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CDL Test: Space management questions and answers

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Space management

17 questions

  1. #1

    According to crash reports, what is the most frequent cause of trucks and buses running into the vehicle in front of them?

    1. Following too closely
    2. Brake failure
    3. Poor road lighting
    4. Excess cargo weight

    Answer: A. Trucks and buses most often hit the vehicle ahead, mostly because they follow too closely.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 43According to crash reports, the vehicle that trucks and buses most often run into is the one in front of them. The most frequent cause is following too closely.

  2. #2

    You are driving a 40-foot truck below 40 mph and count only 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead. What should you do?

    1. Stay where you are; 2 seconds is enough
    2. Drop back and count again until you have 4 seconds
    3. Drop back until you have 6 seconds
    4. Speed up to match the vehicle ahead

    Answer: B. A 40-foot truck needs 4 seconds (5 seconds above 40 mph), so drop back and count again.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 43Drop back a little and count again until you have 4 seconds of following distance (or 5 seconds, if you’re going over 40 mph).

  3. #3

    To know how many seconds of following distance you have, you should:

    1. count the seconds a vehicle ahead takes to come to a complete stop
    2. check the speedometer and count one second for every ten miles per hour
    3. wait until the vehicle ahead passes a landmark, then count the seconds until you reach it
    4. measure the distance with your mirrors, then count the car lengths between you

    Answer: C. Count the seconds from when the vehicle ahead passes a clear landmark until you reach the same spot.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 43To know how much space you have, wait until the vehicle ahead passes a shadow on the road, a pavement marking, or some other clear landmark.

  4. #4

    If a driver is tailgating you, you should NOT:

    1. signal early before slowing or turning
    2. increase your following distance
    3. reduce speed very gradually
    4. speed up

    Answer: D. It is safer to be tailgated at a low speed than a high speed, so don't speed up.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44Don’t speed up. It’s safer to be tailgated at a low speed than a high speed.

  5. #5

    When being tailgated, which of these should you avoid?

    1. Flashing your brake lights as a trick
    2. Signaling early
    3. Opening up room in front of you
    4. Avoiding quick changes

    Answer: A. Avoid tricks; don't turn on your taillights or flash your brake lights at a tailgater.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44Avoid tricks. Don’t turn on your taillights or flash your brake lights.

  6. #6

    When going uphill with a heavy load, you should not pass another slow vehicle unless you can:

    1. reach 55 mph
    2. get around it quickly and safely
    3. use the left shoulder
    4. do so before the next exit

    Answer: B. Don't pass another slow vehicle uphill unless you can get around quickly and safely.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44Going uphill, you should not pass another slow vehicle unless you can get around quickly and safely.

  7. #7

    To keep safe clearance on both sides of a wide commercial vehicle, you should:

    1. drive near the left lane line
    2. drive on the right edge of the lane
    3. keep the vehicle centered in the lane
    4. straddle the lane line

    Answer: C. Staying centered in the lane gives safe clearance on either side.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44You need to keep your vehicle centered in the lane to keep safe clearance on either side.

  8. #8

    Why should you not assume the heights posted at bridges and overpasses are correct?

    1. The signs are always posted a few inches lower than actual
    2. Bridges rise when they are cold and sink when they are hot
    3. Posted heights include a safety margin of several inches
    4. Re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance

    Answer: D. Re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance since the height was posted.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44Don’t assume that the heights posted at bridges and overpasses are correct. Re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearances since the heights were posted.

  9. #9

    If the road tilts your vehicle toward objects along the edge, such as signs, trees or bridge supports, you should:

    1. drive a little closer to the center of the road
    2. drive on the shoulder to keep away from the edge objects
    3. speed up to pass quickly so you spend less time near them
    4. stop and back up to find a flatter place to pass

    Answer: A. Where tilt makes edge clearance a problem, drive a little closer to the center of the road.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44Where this is a problem, drive a little closer to the center of the road.

  10. #10

    Before you back into an area, you should get out and check for:

    1. the position of the sun and whether the glare will reach your mirrors
    2. overhanging objects such as trees, branches or electric wires
    3. other drivers' license plates and the names on their vehicles
    4. weigh station signs and speed limit signs posted near the area

    Answer: B. Get out and look for overhanging objects, because they are easy to miss while backing.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44Before you back into an area, get out and check for overhanging objects such as trees, branches, or electric wires.

  11. #11

    If a truck cannot make a right turn without swinging into another lane, you should turn wide as you complete the turn and:

    1. swing wide to the left first
    2. keep the front wheels away from the curb
    3. keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb
    4. speed up through the turn

    Answer: C. Keeping the rear close to the curb stops other drivers from passing you on the right.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 44Keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb. This will stop other drivers from passing you on the right.

  12. #12

    If you must cross into the oncoming lane to make a turn and a vehicle approaches, you should NOT:

    1. give it room to go by or to stop
    2. watch out for vehicles coming toward you
    3. wait until you can complete the turn
    4. back up for it

    Answer: D. Don't back up for oncoming vehicles, because you might hit someone behind you.

    Source: North Dakota CDL Manual (AAMVA model), Section 2, p. 45However, don’t back up for them, because you might hit someone behind you.

  13. #13

    Below 40 mph, the recommended following distance is at least:

    1. 2 seconds for any vehicle
    2. One car length per 10 mph
    3. 4 seconds for any vehicle
    4. One second for each 10 feet of vehicle length

    Answer: D. Below 40 mph: 1 second per 10 feet of vehicle length; over 40 mph add 1 second.

    Source: Michigan CDL Manual (2022), 2.7.1

  14. #14

    A 60-foot rig traveling over 40 mph should keep a following distance of at least:

    1. 7 seconds
    2. 3 seconds
    3. 6 seconds
    4. 10 seconds

    Answer: A. 60 feet = 6 seconds, plus 1 second above 40 mph = 7 seconds.

    Source: Michigan CDL Manual (2022), 2.7.1

  15. #15

    When making a left turn with a large vehicle at an intersection, you should start the turn:

    1. As soon as you enter the intersection
    2. From the right lane
    3. After reaching the center of the intersection
    4. Before the stop line

    Answer: C. Reach the center of the intersection before turning left so you do not hit vehicles to your left.

    Source: Michigan CDL Manual (2022), 2.7

  16. #16

    If there are two left-turn lanes, a large vehicle should usually use:

    1. The left-hand turn lane
    2. The right-hand (outer) turn lane
    3. Either lane
    4. Neither; go straight

    Answer: B. Taking the right-hand turn lane gives you room to complete the turn.

    Source: Michigan CDL Manual (2022), 2.7

  17. #17

    Why can an empty cargo vehicle hit an overpass that a loaded one clears?

    1. Empty trucks are longer
    2. Empty trucks go faster
    3. Loaded trucks are wider
    4. An empty vehicle sits higher than a loaded one

    Answer: D. Weight compresses the suspension; empty, the vehicle rides higher. Posted clearances can also be wrong.

    Source: Michigan CDL Manual (2022), 2.7
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