General Knowledge · Practice test 1

Question 1Not answered

What is the consequence for a commercial driver who refuses a required drug or alcohol test?

1. There is no consequence as long as the driver explains why they refused
2. Refusal only matters for post-crash testing, not random testing
3. It is generally treated the same as testing positive
4. It only results in a warning for a first-time refusal

Question 2Not answered

When double-clutching to upshift, why do you briefly return the gearshift to neutral before engaging the next gear?

1. To check the oil pressure gauge
2. To let the engine and gear speeds match so the gears mesh without grinding
3. To reduce fuel consumption
4. To warn other drivers with your brake lights before you have finished shifting

Question 3Not answered

What information should be exchanged with another driver after a minor accident?

1. No information needs to be exchanged if there's no visible damage
2. Only your license plate number, since the rest is on file with the DMV, a habit that's hard to unlearn around accident
3. Only vehicle color and make, nothing else
4. Names, contact information, insurance details, and vehicle/license plate information

Question 4Not answered

While inspecting the trailer coupling area, what should you check the fifth wheel locking jaws for?

1. That they are loose enough to allow the trailer to slide slightly
2. That they are painted a bright color for visibility
3. That they match the color of the tractor frame
4. That they are fully closed and locked around the kingpin

Question 5Not answered

When starting to move from a stop on level ground, what is the most common mistake new drivers make with the clutch?

1. Pressing it with the wrong foot
2. Releasing it too quickly and stalling the engine or lurching forward
3. Using it while the parking brake is set, which is required
4. Holding it down too long after the truck is already moving smoothly

Question 6Not answered

What generally happens if you try to shift into a gear that is too high for your current road speed?

1. The vehicle speeds up faster than normal to match the new gear
2. The engine may lug, struggling to pull the load, or the gears may grind and refuse to engage
3. The transmission automatically shifts back down without the driver needing to do anything
4. Fuel economy improves immediately regardless of engine strain

Question 7Not answered

What should you factor into your trip plan regarding known low bridges or weight-restricted roads on your route?

1. Assume GPS routing will always correctly avoid them
2. Identify them in advance and plan an alternate path around any your vehicle cannot safely use
3. Low bridges and weight limits apply only on state highways, not interstates, which some drivers pick up wrong about route
4. It is unnecessary to check this before departing

Question 8Not answered

Why is space management especially important when your vehicle is being tailgated by another driver?

1. Increasing your own following distance ahead gives you more room to slow gradually rather than braking suddenly
2. The correct response is always to speed up to put distance between you and them, a common blind spot when it comes to driver
3. Tailgating only matters if it happens on a two-lane road
4. Tailgating from behind only matters if you also need to brake suddenly

Question 9Not answered

In fog, why should you increase your following distance even more than you would in normal conditions?

1. Reduced visibility means you may not see a hazard or stopped vehicle until you're already close to it
2. Fog reduces tire traction directly, so following distance is unrelated
3. Extra following distance is only needed in dense fog, not in a light mist, though the reality of conditions says otherwise
4. Fog has no effect on stopping distance, only on visibility of road signs

Question 10Not answered

During your pre-trip walk-around, you notice the steering wheel has more than the allowed amount of free play before the wheels start to turn. What does this indicate?

1. The power steering fluid is simply low and can be topped off after the trip
2. The steering linkage may be worn or loose and needs inspection before driving
3. It only matters at highway speed, not for local driving
4. This is normal on larger trucks and requires no action

Question 11Not answered

Why should you leave extra space behind your vehicle when stopped in traffic, not just in front?

1. It mainly gives you room to pull forward if someone bumps you from behind, not to prevent a hit, something that rarely comes up around front
2. Space behind only matters when the vehicle is parked overnight
3. It gives you room to maneuver forward if you're bumped from behind, and helps if you need to move without backing immediately
4. It is only relevant for vehicles towing a trailer

Question 12Not answered

What is the first priority at the scene of an accident you are involved in?

1. Protect the area and prevent further crashes, such as by setting out warning devices
2. Exchange insurance information first
3. Call your dispatcher before doing anything else
4. Move all vehicles immediately, regardless of injuries, so traffic can start flowing again right away

Question 13Not answered

What is an indirect clue that might warn you of a hazard before it becomes obvious, like a ball rolling into the street?

1. Signs of children playing nearby, such as bikes or toys near the curb, which suggest a child could follow
2. Indirect clues are not useful and should be ignored in favor of only obvious hazards, though that is not correct
3. Indirect clues only matter on highways, not residential streets
4. Only direct sightings of a hazard count as useful warning information

Question 14Not answered

What is the purpose of recording your duty status throughout the day as a commercial driver?

1. It is only used to calculate pay, not for safety purposes
2. Duty status records mainly exist for payroll purposes, not for safety tracking
3. Duty status records are optional paperwork with no real safety purpose
4. It exists mainly to track fuel usage during the shift

Question 15Not answered

What happens to a vehicle's stopping distance when speed doubles, all else being equal?

