NJ CDL Written Test - General Knowledge

Which of these would tell you that a shipment contains hazardous material?

Name of hazard class on shipping paper; Four-inch diamond shape haz-mat label on the container; Hazardous material placards on the vehicle

Which of these statements about speed management is true?

On a wet road, you should reduce your speed by 1/3. On packed snow, reduce your speed by at least 1/2. On slippery roads, it will take longer to stop, and it will be harder to turn without skidding.

The three things that add up to total stopping distance are:

Perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance

What should you do if your vehicle hydroplanes?

Release the accelerator

You are being tailgated. You should:

Slow down gently to increase the distance in front of your vehicle

You are driving a heavy vehicle and must exit the highway using an off ramp that curves downhill, you should:

Slow down to a safe speed before you turn, usually 5 mph less than posted

On a vehicle ahead of you, there is a red triangle marking with an orange center. What does this marking mean?

Slow moving vehicle

Which of these statements about cargo loading is true?

State regulations dictate legal limits

You are driving on a straight, level highway at 50 mph, there are no vehicles in front of you, and a tire blows out on your vehicle. What should you do first?

Stay off the brake until the vehicle slows down on its own (Uneven brake applications can be...turbulent)

While driving, you see a small object in your lane. You should:

Steer around it if it is safe to do so

If forced to leave the road and return while traveling at a high speed, you should:

Steer sharply back and quickly counter steer

You're checking your steering and exhaust systems during pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?

Steering wheel play of more than 10 degrees or 2 inches make it harder to steer

How do you correct a rear-wheel acceleration skid?

Stop accelerating and push in the clutch

The road on which you are driving becomes very slippery due to glare ice; which of these is good to do in such a situation?

Stop driving as soon as you can safely do so

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

Take your foot off the accelerator

Which of these statements about brakes is true?

The heavier a vehicle or the faster it is moving, the more heat the brakes have to absorb to stop it.

Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true?

The only thing that can cure fatigue is sleep.

As the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) goes up, what happens?

The person is even more dangerous if allowed to drive

Which of these statements about engine retarders is true?

They can cause the drive wheels to skid when they have poor traction

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

Tires of mismatched sizes shouldn't be used on the same vehicle

The intent of the Hazardous Materials regulation has three parts: (1)to ensure safety of drivers and equipment; (2)to communicate the risk and (3)...

To contain the material

To keep drivers from passing on the right when turning right with a tractor trailer, position the:

Trailer to block them

Your vehicle is in a traffic emergency and may collide with another vehicle if you do not take action. What should you do?

Turn the wheel, because you'll avoid the other vehicle easier than you can stop

Which of these is not part of a pre-trip inspection?

Valve clearance

Ice will be most slippery when the temperature is:

Well below freezing

Which of these statements about downshifting is true?

When downshifting for a curve, do so before entering the curve

How do you test hydraulic brakes for a leak?

When stopped, pump the pedal three times, apply pressure and hold for five seconds and see if it moves down or loses pressure

You don't have a hazardous material endorsement on your commercial driver's license. When can you legally haul hazardous materials?

When the load does not require placards

Which of these statements about using turning signals is true?

When turning, you should signal early and cancel (disengage) signal after turning

Which of these statements about driving in areas with strong winds is true?

Winds are especially a problem when coming out of tunnels

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

You can use the tachometer (RPM) to tell you when to shift

Some traffic emergencies may require you to leave the road. Which of these is a good thing to remember?

You should avoid braking (off of paved road surfaces) until your speed has dropped below 20 mph (hard braking on grass can be...turbulent)

Which of these statements about backing a heavy vehicle is true?

You should backing whenever you can, but if you must, use a helper whenever possible

Which of these statements about tires and hot weather driving is true?

You should inspect your tires more often

There are certain medications that may affect driving for some people and not for others. Therefore, the law allows you to use them and have them with you if:

a doctor has informed you that it doesn't affect your driving ability

To make a left turn, start the turn:

at the center of the intersection

Which of these is the most important thing to remember about emergency braking?

if the wheels are skidding, you cannot control the vehicle

You are transporting hazardous material. When you are behind the wheel, the shipping papers must be on the passenger's seat or:

in the driver's door pouch

To correct a trailer drift when backing straight, turn the wheel:

in the same direction the trailer is shifting

The road is most slippery:

just after it starts to rain

If there is a fire in the cargo area, the doors should be:

kept closed

While traveling down a long, steep hill, your brakes begin to fade and then fail. You should:

look for an escape ramp/route

In very hot weather, tar in the road pavement frequently rises to the surface and spots where tar bleeds can make the surface:

slippery

If you must slow down unexpectedly because the road is blocked, warn drivers behind you by:

tapping on the brake pedal

When backing into an alley, you can see best if you turn:

to your left, or driver's side

What is counter-steering?

turning the wheel back in the other direction after steering to avoid a traffic emergency

To alert others to your location, it is best to:

use a slight tap on the horn

The most common cause of serious vehicle skids is:

Driving too fast for road conditions.

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

Which is the best way to use the brake pedal on steep downhill grades?

Light steady pressure (in combination with a lower gear)

Which of these is a sign of tire failure?

