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. Why should you never hold the brake pedal down while the spring brakes are already applied?

   Correct answer: The springs and air together can damage the brakes

   The springs and the air pressure would then act together, and that combined force can damage the brakes.

   Source: Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), Section 5.1.15 - Parking brake controls

2. 2. What must you always do before leaving your vehicle unattended?

   Correct answer: Set the parking brakes or chock the wheels

   Never walk away without setting the parking brakes or chocking the wheels, or the vehicle could roll and cause harm.

   Source: Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), Section 5.4.8 - Parking brakes

3. 3. On a tractor or straight truck, the spring brakes come fully on when air pressure falls into what range?

   Correct answer: About 20 to 45 psi

   As pressure bleeds down, the springs set the brakes once it reaches roughly 20 to 45 psi.

   Source: Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), Section 5.1.14 - Spring brakes

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

   Correct answer: Set it, then gently try to pull forward in a low gear

   Set the parking brake, then in a low gear gently try to move forward to confirm it holds the vehicle.

   Source: Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), Section 5.3.3 - Test parking brake

5. 5. When should you avoid setting the parking brakes and use wheel chocks instead?

   Correct answer: When the brakes are very hot from a grade, or very wet in freezing weather

   Skip the parking brakes when they are very hot from a grade or very wet in freezing weather; heat can damage them and freezing water can lock them.

   Source: Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), Section 5.4.8 - Parking brakes

6. 6. On a newer air brake vehicle, how do you set the parking (spring) brakes?

   Correct answer: Pull the yellow, diamond-shaped knob outward

   The newer control is a yellow, diamond-shaped knob that you pull out to apply and push in to release.

   Source: Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), Section 5.1.15 - Parking brake controls