- Roof hatches should only be used as an emergency exit and should never be used as ventilation sources
- The height of the bus is calculated assuming the roof hatches will be open
- You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air.
- Roof hatches should be left open as regular practice
Quote From Page 55 Of The CDL Manual:
You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air. Do not leave them open as a regular practice. Keep in mind the bus's higher clearance while driving with them open.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Even if you don't plan on obtaining a CDL passenger endorsement, you will still required to have an understanding of some basic passenger rules and regulations for the written exam.
- Directly above the drive axles
- Slightly in front of the halfway point between the tractor drives and trailer tandems
- Directly above the front axle of the trailer tandems
- In the overhang portion of the trailer behind the center point of the trailer tandems
Quote From Page 0 Of The CDL Manual:
- Rear clearance lights
- All of these lights need to be checked during an inspection
- Turn signals
- Identification lights
Quote From Page 21 Of The CDL Manual:
Lights and Reflectors:
- Rear clearance and identification lights clean, operating and proper color (red at rear).
- Reflectors clean and proper color (red at rear).
- Taillights clean, operating and proper color (red at rear).
- Right rear turn signal operating and proper color (red, yellow, or amber at rear).
- Within 10 feet
- Within 25 feet
- Within 75 feet
- Within 50 feet
Quote From Page 101 Of The CDL Manual:
Do not smoke within 25 feet of a placarded cargo tank used for Class 3 (flammable liquids) or Division 2.1 (gases). Also, do not smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe within 25 feet of any vehicle that contains:
- Class 1 explosives
- Class 2.1 flammable gas
- Class 3 flammable liquids
- Class 4.1 flammable solids
- Class 4.2 spontaneously combustible
- Class 5 oxidizers
TruckingTruth's Advice:
The cab of the truck, both inside and out, is considered part of the placarded vehicle, so no smoking is allowed by the driver of the vehicle while in the cab.
- 12 feet, 9 inches
- 13 feet
- 14 feet, 6 inches
- 13 feet, 6 inches
Quote From Page 10 Of The CDL Manual:
Height
The maximum height for all vehicles on all designated state and federal highways is 13 feet, 6 inches, including load from the underside of the tire to the top of the vehicle. This includes the US Interstate system. Individual states may set their own maximum height limits, but those limits must be equal to or greater than 13 feet, 6 inches.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Any vehicles exceeding 13 feet, 6 inches in height must obtain proper permits.
- About 90 psi
- About 115 psi
- About 110 psi
- About 125 psi
Quote From Page 66 Of The CDL Manual:
Check air compressor governor cut-in and cut-out pressures: Pumping by the air compressor should start at about 100 psi and stop at about 125 psi. (Check manufacturer's specifications.) Run the engine at a fast idle. The air governor should cut out the air compressor at about the manufacturer's specified pressure. The air pressure shown by your gauge(s) will stop rising. With the engine idling, step on and off the brake to reduce the air tank pressure. The compressor should cut in at about the manufacturer's specified cut-in pressure. The pressure should begin to rise.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
It is important to memorize the "cut in" and "cut out" levels for the air governor as well as the terminology.
Cut in: When the governor tells the air compressor to start pumping air into the air tanks. This should occur when air pressure falls to about 100 psi.
Cut out: When the governor tells the air compressor to stop pumping air into the air tanks. This should occur when the air pressure has risen to about 125 psi.
- Remain in gear during the curve
- Downshift to the right gear before entering the curve
- Slow down to a safe speed before entering the curve
- Brake hardest during the middle of the curve
Quote From Page 25 Of The CDL Manual:
Before entering a curve – Slow down to a safe speed, and downshift to the right gear before entering the curve. This lets you use some power through the curve to help the vehicle be more stable while turning. It also lets you speed up as soon as you are out of the curve.
- 100% of cargo weight.
- 5,000 lbs.
- 50% of cargo weight.
- 5% of cargo weight.
Quote From Page 1 Of The CDL Manual:
g:
The acceleration due to gravity, 9.823 m/sec2 (32.2 ft/sec2). For cargo securement purposes it is expressed as a percentage of cargo weight, i.e. .5g is 50% of force of gravity or 50% of cargo weight.
- The loss rate should be less than 2 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles and less than 3 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles
- The loss rate should be less than 4 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles and less than 5 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles
- None of these answers are correct
- The loss rate should be less than 3 psi in 2 minutes for single vehicles and less than 4 psi in 2 minutes for combination vehicles
Quote From Page 66 Of The CDL Manual:
Test air leakage rate: With a fully-charged air system (typically 125 psi), turn off the engine, release the service brake, and time the air pressure drop. The loss rate should be less than 2 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles and less than 3 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles. Then apply 90 psi or more with the brake pedal. After the initial pressure drop, if the air pressure falls more than 3 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles and more than 4 psi for combination vehicles, the air loss rate is too much. Check for air leaks, and repair before driving the vehicle. Otherwise, you could lose your brakes while driving.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
You really need to memorize the allowable air leakage rates. This will very likely come up on your written exam and will come up again during the pre-trip exam. Here's what you should memorize (create flash cards if you have to).
With the service brakes released (not depressing the brake pedal):
- Air loss rate should be less than 2 psi in 1 minute for a single vehicle.
- Air loss rate should be less than 3 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles (vehicles with a trailer).
With the service brakes depressed (pressing the brake pedal):
- Air loss rate should be less than 3 psi in 1 minute for a single vehicle.
- Air loss rate should be less than 4 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles (vehicles with a trailer).
Be sure to have that memorized. Very important!!
- 100 feet behind the vehicle
- 200 feet behind the vehicle
- 100 feet in front of the vehicle
- 10 feet behind the vehicle
Quote From Page 27 Of The CDL Manual:
On or by a one-way or divided highway, place warning devices 10 feet, 100 feet and 200 feet toward the approaching traffic.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Be sure to memorize how to place your warning devices during different situations. This is something that will very likely show up on your written test.