The 171 Most Common General Knowledge Questions

With a BAC of____, most people lose consciousness, and some die.

0.4

How far ahead should you be looking while driving in town?

1 block

The distance that you should look ahead of your vehicle while driving is____at highway speed.

1/4 miles

To prevent a load from shifting, there should be at least one tie-down for every____ feet of cargo.

10

How far ahead should you look?

12-15 seconds

Medical certifications must be renewed every

2 years

What is the minimum tread depth for tires other than front tires:?

2/32 inch

If you are stopped at a rest area and found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02, you will be placed out of service for

24 hours

Inspect your cargo after you have driven

25 miles or 50 miles, depending on the law in the state you are in; again after 3 hours or 150 miles; and after every stop for a break

You are driving a vehicle that can be driven safely at 55 mph on an open road. Although the speed limit is 55 mph, traffic is heavy, moving at 35 mph. The safest speed for your vehicle in this situation is

35 mph

If you are driving a 30-foot vehicle at 55 mph, how many seconds of following distance should you allow?

4 seconds

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?

4 seconds

You should have a minimum of ____ tread on your steering tires.

4/32

What is a hazardous materials placard?

A sign placed on the outside of a vehicle that identifies the hazard class of the cargo.

Converter dollies built on or after March 1, 1998 are required to have anti-lock brakes. These dollies will have

A yellow malfunction lamp on the left side of the dolly.

When should you wear seat belts?

Anytime you are in a moving vehicle

Truck escape ramps

Are designed to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring the drivers and passengers.

Containerized loads

Are typically used for freight carried partway by rail or ship.

What effects can wet brakes cause?

Brakes can be weak or grab

What is the most valuable way to see the sides and rear while driving?

Check your mirrors regularly

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

Defensive.

The most common cause of serious vehicle skids is

Driving too fast for road conditions.

Name two situations in which the legal maximum weights may not be safe to haul.

During bad weather; In mountains

What is the proper way to hold the steering wheel?

Firmly, with both hands on opposite sides of the wheel

It takes the body about____ hours to get rid of the alcohol in four drinks.

Four

What should you do if you get stuck on the railroad tracks?

Get out of your vehicle and away from the tracks

The total weight of the powered unit, the trailer, and the cargo is called

Gross Combination Weight

A vehicle is loaded with most of the weight on the steering axle. What may result?

Hard steering and possible damage to the tires

The purpose of retarders is to

Help slow the vehicle while driving and reduce brake wear.

A car suddenly cuts in front of you, creating a hazard. What should you not do?

Honk and stay close behind the car

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

If possible come to a complete stop before steering back onto the pavement

If you are being tailgated, you should

Increase your following distance

What three things to cargo are the driver's responsibility?

Inspecting the cargo, recognizing overloads, and properly securing the cargo.

Stab braking

Involves releasing the brakes only after the wheels lock up.

You can see a sign on a vehicle ahead of you. The sign is a red triangle with an orange center. What does the sign tell you about the vehicle?

It is a slow-moving vehicle

Bridge formulas permit

Less maximum axle weight for axles that are close together.

What does "communicating" mean in safe driving?

Letting other drivers know you're there to help prevent crashes

Name some things should check on the FRONT of your vehicle during your pre-trip inspection.

Low beams, high beams, four-way flashers, and turn signals

The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the

Maximum GVW specified by the manufacturer for a single vehicle, including its load.

Tie downs must be the proper type and strength. The combined strength of the cargo tie downs must be enough to lift

One and one-half times the weight of the cargo tied down.

You must park on the side of a level, straight, two lane road. Where should you place the reflective triangles?

One within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 100 feet in front of the vehicle

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

Protect the accident scene

How do you test the hydraulic brakes for leaks?

Pump the brake pedal three times; then apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold it for five seconds. The pedal should not move.

What is an "escape ramp?"

Ramps that are located a few miles from the top of a downgrade to help you stop

You do not have a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on your commercial driver's license. You are asked to deliver hazardous materials in a placarded vehicle. You should

Refuse to haul the load

During a pre-trip inspection, you discover an exhaust leak or power steering leak. You should

Report the problem and make arrangements to use another vehicle.

To prevent brake fade, you should

Select a gear that will keep your vehicle at a safe speed on steep downgrades.

You are driving a heavy vehicle and must exit a highway using an off ramp that is curved downhill. You should

Slow down to a safe speed before taking the curve.

How can you avoid wet brake problems?

