CCDL Permit Prep

General Knowledge · page 16 of 19

General Knowledge questions 301–320

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. Your carrier runs every day of the week. What weekly limit applies to you?

    • A80 hours on duty in 8 consecutive days
    • B60 hours on duty in 8 consecutive days
    • C70 hours on duty in 5 consecutive days
    • D70 hours on duty in 8 consecutive daysCorrect

    A carrier operating every day of the week puts its drivers on the 70-hour, 8-day limit; the 60-hour, 7-day limit applies when it does not.

    49 CFR § 395.3 · Weekly on-duty limits · verified 2026-08-13

  2. How does a driver restart the weekly on-duty count?

    • AWith 34 or more consecutive hours off dutyCorrect
    • BWith 24 consecutive hours off duty
    • CWith two separate 8-hour rest periods
    • DBy starting work for a second carrier

    A period of 7 or 8 consecutive days may end with the start of an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours, which is what makes the restart work.

    49 CFR § 395.3 · Restart provisions · verified 2026-08-13

  3. When must you first re-inspect cargo and its securement after starting a trip?

    • AWithin the first 200 miles of the trip
    • BWithin the first 50 miles of the tripCorrect
    • COnly at the delivery point
    • DOnly after crossing a state line

    The driver inspects the cargo and securement devices within the first 50 miles and makes any adjustment needed so nothing can shift or fall.

    49 CFR § 392.9 · Inspection of cargo and securement devices · verified 2026-08-13

  4. How often does cargo securement get re-examined during the run?

    • AOnce at the halfway point of the run
    • BEvery 6 hours or 300 miles, whichever is first
    • CEvery 3 hours or 150 miles, whichever is firstCorrect
    • DOnly when the load feels unsteady

    Re-examination is required at each change of duty status, after 3 hours of driving, or after 150 miles, whichever comes first.

    49 CFR § 392.9 · Reexamination during transportation · verified 2026-08-13

  5. Whose rules decide where a placarded load may be driven and parked?

    • AThe shipper who tendered the freight
    • BThe state that issued the driver license
    • CThe carrier's home state in every case
    • DThe jurisdiction the vehicle is operating inCorrect

    A vehicle carrying hazardous materials is driven and parked under the laws of the jurisdiction it is in, unless a federal rule imposes a stricter obligation.

    49 CFR § 397.3 · State and local laws, ordinances, and regulations · verified 2026-08-13

  6. Weather turns bad in the middle of a planned run. What does the rule require?

    • AReduce speed, and stop if it becomes dangerousCorrect
    • BMaintain the schedule and use the flashers
    • CContinue until the next planned rest stop
    • DCall dispatch and await written instructions

    Snow, ice, fog, rain, dust and smoke all demand extreme caution and reduced speed, and driving stops altogether once conditions are dangerous enough.

    49 CFR § 392.14 · Hazardous conditions; extreme caution · verified 2026-08-13

  7. May you use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial vehicle?

    • AYes, if the call lasts under a minute
    • BNo, except to reach emergency servicesCorrect
    • CYes, while stopped in moving traffic
    • DYes, if the carrier authorises the call

    Hand-held use is prohibited while driving, and the only exception is communicating with law enforcement or other emergency services.

    49 CFR § 392.82 · Using a hand-held mobile telephone · verified 2026-09-08

  8. Does a traffic-light stop count as driving for the hand-held phone rule?

    • ANo, the rule applies only above 20 mph
    • BNo, any stop ends the restriction
    • CYes, momentary delays still count as drivingCorrect
    • DYes, but only in a construction zone

    Driving includes being temporarily stationary for traffic, a control device or a momentary delay; the rule lifts only once you pull off to a safe stopping place.

    49 CFR § 392.82 · Definition of driving · verified 2026-08-13

  9. You stop on the shoulder. How soon must the warning devices be placed?

    • AOnly after calling the carrier
    • BWithin 30 minutes of stopping
    • COnly if the stop lasts over an hour
    • DWithin 10 minutes of stoppingCorrect

    The hazard flashers go on immediately, and the three warning devices are placed as soon as possible but in any event within 10 minutes.

    49 CFR § 392.22 · Emergency signals; stopped commercial motor vehicles · verified 2026-08-13

  10. Where do the three warning devices go on a two-lane road?

    • AOne within 10 feet on the traffic side, one 100 feet toward approaching traffic, and one 100 feet in the opposite directionCorrect
    • B10 feet back, 50 feet back, and 50 feet ahead
    • CAll three within 20 feet of the vehicle
    • DAll three at 200 feet toward traffic

    For a two-way road, 49 CFR 392.22 places one device within 10 feet on the traffic side, one 100 feet toward approaching traffic, and one 100 feet in the opposite direction.

