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CDL Manual - Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

1. Exceptions Non bulk Bulk a EE Poision Spontaneously combustible G identifies proper shipping name for which one or more technical names of the hazardous material must be entered in parenthesis in association with the basic description Definition Domestic transportation refers to movement of materials within the U S International transportation refers to movement of materials through a foreign country Column 2 lists the proper shipping names and descriptions of regulated materials Regulated materials are materials that meet the definition of a hazardous material Entries are in alphabetical order The table shows proper shipping names in regular type The shipping paper must show proper shipping names Names shown in italics are not proper shipping names Column 3 shows a material s hazard class or division Or it may show the entry FORBIDDEN Never transport a FORBIDDEN material You placard shipments based on the hazard class and quantity of materials being carried Column 4 lists the identification number for each proper shipping name Identification numbers are preceded by the letters UN or NA The letters NA indicate North American They are associated with proper shipping names that are used only within the United States and Canada The identification number must appear on the shipping paper as part of the shipping description The number must also appear on the package The number must appear on cargo
2. gt 1 proof of Virginia residency and the street address of your principal Virginia residence If you are under age 19 your parent or guardian must certify your Virginia residency All documents must show your name and the address of your principal Virginia residence as it appears on your application A post office box or business address is not acceptable However if you do not want your residence address to appear on your CDL you may provide DMV with an alternate address in addition to your residence address This alternate address must also be in Virginia If you change your residence or alternate address to a location outside Virginia your CDL will be cancelled Exceptions may be made for some individuals such as active duty military personnel and Virginia residents employed outside the U S Refer to Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver s License or Photo ID card DMV 141 for more information gt 1 proof of your social security number such as your social security card IRS W 2 form payroll check or check stub unexpired U S military identification card or income tax return from a previous year DMV will assign you a customer number which will display on your CDL or CDL instruction permit 6 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Selective Service Registration Generally males under age 26 must register with the Selective Service If you are required by federal law to register with the Selective Service you must aut
3. Set the parking brake put the vehicle in low gear and gently release your foot from the brake pedal and clutch if equipped until you feel the vehicle pulling against the brake The vehicle should not move Check mirrors for proper adjustment Check the windshield for cracks cleanliness and illegal stickers Check the wipers for looseness dry rot and function Check the following for function panel light high low beam indicator left and right turn signal indicators and four way flasher indicator Check both the highway and city horns for proper function Check both the defroster and heater fans for proper function This page is designed to be removed from the manual for reference while studying for the vehicle inspection portion of the CDL road test VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S wa Section 1 General Knowledge Safety Emergency Equipment Front Suspension Springs Spring Mount s Shock Absorber Front Wheel Rims Hub Seal Tire Lug Nuts Front Brakes Slack Adjuster Chambers Air Hose Brake Drum Hydraulic Brakes if equipped Driver Fuel Area Door Mirrors Fuel Tank VIRGINIA Ensure working fire extinguisher properly charged and mounted spare electrical fuses unless equipped with circuit breakers three reflective triangles Check for missing cracked shifted or bent springs If 1 4 or more are missing your vehicle could be put out of service C
