Massachusetts CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class B 2

After starting your vehicle during the pre-trip inspection, you should watch the gauges. The coolant temperature should gradually rise to a normal operating range.

If your vehicle begins to hydroplane, do not apply the brakes. Instead, release the accelerator and push in the clutch. This will slow down your vehicle and help it regain traction.

Reduce your speed as you approach a railroad crossing. Remember that you will not necessarily be able to hear a train, and don't assume that signals will warn you of its approach. Never try to outdrive an approaching train at a railroad crossing.

If you use your brakes too much when traveling on a steep downgrade, they may overheat and become less effective. To avoid causing your brakes to overheat on a steep hill, you should rely on engine braking.

At times when visibility is low, you should turn your headlights on to the low beam setting. If you are having a difficult time seeing others, they are probably having a difficult time seeing you.

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.

The height of a vehicle's center of gravity is very important to a driver's ability to safely handle the vehicle. Always distribute the weight of cargo as low as possible.

Backing can be dangerous, so avoid doing it whenever you can. If possible, park in such a way that allows you to pull forward to exit your parking space.

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

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

The adjustment of mirrors must be checked prior to the start of any trip.

If a pre-trip inspection reveals anything unsafe about your vehicle, you must get it repaired. It is illegal to operate an unsafe vehicle.

If brakes are overused, they may overheat and stop working. This is referred to as brake fade.

You can tell that your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) if it has a yellow ABS malfunction lamp on the instrument panel.

To make a normal stop in an air-braked vehicle, push the brake pedal down and control the pressure so that the vehicle comes to a smooth, safe stop.

At a railroad crossing, do not assume that you will hear an approaching train. Trains may be prohibited from sounding their horns in certain areas, or the sound of its horn may be covered by noise from your vehicle. Do not assume that warning lights or other signals will announce a train.

Under wet conditions, roads are often most slippery when it first begins to rain. This is because the water mixes with oil and grease on the road that has not yet begun to wash away.

Spring brakes come on automatically when air pressure drops to an unsafe psi level. Instead of waiting for the spring brakes to automatically activate, you should safely exit the road as soon as you notice the low pressure warning signal and bring your vehicle to a stop while you are still able to control the brakes.

Fog can quickly deteriorate drivers' ability to see the road, other drivers, and other hazards. Avoid driving in fog if at all possible.

The securement of cargo must be checked before beginning a trip, within the first 50 miles of a trip, and then again every three hours or 150 miles.

The purpose of an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is to prevent a vehicle's wheels from locking up when the driver brakes hard on a slippery surface.

After starting the engine, warning lights and buzzers should go out right away. If a light stays on, it usually indicates an issue with the vehicle.

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.

Brakes heat up with use. If they are overused and become too hot, expansion and chemical changes will make them less effective and eventually cause them to stop working altogether. This is known as "brake fade."

When checking the power steering fluid during the vehicle inspection test, you must be able to indicate where the power steering fluid dipstick is located and show that there is an adequate amount of power steering fluid in the engine compartment. The fluid level must be above the refill mark.

You should make frequent mirror checks to monitor the traffic around you. This should help you notice if surrounding vehicles begin to move into your blind spots.

If you encounter an aggressive driver, the most important thing to do is get out of their way, if possible. Do not provoke the driver by challenging them or making eye contact, and do not let yourself be provoked by rude gestures they might make.

If you see, hear, smell, or feel anything that could indicate trouble while you are driving, you should stop and inspect the source of the unusual occurrence.

When driving on packed snow, you should reduce your speed by one-half or more. It can be difficult to stop or turn when operating on a slippery surface, so you must adjust your speed to drive safely under such conditions.

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.

The method of controlled braking involves applying the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels. If you need to make large steering adjustments while using controlled braking, you should remove your foot from the brake pedal, steer, then reapply the brakes.

Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires lose contact with the road surface and instead glide along on a film of water above the surface of the road.

After a tire is changed, you should stop after a short distance to ensure that the lug nuts are still safely in place.

An Individual Vehicle Distance Record (IVDR) must include the following information about distance traveled: trip start and end dates; trip origin and destination points; route(s) of travel; beginning and ending odometer or hubometer readings; total distance traveled; in-jurisdiction distance; and power unit number or vehicle identification number.

Sending and reading text messages while driving is prohibited.