Iowa CDL — General Knowledge: Traffic Laws Practice Test

Question 1

Which of these must you do for the entire on-road test?

Accepted Answer

Wear your safety belt and finish without a crash or moving violation — Throughout the test you must drive safely, keep your belt fastened, obey all signs, signals, and laws, and complete the route with no crash or moving violation.

Answer

Drive at least 5 mph under every posted limit

Answer

Use your four-way flashers at intersections

Answer

Stay in the left lane on multi-lane roads

Question 2

The previous driver's inspection report lists a brake defect. Who must certify on that report that the problem was repaired or didn't need repair?

Accepted Answer

The motor carrier — The carrier must repair any reported safety items and then certify in writing on the report that the work was done or wasn't needed. Only then should you sign it.

Answer

The next driver

Answer

A state trooper

Answer

The shipper

Question 3

You drive your own car for a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft and have a paying rider aboard. What does the railroad crossing page in Iowa's manual require?

Accepted Answer

Stop 15 to 50 feet from the tracks before crossing — Iowa's crossing page puts for-hire passenger drivers, naming Uber and Lyft as examples, on the must-stop list along with school buses, charter buses, and placarded hazmat vehicles. The stop is made 15 to 50 feet from the rails.

Answer

Slow to 15 mph but don't stop

Answer

Stop only when the gates are down

Answer

Nothing extra, since only buses must stop

Question 4

Under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), what does a licensed motor carrier receive from its base jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

One set of credentials that covers operations in all IFTA member jurisdictions — IFTA lets a carrier license in a single base jurisdiction and get one set of credentials good across every member jurisdiction. The base jurisdiction then sends the collected taxes to the others.

Answer

A separate fuel permit for each state

Answer

A refund of all fuel taxes

Answer

An exemption from keeping fuel records

Question 5

You're pulled over in a truck that requires hazmat placards, and your CDL has no hazardous materials endorsement. What does the manual say will happen?

Accepted Answer

You'll be cited and won't be allowed to keep driving the truck — Driving a vehicle that needs placards without the H endorsement is a crime. You will be ticketed and kept from driving the truck, which costs time and money.

Answer

You'll get a warning and may continue

Answer

You can finish the delivery if the placards are up

Answer

Only your employer will be fined

Question 6

You aren't sure whether your assigned load requires placards. What does the manual tell you to do?

Accepted Answer

Ask your employer — If you don't know whether the vehicle needs placards, ask your employer, and never drive a vehicle that needs them unless you hold the H endorsement.

Answer

Assume it doesn't and drive normally

Answer

Put placards on anyway to be safe

Answer

Call 911 for guidance

Question 7

When you fill out an Individual Vehicle Distance Record (IVDR), what must you keep for every fueling?

Accepted Answer

A receipt for the fuel purchase, included with the IVDR — Fuel purchases must be documented along with the trips. Get a receipt every time you fuel and attach it to the completed IVDR.

Answer

A photo of the pump display

Answer

Only the station's tax ID

Answer

Nothing, since fuel is tracked separately

Question 8

On the road test, what result does the manual give for coasting farther than your vehicle's length?

Accepted Answer

Automatic failure — Coasting means rolling out of gear, with the clutch pressed or the shifter in neutral. Doing it for more than the vehicle's length is an automatic failure on the road test.

Answer

A one-point deduction

Answer

A verbal warning

Answer

No penalty on level ground

Question 9

How many vehicles may a single Individual Vehicle Distance Record (IVDR) cover?

Accepted Answer

One — An IVDR covers a single vehicle, and each one must be completed in full for every trip.

Answer

Up to three in the same fleet

Answer

Every vehicle you drove that week

Answer

Any number, if they share a base jurisdiction

Question 10

Under the International Registration Plan (IRP), which of these is a registrant's responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Displaying registration credentials properly and keeping accurate distance records — Registrants apply with their base jurisdiction, provide documents, pay fees, display credentials properly, keep accurate distance records, and make those records available for review. Jurisdictions issue plates and run audits.

Answer

Setting the fuel tax rate for each state

Answer

Auditing other carriers' mileage

Answer

Issuing license plates to other fleets

Question 11

What does a coupling device's capacity rating tell you?

Accepted Answer

The most weight it is built to pull, carry, or both — Coupling devices carry a rating for the maximum weight they can safely pull and/or carry, and you must stay within it.

Answer

How many trailers it can connect

Answer

The lowest temperature it can work in

Answer

The tire pressure the trailer needs

Question 12

A truck carries four permanently mounted tanks of liquid feed supplement, each rated at 200 gallons, for 800 gallons in all. Does the driver need the tank vehicle (N) endorsement?

Accepted Answer

No, because the combined capacity is under 1,000 gallons — The tank endorsement applies when individual tanks are rated over 119 gallons AND the combined capacity is 1,000 gallons or more. Both conditions must be met, and the liquid doesn't have to be hazardous.

Answer

Yes, because each tank holds more than 119 gallons

Answer

Yes, any liquid hauled in a tank requires it

Answer

No, because the cargo isn't hazardous

Iowa CDL — General Knowledge: Traffic Laws practice test

Study questions with answers

1. Which of these must you do for the entire on-road test?

2. The previous driver's inspection report lists a brake defect. Who must certify on that report that the problem was repaired or didn't need repair?

3. You drive your own car for a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft and have a paying rider aboard. What does the railroad crossing page in Iowa's manual require?

4. Under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), what does a licensed motor carrier receive from its base jurisdiction?

5. You're pulled over in a truck that requires hazmat placards, and your CDL has no hazardous materials endorsement. What does the manual say will happen?

6. You aren't sure whether your assigned load requires placards. What does the manual tell you to do?

7. When you fill out an Individual Vehicle Distance Record (IVDR), what must you keep for every fueling?

8. On the road test, what result does the manual give for coasting farther than your vehicle's length?

9. How many vehicles may a single Individual Vehicle Distance Record (IVDR) cover?

10. Under the International Registration Plan (IRP), which of these is a registrant's responsibility?

11. What does a coupling device's capacity rating tell you?

12. A truck carries four permanently mounted tanks of liquid feed supplement, each rated at 200 gallons, for 800 gallons in all. Does the driver need the tank vehicle (N) endorsement?

More CDL — General Knowledge topics

Practice Traffic Laws in another state