Penalties & Licensing

Study questions with answers

3 sample Penalties & Licensing questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. Vehicles built since which year come with automatic slack adjusters?

   Correct answer: 1994

   Every vehicle manufactured since 1994 has automatic slack adjusters; they still must be inspected even though they adjust themselves during full brake applications.

   Source: Michigan CDL Manual — Section 5.3.2: Walk-Around Inspection

2. 2. According to the manual, what is the defect turned up most often during roadside inspections?

   Correct answer: Brakes that are out of adjustment

   Out-of-adjustment brakes are named as the problem found most frequently in roadside inspections, which is why checking the slack adjusters matters.

   Source: Michigan CDL Manual — Section 5.3.2: Walk-Around Inspection

3. 3. Air-braked truck tractors are required to have antilock brakes if they were built on or after which date?

   Correct answer: March 1, 1997

   Truck tractors with air brakes made on or after March 1, 1997 must have ABS; other air-braked vehicles such as trucks, buses, trailers, and converter dollies carry the requirement from March 1, 1998.

   Source: Michigan CDL Manual — Section 5.1.16: Antilock Braking Systems (ABS)