Penalties & Licensing

Study questions with answers

6 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. How large a crack in a brake drum is allowed before the drum is considered unsafe?

   Correct answer: No more than halfway across the width of the friction surface

   A drum or disc is unsafe once a crack extends more than halfway across the width of its friction surface.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

2. 2. According to the manual, what is the most common brake defect found during roadside inspections?

   Correct answer: Brakes that are out of adjustment

   Out-of-adjustment brakes turn up more often than any other defect at roadside inspections, which is exactly why the slack-adjuster check matters.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

3. 3. What does the manual say about manually adjusting an automatic slack adjuster just to bring it within limits?

   Correct answer: It usually just hides a mechanical problem instead of fixing it

   Manually adjusting an automatic adjuster to force the pushrod stroke within limits generally only masks a mechanical problem rather than fixing it, and it can give a false sense of security.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

4. 4. Air-brake truck tractors built on or after which date are required to have antilock brakes?

   Correct answer: March 1, 1997

   Air-brake truck tractors manufactured on or after March 1, 1997, are required to carry antilock brakes. The certification label shows the build date.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

5. 5. When you pull hard on an s-cam slack adjuster, about how much free movement suggests it needs adjustment?

   Correct answer: More than roughly an inch of play at the push rod connection

   If a slack adjuster shows more than about an inch of play at the point where the push rod connects, it likely needs adjusting. Too much brake slack makes a vehicle very hard to stop.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

6. 6. For other air-brake vehicles such as trucks, buses, trailers, and converter dollies, ABS is required on those built on or after what date?

   Correct answer: March 1, 1998

   Air-brake trucks, buses, trailers, and converter dollies made on or after March 1, 1998, must be equipped with antilock brakes.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes