GENERAL KNOWLEDGE PRACTICE TEST – 04

This general knowledge practice test will examine your knowledge of general trucking, safe transportation of cargo, safe driving, and the correct way to perform a pre-trip vehicle inspection. In order to receive your CDL, it is required that you pass the state’s official CDL General Knowledge exam.

General Knowledges Test 04

1 / 30

The vast majority of truck skids are caused by...?

Standing water

Snow and ice

Driver error

Spilled oil

2 / 30

The best thing to do if you lose your brake power on a downhill is to...?

Find an escape ramp or route

Deliberately skid your vehicle sideways

Try to perform a controlled crash

Try to coast to the bottom of the hill

3 / 30

Which of these has priority at a railroad crossing which has neither gates nor lights?

Commercial vehicles

Trains

Private automobiles

School buses

4 / 30

Which of these is a sign that you have lost hydraulic brake pressure?

The pedal goes to the floor

The pedal sticks half way

The pedal won't move at all

The brakes apply without you touching them

5 / 30

When going downhill, brakes will start to fade if...?

You stay in low gear

They become too hot

You don't keep them permanently semi-applied

You don't use them enough

6 / 30

If you have been forced to leave the road and have to return to it before you can stop, you should...?

Edge back onto it

Turn back onto it at a shallow angle

Turn sharply back onto it

Any of these depending on circumstances

7 / 30

If you are returning to the road after being forced off, as soon as the front tires are on the pavement, you should...?

Brake

Counter steer

Do none of these things

Accelerate

8 / 30

The best lights to use in foggy conditions are...?

Full beam headlights

No lights at all

Parking lights

Low beam headlights

9 / 30

In slippery conditions, you should aim to be...?

Any of these depending on your skill levels

Fast and smooth

Smooth and slow

Fast and aggressive

10 / 30

It is safe to remove the radiator cap for checks in hot conditions...?

If you can touch it with your bare hand

As soon as you have stopped

Half an hour after stopping

If there is no visible steam coming from it

11 / 30

You should not move a severely injured person at a crash scene unless...?

They are in immediate danger

Any of these apply

They are holding up traffic

They request you to

12 / 30

A yellow cross on the pavement marked with the letters RR means...?

Road rules apply

Railroad crossing

No reversing

Reversing recommended

13 / 30

Your 'safe' speed on a downgrade is...?

The speed limit for that particular road

The average speed you are attempting to achieve

The maximum speed you can confidently use

The minimum speed you wish to use

14 / 30

If you have ABS brakes, your braking should be...?

Heavier than normal

The same as normal

Lighter than normal

Any of these depending on conditions

15 / 30

If your ABS system fails, you should...?

Get it serviced soon

Get it fixed at the next garage

Stop immediately

Ignore it

16 / 30

If an oncoming driver has drifted to your lane, the best thing to do is...?

Stay in the center of the lane

Move to the right

Move to the left

Hold whatever position you are in

17 / 30

If you stop to help others at a crash in which you were not involved, you should park...?

Alongside the crash

As close behind the crash as possible

As close in front of the crash as possible

Well away from the crash

18 / 30

In very hot weather, you should inspect your tire pressures every...?

Three hours or 150 miles

One hour or 50 miles

Four hours or 200 miles

Two hours or 100 miles

19 / 30

If you have no alternative but to drive through standing water, you should do so...?

Using heavy brake pressure

Using no brakes

Using medium brake pressure

Using light brake pressure

20 / 30

When crossing a railroad track, you should never...?

Slow down

Do any of these things

Change gear

Accelerate

21 / 30

On older brake systems, the ABS lamp may stay on until you reach a speed in excess of...?

15 mph

20 mph

5 mph

10 mph

22 / 30

If you are forced to leave the pavement completely, you should avoid using your brakes until your speed has dropped to around...?

30 mph

20 mph

10 mph

15 mph

23 / 30

When traveling at your 'safe' speed, you should be able to reduce your speed by 5 mph by applying the brakes for...?

Four seconds

Two seconds

Three seconds

One second

24 / 30

ABS systems will be present on all commercial vehicles built after March 1...?

1997

1999

2001

2003

25 / 30

A typical tractor-trailer unit takes at least how long to clear a double track railroad crossing?

10 seconds

15 seconds

5 seconds

20 seconds

26 / 30

Brakes are more likely to experience fade if...?

They are operating in thin air conditions

They are out of adjustment

They have gotten wet recently

They are new

27 / 30

If you suspect a front tire failure, you should...?

Hold the steering wheel firmly

Stay off the brakes

Get out and check all the tires

Do all these things

28 / 30

You're driving a rig on which only the trailer, not the tractor, has ABS. What should you do?

Brake harder than usual

Brake normally

Turn off ABS

Avoid heavy braking

29 / 30

ABS systems only operate when...?

You press the brake pedal

The wheels have already locked up

The wheels are about to lock up

You flick a special switch

30 / 30

Which of these is not an essential at the scene of a crash?

Photographing the damage

Caring for the injured

Protecting the area

Notifying the authorities

Your score is

Steps to Get A CDL

Now that you know that you are eligible to receive a CDL and you know the requirements, let’s learn more about the steps on how to get it. These steps will help guide you in the right direction. Below are five steps to get your CDL.

Obtain a study guide: Once you have decided that you want to obtain a CDL and you feel that you meet all the requirements above, you will need to do your homework. Obtain a free CDL study guide from your local DMV and familiarize yourself with its contents, also, take our general knowledge practice test here.

There are three types of CDL classes that determine the type of vehicle you may drive and how much you may tow. A Class A CDL class allows you to operate a vehicle with a GCWR of 26,001 if the vehicle you tow weighs more than 10,000 and a Class B CDL allows you to operate a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds or operate any vehicle towing another vehicle that weighs less than 10,000 GVWR. With a Class C CDL, you can operate a Class C vehicle that transports hazardous materials.