Sample Commercial Driver License Knowledge Test

(From the 2003 Commercial Driver Handbook)

Directions:  Choose your answer from the three possible answer choices and mark an X in the box across from your choice.  Please do not talk, use any books or notes, or leave the test area with your test before it has been graded; to do so may result in a test failure and your driving privilege may be suspended or revoked.

A list of answers is given at the bottom of this test.

Section 1:  General Knowledge Test

Passing Grade -- 10 errors or less

1. You should try to park your vehicle so:

   1. You can pull forward when you leave

   2. There is at least one curb next to your vehicle

   3. Your vehicle is protected by trees or some overhang

    

2. Controlled braking:

   1. Involves locking the wheels for short periods of time

   2. Is used to keep a vehicle in a straight line when braking

   3. Should only be used with hydraulic brakes

    

3. CDL medical certificates must be renewed every:

   1. Year

   2. Two years

   3. Four years

    

4. You are stopped.  You want to start driving uphill.  You should:

   1. Partly engage the clutch and then release the parking brake

   2. Engage the clutch and accelerate quickly

   3. Keep the trailer brake hand valve applied until you reach 20 mph

    

5. Which of these is not a proper use of vehicle lights?

   1. Turning on your headlights during the days when visibility is reduced

   2. Flashing your brake lights to warn someone behind you that you are slowing down

   3. Flashing your brake lights to stop someone from tailgating

    

6. Which of the following is not a type of retartder?

   1. Electric

   2. Hydraulic

   3. Robotic

    

7. What is the first thing you should do if our brakes fail while driving downhill?

   1. Call or radio for help

   2. Try to use your parking brake to stop

   3. Get off the road as soon as possible

    

8. You are driving a 40 foot vehicle at 35 mph.  The road is dry and visibility is good.  What is the least amount of space you should keep in front of your vehicle to be safe?

   1. 3 seconds

   2. 4 seconds

   3. 5 seconds

    

9. When you drive in the mountains, you will have to use lower gears to drive safely down grades.  Which of these does not affect your choice of gears?

   1. Weight of the load

   2. Tire tread type

   3. Length of the grade

    

10. When you must stop of a one-way or divided highway, you should place your reflective triangles at which of the following locations?

    1. 10 feet, 100 feet, and 500 feet toward approaching traffic

    2. 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic

    3. 10 feet, 50 feet, and 100 feet toward approaching traffic

     

11. What should you do before driving in the mountains?

    1. Know the escape ramp locations on your route

    2. Unhook your steering axle brakes

    3. Carry tire chains in your vehicle

     

12. If you do not have a CB radio, what is the first thing you should do at an accident scene?

    1. Protect the area

    2. Notify authorities

    3. Care for the injured

     

13. Which of these systems should receive extra attention during a winter weather inspection?

    1. Suspension

    2. Steering

    3. Exhaust

     

14. Which of these statements is true about double-clutching and shifting?

    1. Double-clutching should not be used when the road is slippery

    2. Double-clutching should only be used with a heavy load

    3. You can use the tachometer to tell you when to shift

     

15. Which of these statements is the proper way to signal for a lane change?

    1. Signal just as you begin to change lanes, and drift over slowly

    2. Signal early, and change lanes slowly and smoothly

    3. Signal before you change lanes, and then move over quickly

     

16. Which of these is not caused by rough acceleration?

    1. Tire damage

    2. Mechanical damage

    3. Damage to coupling

     

17. For your safety, when you place your reflective triangles you should:

    1. Carry the triangles at your side

    2. Hold the triangles with the reflective side between you and oncoming traffic

    3. Keep them out of sight while you walk to the locations where you will place them

     

18. One reason that dry bulk tanks require special care is

    1. They can only be filled halfway

    2. They can easily catch fire

    3. The load can shift

     

19. To avoid a crash, you had to drive onto the right shoulder.  You are now driving at 40 mph on the shoulder.  How should you move back onto the pavement?

    1. Brake hard to slow the vehicle, then steer sharply onto the pavement when it is safe

    2. Keep moving at your present speed and steer very gently back onto the pavement when it is safe

    3. If the shoulder is clear, stay on it until your vehicle comes to a stop.  Then move back onto the pavement when it is safe

     

20. Which of the following statements is true?

    1. Most people are more alert at night than during the day

    2. Most hazards are easier to see at night than during the day

    3. Many heavy vehicle accidents occur between midnight and 6 am

     

21. The Commercial Driver Handbook suggests several things to do when you pass a vehicle.  Which of these is not one of them?

    1. Lightly tap your horn, if needed

    2. At night, turn on your high beams while you pass the vehicle

    3. Assume the other driver does not see you

     

22. Which of the following may be a sign of tire failure?

    1. A loud hissing noise

    2. Gentle thumping

    3. Wheels fishtailing

     

23. Which of these statements is not true?

    1. Alcohol goes directly from the stomach to the blood stream

    2. A drinker can control how fast his or her body absorbs and gets rid of alcohol

    3. BAC is determined by how fast you drink, how much you drink, and how much you weigh

     

24. Retarders:

    1. Allow you to disconnect the steering axle brakes

    2. Cannot be used on interstate highways

    3. Can ause the drive wheels to skid when they have poor traction

     

25. You are checking your brakes and suspension system during a pre-trip inspection.  Which of these statements is true?

    1. Just one missing spring leaf is not dangerous

    2. Cracked spring hangers that are still tight are not dangerous

    3. Brake shoes should not have oil, grease, or brake fluid on them

     

