General Knowledge · Practice test 4

Question 1Not answered

When should you plan your shifts on a route you know includes a steep uphill grade shortly after a stop sign?

1. Wait until you are already moving to decide which gear to use
2. Use the highest available gear to conserve fuel
3. Gear selection only matters once the truck is already partway up the grade, which only seems true until you deal with sign
4. Choose a low starting gear before the stop so you have enough power to pull away on the grade

Question 2Not answered

What driving habit helps you notice the earliest signs of a developing skid, such as slight loss of steering feedback?

1. Relying entirely on warning lights on the dashboard
2. Staying alert and sensitive to how the vehicle responds to your steering and braking inputs
3. Waiting until the trailer visibly swings before reacting to any change in steering feel
4. Skid warning signs cannot be noticed before a skid is already underway

Question 3Not answered

You are backing a trailer and it starts to turn in a direction you didn't intend. What should you do with the steering wheel?

1. Turn the wheel the same way you would if driving forward in that direction
2. Stop turning the wheel entirely and let the trailer straighten on its own
3. Turn the top of the steering wheel in the opposite direction you want the back of the trailer to go
4. Turn the wheel the same direction the cab is already turning, regardless of the trailer

Question 4Not answered

Why is a static leakage test, checking how much pressure drops over a period with the engine off and brakes off, part of the air brake check?

1. It has no bearing on braking; it only checks the horn circuit
2. It reveals leaks in the system that could reduce reliable braking over time
3. It is used only to test the air conditioning system
4. It replaces the need to check the low air pressure warning separately, though that is not correct

Question 5Not answered

In snowy or foggy conditions at night, why should you use low beams instead of high beams?

1. High beams actually cut through fog and snow glare better than low beams do, which sounds right but isn't, at least for beams
2. High beams reflect off the snow or fog and bounce the glare back at you, reducing your own visibility
3. High beams are illegal to use at any time on public roads
4. Low beams are always brighter than high beams in poor weather

Question 6Not answered

While walking around the trailer, you find a cracked or broken leaf in one of the rear spring suspensions. What should you do?

1. Drive at reduced speed only on smooth roads until repairs can be scheduled
2. Tighten the U-bolts and continue the trip as planned
3. Note it for the next scheduled service since one broken leaf rarely matters
4. Treat the vehicle as unsafe to drive until it is repaired

Question 7Not answered

Why is it important to distribute cargo weight evenly across the length of a trailer, not just side to side?

1. It only matters for refrigerated trailers, not dry freight
2. Weight concentrated too far forward or back can affect axle loading and how the vehicle handles and brakes
3. Front-to-back distribution only matters for appearance during loading
4. Axle loading only changes if the total cargo weight itself changes, not its position, which most training glosses over about side

Question 8Not answered

What should you check about your vehicle's tire chains, if required or carried for extreme winter conditions, before you actually need them?

1. That they fit your specific tires and are in good condition, so you are not learning this during a storm
2. Chains are only relevant for passenger vehicles, not commercial trucks
3. Chains only need checking once you're already stopped on the snowy grade, a common blind spot when it comes to them
4. Chains never need inspection once purchased

Question 9Not answered

You are planning a long trip and want to avoid driving while fatigued. What is a good practice?

1. Plan rest breaks and fueling stops in advance rather than deciding only when you feel tired
2. Skip meals to save time
3. Rely on energy drinks instead of planning stops
4. Plan to drive straight through in one stretch, since stopping to rest only adds time to the trip

Question 10Not answered

A front tire suddenly fails and goes flat while you are driving. What is your first move?

1. Grip the wheel tightly, keep the vehicle tracking straight, and ease off the gas
2. Jerk the wheel hard toward the shoulder to get off the road as fast as possible
3. Brake hard immediately
4. Accelerate to maintain control

Question 11Not answered

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

1. Get Out And Look, meaning to physically check your surroundings before and during a back
2. Get Out And Look, but only needed the very first time backing into a new spot, which some drivers pick up wrong about vehicle
3. Guide On A Line, referring to painted lines in a parking lot
4. Go Only At Low speed, a reminder about how fast to back up

Question 12Not answered

You are stopped at the top of a hill and need to hold the vehicle without using the brake pedal. What is one way to do this in a manual transmission truck?

1. Turn off the engine so the vehicle cannot move at all
2. Rely on the steering wheel lock to keep the vehicle from rolling
3. Rev the engine steadily to keep the vehicle from rolling back on its own without touching any of the pedals
4. Use the parking brake, or in some vehicles a set of steps sometimes called a hill start technique, to hold position before moving off

Question 13Not answered

How should you manage space when driving alongside other vehicles in adjacent lanes on a multi-lane highway?

1. Lane position relative to other vehicles has no safety relevance
2. It matters only when passing, never otherwise
3. Drifting toward the center of your lane is enough space management on its own, an idea that doesn't match how highway works
4. Avoid staying directly next to other vehicles for long periods, since it removes your ability to move if needed

Question 14Not answered

You are approaching a sharp curve posted with an advisory speed. When should you downshift?

1. After you have already started turning through the curve, not before entering it
2. Only if the vehicle stalls partway through the curve
3. Before entering the curve, while the vehicle is still traveling in a straight line
4. Downshifting is not necessary for curves, only for hills

Question 15Not answered

What is the tractor protection valve, and why is it checked during the air brake inspection?

