Alabama CDL Class B Knowledge Test 2

Always speed up smoothly and gradually so that your vehicle does not jerk. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage.

When driving, you should continually scan the road for possible hazards. Form plans about what you will do if the hazards develop into emergencies.

When driving, you should regularly check your mirrors, both to be aware of traffic and to check for problems on your own vehicle.

Regularly check mirrors on both sides of your vehicle while driving. It is important to be aware of what is happening behind and to the sides of your vehicle.

Pre-trip inspections should be conducted in the same way every time. This will reinforce the steps, making it less likely that you will forget to inspect something important.

Defects in an exhaust system are very dangerous because they can cause poisonous fumes to enter the cab or sleeper berth.

On a downgrade, you should use the braking effect of your engine as the principal way of controlling your speed. Save your brakes for additional slowing or stopping that may be required by road or traffic conditions.

A driver should inspect wheels before a drive, specifically looking for damage on the wheels and rims. Wheels or rims that have had welding repairs are not safe for use.

You may have to swing right to safely make a left turn. If there are two left turn lanes available at an intersection, you should always begin your turn in the rightmost lane.

Dry bulk tanks require special care to be driven, both because they have high centers of gravity and because the weight of the load can shift in transit.

When accelerating, speed up smoothly and gradually so your vehicle does not jerk. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage.

The faster you are driving, the longer your stopping distance will become. Brake accordingly.

When stopping, you should push the brake pedal down gradually. Braking gradually will help you to maintain proper control of your vehicle.

You must take an air brakes knowledge test to become licensed to operate a vehicle that is equipped with air brakes, including an air over hydraulic braking system.

When checking your vehicle’s pedals during a pre-trip inspection, you should ensure that there is nothing under or around the pedals that will obstruct their use. Make sure the pedals are in proper working condition and that the surfaces of the pedals are grooved, if applicable.

All commercial motor vehicles are required to be equipped with the proper emergency equipment. This may include spare electrical fuses; three red reflective triangles, six fuses, or three liquid burning flares; and at least one properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.

However you choose to deal with a brake failure on a downhill slope, it is important that you make your decision as quickly as possible. The longer you wait to act, the faster your vehicle will be moving, and the harder it will become to stop.

Before a trip, you should check each slack adjuster after parking, setting wheel chocks, and disengaging the parking brake. Pull the slack adjusters to make sure that they do not move more than about one inch from where the push rod is attached. If they move more than one inch, they may be out of adjustment and will need to be fixed.

For safety, you must wear your seat belt at all times while operating a CMV.

To correct a drive-wheel braking skid, you should first remove your foot from the brake pedal to allow the locked wheels to begin rolling again. Quickly steer in the direction you want to go, then countersteer to prevent your vehicle from skidding in the opposite direction.

Black ice is a layer of ice that is thin and clear enough for the road to be visible through it. The surface will look like a wet road. Always be alert to black ice if the road looks wet when the temperature is below freezing.

Some air brake systems contain an alcohol evaporator. This evaporator introduces alcohol into the system to help prevent ice from forming in cold weather.

Pressing and releasing the brake pedal unnecessarily can let air out faster than the compressor can replace it, reducing the available air pressure. If the air pressure in an air brake system gets too low, the brakes will no longer work.

When inspecting an enclosed trailer as a part of the vehicle inspection test, check the front area of the trailer for signs of damage, such as cracks, bulges, or holes.

When approaching a curve during the on-road driving test, you should thoroughly check traffic in all directions. Before entering the curve, reduce your speed sufficiently so that further braking or shifting is not required. Keep your vehicle in its lane and continue checking traffic in all directions.

If a vehicle is equipped, an application pressure gauge shows how much air pressure is being applied to the brakes. This gauge can help a driver identify if their brakes are beginning to fade.

Truck tractors with air brakes that were manufactured on or after March 1, 1997 are required to be equipped with Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS). ABS is required in any other type of vehicle with air brakes that was manufactured on or after March 1, 1998.

Drivers may be required to submit a written vehicle inspection report at the end of each day of driving. The motor carrier must repair any items in the report that affect safety and certify on the report that repairs were either made or unnecessary.

If another vehicle pulls out in front of you, it is appropriate to brake as long as there is room for your vehicle to stop while you are using the appropriate braking technique. However, if you do not have room to stop, swerving may be a safer response.

If you observe a crash involving an aggressive driver, you should stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for police to arrive, and inform them of the aggressive behavior you witnessed.

If you are not confident that your vehicle will have enough room to safely pass under an overhead object, you should slow down and seek another route, if possible.

While driving downhill, you should hold down the brake pedal until your vehicle reaches a speed 5 mph below your safe speed, then release the brake pedal. Repeat this process.

Ice that is wet because it has just begun to melt is much more slippery than ice that is not wet. Use additional caution when driving on melting ice.

There are two indicators that determine when you need to shift into a higher gear. One indicator is the engine speed (rpm). You should read your vehicle’s manual to learn its rpm range and shift up when you reach the top of that range. The other indicator is road speed (mph). You should learn which speeds each gear can accommodate, then keep an eye on the speedometer and shift up as needed.

When loading cargo, it is important that the weight placed on each axle is neither too little nor too much. Inappropriate loading can interfere with steering, create inadequate wheel traction, or damage the axles.

If the air pressure warning light or buzzer comes on while you are driving, you should immediately stop and safely park the vehicle. This warning signal indicates that there is a problem in the air brake system that needs to be fixed.

A large vehicle requires more space when entering or crossing traffic than a smaller vehicle. This is not only because the vehicle itself is larger, but also because it needs a longer distance to accelerate.

When approaching your vehicle before a trip, be sure to look underneath the vehicle for fresh oil, coolant, grease, or fuel leaks.

The method of controlled braking involves applying the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels. If you need to make large steering adjustments while using controlled braking, you should remove your foot from the brake pedal, steer, then reapply the brakes.

Potential problems to check for when inspecting brakes include cracked drums; shoes or pads with oil, grease, or brake fluid on them; and shoes that are missing, broken, or worn dangerously thin.

If you are being tailgated, it is advisable to open up the space in front of your vehicle, making it easier for the tailgater to get around you. Speeding up may be counterproductive because the driver may continue to tailgate you at the higher speed, only increasing the danger.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic vehicle control skills test.

In a vehicle with dual parking control valves, there is a separate air tank that can be used to temporarily release the spring brakes if they have been activated due to low air pressure. Pushing in the proper control will release the spring brakes for a short period of time, allowing the driver to move the vehicle in an emergency.

When checking your tires as part of a pre-trip inspection, it is important to verify that the tire pressure is neither too low nor too high.

With some exceptions, you must have a tank endorsement to transport liquids or gases. This applies to both hazardous and non-hazardous substances.

Make a point of checking your mirrors often when making tight maneuvers.

On vehicles with air brakes, a low air pressure warning signal will come on if the pressure in the air tanks falls below 60 psi. On large buses, the signal may activate at 80 to 85 psi.

When involved in an accident, you should protect the area, notify authorities, care for the injured, collect required information, and report the accident. You can lose your license for leaving the scene of an accident.

Blocking and bracing are used to prevent cargo from sliding in transit.

The first step of a vehicle inspection is to review the last vehicle inspection report. Only sign the report if noted defects are certified to have been repaired.