Hawaii HDOT MVSO CDL General Knowledge Practice Test 9
- Questions50
- Correct to pass40
- Passing score80%
- Minimum age21 years
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1. Which items belong to the in-cab part of the inspection?
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Answer D: Gauges, controls, mirrors, windshield, wipers, horn, heater and defroster
The in-cab step checks the instruments and controls the driver depends on, along with mirrors, glass, wipers, horn and the heater and defroster.
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2. What is the correct way to test the parking brake before a trip?
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Answer C: With the parking brake set, put the vehicle in a low gear and gently try to move forward
A parking brake that holds against a gentle pull in low gear is working; if the vehicle moves, the brake needs adjustment or repair.
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3. 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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4. Why is braking while in a curve dangerous in a heavy vehicle?
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Answer A: The wheels lock more easily and the vehicle can skid
Tires already using their grip to turn have little left for braking, so hard braking in a curve locks the wheels; slow down before the curve instead.
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5. 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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6. Federal rules keep recapped and retreaded tires off the front wheels of which vehicle?
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Answer B: Any bus carrying passengers
The federal rule names buses: a bus may not run with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on its front wheels, because a steer tire failure with passengers aboard takes away steering control.
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7. A strap runs from an anchor point on one side of the trailer, over the load, and down to an anchor point on the opposite side. How much of its working load limit counts toward the total required?
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Answer C: All of it
A tiedown that is anchored on one side, passes over or around the cargo and is anchored on the other side counts its full working load limit toward the aggregate figure.
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8. Which of these is a major cause of skids in heavy vehicles?
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Answer C: Over-braking, over-steering, over-acceleration or driving too fast for conditions
Skids happen when the tires are asked for more grip than the road can give, which happens through braking, steering or accelerating too hard or simply too much speed.
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9. You pick up a sealed trailer at a shipper. What should you check before leaving the dock?
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Answer B: That the seal number matches the paperwork and that the doors are properly closed
You cannot look at a sealed load, but you can confirm that the seal is intact, that its number matches the documents and that the doors are secure.
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10. A dock crew loads and straps the freight. Who is responsible for the load being legal and secure on the road?
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Answer D: The driver
Even when someone else loads and secures the freight, the driver must inspect it and remains responsible for it while driving.
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11. Cargo securement must be strong enough to hold the load under which conditions?
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Answer A: Hard braking, hard acceleration and hard turning, as well as the bouncing of the road
The securement standard is written around the forces of a hard stop, a hard start, a hard turn and vertical movement on a rough surface, all of which occur in ordinary driving.
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12. How often must every commercial motor vehicle receive a periodic inspection?
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Answer C: At least once every twelve months
Federal rules require each commercial motor vehicle to pass a periodic inspection at least once in every twelve month period.
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13. You are inspecting the vehicle alone and need to confirm that the stop lights work. Which method is correct?
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Answer A: Have a helper press the brake pedal, or apply the brake in a way that keeps it on while you check from outside
Stop lights are checked from outside the vehicle while the brakes are applied, so a helper or a brake held on is needed.
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14. Loading heavy freight on top of lighter freight has what effect on the vehicle?
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Answer B: It raises the center of gravity and makes a rollover more likely
A high center of gravity lets the vehicle tip more easily in curves or during a sudden swerve.
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15. An empty van trailer cleared a low overpass on the way in, but on the way back it is loaded. Which statement is true?
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Answer C: An empty van rides higher than a loaded one, so it needs more clearance than when loaded
Springs compress under load, so an empty trailer is taller; the unloaded trip is the one that can catch a low overhead.
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16. 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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17. At the end of the day you find no defects on a property carrying vehicle. What does the federal rule require?
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Answer B: No written report is required, although the carrier may still ask for one
For property carrying vehicles the report is required only when a defect or deficiency is found or reported, although a carrier may impose a stricter policy.
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18. 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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19. Some commodities have their own detailed securement rules on top of the general ones. Which list is made up of such commodities?
