West Virginia CDL — Air Brakes: Parking & Stopping Practice Test

Question 1

Which statement about a modulating control valve does NOT match the manual?

Accepted Answer

To park, you move the lever only partway and hold it there by hand — For parking, the manual says to push the lever to the end of its travel and secure it with the locking device, not to hold it partway. The other statements describe how the valve lets a driver bring the spring brakes on by degrees.

Answer

Its handle is on the dashboard

Answer

It is spring-loaded so the driver can feel the braking action

Answer

Moving the lever farther makes the spring brakes come on harder

Question 2

Section 5 describes several forms the parking brake control can take, depending on the vehicle's age. Which of these is NOT one of them?

Accepted Answer

A foot pedal to the left of the clutch — Newer vehicles have the yellow, diamond-shaped push-pull knob labeled 'parking brakes.' Older vehicles may have a round knob in blue, a differently shaped control, or a lever. A foot pedal is not among the forms the manual lists.

Answer

A yellow, diamond-shaped knob

Answer

A round blue knob

Answer

A lever that moves sideways or up and down

Question 3

On a newer air-braked vehicle, which pairing of knob movement and result is right for the yellow parking brake control?

Accepted Answer

Pull out to apply the spring brakes; push in to release them — The diamond-shaped yellow knob is a push-pull control. Pulling it out puts the parking (spring) brakes on, and pushing it in lets them off.

Answer

Pull out to release the spring brakes; push in to apply them

Answer

Turn left to apply the spring brakes; turn right to release them

Answer

Pull out to open the trailer air supply; push in to close it

Question 4

The manual warns against setting the parking brakes in two conditions and gives a different consequence for each. Which pairing is right?

Accepted Answer

Very hot brakes can be damaged by the heat; very wet brakes in freezing weather can freeze so the vehicle will not move — Parking brakes set on very hot brakes can be damaged by the heat, so the manual says to let hot brakes cool first. Set on very wet brakes in freezing temperatures, they can freeze and leave the vehicle unable to move.

Answer

Very hot brakes can freeze; very wet brakes in freezing weather suffer heat damage

Answer

Very hot brakes can burst the air tanks; very wet brakes in freezing weather swell the linings

Answer

Very hot brakes weaken the springs; very wet brakes in freezing weather disable the low air warning

Question 5

How does the way the service brakes are applied differ from the way the spring brakes are applied?

Accepted Answer

Air pressure applies the service brakes, while the spring brakes apply when air pressure is taken away — Pressing the pedal sends air pressure to apply the service brakes. Spring brakes work the other way around: air pressure holds powerful springs back while you drive, and the springs put the brakes on once that air is let out or lost.

Answer

Springs apply the service brakes, while air pressure applies the spring brakes

Answer

Both are applied by air pressure, but from different tanks

Answer

Both are applied by springs, but the service brakes use weaker ones

Question 6

Air pressure does several jobs in an air brake system. Which of these does Section 5 say is NOT left to air pressure?

Accepted Answer

Holding the parking brakes on while the vehicle is parked — The manual wants emergency and parking brakes kept on mechanically, since air can leak out over time. That is why spring brakes are used: the springs hold the brakes on, and air pressure only keeps them released.

Answer

Applying the service brakes when the pedal is pressed

Answer

Holding back the springs in the spring brakes while you drive

Answer

Working the switch that turns on the brake lights

Question 7

You end a shift in freezing weather with brakes that are still very wet, in a truck whose air tanks have manual drains. Which pair of actions fits Section 5?

Accepted Answer

Hold the truck with wheel chocks on a level surface and drain the air tanks — Very wet brakes can freeze in cold weather if the parking brakes are set, leaving the vehicle stuck, so the manual has you use wheel chocks on level ground. Tanks without automatic drains are drained when each working day ends to get moisture and oil out.

Answer

Set the parking brakes hard and leave the tanks until morning

Answer

Set the parking brakes and add alcohol to the air tanks

Answer

Hold the truck with wheel chocks and leave the tanks full so the air stays warm

Question 8

In which Step 7 check do you try, gently, to move the vehicle against a brake that is already set?

Accepted Answer

The parking brake test — To test the parking brake, the manual has you stop, set the parking brake, and pull lightly against it in low gear to see that it holds. The service brake test is the reverse: you roll ahead at about five mph and then brake.

Answer

The service brake test

Answer

The air leakage rate test

Answer

The low pressure warning signal test

Question 9

Section 5's parking brake control diagram says one driver action both closes the tractor protection valve and sets the spring brakes. Which action?

Accepted Answer

Applying the parking brakes — According to the diagram notes, putting the parking brakes on does both at once: the spring brakes set and the tractor protection valve shuts.

Answer

Pressing the brake pedal all the way down

Answer

Switching the front brake control to 'slippery'

Answer

Turning off the engine

West Virginia CDL — Air Brakes: Parking & Stopping practice test

Study questions with answers

1. Which statement about a modulating control valve does NOT match the manual?

2. Section 5 describes several forms the parking brake control can take, depending on the vehicle's age. Which of these is NOT one of them?

3. On a newer air-braked vehicle, which pairing of knob movement and result is right for the yellow parking brake control?

4. The manual warns against setting the parking brakes in two conditions and gives a different consequence for each. Which pairing is right?

5. How does the way the service brakes are applied differ from the way the spring brakes are applied?

6. Air pressure does several jobs in an air brake system. Which of these does Section 5 say is NOT left to air pressure?

7. You end a shift in freezing weather with brakes that are still very wet, in a truck whose air tanks have manual drains. Which pair of actions fits Section 5?

8. In which Step 7 check do you try, gently, to move the vehicle against a brake that is already set?

9. Section 5's parking brake control diagram says one driver action both closes the tractor protection valve and sets the spring brakes. Which action?

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