California CDL — General Knowledge: Parking & Stopping Practice Test

Question 1

While you are walking out to set your reflective triangles, how should you carry them?

Accepted Answer

Held up between your body and the traffic coming toward you — The triangle is reflective, so holding it on the traffic side turns it into a high-visibility shield for you while you are exposed out on the roadway.

Answer

Tucked under one arm so that both hands stay free

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Held low at your side so they do not dazzle drivers

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Carried behind you, so they are seen only once placed

Question 2

Your truck is disabled on a two-lane road carrying traffic in both directions. Where do the warning devices go?

Accepted Answer

One within ten feet of a corner, plus one a hundred feet ahead and one a hundred feet behind — On an undivided two-way road the vehicle itself needs marking, so one device sits close by a corner. The other two go out a hundred feet in each direction, on the shoulder or in whichever lane you stopped in.

Answer

All three spaced a hundred feet apart on the shoulder ahead of the truck

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One at each front corner, with the third set on the roof of the cab

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All three behind the truck, at ten, a hundred, and two hundred feet

Question 3

You come upon a crash and decide to stop and help. Where should you leave your vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Well clear of the wreck, so you neither add a second crash nor block traffic — Stopping in a way that blocks the road turns one incident into two. Pull off well clear of the scene so traffic can still move, then walk back to help.

Answer

Directly behind the wrecked vehicles, to act as a shield

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Across the traffic lanes, to block approaching cars

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In the fastest lane with flashers on, to slow everyone down

Question 4

When you have a choice about how to leave a large vehicle in a lot, which position is best?

Accepted Answer

One you can drive straight out of, with no reversing needed on the way out — You cannot see everything behind a large vehicle, so the safest reverse is the one you never have to make. Set the vehicle up on arrival so you can drive straight out when you leave.

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One that puts the driver's door against a wall for security

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One that lets you reverse out toward the right side

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One at the far end of the lot, whichever way the exit lies

Question 5

Your vehicle is one that must stop at a railroad crossing and no stop line is painted. Where do you bring it to a halt?

Accepted Answer

No nearer than fifteen feet and no further than fifty feet from the closest rail — The window is fifteen to fifty feet from the closest rail. Any nearer and the overhang of a passing train is a danger; any further back and you cannot see or hear along the track.

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Between five and twenty feet from the closest rail

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Between twenty-five and seventy-five feet from the closest rail

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Anywhere at all behind the crossbuck post

Question 6

You have pulled a commercial vehicle over to the roadside and stopped. Where should the vehicle be sitting?

Accepted Answer

Parallel to the curb or shoulder, clear of traffic, and blocking no driveway, hydrant, sign, or intersection — A roadside stop should leave your vehicle straight along the edge of the road and out of everybody's way — traffic, hydrants, driveways, intersections, and signs included.

Answer

Angled outward, so the rear of the trailer is visible to traffic

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Partly in the right lane if the shoulder happens to be narrow

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Anywhere off the pavement, since a stopped vehicle is exempt

Question 7

A placarded vehicle is parked and somebody has to attend it. What does the rule require of that person?

Accepted Answer

Stay awake either in the vehicle or within a hundred feet of it with a clear view, know the hazards, and be able to move it — The attendant has to be genuinely available: awake and out of the sleeper berth, either aboard or no more than a hundred feet away with the vehicle in sight, aware of what the cargo can do, and able to move it if an emergency demands it.

Answer

Remain seated in the cab with the engine running at all times

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Stay in sight of the load but never closer than a hundred feet

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Hold a valid HazMat endorsement and remain in the sleeper berth

Question 8

You have had to stop just beyond a blind curve. How does that change where your rearmost warning device belongs?

Accepted Answer

It moves further back down the road so drivers get a warning 500 feet out — A hill or a curve that hides your rig defeats the normal spacing. Carry the last triangle back past the obstruction so that approaching traffic gets a warning from about five hundred feet away.

Answer

It moves closer to the truck so it is not mistaken for a separate hazard

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It is set on the curve itself, right at the apex

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It stays in the standard position, since the curve is not your doing

Question 9

When you must stop along the road, how soon should you put out your emergency warning devices?

Accepted Answer

Turn on flashers at once and set out triangles within 10 minutes — Turn on your four-way flashers immediately, then set out your warning triangles as soon as possible, within 10 minutes of stopping. This warns other drivers of your stopped vehicle.

Answer

Only if a police officer tells you to

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Within the first hour is soon enough

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Warning devices are not needed if you use flashers

Question 10

What must be done before you walk away and leave a commercial vehicle unattended?

Accepted Answer

Set the parking brakes, or block the wheels with chocks — A vehicle left alone that rolls away causes injuries and damage. Either the parking brakes hold it or chocks do, and there is no version of this where neither one is applied.

Answer

Leave the engine idling so the air system stays charged

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Switch on the four-way flashers and leave the key in the ignition

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Point the front wheels toward the middle of the road

California CDL — General Knowledge: Parking & Stopping practice test

Study questions with answers

1. While you are walking out to set your reflective triangles, how should you carry them?

2. Your truck is disabled on a two-lane road carrying traffic in both directions. Where do the warning devices go?

3. You come upon a crash and decide to stop and help. Where should you leave your vehicle?

4. When you have a choice about how to leave a large vehicle in a lot, which position is best?

5. Your vehicle is one that must stop at a railroad crossing and no stop line is painted. Where do you bring it to a halt?

6. You have pulled a commercial vehicle over to the roadside and stopped. Where should the vehicle be sitting?

7. A placarded vehicle is parked and somebody has to attend it. What does the rule require of that person?

8. You have had to stop just beyond a blind curve. How does that change where your rearmost warning device belongs?

9. When you must stop along the road, how soon should you put out your emergency warning devices?

10. What must be done before you walk away and leave a commercial vehicle unattended?

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