    49 CFR § 392.22 · Placement of warning devices · verified 2026-08-13

  11. You stop just past the crest of a hill. How does device placement change?

    • APlace all three devices closer to the vehicle
    • BMove one device 100 to 500 feet toward the crestCorrect
    • CPlace no devices until the vehicle is moved
    • DDouble the number of devices on each side

    When the vehicle is stopped within 500 feet of a hill, curve or other view obstruction, one device moves out 100 to 500 feet toward it so drivers get warning.

    49 CFR § 392.22 · Hills, curves, and obstructions · verified 2026-08-13

  12. How does device placement differ on a divided or one-way highway?

    • AOnly the hazard flashers are required there
    • BDevices go 100 feet on each side of the vehicle
    • CDevices go at 10, 100 and 200 feet toward trafficCorrect
    • DDevices go 500 feet in both directions

    On a divided or one-way road all three devices face approaching traffic: one within 10 feet at the rear, one at 100 feet and one at 200 feet.

    49 CFR § 392.22 · Divided or one-way roads · verified 2026-08-13

  13. Your electronic logging device malfunctions. Who do you tell, and how fast?

    • ANobody, if the paper log is complete
    • BThe state police, at the next scale
    • CThe device maker, within eight days
    • DThe carrier, in writing within 24 hoursCorrect

    You note the malfunction, give the carrier written notice within 24 hours, and keep paper records of duty status until the device is fixed.

    49 CFR § 395.34 · ELD malfunctions and data diagnostic events · verified 2026-08-13

  14. A driver must carry emergency contact instructions when hauling what?

    • ADivision 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosive materialsCorrect
    • BAny load crossing a state line
    • CAny load over 40,000 pounds gross
    • DAny refrigerated food shipment

    Carriers hauling those explosives must give the driver written instructions naming who to contact and what precautions to take in a fire, crash or leak.

    49 CFR § 397.19 · Instructions and documents · verified 2026-09-08

  15. What does coercion mean under the federal rule?

    • AAssigning a route you consider too long
    • BThreatening your work to force a violationCorrect
    • CRefusing to pay for detention time
    • DScheduling a load on a holiday weekend

    Coercion is a threat to withhold work or take adverse action to make you operate after you said the conditions would put you in violation.

    49 CFR § 390.5 · Definition of coerce or coercion · verified 2026-08-13

  16. Who is barred from coercing a commercial driver?

    • AOnly the shipper who loaded the freight
    • BOnly the driver's own motor carrier
    • CCarriers, shippers, receivers and intermediariesCorrect
    • DOnly a dispatcher employed full time

    The prohibition reaches motor carriers, shippers, receivers and transportation intermediaries, along with their agents, officers and representatives.

    49 CFR § 390.6 · Coercion prohibited · verified 2026-08-13

  17. How long do you have to file a written coercion complaint?

    • ATwo years after the event
    • B30 days after the event
    • C180 days after the event
    • D90 days after the eventCorrect

    A coercion complaint goes to the National Consumer Complaint Database or the state Division Administrator no later than 90 days after the event.

    49 CFR § 386.12 · Complaint of coercion · verified 2026-08-13

  18. What must a coercion complaint identify about the regulation involved?

    • AThe provisions you were pressed to violateCorrect
    • BThe penalty amount you expect to be assessed
    • CThe insurance policy covering the load
    • DThe mileage rate you were promised

    The complaint names the person coercing you, the regulatory provisions you were pushed to violate, and the facts and dates behind each allegation.

    49 CFR § 386.12 · Contents of a coercion complaint · verified 2026-08-13

  19. You are fired for refusing to drive an unsafe vehicle. Where do you complain?

    • AThe Secretary of Labor, within 30 days
    • BThe Secretary of Labor, within 180 daysCorrect
    • CThe state licensing agency, within a year
    • DThe shipper's insurance carrier promptly

    The federal whistleblower statute lets a driver file a discrimination complaint with the Secretary of Labor no later than 180 days after the violation.

    49 U.S.C. § 31105 · Employee protections · verified 2026-08-13

  20. What refusal does the federal whistleblower law protect?

    • ARefusing to work on a scheduled day off
    • BRefusing any load paid below market rate
    • CRefusing to operate in violation or real dangerCorrect
    • DRefusing to train a newly hired driver

    The protection covers refusing to operate when operation would break a safety regulation, or when a reasonable driver would see a real danger of injury.

    49 U.S.C. § 31105 · Protected refusals to operate · verified 2026-08-13