CCDL Permit Prep

General Knowledge · page 14 of 19

General Knowledge questions 261–280

Part of the 376-question General Knowledge pool. Each answer cites the FMCSA CDL Manual or the federal rule it comes from.

Practise these as a timed set

  1. In FMCSA's inspection-file glossary, what does a Level I (Full) inspection involve?

    • AOnly a vehicle's exterior
    • BA broad roadside review of listed driver records and vehicle systems; Level I is also called the North American Standard inspectionCorrect
    • COnly weigh-station inspections, never other roadside locations
    • DOnly the motor carrier’s annual inspection

    FMCSA describes a Full Inspection as its most comprehensive inspection type. It is a Level I inspection, also called the North American Standard inspection, and includes listed driver records and vehicle checks. The exact items depend on the federal inspection definition and what applies to the vehicle.

    FMCSA MCMIS Inspection File Glossary · FULL INSPECTION: Level I / North American Standard (NAS) · verified 2026-09-07

  2. What must happen before a vehicle declared out of service during a roadside inspection may be operated?

    • AThe specified out-of-service defect must be correctedCorrect
    • BThe driver must wait until the next day
    • CThe vehicle may be driven only in daylight
    • DThe carrier may continue the trip if the driver signs the inspection report

    When an authorized inspector declares a vehicle out of service, the driver and motor carrier must not operate it until the specified out-of-service condition is corrected. This rule does not make a general statement about fines or prescribe one repair-location process for every case.

    eCFR 49 CFR 396.9 — Inspection of motor vehicles in operation · 396.9(c) — Out-of-service order · verified 2026-09-07

  3. During a pre-trip inspection, a drum-brake lining appears thin or damaged. What is the safe response?

    • AHave the brake evaluated and corrected as needed before operationCorrect
    • BDrive slowly and inspect it after the next delivery
    • CAdd grease to the lining before driving
    • DIgnore the lining if the parking brake holds

    Thin or damaged brake lining needs evaluation before operation. Brake condition rules and inspection criteria depend on the brake system and vehicle. Do not substitute a single universal lining measurement for a complete brake inspection.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver License Manual · Section 2.1 — Vehicle Inspection Guide; brake components · verified 2026-09-07

  4. A load is concentrated at the front of a semitrailer. Scale weights show the drive axles are overweight while the trailer axles are below their limit. What is a defensible first adjustment?

    • AMove some cargo rearward, secure it again, and reweigh the axle groupsCorrect
    • BMove more cargo toward the front and keep the same route
    • CInflate the drive tires above their rated pressure
    • DDrive below the speed limit without changing the load

    With the stated front-heavy load and spare trailer-axle capacity, moving cargo rearward can shift weight away from the drive axles. Secure the adjusted load and reweigh because every axle group and component rating still must remain within its limit.

    Oregon Commercial Driver Manual · 3.2.4 — Balance the Weight · verified 2026-09-07

  5. According to FMCSA’s road-sharing guidance, what should passenger-vehicle drivers do around large trucks and buses?

    • AAvoid lingering beside them and stay clear of their blind spots.Correct
    • BTailgate so the driver can see the passenger vehicle.
    • CRemain beside the vehicle until the driver signals.
    • DPass through a blind spot on the right.

    FMCSA says large trucks and buses have blind spots around their sides and advises road users not to linger beside them.

    Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Our Roads, Our Safety — Talking Points · Road-sharing guidance: commercial vehicle blind spots · verified 2026-09-27

  6. You have lost effective braking on a downgrade. Which available route provides the safest controlled stop?

    • ASteer into the oncoming lane to get around slower traffic
    • BStay on the road and keep pumping the brakes harder
    • CUse the escape ramp to stop the truck safelyCorrect
    • DShift into neutral so the truck coasts down the grade

    Escape ramps are built on steep downgrades to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers and passengers. If your brakes fail on a downgrade, use an escape ramp or another escape route; coasting in neutral removes engine braking.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.17.3: Brake failure (Brake failure on downgrades; escape ramps) · verified 2026-09-29

  7. The diagram shows a tractor-trailer's rear wheels during the right turn. They:

    • ATrack outside the front wheels
    • BFollow exactly behind the front wheels
    • CTrack inside the front wheels' pathCorrect
    • DLift off the ground slightly

    Off-tracking makes the rear trailer wheels cut inside the tractor's path. Keep the trailer rear close enough to block unsafe right-side passing, then use available space as you complete the turn. Do not swing left before starting a right turn.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.7 - Managing Space · verified 2026-09-08

  8. Before the long steep downgrade shown, you should be in:

    • ANeutral to save the clutch
    • BThe highest gear for fuel economy
    • CA low gear that controls speed with engine brakingCorrect
    • DAny gear with steady brake pressure

    Select a low gear before descending so the engine can help control speed and the service brakes remain available for emergencies.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.16 - Mountain Driving · verified 2026-09-08