1. It automatically protects the tractor's air supply if the trailer's air system fails or separates
2. It protects the tractor's own brakes from losing pressure if the trailer disconnects, which isn't obvious without real inspection experience
3. It is a valve that only controls the tractor's horn system
4. It has no connection to the air brake system at all

Question 16Not answered

Why is speed on a curve more critical for trucks than for passenger cars?

1. Trucks have better traction in curves so speed matters less
2. It only matters for tanker trucks, not dry van trailers
3. A high center of gravity makes trucks more prone to rollover if taken too fast
4. Posted curve speed signs are set the same for every vehicle type equally, which only seems true until you deal with cars

Question 17Not answered

You must drive through a sudden dust storm with almost zero visibility. What is the safest action?

1. Keep driving slowly with your hazard lights on, since stopping on the shoulder is considered more dangerous than continuing
2. Pull off the road as far as possible, turn off your lights, and wait until visibility improves
3. Stop in the driving lane with your lights on
4. Speed up to get through the dust storm faster

Question 18Not answered

Approaching a work zone with lane shifts and workers near the road, what should you do?

1. Maintain your normal speed until you actually see a worker near the road, an easy mistake to make with road
2. Speed up to pass through the work zone as quickly as possible
3. Slow down earlier than usual and stay alert for sudden lane changes or workers entering your path
4. Work zones require no special attention beyond normal driving

Question 19Not answered

What visual clue on the road ahead can warn you of possible hydroplaning conditions?

1. Standing water, sheeting, or a shiny wet appearance across the lane
2. A slight uphill grade in the road
3. Dry pavement with visible tire marks
4. Bright sunlight reflecting off a clean, freshly washed windshield surface

Question 20Not answered

Why is it useful to plan approximate arrival times with some buffer, rather than the exact minimum travel time?

1. Buffer time has no practical value for a planned trip
2. Exact minimum travel time should always be used to plan a schedule, though that is not correct
3. It matters only for trips longer than 500 miles
4. It gives room for unexpected delays like traffic, weather, or required rest breaks

Question 21Not answered

What does 'covering the brake' mean in basic vehicle control?

1. Applying light steady pressure on the brake at all times while driving
2. Keeping a spare brake pad within reach in case one wears out on the road, a detail that's easy to miss with control
3. Riding the brake pedal down a long grade to keep speed constant
4. Keeping your foot resting near the brake pedal so you can react without delay when needed

Question 22Not answered

Why should you plan your route before a trip that may involve low bridges or weight-restricted roads?

1. To save on tolls only
2. It is only necessary for interstate trips, since state routes rarely have posted weight limits
3. It is only required for hazmat loads
4. To avoid a crash or violation from hitting a low bridge or exceeding a road's weight limit

Question 23Not answered

During a pre-trip inspection, why do you check the brake linings at each wheel for thickness?

1. Lining thickness is checked only once a year at a shop, not before a trip
2. Thin linings only affect how loud the brakes squeak during a stop, not how quickly the vehicle stops
3. Worn linings mean the brakes will take longer to stop the vehicle and could fail sooner than expected
4. It only matters for vehicles that have never had their brakes serviced

Question 24Not answered

Why should a driver pay extra attention to a school zone even outside of the posted arrival and dismissal times?

1. School zone hazards only matter on weekday mornings, not any other time, a point that's simple to get backwards with times
2. Reduced speed limits in school zones apply only on weekdays
3. Children can be present outside of official hours for other reasons, such as practice or events
4. School zones only matter for vehicles smaller than a Class A truck

Question 25Not answered

When should you use your turn signal before changing lanes on a highway?

1. Only after you have already begun moving into the next lane over
2. Only when another vehicle is directly behind you
3. Signals are optional on multi-lane highways
4. Well before you start to move, giving other drivers time to react

Question 26Not answered

What is a No-Zone in the context of visual search around your vehicle?

1. An area marked on the pavement where parking is not allowed
2. An area around a large vehicle where other drivers are hidden from the driver's view
3. A zone where using a cell phone is legally banned
4. A section of highway where commercial vehicles are prohibited from driving at all

Question 27Not answered

Why should you slow down when your tires might be at risk of hydroplaning on a wet road?

1. Speed has no effect on hydroplaning, only tire brand does
2. Hydroplaning only happens to vehicles going below 20 mph
3. Slowing down only matters if it is currently raining, since standing water drains away almost immediately
4. Slower speeds let more of the tire tread stay in contact with the road instead of riding on a layer of water

Question 28Not answered

After an accident, once the scene is safe and anyone injured has been cared for, what should you do?

1. Only report the accident if there is visible damage to your own vehicle
2. Wait for the other driver to decide whether a report is necessary
3. Report the accident and exchange required information as your company and local law require
4. Leave once traffic starts moving again, since exchanging information can wait for a phone call later

Question 29Not answered

If your vehicle breaks down and you must stop on the shoulder, how should you communicate the hazard to approaching traffic?

1. Turn on your hazard lights and set out reflective warning triangles behind the vehicle
2. Rely on your parking lights alone, since hazard lights drain the battery
3. Stand behind the vehicle waving your arms instead of using lights or triangles
4. Wait until another driver stops to ask if you need help before setting out any warning

Question 30Not answered

Your vehicle's engine catches fire while driving. What is an appropriate first step?

1. Pour water directly onto the engine while it is still running
2. Open the hood immediately while still driving to let the fire out
3. Pull off the road to a safe spot, shut off the engine, and get people away from the vehicle before addressing the fire
4. Continue driving to the nearest exit, since moving air can help keep flames down, an easy mistake to make with step