4. gt you have not loaded 2205 Ibs or more of any Table 2 hazard class material from any one shipper If you have loaded 2205 Ibs or more of a hazardous material from any one shipper you must use the specific placard for this material gt If the words INHALATION HAZARD are on the shipping paper or package you must display POISON or POISON GAS placards as appropriate in addition to other placards required by the product s hazard class gt If the vehicle contains division 1 1 or 1 2 explosives and is placarded with EXPLOSIVES 1 1 or EXPLOSIVES 1 2 and you are also carrying EXPLOSIVES 1 5 OXIDIZER or DANGEROUS placard materials you may use DANGEROUS placards instead of separate placards for each Table 2 hazard you have loaded gt If the vehicle displays a Division 2 1 FLAMMABLE GAS or a Division 2 2 OXYGEN placard you do not need to use a Division 2 2 NON FLAMMABLE GAS placard gt Placards that identify the primary hazard class of a material must show the hazard class or division number in the lower corner of the placard Placards that identify a secondary hazard class of a material must show the hazard class or division number gt You may display a placard for a hazardous material even if it is not required as long as the placard identifies the hazard of the material being transported Loading and Unloading Hazardous Materials General Loading Requirements gt Do everything you can to protect containers of
5. iercial Driver s Manual aDepartment of Motor Vehicles 233 igana Welcome to driving in Virginia This manual is your road map to obtaining a commercial driver s license CDL in Virginia Operating a commercial vehicle requires education special skills and a professional attitude As a professional driver you play a key role in transporting people and goods safely You also play a key role in protecting citizens on our highways This manual presents important information that you must know to operate your vehicle in a safe and professional manner Be sure to study all sections The General Knowledge Exam contains questions that have been selected from throughout the entire manual Table of Contents Introduction PINGS coc sn ccacssaencataaatesccetseaced tecasdstwase agama dactandhoutencdasessoteaceeas 35 Hazardous materials rules for all drivers 0 0ccccceeee eee 36 MAHAL Sia COMIMISLClal motor vehic e n nAn 3 Staying alert and fit to diesen 37 Who are commercial drivers 0 ccccceceeeeeeesseseeseeceeeeeeseeees 3 CDL ge requireMeNntS 0 ssssessnssrssnrsentessseetavsivensssoeasenss 3 CDiinstructionpermitesnisenis sre i a 3 Section 2 Air Brakes CDL instruction permit endorsements and i AULOMALIC restrictions ccc eee cc ce eeseeceeceeeeeeeesseeseeeeenaeeeees 4 Air brake SYSLEM Pats sresreereersessressessrescnscnsensanenseneeneanens 39 CDL instruction permit restrictions s
6. N Operation of a passenger vehicle is restricted to a Class C passenger vehicle V You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle without your medical variance waiver skill performance documentation X You may not operate a tank vehicle with cargo 4 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Troops to Trucks Qualified military personnel applying for a Virginia commercial driver s license CDL are required to pass only one rather than two DMV issued tests the written knowledge exam Those eligible for the road test waiver must be a Virginia resident serving Guard or Reserve member active duty personnel or discharged in the last 12 months and have a Virginia driver s license or be eligible for one Applicants commander officers or designees must certify the applicants have driving experience for the past two years operating the same type of vehicle they drove while in the military that they plan to drive using their Virginia CDL Drivers may need additional tests to obtain endorsements on their CDL Applicants need gt a downloadable DMV waiver form DL13 signed and notarized by his her commanding officer or designee gt Virginia driver s license or a completed Virginia DMV DL1P form gt DD 2 or DD 214 CDL Classifications You should get your CDL for the class vehicle you plan to drive plus you may need additional endorsements Class A Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating
7. Safe Driving with Buses Passenger Supervision Many charter and intercity carriers have passenger comfort and safety rules Mention rules about smoking drinking and use of radio and tape players at the start of the trip Explaining the rules at the beginning could help avoid trouble later on Charter bus drivers should not allow passengers on the bus until departure time While driving scan the interior of your bus as well as the road ahead You may need to remind riders to keep their arms and heads inside the bus Occasionally you may have a drunk or disruptive rider You must ensure this rider s safety as well as the safety of others Don t discharge disruptive riders where it would be unsafe for them It may be safer to wait until you reach the next scheduled stop or well lighted area where there are other people Many carriers have guidelines for handling disruptive riders When you stop the bus announce the location reason for stopping departure time and bus number Caution riders to watch their step when leaving the bus Wait for riders to sit down or brace themselves before starting the bus Starting and stopping should be as smooth as possible to avoid rider injury MANUAL Avoiding Crashes gt Use caution at all intersections even if a signal or stop sign controls the intersection Bus crashes often happen at intersections gt Remember the clearance your bus needs Watch for poles and tree limbs when yo
