General Knowledge · Practice test 12

Question 1Not answered

Why should you inspect cargo securement devices, like straps and chains, for damage before relying on them?

1. A worn or damaged tie-down can fail under load and let cargo shift or fall
2. Only chains need to be inspected, not straps
3. Tie-down condition has no bearing on how well the cargo stays in place
4. It only matters for cargo that is visibly fragile

Question 2Not answered

Why can worn tires increase the risk of skidding, especially on wet roads?

1. Skid risk depends only on speed, never on tire condition
2. Worn tires only increase skid risk on ice, not on a road that's merely wet, an easy mistake to make with roads
3. Shallow tread has less ability to channel water away from the tire's contact with the road
4. Tire wear only affects fuel economy, not traction

Question 3Not answered

What is a 'jackknife' skid, and which part of the vehicle typically causes it?

1. A skid caused only by a flat tire
2. A skid that only happens to the front steering axle
3. A term that only applies to skids happening on an icy bridge deck, something that trips up drivers unfamiliar with causes
4. A skid where the trailer swings out because the tractor drive wheels lose traction while braking

Question 4Not answered

Why does downhill grade increase the stopping distance needed compared to level ground at the same speed?

1. Grade has no effect on stopping distance, only on acceleration
2. It only matters for vehicles without engine brakes
3. Downhill grades reduce a vehicle's momentum compared to level ground travel
4. Gravity adds to the vehicle's momentum, requiring more braking effort to stop

Question 5Not answered

What is the safest way to handle a hill start on a manual transmission truck so the vehicle does not roll back?

1. Shift into neutral first, then apply the throttle
2. Use the parking brake or a controlled clutch-and-throttle technique to hold position while moving forward
3. Rely only on the trailer brakes to prevent rollback
4. Hold the truck in place using only the clutch pedal, without touching the brake, an easy mistake to make with back

Question 6Not answered

What should you do if your vehicle's headlights suddenly fail while driving at night?

1. Slow down, use any other lights available, such as hazard or marker lights, and pull off the road as soon as safely possible
2. Turn on your high beams only, ignoring low beams
3. Continue at the same speed since your eyes will adjust
4. Turn on the high beams instead, since they run on a separate circuit, something that trips up drivers unfamiliar with night

Question 7Not answered

Why does the placement of cargo within a trailer matter for vehicle handling, not just total weight?

1. Placement only matters above the legal weight limit, not below it, which sounds right but isn't, at least for weight
2. Only the total weight matters, not where it is positioned
3. Cargo placed too high or unevenly can raise the center of gravity or unbalance the axles
4. Cargo placement affects fuel economy but not handling

Question 8Not answered

Why must tie-downs used to secure cargo have a combined working load limit appropriate for the cargo's weight?

1. Working load limits only matter for oversized loads
2. Any tie-down is strong enough as long as there are at least two of them
3. Working load limit is mainly a manufacturer's rating, not something drivers need to check, which surprises a lot of drivers new to weight
4. Tie-downs that are too weak for the load can fail during the trip, letting cargo shift or fall

Question 9Not answered

Why is it especially important to keep your windshield and headlights clean for night driving?

1. Clean glass and lenses only matter in the rain, not on a clear night, something that rarely comes up around driving
2. It matters only if it is raining at the same time
3. Dirty headlights actually improve visibility by softening glare
4. Dirt and grime scatter light and reduce how far and how clearly you can see

Question 10Not answered

On a long, gradual downgrade, why should you select a lower gear before starting down rather than partway through?

1. Shifting gears is actually easier once the vehicle has already picked up speed
2. It is required only when hauling an empty trailer
3. It lets the engine help control your speed and reduces reliance on the brakes
4. Lower gears are only needed if the road is wet

Question 11Not answered

When backing a trailer and steering to turn it left, which way do you generally turn the steering wheel?

1. Straight ahead until the trailer starts to drift on its own
2. Left, in the same direction you want the trailer to go
3. It depends only on trailer length, not on direction
4. Right, so the back of the trailer swings left

Question 12Not answered

Why do you need more space on the sides of your vehicle when driving a large commercial vehicle compared to a car?

1. It mainly protects the mirrors from clipping nearby objects, not the vehicle's overall control
2. It is only needed in bad weather
3. The vehicle takes up more of the lane and needs room to react to other drivers merging or drifting
4. It improves fuel economy

Question 13Not answered

Why is 'skip shifting,' or moving directly from a lower gear to a gear two steps higher, sometimes used on level roads?

1. It can reduce unnecessary shifting when there is more than enough power for the load and grade
2. It works only on a completely flat road with no upcoming turns, which sounds right but isn't, at least for roads
3. It is required by federal regulation on every level roadway
4. It always improves fuel economy regardless of load

Question 14Not answered

Why is fatigue a greater risk during night driving than during the day for many drivers?

1. Nighttime driving always includes less traffic, which somehow increases tiredness
2. Vehicles use more fuel at night, which is unrelated to alertness but often assumed to cause fatigue
3. Fatigue only affects drivers during daytime hours
4. Night hours often fall during a driver's natural low point for alertness, even with adequate rest

Question 15Not answered

In hot weather, what should you check more frequently during a long trip?

1. Windshield washer fluid only, since heat has no effect on any of the other fluids
2. Radio reception
3. Cargo tarps only
4. Tire pressure and temperature, since heat increases the risk of a blowout

Question 16Not answered

How should you warn approaching traffic if your vehicle is disabled after a crash on a roadway?

