Alabama General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
WHAT KIND OF FIRE IS A B:C EXTINGUISHER GOOD FOR?
The B:C type fire extinguisher is designed to work on electrical fires and burning liquids. These are usually the following types of fire extinguishers: Regular Dry Chemical, KCl Dry Chemical, Carbon Dioxide (Dry), Halogenated Agent (Gas).
WHAT IS "HYDROPLANING"?
In some weather, water or slush collects on the road. When this happens, your vehicle can hydroplane. The tires lose contact with the road and have little or no traction. You may not be able to steer or brake. Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph. Hydroplaning is more likely if tire pressure is low or the tread is worn.
IF A TIRE BLOWS OUT, YOU SHOULD PUT THE BRAKES ON HARD TO STOP QUICKLY.
Braking when a tire has failed could cause loss of control. Unless you're about to run into something, stay off the brakes until the vehicle has slowed down. Then brake very gently, pull off the road, and stop.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF TIE DOWNS FOR A 20 FOOT LOAD?
Cargo should have at least one tie-down for each ten feet of cargo You will need two tie downs for a 20 foot load. .
WHICH STATEMENT IS TRUE ABOUT REAR DRIVE-WHEEL BRAKING SKIDS?
Rear wheel braking skids occur when the rear drive wheels 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 vehicles towing trailers, a drive-wheel skid can let the trailer push the towing vehicle sideways, causing a sudden jackknife.
WHAT IS THE "GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT" (GCW)?
The gross combination weight (GCW” is the total weight of the GCWs of each unit of a combination vehicle – truck/tractor and trailer(s) added together.
FOR WHAT THREE THINGS RELATED TO CARGO ARE DRIVERS RESPONSIBLE?
Whether or not you load and secure the cargo yourself, you are responsible for inspecting your cargo, recognizing overloads and poorly balanced weight, knowing your cargo is properly secured and does not obscure your view ahead or to the sides, knowing your cargo does not restrict your access to emergency equipment.
STAB BRAKING SHOULD NOT BE USED ON VEHICLES:
ABS helps you avoid wheel lock up and maintain control. You will not be able to use stab braking on a vehicle equipped with ABS.
HOW MANY REFLECTIVE TRIANGLES SHOULD YOU CARRY?
Commercial vehicle must be equipped with three red reflective triangles, 6 fusees or 3 liquid burning flares.
WHAT IS A PULL-UP?
When a driver stops and pulls forward to clear an encroachment or to get a better position, it is considered a “pull-up”.
NAME SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD CHECK ON THE FRONT OF YOUR VEHICLE DURING THE WALK AROUND INSPECTION?
While you are at the front of the vehicle, check the following items: headlight, low and high beam; windshield wiper arms for proper spring tension; wiper blades for damage; reflectors.
HOW OFTEN WHILE ON THE ROAD MUST YOU STOP TO INSPECT YOUR CARGO?
Inspect the cargo and its securing devices again within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip. You need to inspect again after you have driven for 3 hours or 150 miles and after every break you take during driving.
STOPPING IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAFEST THING TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY.
Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency. When you don't have enough room to stop, you may have to steer away from what's ahead. Remember, you can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can stop.
WHAT FACTORS DETERMINE YOUR SELECTION OF A "SAFE" SPEED WHEN GOING DOWN A LONG, STEEP DOWNGRADE?
When choosing a "safe" speed, your most important consideration is to select a speed that is not too fast for the total weight of the vehicle and cargo, length of the grade, steepness of the grade, road conditions and Weather.
THE FIRST OFFENSE FOR DRIVING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOSE YOUR CDL FOR:
You will lose your CDL for at least one year for a first offense for: driving a CMV if your blood alcohol concentration is .04% or higher; driving a CMV under the influence of alcohol; refusing to undergo blood alcohol testing; driving a CMV while under the influence of a controlled substance.
NAME A SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFECT
A leaking shock absorber is a major suspension system defect that needs to be checked during every pre-trip inspection.
IF YOUR VEHICLE IS 40 FEET LONG AND YOU ARE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, WHAT IS THE SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE?
You need at least one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph. At greater speeds, you must add 1 second for safety. If your vehicle is 40 feet long and you are traveling at 50 mph, your following distance should be 5 seconds or more.
EMPTY COMMERCIAL TRUCKS HAVE THE BEST BRAKING.
Empty trucks require greater stopping distance. An empty vehicle has less traction. The brakes are designed to control the maximum weight of the unit; therefore, the brakes lock up more readily when the trailer is empty or lightly loaded. This can cause skidding and loss of control.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM TREAD DEPTH FOR TIRES NOT INSTALLED IN THE FRONT?
You need at least 4/32-inch tread depth in every major groove on front tires. No fabric should show through the tread or sidewall. There should be no cuts or other damage.