Kansas CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class B 2

Driving with a dry bulk tank requires special care, both because dry bulk tanks have high centers of gravity and because their loads often shift in transit. Be especially careful when taking turns and curves while operating such a vehicle.

Most CDL holders who drive CMVs in interstate commerce are non-excepted interstate commerce drivers.

During the on-road driving skills test, you may be asked to drive on an expressway. Make sure you maintain proper lane positioning, vehicle spacing, and vehicle speed. Continue to thoroughly check traffic in all directions while on the expressway.

When checking a cargo lift as part of your vehicle inspection test, you should check for leaking, damaged, or missing parts. The lift must be fully retracted and latched securely.

When inspecting a vehicle's brakes, you should make sure the shoes and pads do not have oil, grease, or brake fluid on them.

Problems to check for when inspecting tires include: air pressure that is too low or too high; using radial and bias-ply tires together; tread depth of less than 4/32 of an inch in major grooves on front tires; and tread depth of less than 2/32 of an inch on all other tires.

Friction inside a brake drum is caused when the brake shoes and linings push against the inside of the drum. The friction in the drums will slow and stop the vehicle.

On a vehicle with ABS, a yellow malfunction lamp on the instrument panel will illuminate to alert you if the braking system is not working.

If you must drive in fog, you should use your low beam headlights and fog lights, even during the day.

Weight of cargo should be loaded into a trailer as low as possible. If the weight of cargo is positioned too high in a trailer, it will put the vehicle at risk of tipping over.

In a vehicle with dual parking control valves, there is a separate air tank that can be used to temporarily release the spring brakes if they have been activated due to low air pressure. Pushing in the proper control will release the spring brakes for a short period of time, allowing the driver to move the vehicle in an emergency.

If you begin to feel drowsy while driving, the only safe response is to safely leave the road and get some sleep. Using artificial stimulants can be dangerous because they may cause extreme fatigue when they begin to wear off.

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.

You may be asked to complete a conventional parallel parking maneuver into a parking space that is to the right of your vehicle. You should drive past the parking space before backing into it while bringing the rear of your vehicle as close to the rear of the space as possible. Your vehicle should be completely within the boundaries of the space.

During the basic vehicle control skills test, you must place the vehicle in neutral and set the parking brake before exiting the vehicle to check its position. You may check the position of the vehicle no more than twice, except during the straight line backing exercise, where you may look no more than once.

If you are being followed too closely, you should increase your following distance, avoid making quick moves, and avoid relying on tricks (such as flashing your lights) to help other drivers pass. Speeding up may only increase the danger by causing the tailgater to continue tailgating you at a higher speed.

If a pre-trip inspection reveals a load to be oversize, the driver must confirm that all required signs, flags, lamps, and reflectors are safely and properly mounted, and that and all required permits are in their possession.

Check your tires regularly when looking in your mirrors. This helps ensure that you will notice a tire fire, if one should happen. Tire fires may occur when a tire is under-inflated, if dual tires are touching, or if the tires are otherwise overheated.

The height of a vehicle's center of gravity is very important. A high center of gravity (cargo piled up high or heavy cargo on the top of a load) increases the possibility of your vehicle tipping over.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic control skills test.

If steering begins to feel heavy, it is likely that one of your front tires has failed. If you feel a change to your steering, you should exit the road as quickly as is safely possible and check your tires.

You will be asked to make multiple lane changes during the driving skills test. Before changing lanes, you should make the necessary traffic checks and use proper signals. Change lanes smoothly when you can do so safely.

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

Cargo must be properly loaded and secured to prevent it from falling or shifting dangerously. During a quick stop, improperly loaded cargo could injure or even kill the driver.

Hazardous materials placards must be at least 10 and three-quarter inches square.

The suspension system is responsible for supporting a vehicle, supporting its load, and keeping its axles in place. When inspecting your vehicle, check for damaged or missing spring hangers, spring leaves, shock absorbers, u-bolts, and frame members. Broken parts in the suspension system are extremely dangerous.

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.

When driving through work zones, you should make a particular point of reducing your speed when workers are on or near the road.

Good drivers look down the road at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead of their vehicles. This makes it possible to identify hazards early, when drivers are more likely to have time to respond appropriately.

Always drive cautiously around a stopped bus. Passengers may cross in front of or behind it, and the bus may prevent them from seeing your vehicle.

In an air brake system, the air storage tanks are equipped with drains to allow water and compressor oil to be removed. The water and oil can damage the brakes if left to accumulate in the system.

Increasing your vehicle's speed will increase your vehicle's striking power and braking distance. Doubling your vehicle's speed from 20 to 40 mph will multiply its braking distance by four.

When examining your tires during the vehicle inspection test, you should ensure that treads are evenly worn.

Hydroplaning is most likely to occur on wet roads if tire pressure is low or if tire tread is worn. If there is enough water on the road, hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph.

There are two indicators that determine when you need to shift into a higher gear. One indicator is the engine speed (rpm). You should read your vehicle's manual to learn its rpm range and shift up when you reach the top of that range. The other indicator is road speed (mph). You should learn which speeds each gear can accommodate, then keep an eye on the speedometer and shift up as needed.