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Answer C: Logs, metal coils, paper rolls, concrete pipe and crushed vehicles
The cargo securement rules add specific requirements for particular commodities, including logs, dressed lumber, metal coils, paper rolls, concrete pipe, intermodal containers, vehicles, crushed cars, roll on containers and large boulders.
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20. How does a driver keep a vehicle with a manual transmission from rolling back when starting on an upgrade?
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Answer D: Partly engage the clutch before the right foot leaves the brake, or hold the vehicle with the parking brake until the engine pulls
Something has to hold the vehicle during the instant the foot moves from the brake to the accelerator, and that is either the clutch at its engagement point or the parking brake.
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21. When a helper guides you while backing, what should be agreed on before you start?
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Answer D: A set of hand signals, especially the signal that means stop
The driver and helper must agree on signals in advance, above all the stop signal, because they usually cannot hear each other.
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22. 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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23. 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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24. How is the fluid level in an automatic transmission usually checked?
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Answer A: With the engine running, following the procedure in the operator manual
Most automatic transmissions are designed to be checked with the engine running, and the operator manual gives the exact conditions for that vehicle.
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25. Why should a driver avoid traveling alongside another vehicle for any length of time?
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Answer D: You lose your escape route and you may be sitting in the other driver blind spot
Running beside someone leaves nowhere to move if you have to change lanes, and the other driver may not know you are there at all.
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26. Why should the radiator cap never be removed while the engine is hot?
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Answer A: The cooling system is under pressure and scalding coolant can be sprayed out
A hot cooling system holds pressurized coolant above its normal boiling point, so releasing the cap can throw boiling liquid and steam at whoever is holding it.
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27. Why should you never back under a trailer whose landing gear is resting on soft or muddy ground?
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Answer C: The landing gear can sink or collapse and the trailer can drop or tip over
Soft ground lets the landing gear sink under the load being transferred to it, and a trailer that drops or topples during coupling is extremely dangerous.
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28. Federal rules say a commercial vehicle may not be driven unless what is true of its cargo?
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Answer B: It is properly distributed and adequately secured
The basic federal requirement is that the load be distributed properly and secured well enough that it cannot move, whatever the paperwork says.
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29. Which of these is NOT on the federal list of parts and accessories the driver must be satisfied are in good working order before driving?
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Answer D: The seat cushion upholstery
The federal pre-trip rule names brakes, steering, lights and reflectors, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, coupling devices, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment; seat upholstery is not on that list.
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30. How are the extra gears of a multi-speed rear axle or auxiliary transmission usually controlled?
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Answer D: With a selector knob or switch on the gearshift lever of the main transmission
A range selector on the shift lever lets the driver choose the extra gear range while shifting the main transmission.
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31. The rear wheels of your vehicle lock during braking and the rear starts to slide sideways. What should you do first?
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Answer A: Stop braking so the rear wheels can roll again, then steer quickly in the direction you want to go
Locked wheels have no side grip; releasing the brakes restores traction and then countersteering brings the vehicle back into line.
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32. How do you test for leaks in a hydraulic brake system during the pre-trip inspection?
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Answer A: Pump the pedal three times, then hold firm pressure for five seconds and make sure the pedal does not move
If the pedal sinks while you hold pressure, fluid is escaping or air is in the lines, and the vehicle must not be driven until the problem is repaired.
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33. The car in the next lane still has snow covering most of its windows. What should you assume?
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Answer C: That driver cannot see you and may move into your lane
A driver whose view is blocked cannot see the vehicles around, so you should assume you are invisible and stay out of that vehicle path.
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34. With water standing on the road, hydroplaning can begin at speeds as low as what?
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Answer D: 30 mph
When enough water covers the surface, the tires can ride up on it and lose contact at speeds as low as 30 mph.
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35. A commercial vehicle stops on the shoulder of an undivided two-lane road that carries traffic in both directions. Where do the warning devices go?
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Answer B: Within 10 feet of the vehicle, plus 100 feet to the front and 100 feet to the rear
On a two-way road the devices must mark the vehicle itself and warn traffic approaching from each direction, and they must be in place within ten minutes.
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36. After the first inspection of a trip, how often must cargo securement be checked again?
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Answer D: Every 3 hours or 150 miles or at each change of duty status, whichever happens first
The load must be re-checked at whichever of those points arrives first, so a loosening tiedown is found long before it fails.
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37. Who must sign a driver vehicle inspection report?
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Answer D: The driver who prepared it
The report is the driver statement about the condition of the vehicle at the end of the day, so the driver signs it.
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38. How long does a new arrival have to transfer a valid out-of-state CDL to a Hawaii CDL?
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Answer C: 30 days from the time of arrival, with no grace period on an expired out-of-state CDL
Hawaii allows 30 days from arrival to transfer a valid out-of-state CDL, and grants no grace period at all for an expired out-of-state CDL.
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39. You are strapping down a load with sharp metal edges on a flatbed. What should you use?
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Answer D: Edge protection between the strap and the sharp edges so the tiedown is not cut
Sharp edges cut or wear through a strap under tension, so edge protectors are required wherever a tiedown could be damaged.
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40. How should a driver use brakes fitted with an antilock system during an emergency stop?
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Answer C: Brake as usual and keep enough pressure to stay in control while steering around the hazard
The system only works when the brakes are applied hard enough for it to act, so the driver keeps pressure on and steers while the system prevents lockup.
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41. You miss a gear while double clutching and the transmission is stuck in neutral. What should you do?
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Answer B: Return to neutral, release the clutch, bring engine speed to match road speed and try again
Forcing the lever damages the gears; matching the engine speed to the road speed lets the gear engage cleanly on the next try.
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42. What must be true of the person who performs the annual periodic inspection?
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Answer D: They must meet the federal qualification requirements for an inspector
The inspection has to be done by someone who meets the federal training and experience requirements for inspectors, whoever employs them.
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43. You drive a 40 foot straight truck at 50 miles per hour in good conditions. What following distance does the rule of thumb call for?
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Answer A: 5 seconds
One second for every 10 feet of vehicle length gives 4 seconds, and one extra second is added for speeds above 40 miles per hour.
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44. How do you avoid the sharp lurch that comes at the very end of a stop in a heavy vehicle?
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Answer A: Ease off the brake pressure just before the vehicle actually comes to rest
A smooth stop is finished by reducing pedal pressure as the vehicle settles, so the suspension does not rock the cab and the load forward.
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45. What should you look for on the electrical wiring in the engine compartment?
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Answer A: Worn, frayed or cracked insulation and loose or corroded connections
Damaged insulation can short a circuit against the frame or engine, which can kill a lamp you depend on or start a fire.
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46. A brake light lens is cracked and the lamp still lights. How should that be treated?
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Answer B: As a defect, because water can enter and the lamp can dim or fail
A cracked lens lets in water and dirt, which corrodes the socket and dulls the lamp, so it is reported before it becomes a dead brake light.
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47. Compared with a fully loaded one, an empty truck under hard braking will often do what?
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Answer A: Need a longer distance to stop because traction is poor
Stiff suspension and little weight over the tires reduce grip, so the wheels lock early and the vehicle can take longer to stop.
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48. What is the main purpose of a retarder fitted to a heavy vehicle?
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Answer B: To help slow the vehicle and reduce the need to use the service brakes
Exhaust, engine, hydraulic and electric retarders all slow the vehicle so the brakes stay cool and wear less, especially on grades.
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49. Why must exhaust components be checked for contact with other parts of the vehicle?
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Answer B: Hot exhaust parts touching fuel lines, tires or wiring can start a fire
Exhaust pipes run hot enough to ignite fuel and melt insulation, so they must be kept clear of the fuel system, the tires and the electrical harness.
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50. Why does a load of hanging meat in a refrigerated trailer require special care in curves?
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Answer D: The meat swings and has a high center of gravity, which makes the trailer unstable
Hanging meat is heavy, sits high and swings, so the trailer can tip in a curve or on a ramp taken at normal speed.