down for you
d. All of the above
55. Which of these is not a good rule to follow when caring for injured at an accident scene?
a. If a qualified person is helping them, stay out of the way unless asked to assist
b. Keep injured persons cool
c. Move severely injured persons if there is a danger due to fire or passing traffic
d. Stop heavy bleeding by applying pressure to the wound
56. Which of these is not part of the pre-trip inspection of the engine compartment?
Valve clearance
Condition of hoses
Worn electrical wiring insulation
Fluid levels
57. Which of these is the most important thing to remember about emergency braking?
a. Disconnecting the steering axle brakes will help keep your vehicle in a straight line
during emergency braking
b. If the wheels are skidding, you cannot control the vehicle
c. Never do it without downshifting first
d. All of the above
58. Which of these statements about accelerating is true?
a. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage
b. You should feel a "jerking" motion if you are accelerating your vehicle properly
c. When traction is poor, more power should be applied to the accelerator
d. If you use too much power, the drive wheels will not spin
59. Which of these statements about backing a heavy vehicle is true?
a. You should avoid backing whenever you can
b. Helpers should be out of the driver's sight and use only voice (spoken) signals to
communicate with the driver
c. It is a safer to back toward the right side of the truck then toward the driver's side
d. Backing is one of the easiest things you can do in a truck
60. Which of these statements about brakes is true?
a. Brakes have more stopping power when they get very hot
b. Brake drums cool very quickly when the vehicle is moving very fast
to stop it
d. They all work the same under all conditions
61. Which of these statements about cargo loading is true?
a. The legal maximum weight allowed by a state can be considered safe for all driving
b. State laws dictate legal weight limits
c. If the shipper loads the cargo, then the driver is not responsible for overloading
d. Whatever you can fit in your reefer will be legal to haul
62. Which of these statements about certain types of cargo is true?
a. Unstable loads such as hanging meat can require extra caution on curves
b. Oversize loads can be hauled without special permits during times when the roads are
not busy
c. When liquids are hauled, the tank should always be filled completely full
d. What your cargo is had no effect on whether you can drive that load to the customer
63. Which of these statements about cold-weather driving is true?
a. An engine cannot overheat when the weather is very cold
b. Windshield washer antifreeze should be used
c. Exhaust system leaks are less dangerous in cold weather
d. Getting in and out of your vehicle becomes easier
64. Which of these statements about double clutching and shifting is true?
a. Double clutching should not be used when the road is slippery
b. Double clutching should only be used with a heavy load
c. You can use the Tachometer to tell you when to shift
d. Double clutching means that you are changing from the clutch to the brake quickly
65. Which of these statements about downshifting for a long downhill grade is true?
a. It should be done with an automatic transmission
b. It allows the engine compression and friction to help slow the vehicle
c. The proper time to downshift is just after the vehicle starts down the hill
d. All of the above
66. Which of these statements about downshifting is true?
a. When you downshift for a curve, you should do so before you enter the curve
b. When you downshift for a hill, you should do so after you start down the hill
c. When double clutching, you should let the RPMs decrease while the clutch is released
and the shift lever is in neutral
d. When you get to the bottom of a hill, downshift
67. Which of these statements about drinking alcohol is true?
a. A few beers have the same effect on driving as a few shots of whiskey of a few glasses of
b. Coffee and fresh air will help a drinker sober up
c. Not everyone who drinks is affected by alcohol
d. Alcohol makes driving easier and more enjoyable
68. Which of these statements about driving in areas with strong winds are true?
a. Winds are a big problem when a truck comes out of tunnels
b. You should drive alongside other vehicles to help break up the wind
c. The lighter your vehicle, the less trouble you will have with the wind
d. Winds make it 3easier to keep your vehicle in your lane
69. Which of these statements about drugs is true?
a. A driver can use any prescription drug while driving
b. Use of drugs can lead to accidents and/or arrest
c. Drugs that hide fatigue are good to use for truck drivers
d. Alcohol and drugs counteract each other leaving you fine
70. Which of these statements about engine overheating true?
a. If your engine overheats with 20 miles of end of your trip, you should complete the trip
and then check the problem
b. You should never shut off an overheated engine until it cools
c. You should never remove the radiator cap on a pressurized system until the system has
d. Antifreeze only helps under cold temperatures
71. Which of these statements about managing space is true?
a. Drivers keeping too much space in front of their vehicles cause many accidents
b. Smaller vehicles require more space to stop than larger ones
c. When the road is slippery, you need much more space to stop
d. As long as your reaction time is quick you don't have to worry about your spacing
72. Which of these statements about marking a stopped vehicle is true?
a. If a hill or curve keeps drivers behind you from seeing the vehicle within 500 feet, move
the rear reflective triangle back down the road to give adequate warning
b. You do not need to put out reflective triangles unless the vehicle will be stopped for 30
minutes or more
c. All vehicle's taillights should be kept on to warn other drivers
d. All of the above
73. Which of these statements about overhead clearance is true?
a. You should assume posted clearance signs are correct
b. The weight of a vehicle changes its height
c. If the road surface causes your vehicle to tilt toward objects at the edge of the road, you
should drive close to the shoulder
d. You should drive quickly if you think you will just barely pass under something
74. Which of these statements about speed management is true?
a. Empty trucks always stop in a shorter distance than fully loaded ones
b. When you double your speed (go twice as fast), it will take you twice the distance to
d. The speed limit always is the safe speed you can travel
75. Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true?
a. A half-hour for coffee will do more to keep you alert than a half-hour nap
b. There are drugs that can overcome fatigue
c. Sleep is the only thing that can overcome fatigue
d. Fatigue cannot have the same effects on your body as alcohol can
76. Which of these statements about tires and hot-weather driving is true?
a. The air pressure of a tire decreases as the temperature of the tire increases
b. If a tire is too hot to touch, you should drive on it to cool it off
c. You should inspect your tires every two hours or every 100 miles when driving in hot
d. Let air out of the tires on hot days to reduce the chance of them blowing out
77. Which of these statements about using turn signals is true?
a. You do not need to use your signal when changing lanes in traffic on a four-lane highway
b. When turning, you should signal early
c. You should use your turn signal to mark your vehicle when it is pulled off on the side of
the road
d. You only need to use your turn signal if someone is behind you
78. Which of these statements about vehicle fires is true?
a. If cargo in a van or box trailer catches fire, you should open the cargo doors as soon as
you can
b. If your engine is on fire, you should open the hood as soon as you can
c. A burning tire should be cooled with water
d. Try to extinguish any fire you come across
79. While driving, ice builds up on your wipers and they no longer clean the windshield. You should:
a. Keep driving and turn your defroster on
b. Keep driving and spray the windshield with washer fluid
c. Stop safely and fix the problem
d. Turn on the wipers to full power and the problem with fix itself
80. While driving, you see a small (1-foot square) cardboard box ahead in your lane. You should:
a. Steer around it without making a sudden or unsafe move
b. Brake hard to avoid hitting it
c. Hit it with your vehicle to knock it off the road
d. Make a lane change quickly so you don't hit it
81. You are checking your tires for a pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?
a. Tires of mismatched sizes should not be used on the same vehicle
b. Radial and bias-ply tires can be used together on the same vehicle
c. A tread depth of 2/32 inch is safe for the front tires
d. All of the above
82. You are checking your wheels and rims for a pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is
a. Rust around wheel nuts may mean that they are loose
b. Cracked wheels or rims can be used if they have been welded
c. A vehicle can be safely driven with one missing lug nut on a wheel
d. You drive with no danger if a spacer is missing
83. You are driving a 40-foot vehicle at 35 mph. The road is dry and visibility is good. What is the
least amount of space you should keep in front of your vehicle to be safe?
a. 2 seconds
b. 4 seconds
c. 5 seconds
d. 6 seconds
84. You are driving a 40-foot vehicle at 50 mph. Driving conditions are ideal (dry pavements, good
visibility). What is the least amount of space that you should keep in front of your vehicle to be
a. 3 seconds
b. 4 seconds
c. 5 seconds
d. 6 seconds
You should:
a. Slow down to a safe speed before the curve
b. Slow to the posted speed limit for the off-ramp
c. Wait until you are in the curve before downshifting
d. Will be safe regardless of your speed and weight
use to take a long, steep downhill grade?
