Rhode Island CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class A 2

An operator should drive with care when transporting a cargo of hanging meat. Such a load is unstable, both because it has a high center of gravity and because the swinging of the meat can affect the driver's handling of the vehicle.

Before starting down a hill, be sure to switch into a low gear. Gravity will increase your vehicle's speed as you travel downhill.

Backing a truck is always dangerous because the driver may not be able to see everything behind them. CMV operators should avoid backing whenever possible.

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

While driving, spring brakes are generally held in place by air pressure. If the air pressure gets low enough, the springs will activate the brakes.

Drum brakes are attached to the wheels and located on the axles of a vehicle. The braking mechanisms that cause the vehicle to stop can be found inside of a drum brake.

When driving on a wet road surface, the risk of hydroplaning is increased if your tire pressure is too low or your tire tread is too worn. If you begin to hydroplane, release the accelerator and push in the clutch to slow down.

During the on-road driving test, the examiner will be scoring you on specific driving maneuvers, as well as your general driving behavior.

Always change lanes slowly and smoothly. If you did not see drivers who are already using the lane you wish to occupy, this will give them a chance to get out of your way or honk their horns to alert you. Always signal when changing lanes.

While driving a CMV, you may not make voice calls if you need to hold your phone or press more than one button to do so. Additionally, you may not send or read text messages while driving.

Reduce your speed when traveling on surfaces that provide reduced traction. Reduce your speed by one-half or more when traveling on packed snow.

You should never assume that you will hear an approaching train. The train operator may fail to sound the horn, or the use of a train's horn may be prohibited in a specific area. Even if the train does sound its horn, noise from inside your own vehicle may prevent you from hearing the train until it is dangerously close.

Most states have an Implied Consent Law, which means that by driving a vehicle on the state's roads, you have agreed to undergo a drug or alcohol test if a police officer asks you to do so. If you refuse to submit to a test, you will lose your operating privileges. Make sure you are aware of the laws for every state in which you drive.

Tar in road pavement often rises to the surface of the road, or "bleeds," in very hot weather. Watch for such areas because they can be very slippery.

Regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires are prohibited on the front wheels of a bus.

In heavy traffic, it is safest to match the speed of surrounding vehicles. Vehicles traveling in the same direction at the same speed are unlikely to collide. However, you should not exceed legal speed limits.

An alcohol evaporator can help prevent ice from building up in an air brake system. In cold weather, the evaporator should be checked and refilled every day.

In an air brake system, a low air pressure warning signal must come on if air pressure in the tanks falls below 60 psi. This warning signal may come in the form of a light, a buzzer, or a wig wag.

Mirror adjustment should be checked prior to the start of each trip. Any attached trailer should be straight while mirrors are being adjusted.

Avoid being an aggressive driver by being realistic about your travel time, making allowance for delays, maintaining reasonable following distances, and not making hand gestures that could anger another driver.

Air brakes are really three different braking systems: the service brake, the parking brake, and the emergency brake. Emergency and parking brakes are applied with mechanical force.

Always check for traffic in your mirrors before changing lanes. Frequent mirror checks should be a part of your normal scanning routine.

Stopping is not always the best way to avoid a hazard. If there is not enough space for you to stop to avoid coming into contact with the hazard, swerving out of the way may be your safest option.

All commercial motor vehicles are required to be equipped with the proper emergency equipment. This may include spare electrical fuses; three red reflective triangles, six fuses, or three liquid burning flares; and at least one properly charged and rated fire extinguisher.

If you are not sure which kind of extinguisher should be used on a fire in your vehicle, particularly a hazardous materials fire, you should wait for the firefighters to arrive and allow them to extinguish it.

Potential warning signs of fatigue include difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids; yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes; daydreaming; wandering or disconnected thoughts; trouble remembering the last few miles you've driven; missing exits or traffic signs; having trouble keeping your head up; drifting from your lane; following too closely; hitting a shoulder rumble strip; or feeling restless and irritable.

It is important to know the maximum air loss rate that is safe for your specific vehicle. A single vehicle with air brakes should have a leakage rate no higher than 3 psi in a minute during an applied leakage test.

Brake linings should not be loose or soaked with oil or grease. They shouldn't be dangerously thin.

Always watch for hazards on the road ahead. Doing this will allow you time to react to hazards before meeting them.

Subject to certain conditions, a CDL is not required to operate military vehicles, authorized emergency vehicles, farm equipment, or recreational vehicles. It is also not required for operating a straight truck that contains only your personal property that you are not selling.

Texting while driving a CMV is prohibited. "Texting" is defined as manually entering text into, or reading text from, an electronic device.

Look at your truck's gauges when starting the engine. The oil pressure in an engine should come up to a normal level within seconds of the vehicle's engine being started.

Cargo that is required to be tied down should be secured by at least one tie-down for every 10 feet of cargo length. However, at least two tie-downs should be used no matter how small the cargo is.

When driving, you should continually scan the road for possible hazards. Form plans about what you will do if the hazards develop into emergencies.

On a wet road, it is possible for a vehicle's tires to lose traction with the road surface and begin to glide along on the layer of water. This is referred to as hydroplaning. Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph.