cdl general knowledge Flashcards

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  1. How many red reflective triangles should you carry?
  2. Where should your reflectors be placed when stopped on a divided highway?
  3. You must park on the side of a level, straight, two lane road. Where should you place the three reflective triangles?
  4. You must stop on a hill or curve on a two-lane, two-way road. How far should you place reflective triangles?
  5. If you must stop on a road or the shoulder of any road, you must put out your emergency warning devices within how many minutes?
  6. You should always turn on your emergency four-way flashers when you:
  7. When stopping at a railroad-highway crossing, drivers must stop no closer than how many feet to the tracks?
  8. To stop for railroad tracks, a bus driver should stop ___ to ___ feet before the nearest track.
  9. When driving a bus across railroad tracks, you:
  10. When must you not change gears while crossing railroad tracks?
  11. A full stop is required at a railroad grade crossing when:
  12. A first railroad-highway grade crossing violation results in:
  13. A second railroad-highway grade crossing violation within three years results in:
  14. A third railroad-highway grade crossing violation within three years results in:
  15. Two serious traffic violations in three years can mean no CDL for how long?
  16. Three serious traffic violations in three years can mean no CDL for how long?
  17. You will lose your CDL for at least 60 days if you are convicted of:
  18. How long do you lose your CDL driving privileges if you are convicted of a second DUI?
  19. If you have been convicted of driving a commercial vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will lose your CDL for:
  20. If you leave the scene of an accident and you are convicted of this offense, how long will you be disqualified from driving a CMV?
  21. How long do you lose your CDL if you use a CMV to commit a felony involving controlled substances?
  22. How long will you lose your CDL if you have committed your first violation of an out-of-service order?
  23. How long will you lose your CDL if you have committed two violations of an out-of-service order in a 10 year period?
  24. How long will you lose your CDL if you have committed three or more violations of an out-of-service order in a 10 year period?
  25. For a 2nd violation of an out-of-service order in 10 years, you will lose your CDL for at least:
  26. Your CDL will be disqualified after ___ or more convictions of any state law on hand-held mobile telephone use while operating a CMV.
  27. After how many convictions of any state law on hand-held mobile phone use will the CDL disqualify you, and for how long?
  28. Your CDL will be disqualified after two or more convictions of any state law on texting while operating a CMV. Disqualification is ___ days for the second offense within 3 years and ___ days for three or more offenses within 3 years.
  29. Are you allowed to have more than one license?
  30. A driver can have: two licenses, one for automobiles and one for trucks; an automobile license from one state and a CDL from another; a license for each state they will drive in; or only one license?
  31. When must you notify your employer of a conviction for any traffic violations?
  32. If you pay a parking ticket, do you have to notify your employer?
  33. When must you notify your employer if your license is suspended, revoked, cancelled, or if you are disqualified from driving?
  34. If you are disqualified from driving, what must you tell your employer, and when?
  35. How much driving history must you give your employer?
  36. You will be placed out of service for 24 hours if your blood alcohol concentration is at least:
  37. You will be placed out of service for 24 hours if your blood alcohol concentration is:
  38. How long will you be put out of service if you have any detectable amount of alcohol under .04%?
  39. If you are stopped at a roadside rest area and found to have a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of 0.02, you will: be placed out of service for 24 hours, be placed out of service for 72 hours, or be in deep trouble with your dispatcher?
  40. You are required to inspect your truck within how many miles after beginning the trip?
  41. Once you start your trip, you must inspect the securement of your cargo within how many miles?
  42. Safety inspection: drivers of trucks and truck tractors when transporting cargo must inspect the securement of the cargo within the first ___ of a trip and every ___ or every ___ (whichever comes first) after.
  43. You must inspect your cargo:
  44. Should the pre-trip inspection report from the last driver be reviewed during your pre-trip inspection?
  45. You must sign the inspection report made by the previous driver only:
  46. The law requires ___ to inspect a commercial motor vehicle before a trip.
  47. If you work for an interstate carrier, you must complete an after-trip inspection report that specifies, for each bus:
  48. After driving for 11 hours or being on duty for 14 hours, you may not drive until?
  49. Under federal rules, you aren't eligible to drive after being on duty for how many hours?
  50. What are the hours of service rules for property carrying drivers?
  51. When should you wear seat belts?
  52. True or false: a seatbelt is not required for a CDL driver over 35.
  53. Text messages: are permitted if asking a question, are not permitted, may be sent if they are short, or are encouraged?
  54. Under federal regulations, when are you allowed to hold a cell phone while driving a CMV?
  55. What does a commercial learner's permit (CLP) authorize its holder to do?
  56. A tractor with a gross combination weight rating of 80,000 pounds pulls a trailer rated at 34,000 pounds GVWR. Which CDL group is required?
  57. A single straight truck has a GVWR of 33,000 pounds and tows nothing. Which CDL group covers it?
  58. A 15-passenger van plus the driver (16 people total) weighs well under 26,001 pounds. Does it need a CDL, and which group?
  59. True or false: a pickup truck under 10,001 pounds can still be a commercial motor vehicle requiring a CDL if it hauls placarded hazardous materials.
  60. Bobtailing (driving a tractor with no trailer), is the tractor's GCWR used to decide whether it is a CMV?
  61. How many driver's licenses may a CMV operator hold at one time?
  62. A CLP holder is driving a Group B truck for training. Where must the supervising CDL holder be?
  63. What is the minimum age to hold a CLP under the federal rule?
  64. Which endorsements are allowed on a CLP?
  65. A CLP holder with an N endorsement is asked to drive a tanker that still holds residue from a hazardous material. May they?
