Sharing the Road

Study questions with answers

12 sample Sharing the Road questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. What is the recommended response when confronted by an aggressive driver?

   Correct answer: Get out of their way and avoid engaging with them

   Make every attempt to get out of their way, avoid eye contact, ignore gestures, and do not challenge them by speeding up.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Aggressive Drivers/Road Rage)

2. 2. What can happen to steering if too little weight rests on the front axle because cargo is shifted too far to the rear?

   Correct answer: Steering becomes too light to be safe

   Under-loaded front axles can make the steering axle weight too light to steer safely.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 3: Transporting Cargo Safely (Balance the Weight)

3. 3. When you keep your vehicle centered in its lane, what are you trying to preserve?

   Correct answer: Safe clearance on both sides of the vehicle

   Commercial vehicles are wide and take up most of a lane, so staying centered keeps safe clearance on either side.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space to the Sides)

4. 4. How should a commercial driver treat a distracted driver spotted nearby?

   Correct answer: Give them plenty of room and pass with extra care

   Give a distracted driver plenty of room, keep a safe following distance, and be very careful when passing since they may not notice you.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Watch Out for Other Distracted Drivers)

5. 5. Which vehicles are usually affected more by strong winds on the highway?

   Correct answer: Lighter vehicles

   Strong winds make it hard to stay in your lane, and the problem is usually worse for lighter vehicles, especially coming out of tunnels.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Strong Winds)

6. 6. Why should a driver be cautious around a stopped bus?

   Correct answer: Passengers may cross near the bus and not see you

   Passengers may cross in front of or behind a stopped bus and often cannot see you, so approach carefully.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Parked Vehicles Can Be Hazards)

7. 7. When only the tractor of a combination has ABS, what should you watch for and do if needed?

   Correct answer: Watch the trailer and ease off the brakes if it swings out

   With ABS only on the tractor you should keep steering control and watch the trailer, letting up on the brakes if the trailer begins to swing out.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (ABS on the Tractor Only or Only on the Trailer)

8. 8. How does the height of an empty cargo van compare with that of a loaded one?

   Correct answer: An empty van is higher than a loaded one

   An empty van is higher than a loaded one, so clearing a bridge while loaded does not mean you will clear it when empty.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space Overhead)

9. 9. When a heavy load slows you down going uphill and cars are tailgating, what is the best lane choice?

   Correct answer: Stay in the right lane when you can

   If a heavy load is slowing you down, stay in the right lane when you can so faster traffic can get around you.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Stay to the Right)

10. 10. Why should posted bridge and overpass clearance heights not always be fully trusted?

    Correct answer: Repaving or packed snow may have lowered the actual clearance

    Re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance since the height was posted, so the marked figure may no longer be accurate.

    Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space Overhead)

11. 11. What are the two dangers of traveling alongside another vehicle in an adjacent lane?

    Correct answer: They might turn into you, or you could be trapped when you need to move over

    The other driver may suddenly change lanes into you, or you may be trapped when you need to change lanes yourself.

    Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Traveling Next to Others)

12. 12. How does ABS change the way you should normally brake?

    Correct answer: You should brake exactly as you always have

    With ABS you should brake as you always have; it is an add-on that only activates when a wheel would otherwise lock up.

    Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Braking with ABS)