) to help you understand the materials better and gain an understanding for how that knowledge will fit into the overall picture.
"My own experience with the course itself was nothing short of amazing. To come into
the course with absolutely no prior knowledge of the subject, and to be able to grasp
the information, understand it, and retain it, has taken quite a bit off stress off me.
Now I know that when I do enroll in a school, I can focus on the driving aspects, and not
have to worry about the classroom side of things.
- When the tractor wheels take a more inside path than the trailer wheels during a turn
- When a trailer jackknife is to the point the trailer makes contact with the tractor
- When the trailer wheels take a more inside path than the tractor wheels during a turn
- Describes why the trailer always follows the same path as the tractor during turns
Quote From Page 71 Of The CDL Manual:
When a vehicle goes around a corner, the rear wheels follow a different path than the front wheels. This is called "offtracking" or "cheating." Offtracking causes the path followed by a tractor-semi to be wider than the rig itself. Longer vehicles will offtrack more. The rear wheels of the powered unit (truck or tractor) will offtrack some, and the rear wheels of the trailer will offtrack even more. Steer the front end wide enough around a corner so the rear end does not run over the curb, pedestrians, other vehicles, etc. However, keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb. This will stop other drivers from passing you on the right.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Offtracking is why trucks and large vehicles must swing wide. You often see the bumper stickers which say "this vehicle makes wide right turns" and the reasoning for that is offtracking. Longer vehicles have to swing wide to avoid running the rear of the vehicle (or trailer) up onto the grass, curb, or striking pedestrians or people.
- Using the emergency air line
- Using the trailer tank line
- Using the service air line
- Using a combination of the emergency air line and the service air line
Quote From Page 74 Of The CDL Manual:
Each trailer and converter dolly has one or more air tanks. They are filled by the emergency (supply) line from the tractor. They provide the air pressure used to operate trailer brakes.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
The service air line is only used to control the service brakes (when you press on the brake pedal or use the trailer hand-valve). All other trailer air functions use the emergency line.
- Check the following distance of vehicles around you and match what they are doing to keep uniformity in the driving pattern
- Wait until the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a shadow on the road, a pavement marking, or some other clear landmark, then count off the seconds until the front of your vehicle crosses the same fixed location
- If you're too close, drop back a little and recount until you have at least 1 second of spacing for every 10 feet of vehicle length (add 1 second if driving over 40mph)
- Compare your following distance count with the rule of 1 second for every 10 feet of length
Quote From Page 31 Of The CDL Manual:
To 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. Then count off the seconds like this: "one thousand-and-one, one thousand-and-two" and so on, until you reach the same spot.
Compare your count with the rule of 1 second for every 10 feet of length. If you are driving a 40-foot truck and only counted up to 2 seconds, you are too close. Drop back a little and count again until you have 4 seconds of following distance (or 5 seconds, if you are going over 40 mph).
After a little practice, you will know how far back you should be. Remember to add 1 second for speeds above 40 mph. Also remember that when the road is slippery, you need much more space to stop.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Make sure you memorize the following distance formula of 1 second of following distance for every 10ft of vehicle length (adding 1 second for speeds exceeding 40mph).
- Forward
- Rearward
- It doesn't matter
- Straight up and down
Quote From Page 7 Of The CDL Manual:
Requirements for securing the pipe
Secure each pipe with tiedowns through the pipe.
Run at least one tiedown through each pipe in the front half of the load. This includes the middle one if there are an odd number. The tiedown must run rearward at an angle not more than 45° with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whenever practicable.
Run at least one tiedown through each pipe in the rear half of the load. The tiedown must run forward at an angle not more than 45° with the horizontal when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whenever practicable. This holds each pipe firmly in contact with adjacent pipe.
- Hold them behind you
- Hold them between yourself and the oncoming traffic
- Carry them under your arm
- Hold them at your sides
Quote From Page 27 Of The CDL Manual:
When putting out the triangles, hold them between yourself and the oncoming traffic for your own safety (so other drivers can see you).
