CDL TANK Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CDL TANK facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Baffles in a tank help the driver during braking mainly by: → Reducing the forward and back movement of the liquid
2. Why must a tank driver leave room for outage when loading some liquids? → To allow for liquid expansion as it warms
3. Which tank design has no baffles or bulkheads inside and allows the most liquid surge? → Smooth bore tank
4. A driver of a smooth bore tank slows quickly on a flat road and feels the truck being pushed forward. What is causing this? → Liquid surging toward the front of the tank
5. Compared with a light liquid, a dense liquid in the same partly filled tank, moving at the same speed, will generally: → Carry more momentum, so its surge pushes harder on the vehicle
6. A driver is moving from a baffled tank to a smooth bore tank. Which change in driving is most appropriate? → Brake earlier and more gently, and allow more stopping distance
7. A baffled tank is carrying a partial load. What should the driver expect compared with the same tank in a smooth bore design? → Some surge, but less front-to-back than in a smooth bore tank
8. Compared with a smooth bore tank, what is the main handling advantage of a baffled tank? → Less front-to-back liquid surge when braking or accelerating
9. A baffled tank still has what remaining surge concern? → Liquid can still move side to side, which can contribute to a rollover
10. Why does a smooth bore tank call for especially gentle braking and acceleration? → The liquid can surge freely from end to end, which can push the vehicle
11. Which tank design allows the most liquid surge? → A smooth-bore tank with no baffles
12. Why can a compartmented tank still need careful handling when only some of its compartments are filled? → Liquid in a partly filled compartment can still surge within that compartment
13. Which hazard is NOT removed by baffles in a baffled tank? → Side-to-side liquid surge that can contribute to rollover
14. Which statement about stopping a tank truck is correct? → Stopping distance depends on how much liquid is loaded and how it can move in the tank
15. Why does a tank that is completely full of liquid produce little surge when the truck brakes? → There is almost no empty space for the liquid to move into
16. A tank is carrying a very heavy (dense) liquid. Why is the tank often filled only partway? → To prevent exceeding legal weight limits
17. A driver leaves a loading rack with a tank only one-third full of liquid. What is the best way to handle the first stop sign ahead? → Begin slowing well before the sign and brake gently throughout
18. Which load condition requires a tank driver to be MOST concerned about liquid surge during braking? → A tank that is partially filled
19. A driver is loading a tank with several separate compartments. What is true of the surge in a bulkhead-divided tank? → Surge is limited to the liquid within each compartment
20. Why is a smooth bore tank especially hard to drive when it is only partly full? → The liquid has room to build up a large surge from end to end
21. A tank vehicle is carrying a partially filled load. What is "liquid surge"? → Movement of the liquid back and forth or side to side inside the tank
22. A cargo tank is marked with a test date next to the letter "K". Which test does this code stand for? → Leakage test
23. Why is it still important to drive carefully when a tank vehicle is empty? → Residue and vapors can remain in the tank and may still be dangerous
24. A tank vehicle driver is approaching a sharp curve on an exit ramp. What is the safest technique? → Slow to a safe speed before the curve, then drive through it smoothly
25. A driver of a tank vehicle on a slippery road must stop at an intersection ahead. Which approach reduces the risk caused by liquid surge? → Brake early and gently, and leave extra room to stop
26. A driver brakes hard on a slippery road with a partly filled smooth-bore tank. What can happen as the vehicle slows? → The liquid surges forward and can push the vehicle ahead, increasing stopping distance
27. A driver is hauling a tank that is only half full of liquid. What happens to the liquid when the driver brakes, and how should the driver brake? → The liquid surges forward, so the driver should brake early and gradually
28. A tank truck is partly full, and the driver starts off from a stop by accelerating briskly. What is the most likely effect of the surge? → The liquid moves toward the rear, and the surge can rock the vehicle back and forth
29. Product begins leaking from a hose connection while you are unloading a cargo tank. What should you do first? → Activate the emergency shutoff or stop the flow of product
30. Which tank design lets liquid surge forward and backward the most when the driver brakes? → A smooth bore tank