Arkansas ODS CDL General Knowledge Practice Test 2
Test 2 of 5. Pick an answer for each question to see if it is right and why; your score appears at the end. You need 40 correct answers to pass, the same ratio as the real Arkansas test.
- Questions50
- Correct to pass40
- Passing score80%
- Minimum age18 years
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1. Regular mirror checks during a long trip can reveal which developing problem?
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Answer D: Smoke coming from a tire or from a wheel
Overheating tires, wheel bearings and brakes usually show as smoke long before anything appears on the dash, and mirrors are where a driver sees it.
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2. How soon must warning devices be placed after a commercial vehicle stops on the traveled part or the shoulder of a highway?
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Answer D: As soon as possible and in any case within 10 minutes
The hazard warning flashers go on immediately and the warning devices must be in place as soon as possible, never later than 10 minutes after stopping.
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3. How does a front tire failure usually feel to the driver?
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Answer D: The steering suddenly becomes heavy and pulls to one side
A failed front tire loads the steering and makes the wheel feel heavy, while a rear tire failure shows up as the back end swaying.
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4. The shipper hands you the placards for a load that needs them. Who puts them on the vehicle?
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Answer C: The driver, who must also make sure they are the correct ones and are readable
The shipper supplies the placards, but it is the driver who must place them on the vehicle and confirm that they match the load and can be read.
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5. An enforcement officer inspects your vehicle at the roadside and attaches an out-of-service sticker. What may you do?
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Answer C: Nothing until the defect is repaired; the vehicle may not be driven
An out-of-service order means the vehicle is unsafe, and no schedule, load or destination allows it to be driven before the defect is corrected.
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6. What is the minimum tread depth required in every major groove of a steering axle tire?
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Answer D: 4/32 inch
Federal rules set a higher tread minimum for front steering tires than for other positions because a steering tire failure is far harder to control.
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7. What does gross vehicle weight mean, as opposed to gross vehicle weight rating?
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Answer B: The actual weight of the single vehicle plus everything it is carrying
Gross vehicle weight is what the vehicle actually weighs at that moment; the rating is the maximum the manufacturer allows it to weigh.
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8. A straight truck has a long body behind the rear axle. What happens to that overhang in a sharp left turn?
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Answer D: It swings out to the right and can strike a vehicle or an object on that side
Body that hangs behind the rear axle swings the opposite way to the turn, so the tail of the truck sweeps out into the next lane or over the curb.
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9. What is the driver responsible for when a load is covered with a tarp?
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Answer C: Fastening it so it cannot flap free, block a mirror, or come off in the wind
A tarp that works loose can tear away, block the driver view or the view of others, and become a hazard for the traffic behind.
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10. Under federal safety rules, what must the driver of a commercial vehicle do before starting a trip?
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Answer A: Be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition
The driver is responsible for inspecting the vehicle and must be satisfied it is in safe operating condition before the trip begins.
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11. Using the snub braking method on a downgrade, when does the driver release the brakes?
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Answer A: After speed has dropped about 5 mph below the safe speed
The driver brakes firmly to about 5 mph under the chosen safe speed, releases to let the brakes cool, then repeats when the safe speed returns.
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12. According to the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, which vehicles require a commercial license even if they are not heavy?
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Answer A: Vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers or vehicles carrying placarded hazardous material
Arkansas requires a commercial license for vehicles designed to transport sixteen or more passengers and for vehicles transporting hazardous material, regardless of weight rating.
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13. You stop to check the load. Which set of things are you looking at?
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Answer C: Tight tiedowns, cargo that has not moved, secure doors and tarps still fastened
A cargo check covers the load and everything holding it: whether it has shifted, whether the devices are still tight, and whether doors and covers are still closed and fastened.
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14. The combined working load limit of the tiedowns on a load must equal at least what share of the cargo weight?
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Answer C: One half of the cargo weight
Federal securement rules set the aggregate working load limit at no less than half the weight of the article or group of articles being held.
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15. A car ahead of you keeps drifting within its lane and moving unevenly. What should you assume?
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Answer C: The driver may be distracted, lost or impaired
Unsteady lane keeping is a classic clue to a driver who is not in full control, so the safe response is to keep back and give plenty of room.
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16. You are given a ratchet strap with a deep cut along one edge. What should you do?
