Alabama CDL — General Knowledge: Handling Emergencies Practice Test

Question 1

With the controlled braking method you:

Accepted Answer

Apply the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels — Controlled braking means squeezing the brakes hard but short of lockup, keeping steering movements small.

Answer

Push the brakes fully and release when they lock

Answer

Apply only the parking brake

Answer

Pump the brakes rapidly at all times

Question 2

The most common type of skid is caused by:

Accepted Answer

Braking too hard and locking the wheels, or driving too fast for conditions — Over-braking that locks the wheels is the most common skid; over-acceleration and over-steering can cause skids too.

Answer

Downshifting on a straightaway

Answer

Inflating the tires too much

Answer

Using the horn while turning

Question 3

With the stab braking method you:

Accepted Answer

Press the brakes fully, release when the wheels lock, then reapply once they roll — Stab braking is full application, releasing when wheels lock, then reapplying fully once the wheels begin rolling again.

Answer

Use only engine braking

Answer

Hold the brakes locked until you stop

Answer

Apply steady light pressure the whole time

Question 4

When fighting a vehicle fire with an extinguisher, you should position yourself:

Accepted Answer

Upwind, letting the wind carry the extinguishing agent to the fire — Standing upwind lets the wind push the agent onto the fire and keeps smoke and heat away from you.

Answer

Directly over the fire

Answer

As close to the flames as possible

Answer

Downwind of the flames

Question 5

To recover from a front-wheel skid you should:

Accepted Answer

Let the vehicle slow by easing off the brake and steering — In a front-wheel skid the front goes straight no matter how you steer; the only fix is to stop braking or steering so hard and let it slow.

Answer

Accelerate to pull the front end around

Answer

Lock the brakes until you stop

Answer

Steer harder into the turn

Question 6

The B:C rated fire extinguisher is designed to fight:

Accepted Answer

Electrical fires and burning liquids — A B:C extinguisher handles electrical fires and burning liquids; an A:B:C model adds wood, paper, and cloth.

Answer

Every kind of fire including hazmat

Answer

Only tire fires

Answer

Only burning wood and paper

Question 7

To make a quick emergency turn safely, you should:

Accepted Answer

Avoid braking while turning and turn no more than needed — Braking during a hard turn can lock the wheels and cause a skid; keep both hands on the wheel and steer only as much as necessary.

Answer

Take both hands off the wheel to react faster

Answer

Brake hard throughout the turn

Answer

Turn the wheel as far as it will go

Question 8

An escape ramp on a mountain grade is designed to:

Accepted Answer

Stop a runaway vehicle using loose, soft material and sometimes an upgrade — Escape ramps use soft material, often with an upslope, to safely stop a runaway truck and save lives and equipment.

Answer

Let faster traffic pass

Answer

Weigh commercial vehicles

Answer

Provide a place to rest the engine

Question 9

When something suddenly blocks your path, stopping is not always the best choice because:

Accepted Answer

Steering around it can often be quicker than stopping — It usually takes less distance to steer around an obstacle than to stop for it, so a quick turn can be the safer response.

Answer

Turning is never safe at speed

Answer

Brakes always fail in emergencies

Answer

You should close your eyes and brace

Question 10

On a long downgrade, the service brakes should be used:

Accepted Answer

Only to supplement the braking effect of the engine and a low gear — Engine braking in a proper low gear does most of the work; the brakes only supplement it, which prevents overheating and fade.

Answer

As the only means of slowing down

Answer

Only at the very bottom of the hill

Answer

In place of choosing a low gear

Question 11

Why should you never use water on a gasoline fire?

Accepted Answer

Water will spread the flames — Water spreads a gasoline fire and can cause shock on an electrical fire, so those require the proper extinguisher instead.

Answer

Water cools the fuel too quickly

Answer

Water is needed for tire fires only

Answer

Water puts it out too slowly

Question 12

Brake fade on a long downgrade happens because:

Accepted Answer

Excessive heat reduces friction and expands the brake drums — Overusing the service brakes overheats them, causing chemical changes in the lining and drum expansion that weaken braking.

Answer

The engine runs out of fuel

Answer

The tires lose air pressure

Answer

The air tanks fill with water

Handling Emergencies

Study questions with answers

1. With the controlled braking method you:

2. The most common type of skid is caused by:

3. With the stab braking method you:

4. When fighting a vehicle fire with an extinguisher, you should position yourself:

5. To recover from a front-wheel skid you should:

6. The B:C rated fire extinguisher is designed to fight:

7. To make a quick emergency turn safely, you should:

8. An escape ramp on a mountain grade is designed to:

9. When something suddenly blocks your path, stopping is not always the best choice because:

10. On a long downgrade, the service brakes should be used:

11. Why should you never use water on a gasoline fire?

12. Brake fade on a long downgrade happens because:

More CDL — General Knowledge topics

Practice Handling Emergencies in another state