Slow down, shift to a low gear, and gently apply the brakes

You should back and turn toward the driver's side

So you can watch the rear of the vehicle by looking out the side window.

What is the most important hand signal that you and your backing helper should agree on?

Stop

When driving a commercial vehicle with a height over 13 feet, you should

Stop and make sure if you aren't certain that a clearance is high enough.

How does "bleeding tar" affect the road surface the road surface and driving conditions?

Tar rises to the road surface in very hot weather, causing the road to become very slippery.

The reaction distance is the distance traveled from the time

The brain tells the foot to push the brake pedal to the time the foot actually pushes the pedal.

What is the definition of "sleep debt?"

The cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep

For an average commercial vehicle being driven at 55 mph on dry pavement, it will take about____ to bring the vehicle to a stop.

The length of a football field (300 feet)

The "load" means

The maximum safe weight a tire can carry at a specified pressure

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is

The total weight of a single vehicle, including its load

You do not have a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on your commercial driver's license. You can drive a vehicle hauling hazardous materials when

The vehicle does not require placards.

What does "axle weight" mean?

The weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles

When backing, why is it important to have a helper?

There are blind spots you can't see.

How many red reflective triangle should you carry?

Three

Name some important steering system parts.

Tie rod, spindle, and pitman arm

How does the height of the vehicle's center of gravity affect safe handling?

Trucks with a high center of gravity can roll over at the posted speed limit for a curve

Cargo that can shift should have at least____ tie down(s).

Two

name two causes of fires.

Underinflated tires and duals that touch

Escape ramps are

Used to stop runaway vehicles.

How do you calculate how many seconds of following distance you have?

Wait until the vehicle ahead of you passes a clear landmark. Then count off the seconds until you reach the same spot.

When should you downshift an automatic transmission?

When going down grades

Where or when should you test the stopping action of your service brakes?

When the vehicle is moving at about 5 mph

On a two-way, two-lane road, if you must stop on a hill, how far back should you place your reflective triangles?

Within 500 feet behind the vehicle

Can federal inspectors inspect your truck or bus?

Yes, and they can place it out of service.

When should you review the pre-trip inspection report from the last driver?

You should review it during your pre-trip inspection

Why should you be in the proper gear before starting downhill?

You will not be able to shift into a lower gear once you are going downhill

Turn signals should be used

at least 100 feet before turning or changing lanes.

Some liquid tanks are divided into several smaller tanks by

bulkheads

When inspecting mirrors and windshields for cracks, dirt, illegal stickers, and other obstructions to your vision, you should

clean and adjust as necessary

Implied consent means that when you sign the driver's license application form, you

consent to be tested for alcohol in your blood

It is important to shift gears correctly to keep

control of the vehicle.

The purpose of a baffle is to

control the load surge.

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

go straight ahead even if the steering wheel is turned.

For your safety, when setting out reflective triangles you should

hold the triangles between yourself and oncoming traffic.

One can recognize hazardous materials by looking at the container's:

label

Wheel bearing seals should be checked for

leaks

The tendency for long commercial vehicles to swing wide on turns is called

off-tracking

If your vehicle catches fire while you are driving, you should

park in an open area.

The distance your vehicle travels from the time your eyes see a hazard to the time your brain recognizes it is called____?

perception distance

The oil pressure gauge should come up to normal within how long after starting the engine?

seconds

When approaching a traffic light that has been green for a long time, you should

start to slow down so you will be ready to stop

While driving, you see a small (1-foot-square) cardboard box ahead in your lane. You should

steer around it without making a sudden or unsafe move.

What items should be checked for safety on the steering column?

steering arms should not be missing any nuts, bolts, or cotter keys

If the vehicle in front of you is smaller than yours, it can probably

stop faster than you

If you are driving a long distance, you should

stop often and take short breaks before you feel really drowsy or tired

You are starting your vehicle from a stop. As you apply power o the drive wheels, they start to spin. You should

take your foot off the accelerator.

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

tire changing equipment

You are driving a new truck with a manual transmission. tp take a long, steep downhill grade,

use a lower gear than you would use to climb the hill.

High beams should be

used when it is safe and legal to do so.

If you have been drinking alcohol, before you drive, you should

wait for it to wear off

In your mirror, you see a car approaching from the rear. The next time you check your mirror, you don't see the car. To change lanes you should

wait until you are sure the car isn't in your blind spot

You should try to park your vehicle so that

you pull forward when you leave.