- The crosswalk
- The stop sign
- The stop line
- Whichever of these is first
Quote From Page 128 Of The CDL Manual:
If you must stop before making the turn:
- Come to a smooth stop without skidding.
- Come to a complete stop behind the stop line, crosswalk or stop sign.
- If stopping behind another vehicle, stop where you can see the rear tires on the vehicle ahead of you (safe gap).
- Do not let your vehicle roll.
- Keep the front wheels aimed straight ahead.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Make sure you stop before the stop line, crosswalk, or stop sign - whichever comes first. After you've made a complete stop, you can inch forward to get a better view of cross traffic if needed.
How many violations have occurred on the below log?
- 0
- 2
- 1
- 3
Quote From Page 0 Of The CDL Manual:
Violations: There is a 14 hour rule violation from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 11 hours of driving time available at 2:00 a.m. The driver completed 11 total hours of driving by 10:00 p.m. and went off duty, so there were no violations of the 11 hour rule.
Explanation - 30 Minute Break: Once the driver began driving at 2:00 a.m., a 30 minute break was not needed until 10:00 a.m. (8 hours after first going on duty). Since the driver went off duty at 8:00 a.m. and spent more than 30 minutes off duty (sleeper berth), the driver was never in violation. During the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the driver was only on duty (driving) for 5 hours before moving back to off duty. Even though the 14 hour limit was being violated during that time, the 30 minute break provision was not violated.
Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available beginning at 2:00 a.m. The driver reached the 14 hour limit at 4:00 p.m. and violated the rules by driving an additional 5 hours without first obtaining either: 10 consecutive hours off duty; or 8 consecutive hours in a sleeper berth. To remain in compliance the driver should have either:
- Obtained one additional hour off duty or in the sleeper berth in the middle of the day (for a total of 10 consecutive hours off duty) or;
- Remained in the sleeper berth for 8 consecutive hours, rather than only 7. Had the driver remained in the sleeper for 8 consecutive hours, that 8-hour sleeper period would have been excluded from the 14 hour calculation and the driver would have remained in compliance.
- A valve used to release the air lines from the tractor to the trailer
- A lever which only controls the trailer service brakes
- A lever which only controls the tractor service brakes
- The trailer release mechanism
Quote From Page 73 Of The CDL Manual:
The trailer hand valve (also called the "trolley valve" or "Johnson bar") works the trailer brakes. The trailer hand valve should be used only to test the trailer brakes. Do not use it in driving because of the danger of making the trailer skid. The foot brake sends air to all the brakes on the vehicle (including the trailer(s'). There is much less danger of causing a skid or jackknife when using just the foot brake.
Never use the hand valve for parking because all the air might leak out, unlocking the brakes (in trailers that do not have spring brakes.) Always use the parking brakes when parking. If the trailer does not have spring brakes, use wheel chocks to keep the trailer from moving.
- About 165 feet
- About 216 feet
- About 200 feet
- About 150 feet
Quote From Page 29 Of The CDL Manual:
At 55 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, it can take a heavy vehicle about 216 feet to stop.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Make sure you memorize the definition of Braking Distance as well as the time and distance it takes for a vehicle to stop once the brakes are fully applied.
- Under the passenger seat
- In the front glove box
- In a fire proof box such as a small safe
- Within reach of the driver
Quote From Page 102 Of The CDL Manual:
Do not accept a hazardous materials shipment without a properly prepared shipping paper. A shipping paper for hazardous material must always be easily recognized. Other people must be able to find it quickly after an accident.
- Clearly distinguish hazardous material shipping papers from others by tabbing them or keeping them on top of the stack of papers.
- When you are behind the wheel, keep shipping papers within your reach (with your seat belt on) or in a pouch on the driver's door. They must be easily seen by someone entering the cab.
- When not behind the wheel, leave shipping papers in the driver's door pouch or on the driver's seat.
- Emergency response information must be kept in the same location as the shipping paper.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
It's good practice to keep hazardous materials shipping papers in the drivers side door pocket. This area is acceptable not only while driving, but also while parked.
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