South Dakota CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class B 1

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.

Special permits are required for loads that are over-size, over-length, or overweight.

You should shift your vehicle's transmission into a low gear before staring a downhill grade. Be prepared for gravity to increase your vehicle's speed when traveling downhill.

Using the brakes after a tire failure could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Unless you're about to hit something, stay off of the brake until the vehicle has slowed sufficiently.

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.

Cargo with a high center of gravity makes a vehicle more likely to tip over than cargo with a low center of gravity. For this reason, it is important that the weight of cargo be distributed as low as possible.

Hanging meat can be an unstable load in a vehicle. The truck may become top-heavy and steering may be inhibited by the swinging meat. Drivers carrying such loads should use particular caution when traveling around sharp curves, such as highway entrance and exit ramps.

Overloading a vehicle can have negative effects on its steering, braking, and speed control. Be aware of how your vehicle handles differently when carrying additional weight.

The purpose of an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is to prevent wheels from locking up during hard applications of the brakes, especially on slippery surfaces.

Cargo should be inspected before beginning a trip, within the first 50 miles of the trip, and every three hours or 150 miles traveled thereafter. Cargo should be inspected every time the driver stops to take a break. The driver of a truck transporting cargo is responsible for the cargo being safely secured throughout the trip.

If you are fatigued, you will not see or react to hazards as quickly as you would if you were fully energized and awake. You will be impaired in making critical decisions.

If you observe a crash involving an aggressive driver, you should stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for police to arrive, and inform them of the aggressive behavior you witnessed.

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

When inspecting a vehicle with a dual air brake system, you should wait for air pressure to build from 85 to 100 psi in both the primary and secondary systems. This should take about 45 seconds.

If your brakes fail on a downgrade, you will have to look outside your vehicle for a way to stop. Using an escape ramp is the safest way to stop your vehicle.

Before driving a vehicle with a dual air brake system, allow time for the air compressor to build up pressure of at least 100 psi in both the primary and secondary systems.

All U.S. states share information about CDL and CLP licenses in a computerized database. If you apply for a license in one state, a state will check this database to verify that you do not already have one such license in another state.

Distractions while driving can be physical (such as reaching for an object), mental (such as making conversation with a passenger), or both (such as holding a phone to send texts). Strategies to help you avoid distracted driving include pre-programming radio stations; planning out your route in advance; avoiding complex or emotionally taxing conversation while driving; adjusting your mirrors before setting out; and not eating, drinking, or smoking while behind the wheel.

In an air brake system, the air compressor governor controls when the air compressor pumps air into the air storage tanks.

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.

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.

On a vehicle with air brakes, pressing and releasing the brake pedal unnecessarily may let air out of the braking system faster than the compressor can replace it. This may cause the system's air pressure to become too low and the brakes to stop working.

The suspension system holds up the vehicle and its load while keeping the axles in place. Damage to a suspension system can be very dangerous.

During a pre-trip inspection, be sure to check the mirrors and windshield for dirt and anything else that could interfere with your ability to see. Clean them as necessary.

Wheels or rims with welding repairs are not safe.

If you are convicted of any kind of traffic violation in any type of vehicle, you must notify your employer within 30 days of the incident. You must also inform your motor vehicle licensing agency within 30 days if the incident happened in another jurisdiction. This rule does not apply to parking infractions.

ABS malfunction lamps indicate that something in the Anti-Lock Braking System is not working properly.

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 vehicle control skills test.

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

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

On flatbed trailers and trailers without sides, cargo must be tied down. There should be at least one tie-down for every 10 feet of cargo. Regardless of the size of the cargo, at least two tie-downs must be used.

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 the weight of a load is poorly balanced, it can lead to difficult and unsafe handling of a vehicle.

If you are convicted of any traffic violations while driving any vehicle, you must notify your employer within 30 days of the conviction. This rule excludes parking violations.

Stopping is not always the safest response to a hazard on the road. You can almost always turn to avoid an obstacle faster than you can stop.