South Dakota CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class B 2

If you must stop on the side of the road, it is important to turn on your four-way emergency flashers to warn other road users.

There should be at least 4/32 of an inch of tread depth in every major groove on front tires and 2/32 of an inch on other tires. Valve stems should not be cut or cracked. Tire sizes should not be mismatched.

You should never rely only on warning signals to alert you to an approaching train. Never try to race a train to a crossing. If there are multiple tracks at a crossing, be sure to check all tracks in both directions before starting to cross.

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.

Backing is always dangerous because you cannot see everything behind your vehicle. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the area, you should get out of your vehicle and familiarize yourself with your path of travel before beginning to back up.

A vehicle's total stopping distance is made up of perception distance, reaction distance, brake lag distance, and braking distance. With all of these factors included, an air brake-equipped vehicle traveling at a speed of 55 mph under ideal driving conditions will need approximately 450 feet to come to a complete stop.

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 thereafter.

Factors that can affect stopping distance include your vehicle's speed, its weight, and how slippery the road surface is.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the total weight of a single vehicle and its load of cargo.

When pressing the brake pedal in a vehicle with S-cam brakes, air will enter the brake chambers. The added air pressure will push out the rods and move slack adjusters, twisting the brake camshafts.

When inspecting your tires, verify that there is tread depth of at least 4/32 of an inch in every major groove on the front tires and tread depth of at least 2/32 of an inch in grooves on the other tires. Be sure that your tires are not too worn, are not cracked, have proper air pressure, and are all equally sized.

When stopping a vehicle with a manual transmission, you should push in the clutch when the engine is close to idle.

Skids caused by acceleration frequently occur on slippery road surfaces. These skids can generally be resolved by the driver removing their foot from the accelerator.

On vehicles with air brakes, a low air pressure warning signal will come on if the pressure in the air tanks falls below 60 psi. On large buses, the signal may activate at 80 to 85 psi.

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

When backing with a trailer, begin by turning the steering wheel in the direction opposite of the turn. Once the trailer starts to turn, reverse the direction of the steering wheel to follow the trailer.

Cargo should be blocked to prevent it from sliding around in transit. The shifting of weight in transit can make steering and handling difficult for the driver.

Skills tests must be taken in the type of vehicle the applicant plans to drive. The applicant is generally responsible to supply the testing 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.

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.

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.

If you must stop and park on the side of the road, make sure to turn on your emergency flashers. This is especially important at night. Taillights are not an adequate when alerting other drivers because the drivers may mistakenly think your vehicle is moving normally and collide with it.

Before inspecting under a vehicle's hood, make sure the parking brake is engaged and/or the wheels are properly chocked.

If you do not take or pass the air brakes test, you will be restricted to operating vehicles without air brakes.

The air that enters air storage tanks in an air brake system usually contains a certain amount of water and compressor oil. Because accumulations of these materials can damage the braking system, tanks are equipped with drains to allow their removal.

In some vehicles, it may be necessary to leave the engine running when checking the automatic transmission fluid level.

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

In general, you should always use the parking brake when parking your vehicle. However, you should not apply the parking brake if your brakes are very hot or if your brakes are wet and temperatures are below freezing.

Always reduce your speed and downshift before entering a curve.

If you are asked to complete an offset back/left parking maneuver, you should first pull straight forward, then back up to the left. Your vehicle must be parked completely within the boundaries of the parking space.

Amongst other crimes, a felony conviction for arson will disqualify a person from obtaining, renewing, or transferring a hazardous materials endorsement.

A person may not have more than one license. Violation of this law may be punishable by jail time and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

Most heavy vehicles with manual transmissions require double clutching to change gears. A driver should release the accelerator, push in the clutch, and shift into neutral at the same time. After releasing the clutch and allowing the vehicle to change to the necessary speed, the driver should push in the clutch, shift gears, then simultaneously release the clutch and accelerate.

When inspecting the engine compartment, you should check the oil level, coolant level, and windshield washer fluid level, among other things.

If you are asked to alley dock, you should first pull past the alley and stop your vehicle in a position that is parallel to the outer boundary. From there, you should back your vehicle entirely into the alley parking area. Your vehicle should be parked in a straight position within the boundaries of the parking space.