California CDL — General Knowledge: Sharing the Road Practice Test

Question 1

Why should you never change gears while crossing railroad tracks?

Accepted Answer

You could miss a gear, stall, and get stuck on the tracks — Shifting on the tracks risks stalling or getting stuck if you miss the gear. Pick your gear before the crossing and keep moving steadily until you are all the way across.

Answer

It is against the law to use gears near tracks

Answer

Shifting makes the crossing signals turn off

Answer

It wears out the clutch faster

Question 2

Which of these vehicles should make a commercial driver especially watchful for a sudden, unsafe move?

Accepted Answer

A rental truck, whose driver may not be used to its poor view to the rear and sides — Drivers who cannot see you rank among the most dangerous hazards on the road. Rental trucks, loaded vans, and cars with frost or snow across the glass all belong in that group.

Answer

A late-model car with tinted side glass

Answer

A motorcycle traveling at the posted speed

Answer

A pickup with an empty bed

Question 3

A heavy load is slowing you badly on a long upgrade and cars are stacking up behind you. What is the recommended thing to do?

Accepted Answer

Stay in the right-hand lane and leave the passing to them — Heavy vehicles get tailgated hardest when they cannot hold the speed of traffic, and climbing a grade is exactly when that happens. Keeping right lets the queue disperse, and passing another slow vehicle on a climb is a bad idea unless the whole move is fast and clearly safe.

Answer

Move left so faster traffic can use the shoulder

Answer

Turn on your headlights to claim the lane you are in

Answer

Pull onto the shoulder and stop until the queue has cleared

Question 4

Another motorist is tailgating you, gesturing, and cutting in aggressively. What is the right way to handle it?

Accepted Answer

Let them get past, keep your eyes off them, and report them to the authorities — Nothing you do behind the wheel will teach an angry driver a lesson, but giving way costs you nothing. Get clear of them, ignore the provocation, and pass a vehicle description and location to police.

Answer

Hold your lane and your speed so they gain nothing from it

Answer

Return the gesture so they understand you saw it

Answer

Brake sharply so they are forced to back off

Question 5

What should you do when driving through a work zone?

Accepted Answer

Slow down, watch for workers, and be ready to stop — Slow down, watch for workers and equipment, and be ready to stop. Work zones often have narrow lanes, sudden stops, and uneven surfaces, so extra care is needed.

Answer

Keep your normal highway speed

Answer

Speed up to clear the zone quickly

Answer

Change lanes often to keep moving

Question 6

Why does the handbook treat walkers, joggers, and cyclists sharing the roadway as a hazard?

Accepted Answer

Their backs are often to traffic, and headphones or rain gear block sight and sound — Someone facing away from you, wearing headphones, or hurrying under an umbrella has no idea a heavy vehicle is closing on them. Assume they have neither seen nor heard you, and leave room accordingly.

Answer

They are legally obliged to travel in the same direction as traffic

Answer

They are always covered by their own insurance in a collision

Answer

They move too slowly to ever reach a truck's path

Question 7

A car is riding closely behind your loaded trailer. Which response actually lowers the risk?

Accepted Answer

Open up more room ahead of you and make any speed changes gradually — More room in front means you will never need to brake hard, which is what turns a tailgater into a collision. Tricks with your lights only confuse the driver behind and make matters worse.

Answer

Flash your brake lights until the driver drops back

Answer

Speed up until the car can no longer keep pace

Answer

Switch your taillights off and on as a warning

Question 8

After one train clears a railroad crossing, what should you watch for before you proceed?

Accepted Answer

A second train coming on another track — Watch for a second train coming on another track, possibly hidden by the first. Do not start across until you are sure all tracks are clear.

Answer

Nothing; it is always safe once one train passes

Answer

Only the crossing gate lowering again

Answer

Whether the road ahead is uphill

Question 9

Which vehicles are required to stop at most railroad crossings even when no train is in sight?

Accepted Answer

Buses with passengers and vehicles carrying placarded hazardous materials — Buses carrying passengers and vehicles carrying placarded hazardous materials must stop, look, and listen before crossing the tracks. The driver must be sure it is safe before proceeding across.

Answer

Only empty flatbed trucks

Answer

Any vehicle with more than two axles

Answer

No commercial vehicle ever has to stop

Question 10

Before you start across a railroad crossing, what must you be sure of?

Accepted Answer

That there is room to fully clear the tracks without stopping — Never start across the tracks unless you are sure you have enough room to completely clear the crossing without stopping. Because a heavy vehicle accelerates slowly, getting trapped on the tracks is a deadly risk.

Answer

That you can stop in the middle if a gate lowers

Answer

That another vehicle is crossing just ahead of you

Answer

That the crossing has no warning lights

California CDL — General Knowledge: Sharing the Road practice test

Study questions with answers

1. Why should you never change gears while crossing railroad tracks?

2. Which of these vehicles should make a commercial driver especially watchful for a sudden, unsafe move?

3. A heavy load is slowing you badly on a long upgrade and cars are stacking up behind you. What is the recommended thing to do?

4. Another motorist is tailgating you, gesturing, and cutting in aggressively. What is the right way to handle it?

5. What should you do when driving through a work zone?

6. Why does the handbook treat walkers, joggers, and cyclists sharing the roadway as a hazard?

7. A car is riding closely behind your loaded trailer. Which response actually lowers the risk?

8. After one train clears a railroad crossing, what should you watch for before you proceed?

9. Which vehicles are required to stop at most railroad crossings even when no train is in sight?

10. Before you start across a railroad crossing, what must you be sure of?

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