CDL general knowledge practice test 11

B: A lower gear, usually lower than the gear needed to climb the same hill. Downshift before the hill to a gear low enough that you can control speed without hard braking, usually lower than the gear needed to climb the same hill. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.1 Manual transmissions basic method for shifting up, page 45.

A: Remain stopped until it cools off. Stay stopped until a tire that is too hot to touch has cooled, or it could blow out or catch fire. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.14.1 Vehicle checks, page 78.

A: The gear you used on the last hill. Pick the gear for a downgrade from how steep it is, the weather and road conditions, and how heavy your load is, not from what you used on an earlier hill. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.1 Manual transmissions basic method for shifting up, page 45.

D: Only after the system has cooled. Wait until a pressurized cooling system has cooled before opening it; steam and boiling coolant can spray out and badly burn you. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.14.1 Vehicle checks, page 78.

D: So you can use some power through the curve to keep the vehicle stable and speed up after it. Slowing and downshifting before the curve lets you use some power through it for stability and lets you speed up as soon as you are out of it. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.1 Manual transmissions basic method for shifting up, page 45.

C: Turn it slowly to the first stop to release the pressure seal, then step back. With the engine off and cooled and your hands protected, turn the cap slowly to the first stop, step back while the pressure releases, then press down and remove it. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.14.1 Vehicle checks, page 78.

C: Press the accelerator to raise the engine and gear speed to the RPM needed for the lower gear. When shifting down, press the accelerator in neutral to bring engine and gear speed up to the RPM required in the lower gear. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.1 Manual transmissions basic method for shifting up, page 45.

B: Overheating, because the water pump and/or fan won't turn properly. Loose belts won't turn the water pump and/or fan properly, which results in overheating. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.14.1 Vehicle checks, page 78.

B: A selector knob or switch on the main gearshift lever. The extra gears are normally selected with a knob or switch on the main transmission's shift lever. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.2 Multi-speed rear axles and auxiliary transmissions, page 45.

A: Tar rising to the road surface in hot weather, making spots very slippery. In very hot weather tar often rises to the surface, and spots where tar bleeds through are very slippery. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.14.2 Driving, page 79.

A: To get greater engine braking. Selecting a low range gives greater engine braking and keeps the transmission from shifting up beyond the selected gear. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.3 Automatic transmissions, page 46.

A: Overheated brakes that need harder and harder pressure to get the same stopping power. If brakes become too hot, they fade, meaning you must apply them harder and harder to get the same stopping power until they may not stop you at all. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.16 Mountain driving, page 82.

D: Pneumatic wheel. The four basic types of retarders are exhaust, engine, hydraulic and electric. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.4 Retarders, page 46.

D: You may not be able to shift into a lower gear, and you could lose all engine braking. After speed builds up you may not be able to downshift or even get back into any gear, losing all engine braking. Forcing an automatic down at high speed can also damage it. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.16.2 Select the right gear before starting down the grade, page 82.

C: Whenever you let up on the accelerator all the way. When on, retarders apply braking power to the drive wheels whenever you let up on the accelerator pedal all the way. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.4 Retarders, page 46.

C: Modern trucks have low-friction parts, streamlined shapes and more powerful engines, so less holds them back going down. Modern trucks can climb in higher gears and have less friction and drag to slow them on the way down, so the gear used to go up may be too high for going down. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.16.2 Select the right gear before starting down the grade, page 83.

A: The drive wheels only. Retarders apply their braking power to the drive wheels only. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.3.4 Retarders, page 46.

B: Brakes out of adjustment stop doing their share, so the others overheat and fade. Brakes out of adjustment stop doing their share before the others, which then overheat and fade, leaving too little braking to control the vehicle. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.16.3 Brake fading or failure, page 83.

C: 12 to 15 seconds. Most good drivers look 12 to 15 seconds ahead, the distance the vehicle will travel in that time. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.4.1 Seeing ahead, page 46.

A: Brake hard enough to feel a definite slowdown, release about 5 mph below your safe speed, and repeat when you are back at your safe speed. Apply the brakes for a definite slowdown until about 5 mph below safe speed (about three seconds), release, and repeat when you reach safe speed again. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.16.4 Proper braking technique, page 83.

C: About a quarter of a mile. At lower speeds 12 to 15 seconds is about one block; at highway speeds it is about a quarter of a mile. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.4.1 Seeing ahead, page 46.

A: Apply at 40 mph and release at about 35 mph. Don't brake until you reach your safe speed of 40 mph, then brake until you are down to about 35 mph and release. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.16.4 Proper braking technique, page 83.

B: Start slowing down and be ready to stop. A light that has been green a long time will probably change before you get there, so start slowing and be ready to stop. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.4.1 Seeing ahead, page 47.

C: About three seconds. Each application, from safe speed down to about 5 mph below it, should last about three seconds. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.16.4 Proper braking technique, page 83.

A: Only when the trailer(s) are straight. Check mirror adjustment before any trip; it can be checked accurately only when the trailer(s) are straight. Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual (BDS356), based on the AAMVA 2025 CDL Manual: 2.4.2 Seeing to the sides and rear, page 47.