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Answer C: Do not use it; a damaged tiedown cannot be relied on to hold its rated load
Cuts, burns, knots and broken stitching weaken a strap far below its marked working load limit, so it must be taken out of service.
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17. What does the commercial driver manual tell you to do with the parking brake when you leave your vehicle?
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Answer B: Apply the parking brake every time you leave the vehicle
The manual is explicit that the parking brake goes on whenever the driver leaves the vehicle, because once nobody is at the controls it is the only thing holding it.
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18. What are you looking for when you check the drive belts in the engine compartment?
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Answer C: That each belt is snug and free of cracks, frays or heavy wear
A loose or cracked belt can break and stop the fan, the water pump or the alternator, which leads quickly to overheating or a dead electrical system.
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19. What should you do before backing into a space you have not used before?
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Answer A: Get out and walk around to check the path, the clearance and any obstacles
Walking the area first reveals low obstructions, soft ground and objects that never appear in the mirrors.
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20. During a trip you stop for a break. Which items should you check before driving on?
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Answer B: Tires, wheels and rims, brakes, lights, reflectors, electrical connections and cargo securement
Critical items can change during a trip, so each stop is used to recheck the tires, wheels, brakes, lights, connections and cargo.
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21. Why must a bent, cracked or badly seated lock ring be reported?
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Answer D: It can come off under pressure and let the tire and rim separate violently
The lock ring holds the assembly together against the full pressure of the tire, so a damaged ring can release with enough force to kill.
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22. What is checked about the engine cooling system during the engine compartment inspection?
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Answer C: That the coolant level is adequate and the radiator and hoses are not leaking
A low coolant level or a leaking hose leads to overheating, which can stop the vehicle in a place where stopping is dangerous.
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23. A 40 foot straight truck and a 70 foot tractor-trailer make the same right turn. Which needs more room and why?
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Answer B: The tractor-trailer, because the longer the vehicle the farther inside the rear wheels track
Off-tracking grows with the distance between the front and rear axles, so the longer combination cuts the corner much more sharply and needs extra room.
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24. You are stopped in a line of traffic behind a car. How much space should you leave in front of you?
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Answer C: Enough to see where the rear tires of that car meet the road
That amount of space lets you pull around the vehicle ahead if it stalls and absorbs some of the shock if you are struck from behind.
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25. On packed snow, how much should a commercial driver reduce speed?
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Answer D: By about one half or more
Packed snow costs far more traction than rain, so speed should be cut by half or more.
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26. After starting a trip, when must a driver first re-inspect the cargo and the devices holding it?
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Answer A: Within the first 50 miles
Federal rules require a check of the load and its securement within the first 50 miles, because settling and vibration loosen straps and chains early in a trip.
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27. A driver behind you wants to pass and you can see that the road ahead is clear. What should you do?
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Answer B: Do not signal the other driver to pass; let that driver decide when it is safe
Directing other drivers can cause a crash if you misjudge the gap, so leave the decision to the driver who is passing.
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28. You have countersteered to correct a rear-wheel skid and the vehicle straightens out. What must you be ready for next?
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Answer D: The vehicle may swing back the other way, so you must steer again to correct it
A vehicle coming out of a skid tends to overshoot and swing in the opposite direction, and the driver must be ready to countersteer a second time.
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29. What is required of the hooks, rails, rings and anchor points that tiedowns attach to?
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Answer A: They must be part of the vehicle and strong enough for the load being secured
A tiedown is only as strong as what it is hooked to, so anchor points must be proper vehicle fittings rated for the job.
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30. The scale shows that your combination is over the legal gross weight. Why will sliding the tandems not fix it?
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Answer B: Because sliding the axles changes where the weight sits, not how much there is
Repositioning axles redistributes weight between axle groups; when the total is too high, freight has to come off the vehicle.
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31. Besides allowing the move at all, what does an oversize load permit usually set out?
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Answer C: The route to be followed, the hours of travel allowed and the warning equipment needed
Permits for oversize movements normally name the roads that may be used, restrict the times of travel, and list the flags, signs and escorts required.
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32. You are asked to drive a truck loaded with enough hazardous materials to require placards. What must you have?
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Answer C: A hazardous materials endorsement on your commercial driver license
Driving a vehicle that must be placarded requires the H endorsement, which involves a separate knowledge test and a security background check.
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33. Where do you find the maximum weight a tire can safely carry?
