Gen Knowledge Flashcards
(121 cards)
what can happen if you drive too fast around a curve?
if you take a curve too fast, your tires can lose traction and continue straight ahead, causing your vehicle to skid off the road, or your tires may retain traction, but your vehicle may roll over
What is the rule about backing in a commercial vehicle?
Because your view of your surroundings is very limited, backing is always dangerous. Avoid it whenever possible. Parking in an area where you can pull out straight is a better alternative
if you’re traveling at 55 mph on dry pavement, what is your reaction distance?
your reaction distance is the distance your vehicle moves from the time your brain recognizes the hazard until your foot moves off the accelerator and pushes the brake pedal. At 55 mph, your vehicle will travel an additional 60 feet before your foot hits the brakes
How many reflective triangles should you have in your commercial vehicle?
you’re required to have this safety equipment in your CMV: spare electrical fuses (unless your vehicle uses circuit breaker)three red reflective triangles, and at least one properly charged and rated fire extinguisher
after you first stop and check your vehicle’s cargo, how many miles can you drive before you must stop and check the cargo again?
you’re required by law to inspect your vehicle 50 miles into a trip. After that, inspect it every 150 miles or 3 hours, whichever comes first
what is a common reason for hydroplaning
hydroplaning often occurs because of low tire pressure or worn treads
how many tie downs should you use for 20 feet of cargo
include at least one tie down per 10 feet of cargo, but no matter how small the cargo, secure it with at least two tie downs. If you have 20 feet of cargo, you would need two tie downs
when should you apply your brakes while driving around a curve
you should apply your brakes before you enter a curve. If you use your brakes halfway through, you run the risk of locking your wheels and causing your vehicle to skid
when should you turn off your high beams?
you should turn off your high beams when you’re within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when following another vehicle within 500 feet
which part of the Skills Test must all drivers applying for a CDL take
the Skills Test consists of three components: 1 - Pre-Trip Inspection, 2 - Basic Control Skills, and 3 - Road test
if you’re tested for alcohol while driving a commercial vehicle and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.04 percent, what will happen
you can lose your CDL for 1 year if you’re tested for alcohol and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.04 percent or more
how much tread depth should your front tires have in every groove?
your front tires should have at least 4/32-inch tread depth in every major groove. Other tires must have at least 2/32-inch tread depth
which of the following is true about the oil pressure gauge in a commercial vehicle
the oil pressure gauge should come up to normal within seconds of starting the engine. If the gauge is low or if it drops or fluctuates, turn off the engine and have it checked
what can happen to brakes if they get wet?
water can cause brakes to weaken, apply unevenly, or grab. If this happens, you might lose braking power, experience wheel lockups, feel pulling to one side or the other, or undergo jackknifing
the total weight of a single vehicle and its load is called the
The total weight of a single vehicle and its load is the gross vehicle weight (GVW)
What might happen if there is too little weight on the front axle?
Too much weight on the front axle will make your CMV hard to steer. If you have too little weight on this axle, you won’t be able to steer safely.
If your engine is on fire, you should
turn it off and don’t open the hood if you don’t have to. Shoot the fire extinguisher through louvers, the radiator, or from the underside of the vehicle
How can you recover from a skid caused by driving too fast?
skids that occur while going too fast can usually be stopped by removing your foot from the accelerator
When you load cargo on a flatbed, you should
when you load a flatbed, load the heaviest items over the axles when possible, since these area are the strongest. After you do this, distribute the rest of the cargo evenly in the front and back of the trailer
Signs placed on the outside of a vehicle warning others of danger are called
placards are signs on the outside of a vehicle warning others of danger. If you’re transporting hazardous material, you’ll have placards on the outside of the front and rear of the vehicle, and on both sides
What should you do if you’re being tailgated while driving a commercial vehicle?
to safely deal with a tailgater, increase your following distance, so there’s room in front of your vehicle. Making more room in front of your vehicle gives a tailgater a place to go if he wants to pass you
When should you inspect your vehicle?
responsible CMV drivers check their vehicles before a trip (during pre-trip inspection), while driving (en-route inspection), whenever they make stops, and after their trip (or post-trip inspection)
What should you be aware of if your vehicle has curved mirrors?
some large vehicles are equipped with curved mirrors, sometimes called convex, fisheye, bug-eye, or spot mirrors. These mirrors allow you to see more than flat mirrors do, but images in these mirrors appear smaller and farther away than they actually are, which is why it’s important to look in both mirrors
When driving downhill, when should you shift your transmission into a lower gear?
you should shift your transmission into a lower gear before going downhill. Don’t wait until you build speed to downshift or you might not be able to find a gear and could seriously damage the transmission