1. Stopping distance stays about the same regardless of speed
2. Stopping distance increases by much more than double, since braking distance grows with the square of speed
3. Stopping distance exactly doubles as well
4. Stopping distance only doubles along with speed, not increases by more than that, a detail that's easy to miss with equal

Question 16Not answered

Why is it useful to check your mirrors periodically even when you do not plan to change lanes or turn?

1. Mirrors only matter right before a turn, not the rest of the drive, which sounds right but isn't, at least for turn
2. It is required only on multi-lane highways
3. It builds general awareness of what is happening around your vehicle at all times
4. It is unnecessary unless a maneuver is about to happen

Question 17Not answered

Why does cargo placed too high in a trailer make a vehicle harder to control?

1. It raises the center of gravity, increasing the risk of a rollover in curves
2. It only affects braking distance, not how the vehicle handles going into a turn
3. It has no effect on handling
4. It only reduces fuel economy

Question 18Not answered

What should you do first if you notice smoke coming from under the hood while driving?

1. Increase speed to create airflow that clears the smoke
2. Continue driving to the nearest exit regardless of how much smoke there is
3. Pull off the road safely, stop, and shut off the engine before investigating
4. Open the hood immediately while still driving to see the source

Question 19Not answered

During a pre-trip inspection, why should you check the leaf springs and suspension mounts?

1. A cracked or shifted spring can let the axle move out of position and affect handling
2. It only affects the smoothness of the ride, nothing structural
3. It is checked only if the vehicle has been in a recent accident
4. Suspension parts are sealed and never need visual inspection once installed at the factory

Question 20Not answered

You find a windshield wiper blade that is torn and skips across the glass. Why does this matter for a pre-trip inspection?

1. It only affects the vehicle's resale value, not safety
2. It has no real effect since most driving happens in dry weather
3. Wiper blades only matter for the annual inspection, not for the trip ahead, which most training glosses over about inspection
4. A skipping wiper can leave streaks that reduce visibility exactly when rain makes it most needed

Question 21Not answered

Why must a driver keep an accurate record of duty status (log) throughout the day?

1. Logs mainly exist to help payroll calculate hours, not to track fatigue, an easy mistake to make with day
2. It documents actual driving and rest time, which is what hours-of-service limits are based on
3. It is used only to calculate fuel costs for the company
4. It only needs to be filled out at the end of the week

Question 22Not answered

What should you do if you see a vehicle stopped in your lane on the highway with little time to react?

1. Flash your headlights and wait for the vehicle to move
2. Assume the vehicle will move before you reach it
3. Brake as hard as possible and stay in the lane no matter what's around you, an assumption that doesn't hold up with react
4. Check for an escape path, brake as hard as safely possible, and steer around if stopping in time is not possible

Question 23Not answered

What is the first priority immediately after being involved in a crash, before anything else?

1. Move all vehicles out of the roadway immediately, regardless of injuries
2. Call your dispatcher before checking on anyone involved
3. Protect the scene and check for injuries
4. Exchange insurance information before doing anything else

Question 24Not answered

What can happen if you try to force a gear into place when it does not want to engage smoothly?

1. It has no effect since transmissions are built to handle it
2. It only affects the clutch pedal feel
3. Forcing a gear is a normal and harmless part of shifting
4. You can damage the transmission's gear teeth or synchronizers

Question 25Not answered

Which of these is a sign that your vehicle may be starting to skid on a wet road?

1. The fuel gauge needle moves slightly while turning
2. The vehicle's front end feels loose or seems to slide
3. The steering wheel feels heavier than normal
4. The engine idles slightly faster than usual

Question 26Not answered

How can heavy engine braking on a slippery road contribute to a skid?

1. It can cause the drive wheels to lose traction in the same way hard braking can
2. Engine braking only affects the front wheels, so it can't cause a rear skid
3. Engine braking is always safer than the service brakes on ice
4. Engine braking never affects the drive wheels' grip on the road

Question 27Not answered

What is the safest backing method when you cannot see directly behind your vehicle?

1. Honk the horn continuously so pedestrians and other drivers clear out of the path behind you
2. Rely only on your mirrors without a helper
3. Back up quickly to minimize the time you are exposed
4. Use a helper who can see the back of the vehicle, and agree on hand signals beforehand

Question 28Not answered

Why should you scan your mirrors regularly rather than only checking them occasionally?

1. It is required only when merging onto a highway
2. Regular scanning keeps you aware of traffic changes, tire smoke, or shifting cargo before they become emergencies
3. Mirrors are mainly useful before a turn, not needed the rest of the time, an idea that doesn't match how occasionally works
4. It matters only at night when headlights are visible in them

Question 29Not answered

You notice brake lights flashing on and off several vehicles ahead in your lane. What does this suggest?

1. It is a sign you should accelerate to pass them quickly
2. Traffic ahead is slowing or stopping and you should begin covering your brake
3. The vehicles ahead are simply riding their brakes out of habit, nothing more
4. It has no meaning unless you also see smoke

Question 30Not answered

Under federal hours-of-service rules, what is the main purpose of the required rest periods?

1. To comply with union contracts
2. To reduce driver fatigue, which is a major cause of serious crashes
3. To reduce fuel costs
4. To allow more time for vehicle inspections only, not for the driver to rest