Parking & Stopping

Study questions with answers

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.

1. 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. 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. 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. 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.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 4: Transporting Passengers Safely (Railroad-Highway Crossings Stops)

5. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 6: Combination Vehicles (Trailer Service, Parking and Emergency Brakes)

10. 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. 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. 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)