  66. Can a CLP holder drive a CMV that is carrying placarded hazardous materials?
  67. For how long may a CLP be valid before the holder must retake the knowledge tests?
  68. After a CLP is first issued, how soon can the holder take the CDL skills test?
  69. A CDL holder is convicted of running a red light while driving their personal car. Must they tell their employer?
  70. A driver's CDL is suspended. By when must the driver notify their employer?
  71. An employer knows a driver is under an out-of-service order. May the employer let that driver operate a CMV?
  72. What is the disqualification for a first conviction of driving a CMV under the influence of alcohol (not hauling hazmat)?
  73. A driver is convicted of operating a CMV with a 0.04 alcohol concentration while hauling placarded hazardous materials. What is the first-offense disqualification?
  74. Refusing to take an alcohol test under a state's implied consent law is treated as which kind of CDL offense?
  75. What happens on a second conviction for leaving the scene of an accident?
  76. Which offense brings a lifetime CDL disqualification with no eligibility for 10-year reinstatement?
  77. Can a driver disqualified for life for a first-tier major offense (such as DUI twice) ever get the CDL back?
  78. Causing a death through negligent operation of a CMV is classed as what under 49 CFR 383.51?
  79. How fast over the posted limit counts as "excessive speeding," a serious traffic violation for CDL holders?
  80. A CDL driver gets a second serious traffic violation in a CMV within 3 years. What is the disqualification?
  81. Which of these is a serious traffic violation under Table 2: making erratic lane changes, a parking ticket, or an expired registration?
  82. True or false: a conviction for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving a CMV is a serious traffic violation.
  83. What is the minimum disqualification for a first conviction of a railroad-highway grade crossing violation?
  84. A truck gets hung up on a raised railroad crossing because of low undercarriage clearance. Is that a disqualifying offense?
  85. What is the disqualification for a first conviction of violating an out-of-service order while hauling non-hazardous cargo?
  86. Which endorsement needs both a knowledge test and a skills test: double/triple trailers, hazardous materials, or passenger?
  87. An applicant fails the air brake section of the knowledge test. What happens on the license?
  88. An applicant takes the skills test in a truck with an automatic transmission. What restriction is placed on the CDL?
  89. An applicant scores 75 percent on the combination vehicle knowledge test. Can they get a Group A CLP?
  90. A CDL shows restriction code L. What can that driver not operate?
  91. At what alcohol concentration is a driver barred from performing safety-sensitive functions under the FMCSA testing rules?
  92. A driver had a beer at lunch. How long must they wait before performing safety-sensitive functions?
  93. A driver's drug test specimen is found to be adulterated. May the driver remain on duty?
  94. What is the minimum age to drive a CMV under the general driver qualification rule in 49 CFR 391.11?
  95. What English language ability does 49 CFR 391.11 require of a CMV driver?
  96. Since June 23, 2025, does a CDL holder with a current medical certificate have to carry the paper certificate?
  97. A driver feels too fatigued to drive safely. What does 49 CFR 392.3 require?
  98. When must a driver first re-inspect cargo and its securement after starting a trip?
  99. After the first check, how often must a driver re-examine cargo and load securement during a trip?
  100. A driver loads boxes into the cab so that they block the right-side window. Is this allowed?
  101. A bus carrying passengers approaches a railroad crossing. Where must the driver stop?
  102. Traffic ahead is backed up just past a railroad crossing. May the driver pull onto the crossing and wait?
  103. Fog reduces visibility on the highway. What does 49 CFR 392.14 require?
  104. True or false: a CMV driver may drive without a seat belt if the trip is short.
  105. A truck breaks down on the shoulder of a highway. What must the driver do immediately?
  106. On a two-lane road, where are the three warning triangles placed around a stopped truck?
  107. A truck stops just past the crest of a hill. How far back should the rear warning device go?
  108. On a divided or one-way highway, where are warning devices placed behind a stopped truck?
  109. May a driver fuel a CMV with the engine running?
  110. When is texting while driving a CMV allowed?
  111. May a truck driver hold a mobile phone to their ear for a call while driving?
  112. A truck driver wants to give a hitchhiker a ride. What does 49 CFR 392.60 say?
  113. What is the minimum tread depth for a tire on the front (steering) axle of a truck?
  114. May a bus run with recapped or retreaded tires on its front wheels?
  115. During a pre-trip check a driver hears air hissing from a tire. Under 49 CFR 393.75, may the truck be operated on that tire?
  116. What fire extinguisher must a power unit carry when hauling placarded hazardous materials?
  117. What warning devices must a truck carry for stopped-vehicle protection?
  118. How should cargo that is likely to roll, such as pipe or drums on their side, be restrained?
  119. A load weighs 10,000 pounds. What is the minimum aggregate working load limit of the tiedowns securing it?
  120. An unblocked steel beam 25 feet long is loaded on a flatbed. What is the minimum number of tiedowns?
  121. An unblocked crate is 4 feet long and weighs 900 pounds. How many tiedowns are required at minimum?
  122. How many hours may a property-carrying CMV driver drive after 10 consecutive hours off duty?
  123. A property-carrying driver comes on duty at 6:00 a.m. after 10 hours off. After what time may they no longer drive that shift?
  124. How much off-duty time must a property-carrying driver take before starting a new work shift?
  125. After how many hours of driving must a property-carrying driver take a 30-minute break?
  126. A carrier runs trucks every day of the week. What is the driver's on-duty limit?
  127. How long an off-duty period restarts the 60/70-hour clock?
  128. When must a driver prepare a driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR)?
  129. Which items must the end-of-day driver vehicle inspection report cover?
  130. How long must the motor carrier keep the original driver vehicle inspection report?
  131. Before driving, what must a driver do with the last driver vehicle inspection report?
  132. How often must a CMV pass a periodic (annual) inspection?

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