West Virginia CDL DMV Knowledge Test Class B 1

Defects in an exhaust system are very dangerous because they can cause poisonous fumes to enter the cab or sleeper berth.

Retarders are mechanisms in some vehicles that help slow a vehicle and reduce the need for braking. However, using a retarder may cause wheels to skid when they have poor traction. Turn off retarders when traveling under wet, snowy, or icy conditions.

The parking brake should be applied every time you park 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.

Fatigue and lack of alertness are major hazards when driving at night. Most people are the least alert at night, especially after midnight.

Compressed air in an air brake system usually contains a certain amount of water and compressor oil. The water and oil can damage the brakes if left to accumulate in the system. Manually operated air tank drains must be opened daily to remove this build-up.

In an air brake system, the air tanks are equipped with drains that allow water and compressor oil to be removed from the system. If allowed to build up, water and compressor oil can damage an air brake system.

When crossing or entering traffic, bear in mind the size of your vehicle and the distance it will need to accelerate. Wait for a gap in traffic that is large enough to accommodate your vehicle before you begin to accelerate. Remember that you will need more room to accelerate if your vehicle is heavily loaded. Before crossing a road, be sure that you can get all the way across without interfering with traffic.

Once you have stopped as a part of the stop/start maneuver during the on-road driving skills test, you must activate your four-way flashers and shift into neutral or park. You must not block any driveways, intersections, fire hydrants, or signs.

Air storage tanks are used to hold compressed air. The number and size of air tanks in an air brake system varies among vehicles.

If you experience a loss of hydraulic pressure in your brakes, you should downshift, pump the brakes, and use the parking brake. Seek an escape route, such as an escape ramp, open field, or side street.

Railroad crossings that are not controlled by any type of traffic control device are known as passive crossings. The decision to proceed across tracks at a passive crossing is entirely up to the driver.

If steering begins to feel heavy, it is likely that one of your front tires has failed. If you feel a change to your steering, you should exit the road as quickly as is safely possible and check your tires.

The parking brake should be applied when leaving your vehicle.

If you are unsure if a trailer is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), look under the vehicle for the electronic control unit and wheel speed sensor wires coming from the back of the brakes.

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.

Front-end header boards protect the driver from the forward motion of their cargo in the event of a crash or emergency stop.

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.

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

If you must come to a stop before making a turn during the driving skills test, you should come to a smooth stop behind any stop line, crosswalk, or stop sign. Keep your front wheels aimed straight ahead and do not let your vehicle roll. If stopping behind another vehicle, stop where you are still able to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead of you.

Hazardous materials must be diamond-shaped and a size of at least 10 ¾ square inches.

To stop normally in a vehicle with air brakes, press down the brake pedal.

Cargo on a flatbed trailer should be secured by at least one tie-down for every 10 feet of the cargo's length. Cargo should be secured by a minimum of two tie-downs, regardless of size.

Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit in West Virginia school zones where children are present is 15 mph. Always drive with caution when you are near children or other pedestrians.

To correct a drive-wheel braking skid, you should first remove your foot from the brake pedal to allow the locked wheels to begin rolling again. Quickly steer in the direction you want to go, then countersteer to prevent your vehicle from skidding in the opposite direction.

The stab braking method for emergency stops involves fully applying the brakes until they lock up. The brakes are then released until the wheels start rolling, and then the process is repeated.

After starting a vehicle's engine, the oil pressure should come up to a normal level within seconds. Do not operate a vehicle if it has oil pressure that is low, dropping, or fluctuating.

The weight of cargo in a vehicle needs to be balanced appropriately so that it does not interfere with the vehicle's safe handling. For example, if cargo is placed too far to the rear of a vehicle, the front axle will be under-weighted and the front wheels may not have enough traction for the driver to steer safely.

While driving, you should continually scan the road ahead to spot potential hazards well in advance. Make emergency plans for how to deal with the hazards in the event that they become dangerous.

It is important to know the maximum air loss rate that is safe for your specific vehicle. A triple combination should have a leakage rate no higher than 6 psi in a minute during an applied leakage test.

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 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.

The function of an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is to prevent the vehicle's wheels from locking up from hard brake application.

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.

To avoid engaging in dangerous and aggressive driving behavior, you should relax and accept any delays that arise throughout a trip. To help avoid the stress of arriving late to a destination, plan for likely delays when planning your drive.