Kentucky CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class B 1

The risk of hydroplaning begins when water has collected on the surface of a road.

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.

While driving, you should watch your vehicle's gauges for signs of trouble. Be sure to inspect your gauges before beginning a trip to ensure that they are in proper working order.

During the vehicle inspection test, you will be asked to do a complete inspection of your vehicle. You will need to explain what you are inspecting and why.

A Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.

Compressed air in an air brake system usually has a certain amount of water and oil in it. This can harm the system if allowed to accumulate. Air tanks have drain valves to aid in removing water and oil from the compressed air.

If your brakes fail while you are driving downhill, you should first look for an escape ramp to stop your vehicle. If no ramp is available, you should look for an alternative place to bring your vehicle to a stop, such as an open field or side road that flattens out or turns uphill.

When inspecting your brakes, you should check for cracked drums; shoes or pads covered in oil, grease, or brake fluid; and shoes that are missing, broken, or worn dangerously thin.

If you must back up, it is safest to back toward the driver's side of the vehicle. This way, as the driver, you will have the best possible view of your path of travel.

When involved in an accident, you should protect the area, notify authorities, care for the injured, collect required information, and report the accident. You can lose your license for leaving the scene of an accident.

Your truck may block the views of drivers behind you, making them unaware of any upcoming hazards that require you to stop. For this reason, it is a good idea to flash your brakes and warn other drivers before slowing or stopping.

Retarders help to slow vehicles, reducing drivers' need to use brakes.

If you must drive in reverse, you should first walk around your vehicle to look at the path of travel and check for obstacles. Because mirrors have blind spots, you cannot rely exclusively on them. It is recommended to use a helper whenever possible.

Use your senses during trips to help you identify mechanical issues. If you see, hear, smell, or feel anything that could indicate trouble, you should stop and check it out.

Once you have begun to drive after a tire has been changed, you should stop after a short distance to recheck the tightness of the lug nuts.

A pre-trip inspection should be completed in the same way before every drive. Consistency will help you learn all of the proper steps and decrease the likelihood that you will forget to check something.

Because air pressure increases as air expands in the heat, it is important to monitor your tire pressure when driving in very hot weather. To prevent the engine from overheating, there must be an adequate amount of oil in the engine, as well as enough water and antifreeze in the cooling system. Antifreeze is helpful for the engine in both hot and cold weather.

When doing a pre-trip inspection during the winter, you should pay extra attention to the coolant level and amount of antifreeze; the defrosting and heating equipment; the wiper blades and windshield washer; the tires and tire chains; the lights and reflectors; the windows and mirrors; the hand holds, steps, and deck plates; the radiator shuttles and winterfront; and exhaust system.

While swerving can sometimes be the safest way to handle a hazard on the roadway, doing so is not without risk. Top-heavy vehicles and tractors with multiple trailers may flip over in a swerve.

Tire load is defined as the maximum safe weight that a tire can carry at a specified pressure.

If your brakes fail on a downgrade, your best option is to use an escape ramp. If no escape ramp is available, it is a good idea to look for a different escape route, such as a side road or open field.

A steering wheel should be held firmly with each hand on opposite sides of the wheel.

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.

Both systems in a dual air brake systems share a single air compressor. If the air compressor is damaged, neither system will be able to operate properly.

Tires should never have too much air pressure. Be sure to check your tires' air pressure with a gauge during inspections.

If you must back up, it is safest to back toward the driver's side of the vehicle. This way, as the driver, you will have the best possible view of your path of travel.

If you must drive so slowly that you will impede the flow of traffic, you should turn on your four-way flashers to alert drivers behind you (as long as local laws allow the use of flashers).

To make a normal stop in a vehicle that is equipped with air brakes, you should simply press the brake pedal down.

Your vehicle's horn is a tool to warn others of your presence. Because the horn may create danger by startling other drivers, you should use it only if necessary.

It is essential that your vehicle will be able to stop within the area of the road that you are able to see. This means that you must slow down whenever conditions reduce visibility.

It is a driver's responsibility to make sure their vehicle is not overloaded. They must be aware of legal weight limits and the maximum weight that their vehicle is rated to carry, including the weight capacity rating of the suspension system.

Before driving a vehicle with air brakes, you should ensure that the spring brakes come on automatically when air tank pressure falls to a level between 20 and 45 psi. You can do this by chocking the wheels and releasing air from the braking system by stepping on and off the brake pedal. Once the pressure levels drop to an unsafe level, the parking brake valve should pop out and spring brakes should come on.

Truck tractors with air brakes built on or after March 1, 1997, and other vehicles with air brakes built on or after March 1, 1998, must be equipped with anti-lock brakes.

It is best to avoid driving through large puddles or moving water. If there is no way to avoid driving through water, you should slow down, shift into a low gear, and gently apply the brakes. Pressing linings against the brake drums or discs will keep water, mud, silt, and sand from getting inside the brake mechanisms.

In some emergencies, the best strategy for avoiding a hazard may be to drive onto the shoulder. Most shoulders are strong enough to support the weight of a large vehicle.