Pennsylvania CDL — General Knowledge practice
Pennsylvania CDL — General Knowledge: Parking & Stopping practice test
Legal and illegal parking, colored curbs, distances from hydrants and crossings, and how to park safely on hills.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
13 questions · pass with 10 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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12 sample Parking & Stopping questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
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1. The trailer hand valve should never be used for what purpose?
Correct answer: Parking the vehicle
The trailer hand valve must never serve as a park brake, since the air could bleed off and let the brakes release; rely on the parking brakes instead whenever you park.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 6: Combination Vehicles (Trailer Hand Valve)
2. When an air-brake vehicle lacks automatic tank drains, how frequently must you drain the air tanks?
Correct answer: At the end of each working day
Empty the air tanks when each working day ends so moisture and oil are cleared out; leaving them could cause brake failure.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes (Air Tank Drains)
3. When should you avoid using the parking brakes on an air-brake vehicle?
Correct answer: When the brakes are very hot, or wet in freezing weather
Avoid setting the parking brakes when they are extremely hot after a long grade, or soaking wet in freezing weather, because heat can damage them and cold can freeze them shut.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes (Parking Brakes)
4. When required to stop at a railroad crossing, where must a bus or placarded vehicle stop relative to the nearest rail?
Correct answer: No nearer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the closest rail
If a stop is mandatory, halt no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail, then look and listen for trains.
5. What must you never do when leaving a commercial vehicle unattended?
Correct answer: Leave it without setting the parking brakes or chocking the wheels
Do not walk away from an unattended vehicle unless the parking brakes are set or the wheels are chocked; otherwise it could roll off and hurt someone or cause damage.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes (Parking Brakes)
6. What is a 'safe haven' as it relates to parking vehicles loaded with explosives?
Correct answer: An approved place for parking unattended explosives loads
A 'safe haven' means an authorized location — normally set by local officials — where an explosives-laden vehicle may be left parked and unattended.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 9: Hazardous Materials (Parking with Explosives)
7. When you must back a vehicle, which direction should you back and turn whenever possible?
Correct answer: Toward the driver's side
Whenever you can, steer toward the driver's side while backing, since visibility is much better than backing to the right.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Backing Safely)
8. Within what distance of the traveled roadway may a vehicle transporting Divisions 1.1 through 1.3 explosives be parked?
Correct answer: Never within five feet of the traveled roadway
A vehicle hauling Divisions 1.1 through 1.3 explosives must never be parked within five feet of the traveled portion of the roadway.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 9: Hazardous Materials (Parking with Explosives)
9. Why must you always use wheel chocks when parking a trailer that has no spring brakes?
Correct answer: The trailer's air can leak away, releasing its brakes
A trailer without spring brakes relies on air in its tank for its emergency brakes; that air can leak away, releasing the brakes, so chocks keep it from rolling.
10. What should you do with the parking brake whenever you leave your vehicle?
Correct answer: Set the parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever you leave your vehicle so it cannot roll away.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Basic Control of Your Vehicle)
11. On a newer air-brake vehicle, how do you apply the parking (spring) brakes?
Correct answer: Pull out a yellow, diamond-shaped control knob
On newer air-brake vehicles you apply the parking brakes by pulling out the diamond-shaped, yellow push-pull control knob, and push it in to release.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes (Parking Brake Controls)
12. Apart from short operational needs such as fueling, within what distance of a bridge, tunnel, or building must you not park a vehicle hauling Divisions 1.1 through 1.3 explosives?
Correct answer: Within 300 feet
Other than brief needs like refueling, keep at least 300 feet away from any bridge, tunnel, building, gathering place, or open fire when parked.
Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 9: Hazardous Materials (Parking with Explosives)
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