Nevada CDL — General Knowledge: Safe Driving Practices Practice Test

Question 1

What is the purpose of a front-end header board, sometimes called a 'headache rack'?

Accepted Answer

To protect you from your cargo in a crash or emergency stop — Header boards shield the driver from cargo moving forward in a crash or sudden stop. Keep the front-end structure in good shape so it blocks forward cargo movement.

Answer

To keep rain off the cargo

Answer

To hold the hazmat placards

Answer

To carry the spare tire

Question 2

Your bus has emergency roof hatches. What does the manual say about opening them?

Accepted Answer

Some may be locked partly open for fresh air, but not as a regular practice — You may lock some roof hatches partly open for fresh air, but don't make a habit of it, and remember the bus is taller while they are open.

Answer

They must stay fully open whenever passengers ride

Answer

They may never be opened while driving

Answer

They should be opened before every railroad crossing

Question 3

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study looked at what CMV drivers were doing before large-truck crashes. About what share happened while the driver was distracted by something outside the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

8 percent — The study found 8 percent of large-truck crashes came while the CMV driver was distracted by something outside the cab, and 2 percent while distracted by something inside it.

Answer

2 percent

Answer

25 percent

Answer

50 percent

Question 4

You must tilt the cab to check the engine compartment. What should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Secure loose items in the cab so they don't fall and break something — Raising the hood or tilting the cab is part of Step 2. Fasten down anything loose first so it doesn't fall and cause damage.

Answer

Start the engine so it is warm

Answer

Release the parking brake

Answer

Disconnect the battery

Question 5

Your truck has automatic slack adjusters, and you find a brake out of adjustment. What does the manual recommend?

Accepted Answer

Take the vehicle to a repair facility soon, since adjusting it by hand usually hides the real problem — An automatic adjuster that is out of adjustment points to a mechanical problem. Adjusting it by hand usually masks the fault and gives a false sense of security, so do it only as a temporary emergency measure.

Answer

Adjust it by hand and keep driving as usual

Answer

Ignore it, since automatic adjusters always fix themselves

Answer

Lower the tire pressure on that wheel

Question 6

You just had a tire changed on the road. What should you do a short while later?

Accepted Answer

Stop and check that the wheel nuts are still tight — After a tire change, stop again after a short distance and re-check that the wheel nuts are tight.

Answer

Let some air out of the new tire

Answer

Swap it with another tire

Answer

Nothing until the next annual inspection

Question 7

Why do sanitation rules usually keep baffles out of tanks that haul food products such as milk?

Accepted Answer

Baffles make the inside of the tank hard to clean — Smooth bore (un-baffled) tanks are typical for food products because baffles make the interior difficult to clean. With nothing inside to slow the liquid, front-to-back surge is very strong.

Answer

Baffles add too much weight

Answer

Milk would freeze on the baffles

Answer

Baffles cause too much surge

Question 8

Nevada's hydraulic brake check includes a step for vehicles with a backup reserve system. What do you do?

Accepted Answer

With the key off, press the brake pedal and listen for the reserve system's electric motor — In Nevada's hydraulic brake check, a vehicle with a hydraulic reserve (backup) system gets an extra step: key off, press the pedal, and listen for the reserve motor. Then confirm the warning buzzer or light is off.

Answer

Pump the pedal ten times with the engine running

Answer

Set the parking brake and listen for escaping air

Answer

Turn the key on and confirm the ABS lamp stays lit

Question 9

Your cooling system has no overflow or recovery tank, and you need to add coolant. After shutting off the engine, letting it cool, and protecting your hands, how do you remove the radiator cap?

Accepted Answer

Turn it slowly to the first stop, step back while pressure releases, then remove it — Turn the cap slowly to the first stop to release the pressure seal, step back while the pressure escapes, then press down and turn it further to take it off.

Answer

Twist it off in one quick motion

Answer

Pry it off with a screwdriver

Answer

Remove it while the engine is still running

Question 10

In the basic upshift method with double clutching, what happens after you shift to neutral and release the clutch?

Accepted Answer

Let the engine and gears slow to the rpm needed for the next gear — Upshifting: let off the accelerator while clutching in and moving to neutral; release the clutch; let the engine and gears slow to the right rpm; clutch in and shift up; then release the clutch as you press the accelerator.

Answer

Rev the engine to the top of its range

Answer

Apply the brakes firmly

Answer

Shift straight into the higher gear without the clutch

Question 11

What does an alcohol evaporator in an air brake system do, and how often should you check it in cold weather?

Accepted Answer

It adds alcohol to the air to reduce ice in valves; check and refill it daily in cold weather — An alcohol evaporator feeds alcohol into the air system to lower the risk of ice in valves and other parts. Check and top it off every day in cold weather, and still drain the tanks daily unless they have automatic drains.

Answer

It removes water from the tanks; check it once a month

Answer

It warms the brake drums; check it weekly

Answer

It replaces the need to drain the tanks; check it only in summer

Question 12

The safety relief valve on your first air tank releases air. What does that tell you?

Accepted Answer

Something is wrong, so have a mechanic fix it — The safety valve, usually set to open at 150 psi, guards the system against too much pressure. If it lets air out, there is a fault for a mechanic to repair.

Answer

The system is working normally

Answer

The tanks need to be drained

Answer

The governor has cut in

Nevada CDL — General Knowledge: Safe Driving Practices practice test

Study questions with answers

1. What is the purpose of a front-end header board, sometimes called a 'headache rack'?

2. Your bus has emergency roof hatches. What does the manual say about opening them?

3. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study looked at what CMV drivers were doing before large-truck crashes. About what share happened while the driver was distracted by something outside the vehicle?

4. You must tilt the cab to check the engine compartment. What should you do first?

5. Your truck has automatic slack adjusters, and you find a brake out of adjustment. What does the manual recommend?

6. You just had a tire changed on the road. What should you do a short while later?

7. Why do sanitation rules usually keep baffles out of tanks that haul food products such as milk?

8. Nevada's hydraulic brake check includes a step for vehicles with a backup reserve system. What do you do?

9. Your cooling system has no overflow or recovery tank, and you need to add coolant. After shutting off the engine, letting it cool, and protecting your hands, how do you remove the radiator cap?

10. In the basic upshift method with double clutching, what happens after you shift to neutral and release the clutch?

11. What does an alcohol evaporator in an air brake system do, and how often should you check it in cold weather?

12. The safety relief valve on your first air tank releases air. What does that tell you?

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