Parking & Stopping

Study questions with answers

9 sample Parking & Stopping questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. How do you test that the parking brake will actually hold the vehicle?

   Correct answer: Set it and, in a low gear, ease the truck gently against it to check that it holds

   Stop the truck, apply the parking brake, and in a low gear ease forward against it to confirm it holds the vehicle.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

2. 2. On a truck whose air tanks have manually operated drain valves, how often should you drain them?

   Correct answer: At the end of every day of driving

   Manual drain valves have to be emptied by the driver once each driving day is over, clearing out the water and oil that build up.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

3. 3. What must you always do before leaving your vehicle unattended?

   Correct answer: Set the parking brakes or chock the wheels so it can't roll away

   Never leave a vehicle unattended without setting the parking brakes or chocking the wheels, or it could roll away and cause injury and damage.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

4. 4. How do spring brakes actually hold a parked truck in place?

   Correct answer: Strong springs clamp the brakes on once the air is released

   Spring brakes rely on mechanical force: as you drive, strong springs are restrained by air pressure, and once that air is released the springs push the brakes on.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

5. 5. How do you set the parking brakes with the diamond-shaped control knob?

   Correct answer: Pull the knob out to apply them and push it in to release

   You pull the knob out to apply the parking brakes and push it in to release them.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

6. 6. Why does the manual warn against pressing the brake pedal while the spring brakes are already applied?

   Correct answer: The combined force of the springs and air pressure can damage the brakes

   Doing so can add the springs' force to the air pressure, and that combined force can damage the brakes. It is safer to build the habit of never pushing the pedal with the spring brakes set.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

7. 7. If a truck is fitted with an alcohol evaporator, does that eliminate the need to drain the tanks?

   Correct answer: No, you must still drain water and oil daily unless the tanks drain automatically

   No. Even with an alcohol evaporator, you still have to drain water and oil from the tanks every day, unless the system has automatic drain valves.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

8. 8. On newer air-brake vehicles, what does the parking brake control look like?

   Correct answer: A yellow, diamond-shaped push-pull knob

   Newer vehicles use a yellow, diamond-shaped push-pull knob. You pull it out to set the parking (spring) brakes and push it in to release them.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes

9. 9. In which situation should you NOT set the parking brakes, using wheel chocks instead?

   Correct answer: When the brakes are very hot, or very wet in freezing temperatures

   Avoid setting the parking brakes when the brakes are very hot from a steep grade, or very wet in freezing temperatures; heat can damage them and freezing can lock them so the truck can't move.

   Source: Ohio CDL Manual — Section 5: Air Brakes