  9. After shifting to the proper low gear on a long downgrade, what is the proper braking technique?

    • ABrake just hard enough to feel a slowdown, release about 5 mph below your safe speed, then repeatCorrect
    • BHold light constant pressure the whole way down
    • CBrake only in the curves
    • DAlternate left- and right-foot braking

    The manual says apply the brakes just hard enough to feel a definite slowdown, release at about 5 mph below the safe speed (about three seconds), and repeat when speed rebuilds.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual (July 2014) · 2.16.4 Proper Braking Technique · verified 2026-09-25

  10. The flatbed load shown is 20 feet long. Minimum tiedowns required:

    • ATwo tiedownsCorrect
    • BOne heavy-duty strap
    • CFour regardless of length
    • DNone if the cargo is heavy

    The general rule is one tiedown per 10 feet of cargo with an aggregate working load limit of at least half the cargo weight — and never fewer than two.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 3 - Transporting Cargo Safely · verified 2026-09-08

  11. The posted bridge shows a 10-ton limit; your rig weighs 15 tons. You must:

    • ACross slowly in a low gear
    • BStop and take another routeCorrect
    • CCross with half fuel tanks
    • DCross if no inspector is present

    Posted structures reflect engineering limits; exceeding them risks catastrophic failure and serious violations, so plan routes around weight-restricted bridges.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2 - Driving Safely · verified 2026-09-08

  12. Crossing the tracks shown in a truck, you should never:

    • AUse a pullout lane where provided
    • BLook both ways twice
    • CShift gears while on the tracksCorrect
    • DTurn on four-way flashers when required

    A missed shift can stall the vehicle on the crossing; put the truck in the right gear beforehand and cross without shifting.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.15 - Railroad-highway Crossings · verified 2026-09-08

  13. Backing toward the dock shown with an unclear right side, you should:

    • ABack quickly to minimize exposure
    • BStop, get out, and look as neededCorrect
    • CTrust the convex mirror alone
    • DSound the horn and continue blind

    If any part of the backing path is uncertain, stop, get out, and look. Mirrors alone can leave blind areas.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.2 - Backing Safely · verified 2026-09-08

  14. In heavy rain, standing water and spray reduce visibility. What should a CMV driver do?

    • AStraddle lanes to spread the spray
    • BMaintain speed because spray is unavoidable
    • CSlow down enough to stop within the visible distanceCorrect
    • DUse the shoulder to pass

    FMCSA says rain and standing water can reduce visibility and require slowing so you can stop within the distance you can see.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2 - Driving Safely · verified 2026-09-08

  15. Brakes are fading on the descent and you see the runaway ramp shown. You should:

    • AAim for the guardrail to scrub speed
    • BSave it for a bigger emergency
    • CDownshift instead at high speed
    • DEnter the runaway ramp immediatelyCorrect

    If braking control is being lost, use the runaway ramp as soon as it is safe and available; do not wait until control is gone.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.16 - Mountain Driving · verified 2026-09-08

  16. The overpass shown is posted 12'6"; your rig is 13'6". You must:

    • AStop and find another routeCorrect
    • BProceed slowly down the center
    • CLet air out of the suspension and try
    • DFollow another tall truck through

    A posted clearance below your height means do not attempt it: repaving can reduce real clearance, and bridge strikes are career-ending and deadly.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.8 - Seeing Hazards · verified 2026-09-08

  17. Your loaded trailer has a high center of gravity. In the posted 45 mph curve shown, you should:

    • AAccelerate through for stability
    • BTake it at exactly 45 mph
    • CSlow below the posted curve speedCorrect
    • DHug the inside line at 50

    FMCSA warns that a truck with a high center of gravity can roll over at the posted curve speed. Slow to a safe speed before entering the curve.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.6 - Controlling Speed · verified 2026-09-08

  18. The bridge deck ahead looks wet and the temperature is 30°F. What hazard should you anticipate?

    • AHeavier vehicles are immune to ice
    • BJust wet pavement
    • CSalt has cleared it
    • DPossible black ice; slow smoothly before the deckCorrect

    FMCSA defines black ice as a clear layer that makes the road look wet and says to watch for it whenever the temperature is below freezing.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.6 - Controlling Speed · verified 2026-09-08

  19. You are stopped on the shoulder of the divided highway shown. Your warning triangles go at:

    • A10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching trafficCorrect
    • BAt the bumper only
    • C50 feet in front of the truck
    • DWherever the shoulder is widest

    On divided highways place reflective triangles at roughly 10, 100, and 200 feet behind the vehicle toward oncoming traffic within ten minutes of stopping.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 2.5 - Communicating · verified 2026-09-08

  20. Sliding the trailer tandems rearward as shown shifts weight:

    • AOff the entire vehicle
    • BTo the drive axles and off the trailer axlesCorrect
    • COnto the steer axle only
    • DEqually to all axles always

    Tandem position redistributes load between trailer axles and tractor drives; sliding tandems back moves weight forward onto the drive axles for legal axle limits.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual · Section 3 - Transporting Cargo Safely · verified 2026-09-08