a. The same gear you would use to climb the hill
b. A lower gear than you would use to climb the hill
c. A higher gear than you would use to climb the hill
d. The gear that will keep you at a speed consistent with the flow of traffic
87. You are driving a truck with a manual transmission. You have to stop the truck on the shoulder
while driving on an uphill grade. Which of these is a good rule to follow when putting it back in
motion up the grade?
a. Keep the clutch slipping while slowly accelerating
b. Use the parking brake to hold the vehicle until the clutch engages
c. Let the vehicle roll straight backwards a few feet before you engage the clutch
d. Increase engine RPMs and keep light pressure on the brake
88. You are driving a vehicle at 55 mph on dry pavement. About how much total stopping distance
will you need to bring it to a stop?
a. Twice the length of the vehicle
b. Half the length of a football field
c. The length of a football field
d. A city block
rear. The shoulder is clear. Which is most likely the best action to take?
a. Steer into the left lane
b. Steer to the right
c. Use hard braking and brace for collision
d. Push the car out of the way with your truck so that others will not have this problem
Suddenly a tire blows out on your vehicle. What should you do first?
a. Quickly steer onto the shoulder
b. Begin emergency braking
c. Stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down
d. Brake and stop as quickly as possible to avoid damage to the rim
91. You are driving on a two-lane road. An oncoming driver drifts into your lane and is headed
straight for you. Which is most often the best action to take?
a. Hard braking
b. Steer to the right
c. Steer on the left shoulder
d. Honk and flash your lights
92. You are starting your vehicle from a stop. As you apply power to the drive wheels, they start to
spin. You should:
a. Take your foot off the accelerator
b. Press harder on the accelerator
c. Try a lower gear
d. Put your vehicle in reverse and then back into drive so that you can begin to rock your
vehicle to get it unstuck
93. You are traveling down a long, steep hill. Your brakes get so hot that they fail. What do you do?
a. Downshift and pump the brake pedal
b. Look for an escape ramp or escape route
c. Put the gears in neutral
d. Two of the answers are correct
e. All of the above
94. You can see a marking on a vehicle ahead of you. The marking is red triangle with an orange
center. What does the marking mean?
a. It may be a slow-moving vehicle
b. The vehicle is hauling hazardous materials
c. It is a law enforcement vehicle
d. Take any steps to get around this vehicle as quickly as possible
95. You do not have a hazardous materials endorsement on your CDL. You are asked to deliver
hazardous materials in a placarded vehicle. You should:
a. Refuse to haul the load
b. Take the placards off the vehicle
c. Haul the load, but only to the nearest place where a driver with hazardous materials
endorsement can take over
d. Obtain written approval from the DOT official
96. You do not have Hazardous Materials Endorsement on your Commercial Driver's License. You
can drive a vehicle hauling hazardous materials when:
a. The shipment will not cross state line
b. The vehicle does not require placards
c. A person who has the Hazardous Materials Endorsement rides with you
d. If your dispatcher feels it is an emergency
97. You must park on the side of a level, straight, two-lane road. Where should you place the
reflective triangles?
a. One within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one
about 200 feet to the rear
about 100 feet to the front of the vehicle
about 100 feet to the front of the vehicle
d. None of the above
98. You should stop driving:
a. After 5 hours
b. After 9 hours
c. Whenever you become sleepy
d. After 12 hours
99. Your truck is in a traffic emergency and may collide with another vehicle if you do not take
a. You can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can stop
b. Stopping is always the safest action in a traffic emergency
c. Leaving the road is always more risky than hitting another vehicle
d. All of the above
pedal and find that it goes to the floor. Which statements is true?
a. You should not downshift if you have an automatic transmission
b. Pumping the brake pedal may bring the pressure up so you can stop the vehicle
c. The parking brake will not work either because it is part of the same hydraulic system
d. An escape route is not an option at this point
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