26. What should you do if a car coming toward you at night keeps its high beams on?

    1. Flash your high beams quickly at the other driver

    2. Look to the right edge of your lane or right side of the road

    3. Slow down and look straight ahead in your lane

     

27. Whenever you double your speed, it will take about _____ times as much distance to stop.

    1. Two

    2. Three

    3. Four

     

28. What is the best advice for drivers to folow when a heavy fog occurs?

    1. Do not drive too slowly, or other drivers may hit you

    2. Alternate your low and high beams to improve your vision

    3. Part at a rest area or truck stop until the fog has lifted

     

29. If a straight vehicle (no trailer or articulation) goes into a front-wheel skid, it will:

    1. Slide sideways and spin out

    2. Travel straight ahead even if you turn the steering wheel

    3. Travel straight ahead until you turn the steering wheel

     

30. Which of these statements is true about transported hazardous materials?

    1. Hazardous materials can be a risk to health and safety

    2. All trucks with any amount of hazardous materials must display placards

    3. All public roads allow poroperly loaded trucks to carry hazardous materials

     

31. When do strong winds affect driving the most:

    1. On open highways

    2. On bridges or overpasses

    3. When exiting tunnels

     

32. Optional safety equipment may include emergency phone numbers, tire chains, and:

    1. Tire changing equipment

    2. Red reflective triangles

    3. Charged fire extinguisher

     

33. If you have a heavy load that is slowing you down on an upgrade, you should:

    1. Exit the road until traffic is lighter

    2. Drive on the shoulder so others can pass easily

    3. Shift into a lower gear

     

34. Which of these is a good thing to remember about drinking alcohol?

    1. The driver can control how fast his/her body gets rid of alcohol

    2. Small quantities of alcohol improve reaction time

    3. Alcohol first affects judgment and self-control

     

35. "Perception distance" is the distance your vehicle travels from the time your:

    1. Eyes see a hazard to the time your foot pushes the brake pedal

    2. Brain tells your foot to push the brake pedal to the time your foot responds

    3. Eyes see a hazard to the time your brain knows it is a hazard

     

36. The distance that you should look ahead of your vehicle while driving is about _____ mile at highway speeds.

    1. 1/8

    2. 1/4

    3. 1/2

     

37. You can see this sign on a vehicle ahead of you (The sign is triangular in shape with one of the flat sides down and has a border around the outside edges).  What does the sign mean?

    1. Slow-moving vehicle

    2. Hazardous materials on board

    3. Student driver

     

38. The braking effect of the engine is greatest when the engine is _____ the governed RPMs and the transmission is in the _____ gears.

    1. Above, lower

    2. Below, higher

    3. Near, lower

     

39. How many missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring will cause a commercial vehicle to be placed out of service?

    1. One-fourth of the total number

    2. One-third of the total number

    3. One-half of the total number

     

40. Which of these statements is not true about backing a heavy vehicle?

    1. You should back and turn toward the driver's side whenever possible

    2. You should use a helper and communicate with hand signals

    3. You should back slowly until you slightly bump into the dock

     

41. How do you correct a rear wheel braking skid when driving on ice or snow?

    1. Apply more power to the wheels

    2. Stop accelerating

    3. Downshift to the next lower gear

     

42. Which of these statements is true about shipping hazardous materials?

    1. A four-inch, circular, red, hazardous materials label must be on the container

    2. Gas cylinders that will not hold a label must be shipped under cover

    3. A four-inch, diamond-shaped, hazardous materials label must be on the container

     

43. You wish to turn right from a two-lane, two-way street into another.  Your vehicle is so long that you must swing wide to complete the turn.  Which best describes how to make the turn?  (This question shows three diagrams)

    1. Start by swinging your vehicle into the opposite late, make the right-hand turn, and then drive in your lane

    2. Stay in your lane, make the right-hand turn, and carefully drive into the opposite lane long enough to make your turn and return to your lane

    3. Drive in the opposite lane, swing wide through the intersection as you begin to make your right-hand turn, and drive in the opposite lane long enough to make the turn and return to your lane

     

44. Which of these is a good thing to do when you steer to avoid a crash?

    1. Don't turn the steering wheel any more than needed

    2. Avoid countersteering

    3. Apply the brakes while turning

     

45. If you must drive into the oncoming lane to turn, you should:

    1. Allow enough space to get completely across the interswection

    2. Back up to allow oncoming traffic to pass

    3. Complete your turn without stopping

     

46. Which of these statements is not true about engine belts in hot weather?

    1. Cracking is likely to occur but is not a safety threat

    2. You an check the tightness of the belts by pressing on them

    3. Loose belts will not turn the water pump and/or fan on properly

     

47. The best drivers are those who watch and prepare for hazards.  This is called being:

    1. Offensive

    2. Defensive

    3. Objective

     

48. What will help keep an engine cool in hot weather?

    1. Driving faster to force more air into the radiator

    2. Running the air conditioner

    3. Making sure the engine has the right amount of oil

     

49. How far should a driver look ahead of the vehicle while driving?

    1. 1 - 2 seconds

    2. 5 - 8 seconds

    3. 12 - 15 seconds

     

50. You are checking your tires during a pre-trip inspection.  Which of these statements is true?

    1. Tires of mismatched sizes should not be used on the same vehicle

    2. Radial and bias-ply tires can be used together on the same vehicle

    3. 2/32 inch tread depth is safe for the front tires