Parking & Stopping

Study questions with answers

4 sample Parking & Stopping questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. When should you NOT set the parking brakes, and instead chock the wheels to hold the vehicle?

   Correct answer: When the brakes are very hot from a steep grade, or very wet in freezing weather

   Avoid the parking brakes when the brakes are very hot from a steep grade or very wet in freezing temperatures; use wheel chocks instead.

   Source: Indiana Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.4.8 Parking Brakes

2. 2. On a newer air brake vehicle, how do you set the parking brakes?

   Correct answer: Pull out the yellow, diamond-shaped push-pull knob

   Newer vehicles use a yellow, diamond-shaped push-pull knob - pull it out to apply the parking brakes and push it in to release them.

   Source: Indiana Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.1.15 Parking Brake Controls

3. 3. How do you check that the parking brake will actually hold?

   Correct answer: Set the parking brake and tug against it gently in a low gear

   Set the parking brake and gently pull against it in a low gear to confirm it holds the vehicle.

   Source: Indiana Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.3.3 Test Parking Brake

4. 4. Why should you avoid pushing the brake pedal down while the spring brakes are already set?

   Correct answer: The combined spring and air forces could damage the brakes

   Applying the pedal on top of set spring brakes can combine the spring and air forces and damage the brakes.

   Source: Indiana Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.1.15 Parking Brake Controls