Parking & Stopping

Study questions with answers

6 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. A manually operated air-tank drain valve should be opened how often?

   Correct answer: At the end of every day of driving

   Manual drains, opened by a quarter turn or a cable pull, have to be emptied by the driver at the close of each driving day.

   Source: Virginia Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.1.4 Air Tank Drains

2. 2. Why should you avoid pressing the brake pedal while the spring brakes are already applied?

   Correct answer: It could damage the brakes from the combined spring and air forces

   Doing so adds air-pressure force on top of the spring force, and that combined load can damage the brakes, so it is best never to make a habit of it.

   Source: Virginia Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.1.15 Parking Brake Controls

3. 3. When should you NOT set the parking brakes?

   Correct answer: When the brakes are very hot, or very wet in freezing temperatures

   Avoid the parking brakes when the brakes are very hot from a steep grade or very wet in freezing temperatures; instead use wheel chocks, let hot brakes cool, or dry wet ones by driving lightly in low gear.

   Source: Virginia Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.4.8 Parking Brakes

4. 4. You should never leave a commercial vehicle unattended without doing what?

   Correct answer: Setting the parking brakes or placing chocks under the wheels

   Always set the parking brakes or chock the wheels before leaving the vehicle; otherwise it could roll away and cause injury or damage.

   Source: Virginia Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.4.8 Parking Brakes

5. 5. On newer air-brake vehicles, what does the parking-brake control usually look like and how is it used?

   Correct answer: A yellow, diamond-shaped knob you pull out to apply and push in to release

   The modern parking-brake control is a yellow, diamond-shaped push-pull knob; you pull it out to set the parking (spring) brakes and push it in to release them.

   Source: Virginia Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.1.15 Parking Brake Controls

6. 6. How do you test that the parking brake will actually hold?

   Correct answer: Set it and, in a low gear, ease the vehicle forward against it to confirm it holds

   With the vehicle stopped, set the parking brake and gently try to pull forward against it in a low gear to confirm it holds the vehicle.

   Source: Virginia Commercial Driver's License Manual, Section 5 (Air Brakes), 5.3.3 Final Air Brake Check