Florida CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class A 2

Your vehicle's engine may need to be running in order for you to check the level of its automatic transmission fluid.

For safety, you must wear your seat belt at all times while operating a CMV.

Front-end header boards, also known as "headache racks," protect the driver from cargo moving in the event of a crash or emergency stop.

Retarders are mechanisms in some vehicles that help slow a vehicle and reduce the need for braking. However, using a retarder may cause wheels to skid when they have poor traction. Turn off retarders when traveling under wet, snowy, or icy conditions.

In a newer vehicle with air brakes, the parking brake is controlled by a diamond-shaped yellow knob. The knob is pulled out to apply the parking brakes and pushed in to release them.

If a federal or state inspector judges a CMV to be unsafe, they may put it out-of-service until it is fixed.

When driving a school bus, you must activate your four-way flashers while approaching and crossing a railroad crossing. Deactivate the flashers once your entire vehicle has cleared the tracks.

When checking a header board during the vehicle inspection test, you should ensure that it is secure, free of damage, and strong enough to contain cargo.

If a vehicle is coming toward you while using its high beam headlights, glance away from the headlights and toward the right side of the road until the vehicle has passed. This will keep you from being blinded by the lights.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the weight specified by the manufacturer as the maximum weight of a single vehicle and its load.

During the vehicle inspection test, you will need to show emergency equipment, including spare electrical fuses; three red reflective triangles, six fuses, or three liquid burning flares; and a properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.

After you start the engine, keep an eye on the gauges. Oil pressure should rise to a normal level within a few seconds of the engine being started.

Some older vehicles with air brakes have front brake limiting valves. These valves were intended to reduce the risk of front wheels skidding. However, research has shown that such devices are unnecessary, so they should be left in the "normal" position.

The liver removes alcohol from the body at a fixed rate, so the only way to sober up after consuming alcohol is to allow your body time to remove the alcohol on its own.

Smoking, eating, or drinking are distracting activities and should be avoided while you are driving. Instead, plan ahead and allow yourself time to stop to eat when making a lengthy trip.

If you are asked to alley dock, you should first pull past the alley and stop your vehicle in a position that is parallel to the outer boundary. From there, you should back your vehicle entirely into the alley parking area. Your vehicle should be parked in a straight position within the boundaries of the parking space.

When turning quickly to avoid an object, turn only as much as is necessary to clear it. Do not apply the brakes while turning.

For safe driving, it is essential that you maintain cushions of space on all sides of your vehicle. This helps to ensure that you will have time to take appropriate action if a problem arises.

A modulating control valve allows a driver to gradually apply spring brakes. In equipped vehicles, the valve is controlled by a lever located on the dashboard.

A large vehicle may need to swing right to make a left turn. If an intersection has two left turn lanes, the driver should choose the righthand land to begin their turn.

If an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is not working, the vehicle's basic braking functions are still intact. The driver should continue to drive and brake in a normal fashion.

Check your engine during the pre-trip inspection. After starting the engine, you should listen for unusual noises.

It is important to know the maximum air loss rate that is safe for your specific vehicle. A double combination vehicle should have a leakage rate no higher than 4 psi in a minute during an applied leakage test.

At the end of each day of driving, you may be required to make a written report on the vehicle or vehicles driven. Be sure to make note of any issues that could affect the safety of the vehicle or that could lead to a mechanical breakdown.

Operating a CMV with a minimum blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04 percent is illegal and will result in loss of license for at least one year for a first offense. If you operate a CMV with any detectable amount of alcohol in your system while remaining below the legal limit of 0.04 percent, you will be put out-of-service for at least 24 hours.

A steering wheel with play of more than 10 degrees may be defective. On a 20-inch wheel, this is equal to about two inches of movement at the rim of the wheel.

When transporting cargo on a flatbed trailer, you should use at least one tie-down for every 10 feet of cargo. Any cargo, no matter how small, should be restrained by a minimum of two tie-downs.

During the straight line backing exercise, you are permitted to exit your vehicle to check its position no more than one time.

If your brakes fail on a downgrade, you will need to quickly find something outside that can stop your vehicle. An escape ramp is the best option. If no escape ramp is available, use the least hazardous available option, such as driving into an open field or side road that flattens out or turns uphill.

While driving downhill, you should hold down the brake pedal until your vehicle reaches a speed 5 mph below your safe speed, then release the brake pedal. Repeat this process.

Some pre-1975 vehicles have a front brake limiting valve, which has "normal" and "slippery" settings. The idea behind these valves was to limit the air pressure available to the front brakes when driving on slippery surfaces, and thereby reduce the danger of a front-wheel skid. Studies have found that this is not actually a concern, so if your vehicle has a front brake limiting valve, leave it in the "normal" position.

Always slow down before entering a foggy area. Use low beam headlights, avoid passing others, and avoid stopping on the side of the roadway. It is safest to completely avoid driving under foggy conditions, if possible.

If you must stop on the side of the road, it is important that you turn on your emergency flashers as a warning to other drivers. This is especially important if you are stopped at night.

To obtain a hazardous materials endorsement, you will be required to submit your fingerprints and undergo a TSA background check.

You will be asked to change lanes during the on-road driving test. When the examiner asks you to do this, you should make the necessary traffic checks and use the proper signals before changing lanes.