1. Stand in the roadway and wave your arms at approaching traffic
2. Place warning devices, such as reflective triangles, at set distances behind and ahead of the vehicle
3. Warning devices are optional if the crash happened during daylight
4. Leave the hazard lights on and wait inside the cab for help to arrive, though it only feels that way with roadway

Question 17Not answered

Why is checking mirrors and glancing through intersections important even when you have a green light?

1. Cross traffic can still be present due to another driver running a red light or a pedestrian stepping out unexpectedly
2. A green light guarantees no other vehicle will be crossing your path, since signals control all traffic equally, something that trips up drivers unfamiliar with light
3. Checking intersections is only required for left turns
4. It is only necessary at intersections without traffic signals

Question 18Not answered

What does the acronym GOAL stand for in the context of backing a commercial vehicle?

1. Go, Observe, Adjust, Leave, a checklist used only when backing without a helper present, a common blind spot when it comes to vehicle
2. Gear Options Available Later, a reminder about transmission settings
3. General Operating Axle Limit, a weight rating for the rear axle
4. Get Out And Look, meaning to physically check your surroundings before and during a backing maneuver

Question 19Not answered

Why should you adjust your mirrors before you start driving rather than while the vehicle is moving?

1. Mirrors only need adjusting once when the vehicle is purchased
2. It has no real safety benefit either way
3. Adjusting mirrors while moving takes your eyes off the road exactly when you need them on it
4. Mirrors adjust automatically once the engine reaches its normal operating temperature and settles

Question 20Not answered

Why should you slow down and use smooth steering inputs on ice or packed snow?

1. Smooth inputs mainly reduce wear on the tires, not the chance of a skid, an easy mistake to make with snow
2. Steering technique has no effect on traction, only speed does
3. Sudden inputs actually improve traction by breaking up the ice
4. Sudden steering or throttle changes are far more likely to break the tires' already-limited traction

Question 21Not answered

What is the general purpose of the 60/70-hour rule in the hours-of-service regulations?

1. It limits total on-duty time over a rolling 7 or 8 day period
2. It limits driving time on any single day to 60 or 70 minutes
3. It replaces the 11-hour driving limit entirely
4. It only applies to drivers under the age of 21

Question 22Not answered

When should you use your turn signal to indicate a lane change?

1. Early enough that other drivers have time to react before you actually move over
2. Only after you've already started moving into the next lane, which sounds right but isn't, at least for change
3. Only after you have already completed the lane change
4. At the exact moment you begin steering into the new lane

Question 23Not answered

Why is the legal driving BAC limit stricter for commercial drivers than for the general public?

1. The stricter limit is a historical accident with no real safety basis
2. It's stricter only for interstate drivers, not ones driving within a single state, something few drivers think about with public
3. There is actually no difference between commercial and general BAC limits
4. Commercial drivers operate larger, heavier vehicles where impairment has more serious consequences

Question 24Not answered

During the whole vehicle air brake check, in what general order should the steps happen?

1. The order does not matter as long as every step happens eventually
2. Test the parking brake first, then move on to the rest of the checks afterward, something that rarely comes up around happen
3. Skip building air pressure if the vehicle was driven recently
4. Build up full air pressure first, then test the warning devices and brake application, not the other way around

Question 25Not answered

How should you handle driving near a well-lit area, such as a truck stop, right after a long stretch of dark highway?

1. Well-lit areas actually require slower speeds than the dark highway before them, something few drivers think about with highway
2. Be aware that your eyes may need a moment to adjust to the sudden change in lighting
3. Speed up while passing through the lit area
4. Your eyes adjust instantly with no transition needed

Question 26Not answered

Why should you avoid moving your vehicle after a crash unless it is blocking traffic or creating a further hazard?

1. It has no bearing on any later investigation
2. Moving it can disturb evidence needed to determine what happened
3. Vehicles must always be moved immediately regardless of position
4. Only law enforcement is allowed to move any vehicle after a crash

Question 27Not answered

You are climbing a long grade and the engine is losing power in your current gear. What should you do?

1. Shift to neutral and coast up the grade
2. Apply more throttle without shifting
3. Wait until the engine stalls completely, then shift into a lower gear and try to restart the climb from a dead stop
4. Downshift before the engine loses too much power, choosing the next lower gear early

Question 28Not answered

You are about to pass another vehicle on a two-lane road. How should you communicate your intention?

1. Flash your headlights instead of signaling, since it gets more attention, which surprises a lot of drivers new to intention
2. Flash your high beams once, then move over without using the turn signal
3. Sound the horn continuously through the entire pass
4. Signal your intent to pass and check that you have a clear, safe path back into your lane before attempting it

Question 29Not answered

During the whole vehicle air brake check on a combination vehicle, what should you confirm after building air pressure and applying the brakes?

1. That all service brakes apply and hold, including the trailer's, with air pressure not dropping excessively
2. Only that the low air warning light works
3. Only that the tires are inflated correctly, since low tire pressure is the more common problem, a habit that's hard to unlearn around brakes
4. Only that the parking brake sets

Question 30Not answered

What is a 'blind side' backing maneuver, and why is it considered riskier than backing toward your driver's side?

1. Backing toward the passenger side, where your view is more limited than on the driver's side
2. Backing at night without headlights on
3. Backing toward the side where the mirror covers slightly less of the lane, a point that's simple to get backwards with side
4. Backing while the trailer doors are open