Loud bang (any tire)

When the roads are slippery, you should:

Make turns as gently as possible

When backing a loaded truck, you need a helper because:

Mirrors don't let you see directly behind the trailer

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

One 100 ft in front of the vehicle, one about 10 ft in back of the vehicle, and one about 100 ft in back of the vehicle

To correct a rear-wheel braking skid, you should:

Release the brakes and steer/counter-steer

You are checking your wheels and rims for a pre trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?

Rust around wheel nuts may mean they are loose

Auxiliary brakes or speed retarders are designed to:

Slow the vehicle

If you see a "Shipper's Certification" printed on shipping paper, this may tell you:

The shipment contains hazardous material

Which of these statements about mirrors is true?

There are blind spots that your mirrors cannot show you

Which fire can you put out with water?

Tire fires

An on-road inspection should include checking for:

Tire overheating, gasoline fires, and cargo securement

Which of these can cause a fire?

Under-inflated tires Loose fuel connections Electrical short-circuits

The best way to check for loose lugs is to:

Use a lug wrench

The key principle in balancing cargo weight is to keep the load:

centered

You should use your mirrors to check:

the condition of your tires, where the rear of your vehicle is while you make turns, and traffic gaps when merging

Shifting gears is not permitted:

when crossing railroad tracks

The distance that you should look ahead of your vehicle while drive amounts to about what fraction of a mile at high speeds (highways)?

1/4 of a mile

How far ahead of your vehicle should you look while driving in the city?

12-15 seconds (one block)

Cargo that can shift needs at least how many tie downs?

2

You are driving a vehicle with a light load, traffic is moving at 35 mph in a 55 mph zone. The safest speed for your vehicle in this situation is most likely:

35 mph (lesser and safer option of what road conditions and speed limit allow)

You are driving a 40 ft vehicle at 45 mph and driving conditions are ideal (dry pavement and good visibility). The least amount of space you should keep in front of your vehicle to be safe is the distance you would travel in:

5 seconds (Rule: 1 second for every 10 ft of vehicle length + 1 second for every 10 mph over 35 mph) (Ex.: 40 ft = 4 sec. 45 mph - 35 mph = 10 mph = 1 sec. 5 sec total)

Which of these statements about drinking alcohol is true?

A few beers have the same effect as a few shots of whiskey

You are driving a new truck that has a manual transmission. What gear would you use on a long downhill grade?

A lower gear than you would use to go uphill

Which of these statements about overhead clearance is true?

A vehicle's clearance can change with the load carried. (Loaded vehicles are weighed down, so they have lower clearance height. Unloaded vehicles are lighter on the suspension, so they have a higher clearance height.)

Driving under the influence of any drug which makes you drive unsafely such as narcotics or hallucinogens is:

Against the law

Which of these is a good rule to follow when using a fire extinguisher?

Aim at the base of the fire

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

Alcohol affects judgment and self-control necessary to safe driving, increases the chances of a crash, and can make you lose your license

The CDL Manual suggests several things to do when passing a vehicle. Which of these is NOT one of them?

At night, turn your high beams on before passing, and turn them off after passing

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

Brake shoes and pads should not have oil, grease or brake fluid on them, and one missing leaf in a leaf spring can be dangerous

The center of gravity of a load:

Can make a vehicle more likely to tip over on curves.

Which of these statements about speed management is (also) true?

Choose a driving speed that lets you stop in the space that you see ahead

To avoid an accident, you turn onto the right shoulder. How should you merge back into traffic?

Come to a complete stop. Then only steer back into traffic when is safe (enough space for the full length of the vehicle to enter the gap in traffic)

If a vehicle is loaded with most of the weight on the steering axle, what can happen?

Difficulty steering

'Double clutching' is a term describing:

Engaging and disengaging the clutch twice in order to switch between gears

Which of these can cause a vehicle to skid?

Entering a curve too fast

The image in a convex mirror will appear:

Farther away than it really is (The object is closer than it appears in the mirror)

Which of these pieces of emergency equipment should always be carried in your vehicle?

Fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses, and reflective triangles

What is the proper way to hold a steering wheel?

Firmly, with both hands on opposite sides

According to Federal Law, it is illegal to have a Commercial Driver's License:

For more than one state

You should avoid driving through deep puddles or flowing water. But if you must, which of these steps can help keep your brakes working?

Gently pressing the brake pedal while driving through the water

Which of these statements about crossing or entering traffic with a heavy vehicle is true?

Heavy vehicles need larger gaps in traffic than cars

Truck escape ramps:

Help avoid damage to the vehicle

Which of these statements is true about high beams?

High beams should be used when it is safe and legal to do so (rural roads without other cars nearby)

The best way to prevent fatigue is to schedule trips during:

Hours that you are normally awake

Which of these statements about marking a stopped vehicle is true?

If a hill or curve keeps drivers behind you from seeing the vehicle, the rear reflective triangle should be placed 500 ft behind the vehicle

Which of these is the most important thing to remember about emergency braking?

If the wheels are skidding, you can't control the vehicle

In an accident, the first thing you do is:

Keep another accident from happening

Which of these is a good rule to follow when driving at night?

Keep your speed slow enough to stop within range of your headlights

When requesting emergency assistance at an accident scene, the most important information to give is:

Location of the accident

When looking ahead of your vehicle while driving, you should:

Look back and forth