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Answer D: Stamped on the sidewall of the tire itself
Each tire is marked with the greatest weight it can carry at a stated inflation pressure, and the load on an axle must stay within the total for its tires.
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34. What is the correct way to make a right turn in a long vehicle?
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Answer D: Keep the rear of the vehicle close to the curb and swing wide only as you complete the turn
Swinging left before a right turn invites another driver to move into the gap on your right, so any extra width is taken as the turn is finished.
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35. A car is following you far too closely. What is the safest response?
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Answer A: Open up more space ahead so you can slow gradually, avoid sudden changes, and do not speed up
Extra room in front lets you slow smoothly instead of braking hard, which is exactly what the driver behind cannot cope with.
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36. Below 40 mph, what following distance does the standard commercial rule of thumb call for?
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Answer C: One second for every 10 feet of vehicle length
The base rule allows one second of space for each 10 feet of vehicle length while speed stays under 40 mph.
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37. When should the horn of a commercial vehicle be used?
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Answer C: Only when it is needed to avoid a crash
An air horn is loud enough to startle other road users, so it is a warning device rather than a way to comment on other drivers.
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38. Which vehicles are most likely to get hung up on a raised railroad crossing?
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Answer A: Low-slung units such as car carriers and lowboys
Vehicles with low ground clearance or a long wheelbase can bottom out on a humped crossing and become stuck on the tracks.
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39. What is the maximum speed limit for a commercial motor vehicle on an Arkansas rural controlled-access highway where cars may run at 75 miles per hour?
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Answer A: 70 miles per hour
Arkansas Code 27-51-201 caps commercial motor vehicles at 70 miles per hour on the same controlled-access highways where passenger cars may travel at 75.
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40. What does the gross combination weight rating cover?
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Answer B: The maximum loaded weight of the power unit together with the trailer or trailers it tows
The combination rating takes in the power unit and everything behind it, loaded, as specified by the manufacturer.
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41. What blood alcohol concentration disqualifies the holder of a commercial driver license who is operating a commercial vehicle?
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Answer D: 0.04 or higher
Commercial drivers are held to 0.04, half the limit that applies to a driver of a passenger car in the same state.
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42. Besides staying secure, cargo carried inside a vehicle must not do what?
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Answer C: Block the driver view or access to emergency equipment and exits
Cargo may not obstruct the view to the front or sides or prevent the driver from reaching emergency equipment and exits.
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43. If an intersection has two lanes marked for left turns, which one should a large vehicle use?
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Answer D: The right hand of the two turning lanes
The outside turning lane leaves room for the rear of the vehicle to swing without striking a vehicle in the adjacent lane.
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44. You are backing into a yard where electrical wires cross overhead. What is the main concern?
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Answer C: The wires may hang lower than the top of your vehicle
Overhead space has to be checked like any other space around the vehicle, because wires and cables are often lower than they look from the cab.
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45. When should a driver select the gear for a long, steep downgrade?
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Answer B: Before starting down the grade
The low gear has to be chosen before the descent, because a heavy vehicle gaining speed may refuse to shift down at all.
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46. A driver is tailgating you, honking and making gestures. What is the best response?
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Answer A: Do not make eye contact, ignore the gestures and give the driver room to get past
Engaging an aggressive driver only escalates the situation; the safest move is to stay calm, avoid eye contact and let the driver get by.
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47. How long must a motor carrier keep a driver vehicle inspection report and the certification of repairs?
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Answer B: Three months
The original report and the certifications attached to it are kept on file for three months from the date the report was prepared.
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48. Why should both outside mirrors be checked over and over while backing?
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Answer B: Each mirror covers only part of the path and neither covers the blind spots, so people and objects can appear without warning
Working both mirrors in turn is the only way to follow the whole path of a vehicle you cannot see behind.
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49. A fire starts in the cargo area of a van trailer. Why should you keep the doors closed until firefighters arrive?
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Answer D: Opening the doors lets in air that feeds the fire
A fire in a closed van is starved of oxygen; opening the doors gives it the air it needs to flare up.
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50. How are the headlights, marker lights and turn signals checked during the seven-step inspection?
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Answer A: The engine is shut off, the parking brake is set, the lights are switched on and then checked from outside the vehicle
The lights are switched on with the vehicle secured, then the driver walks around and confirms each lamp actually works and is clean.