- The amount of fuel onboard and the placement of the fuel tanks
- The position of the trailer's tandems
- All of these factors affect the weight distribution across the axles
- The position of the tractor's 5th wheel
Quote From Page 0 Of The CDL Manual:
The primary factors which will affect the weight distribution across a truck's axles are:
- The position of the trailer's tandems
- The position of the tractor's 5th wheel
- The overall weight of the cargo in the trailer and the horizontal (front-to-back) position of its center of gravity
- The amount of fuel onboard and the placement of the fuel tanks
- Check the tires, wheels and truck body for signs of heat whenever you stop during a trip
- Open the hood and take a temperature reading of the engine coolant to be sure it's within manufacture specifications
- Uncouple the emergency brake line to see how hot the air is
- Feel the exhaust stack to make sure it's not excessively hot
Quote From Page 46 Of The CDL Manual:
Enroute inspection: Check the tires, wheels and truck body for signs of heat whenever you stop during a trip.
- Gear box
- Air compressor
- Pumps
- Tie rods
Quote From Page 14 Of The CDL Manual:
Things to check in the steering system:
- Missing nuts, bolts, cotter keys or other parts.
- Bent, loose or broken parts, such as steering column, steering gear box or tie rods.
- If power steering equipped-check hoses, pumps and fluid level for leaks.
- Steering wheel play of more than 10 degrees (approximately 2 inches movement at the rim of a 20-inch steering wheel) can make it hard to steer.
- 10,000 lbs.
- 8,000 lbs.
- 4,500 lbs.
- 4,000 lbs.
Quote From Page 2 Of The CDL Manual:
The manufacturer’s working load limit is reduced by 50% for tiedowns which are directly attached from the vehicle to the article, and tiedowns attached to the vehicle that go around, through or over the article and are reattached to the same side of the vehicle.
- It is packed in a square box.
- it fills a sided vehicle, and every article is in contact with or sufficiently close to a wall or other articles so that it cannot shift or tip if those other articles are also unable to shift or tip.
- It fills a void between articles of cargo and the structure of the vehicle that has sufficient strength to prevent movement of the articles of cargo.
- It is loaded on the end of the truck.
Quote From Page 2 Of The CDL Manual:
Contained:
Cargo is contained if it fills a sided vehicle, and every article is in contact with or sufficiently close to a wall or other articles so that it cannot shift or tip if those other articles are also unable to shift or tip.
- Tiedown
- Void Filler
- Edge Protector
- Working Load Limit
Quote From Page 1 Of The CDL Manual:
Tiedown:
A combination of securing devices which form an assembly that attaches cargo to, or restrains cargo on, a vehicle or trailer, and is attached to anchor point(s).
- Organic Peroxide
- Poison Inhalation Hazard
- Poison Gas
- Flammable Solid
Quote From Page 95 Of The CDL Manual:
- Assist the injured after you have protected the area, but before you have notified authorities
- Assist the injured immediately
- Assist the injured only after you have protected the area and notified authorities
- You should never assist the injured until authorities have arrived
Quote From Page 45 Of The CDL Manual:
If a qualified person is at the accident and helping the injured, stay out of the way unless asked to assist. Otherwise, do the best you can to help any injured parties:
- Do not move a severely injured person unless the danger of fire or passing traffic makes it necessary.
- Stop heavy bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound.
- Keep the injured person warm.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
If you are the first one on the scene of a serious accident, you may want to help the injured right away. But make sure you secure the scene of the accident first to avoid any additional collisions. You should then notify the authorities before attempting to assist an injured person. Make sure you memorize the order of recommended accident procedures:
1. Protect the area
2. Notify authorities
3. Assist the injured
What violations occurred on Day 2 of this example?
Day 1

Day 2

- There is a 14 and 11 hour rule violation
- There is a 14 and 11 hour rule violation as well as a 30 minute break violation
- There is an 11 hour rule violation and a 30 minute break violation
- There is a 14 hour rule violation and a 30 minute break violation
Quote From Page 0 Of The CDL Manual:
Day 1

Day 2

Violations: There are a total of 3 violations on Day 2. First, there is a 14 hour rule violation from 1:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Second, there is a 30 minute break violation from 8:00 p.m - midnight. And third, there is also an 11 hour rule violation from 11:00 p.m. - midnight.
Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty using a combination of off duty and sleeper berth time, the driver was eligible to drive for up to 11 hours starting at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1. By 2:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver had driven 9 hours. By obtaining 10 consecutive hours off duty on Day 2, the 11 hour calculation point moved to noon on Day 2, at which point the driver had 11 hours of driving time available again. The driver violated the 11 hour rule by driving beyond the 11 hour limit between 11:00 p.m. and Midnight.
Explanation - 30 Minute Break: On Day 1, the driver was never required to take a 30 minute break because the longest stretch of on duty time during the entire day was only 6 consecutive hours. On day 2, the driver never took a minimum of 30 consecutive minutes off duty, even after remaining in the driver's seat for more than 8-hours. At 8:00 p.m. the driver was in violation of the 30 minute break provision and remained in violation for the remainder of the day.
Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1. The driver reached the 14 hour limit at midnight (the 5-hour sleeper-berth period is included in the 14 hour calculation because it was less than 8 hours). Though the driver was not eligible to drive a CMV after midnight, he or she was able to continue working on duty without violation, as long as no driving took place (which was done for 1 hour). The driver violated the 14 hour rule by driving a CMV at 1:00 a.m. Then, after 10 consecutive hours off duty, the 14 hour calculation point moved to noon on Day 2, at which point the driver had 14 hours available to work again.
- You will decrease the weight on the steer axle and take weight off the drive axles
- You will increase the weight on the steer axle and take weight off the drive axles
- You will decrease the weight on the steer axle and it will have no effect on the drive axles
- You will increase the weight on the steer axle and increase the weight on the drive axles