8. Section 4 Doubles and Triples Uncoupling Twin Trailers gt Uncoupling the rear trailer gt Park the rig in a straight line on firm level ground gt Apply the parking brakes so that the rig won t move gt Chock the wheels on the second trailer if it doesn t have spring brakes gt Lower the landing gear of the second trailer enough to remove some weight from the dolly gt Close the air shut off valve at the rear of the first trailer and on the dolly gt Disconnect all dolly air and electric lines and secure them gt Release the dolly brakes gt Release the converter dolly fifth wheel latch gt Slowly pull the tractor first trailer and dolly forward to pull the dolly from under the second trailer gt Uncouple the converter dolly gt Lower the dolly landing gear gt Disconnect the safety chains gt Apply the converter gear spring brakes or chock the wheels gt Release the pintle hook on the first trailer gt Slowly pull clear of the dolly Caution Never unlock the pintle hook with the dolly still under the rear trailer The dolly tow bar could fly up This could cause injury and would make it very difficult to re couple Coupling and Uncoupling Triple Trailers gt Couple the second and third trailers gt Couple second and third trailers using the method of coupling doubles gt Uncouple the tractor and pull away from the second and third trailers gt Couple the
9. 62 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt Check the emergency equipment required for your vehicle Find out what equipment you are required to carry and make sure you have it and know how it works Driving Tank Vehicles Hauling liquids in tanks requires special skills because of the vehicle s high center of gravity and the movement of the liquid gt Tank vehicles have a high center of gravity Because much of the vehicle s weight is carried high off the road this makes the vehicle top heavy and easy to roll over Tankers carrying liquids are particularly easy to roll over Tests have shown that tankers can turn over at the speed limits posted for curves Take curves and on ramp off ramp curves well below the posted speeds gt Watch out for liquid surge Liquid surge results from the movement of liquid in partially filled tanks For example when you stop the liquid will surge back and forth When the wave hits the end of the tank it tends to push the truck in the direction that the wave is moving If the truck is on a slippery surface such as ice the wave can shove the stopped truck out into the intersection When driving a tanker carrying liquid you must be familiar with the vehicle s handling Some tankers may have bulkheads or baffles to help control the liquid surge However unbaffled tanks also known as smooth bore tanks have nothing inside to slow down the flow of the liquid Therefore the forward and bac
10. ERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL 7 Introduction Refusing a blood and or breath test Leaving the scene of an accident Using a vehicle to commit a felony v v v v Driving a commercial motor vehicle CMV when as a result of prior violations committed operating a CMV the driver s CDL is revoked suspended or canceled or the driver is disqualified from operating a CMV gt Causing a fatality through the negligent operation of a CMV gt Making a false statement on any application for a commercial driver s license gt Falsifying a urine test gt You will receive a two year disqualification if you are convicted of violating an out of service order while operating a commercial motor vehicle designated to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver gt You will receive a three year disqualification if you were convicted of one of the offenses listed above while transporting hazardous materials gt You will receive a life time disqualification if you receive a second conviction for one of the violations listed above or if you are convicted of using a commercial motor vehicle in the manufacture or illegal distribution of drugs gt You will receive a 60 day disqualification if you are convicted of two serious violations within a three year period gt You will receive a 120 day disqualification if you are convicted of three or more serious violations within a three year period gt You will receive a one y
11. Hazardous Materials Definition Hazardous materials HAZMAT OR HM pose a risk to health safety and property during transportation Hazardous materials include explosives various types of gas solids flammable and combustible liquids and other materials Because of the risks involved government at all levels regulates the transportation of hazardous materials and requires CDL drivers to be at least 21 years of age HAZMAT endorsements are not transferable from state to state 66 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Hazardous materials are categorized into nine major hazard classes The following chart shows the classes and categories and gives examples of materials in each one Name Example Explosives Gases Ammunition Dynamite Fireworks Propane Oxygen Helium Flammable Gasoline Alcohol Diesel Fuel Fuel Oils Flammable Solids Matches Magnesium Oxidizers Ammonium Nitrate Hydrogen Peroxide Poisons Pesticides Arsenic Radioactive Corrosives Uranium Plutonium Hydrochloric Acid Battery Acid Formaldehyde Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials Asbestos Airbag Inflaters amp Modules DRIVER S ORM D Other None Regulated Material Domestic Hair Spray or Charcoal Combustible Liquid Combustible Liquid Heating Oil Hazardous Materials Regulations The Code of Federal Regulations gives regulations for hazardous materials These regulations are
12. Parking Brake Mirrors Windshield Wipers Lighting Indicators Horns Heater Defroster Section 1 General Knowledge If standard check for excessive play in clutch no more than two inches Check the gear ranges to ensure they engage Check the boot for holes and dry rot If automatic check gearshift for ranges Check for cracks and cleanliness Air pressure should build to a minimum of 100 PSI in both the primary and secondary system Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Oil pressure should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Amps Volts should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Build air pressure up to 100 120 PSI cut engine off and release all brakes press hard on the foot brake and hold down for one minute air pressure should not drop over four PSI Turn ignition key on and continue with foot brake pumping air pressure down At around 60 PSI the Low Air buzzer should sound and or a warning light should appear Keep pumping air down with foot brake and at about 40 PSI the release valves should pop out for the trailer and the tractor Pump the brake pedal three times apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for five seconds
13. gt Are there downed power lines Would removing students expose them to speeding traffic severe weather or a dangerous environment gt Would moving students complicate injuries gt Is there a hazardous materials spill involved Sometimes it may be safer to remain on the bus and not come in contact with the material Mandatory Evacuations You must evacuate the bus when gt The bus is on fire or there is a threat of fire gt The bus is stalled on or adjacent to a railroad highway crossing Steer students away from the track on an angle toward the oncoming train VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 5 School Buses gt The position of the bus may change and increase the danger gt There is imminent danger of collision gt There is a need to quickly evacuate because of a hazardous materials spill General Procedures Determine if evacuation is in the best interest of safety gt Determine the best type of evacuation gt Front rear or side door evacuation or some combination of doors gt Roof or window evacuation gt Secure the bus by gt Placing the transmission in park or if there is no shift point in neutral Setting parking brakes Shutting off the engine rive Ww Removing the ignition key gt Activating hazard warning lights gt If time allows notify dispatch office of evacuation location conditions and type of assistance needed gt Dangle radio microphone or tel
14. Check under fuel tank for leaks COMMERCIAL Under the Vehicle Drive shaft Exhaust System Frame Rear Suspension Rear Wheels Rear Brakes Truck Only Front of Trailer Side of Trailer Wheels Suspension and Brakes Rear of Trailer DRIVER S Check the drive shaft for cracks non factory welds missing loose bolts or nuts and proper lubrication Check the exhaust system for cracks holes missing loose bolts and nuts Check for signs of soot which can indicate an exhaust leak Check the vehicle frame for cracks bends nonfactory welds and rust Inspect this area the same as the front Suspensions vary and all items should be checked for cracks bent non factory welds missing loose bolts or nuts Inspect walker beams torsion bars and air bellows if equipped Check the rear wheels the same as the front with the exception of the tire depth it should be 2 32 in the major grooves Check the space between the dual tires Tires should not be touching and no sign of debris If equipped with spacers they should not be bent cracked or nonfactory welds Inspect this area the same as the front of the vehicle Check air and electrical lines for leaks cracks signs of wear and proper connection Check catwalk if equipped to make sure it is clear and not loose Check all mounting bolts to make sure none are missing and are tight Check safety latch to make sure it is locked in place Check
15. Endorsements are 1 per year regardless of the number of endorsements you receive Federal law requires applicants for hazardous materials endorsements to be fingerprinted for a background check The background check fee is 83 00 ERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL 5 Introduction Getting Your CDL To obtain your CDL you must meet the requirements for a Virginia driver s license including the following Proof of Identity Legal Presence Virginia Residency and Social Security Number If you do not hold a valid Virginia driver s license you must present the following documents gt 2 proof of identity documents such as a driver s license birth certificate Virginia CDL instruction permit unexpired U S military identification card or U S military discharge papers You must provide original or duplicate documents Photocopies will not be accepted Refer to Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver s License or Photo ID card DMV 141 for a complete list of acceptable documents gt 1 proof of legal presence such as a U S birth certificate or U S passport Legal presence can be proved using a variety of other documents such as a Certificate of Citizenship or naturalization Resident Alien Card or a valid foreign passport with a visa I 94 or an 94W with a participating country Later in 2004 if you apply for a hazardous materials endorsement you will be required to provide specific documents to meet federal requirements
16. Gross combination weight GCW The total weight of a powered unit tractor plus the trailer or trailers plus the cargo Gross vehicle weight rating GVWR The maximum GVW specified by the manufacturer for a single vehicle plus the cargo maximum scale weight Axle weight The weight transferred to the ground by one axle or one set of axles Legal Weight Limits You must keep weights within the legal limits States have maximum GVWs GCWs and axle weights Often maximum axle weights are set by a formula This bridge formula governs gross weight independently of axle weight This helps prevent overloading bridges and roadways You ll find the maximum weights on the shipping bill Overloading Affects Safety Overloading a vehicle can affect steering braking and speed control Overloaded trucks may gain too much speed on downgrades and the stopping distance increases If you are driving in bad weather or in the mountains it may not be safe to drive at the legal maximum weights Consider this before you drive Don t Be Top Heavy Your vehicle s center of gravity affects safe handling If cargo is piled high or if heavy cargo is loaded on top the center of gravity will be high Your vehicle will be more likely to tip over A high center of gravity is most dangerous on curves or if you swerve to miss a hazard Cargo that is piled high can also shift to the side or fall off Distribute your cargo so that it is as low as possib
17. The pedal should not move If it does there may be a leak Check steering wheel play of no more than ten degrees approximately two inches of movement at the rim of a 20 inch steering wheel Set the parking brake put the vehicle in low gear and gently release your foot from the brake pedal and clutch if equipped until you feel the vehicle pulling against the brake The vehicle should not move Check mirrors for proper adjustment Check the windshield for cracks cleanliness and illegal stickers Check the wipers for looseness dry rot and function Check the following for function panel light high low beam indicator left and right turn signal indicators and four way flasher indicator Check both the highway and city horns for proper function Check both the defroster and heater fans for proper function This page is designed to be removed from the manual for reference while studying for the vehicle inspection portion of the CDL road test VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL 2 Section 1 General Knowledge Safety Emergency Equipment Front Suspension Spring Mount s Shock Absorber Front Wheels Rims Hub Seal Tire Lug Nuts Front Brakes Slack Adjuster Chambers Air Hose Brake Drum Hydraulic Brakes if equipped Driver Fuel Area Door Mirrors Fuel Tank Under the Vehicle Drive shaft Exhaust System Frame Tractor Only Air Electrical Lines Catwalk VI
18. This test cannot be administered orally N Tank vehicle Section 7 Tank Vehicles P Passenger vehicle S School bus Section 8 Transporting Passengers Section 5 School Buses Be Prepared gt You may take the CDL knowledge exam s only once per business day If you fail any knowledge exam you must pay a 2 re examination fee if you retake the exam within 15 days VIRGINIA COMM Introduction gt If you fail the commercial driver s license general knowledge exam three times you will not be permitted to take it a fourth time until you successfully complete the knowledge component of driver instruction at a driver training school approved by DMV You must complete the driver instruction after the third unsuccessful attempt to pass the test Upon completion of the knowledge component and presentation of your certificate of completion DMV will allow you to take the knowledge test again gt If you fail the commercial driver s license behind the wheel test three times in the same Class of commercial motor vehicle you will not be permitted to take the test a fourth time in that Class of commercial motor vehicle until you successfully complete the in vehicle component of driver instruction at a driver training school approved by DMV You must complete the driver instruction after the third unsuccessful attempt to pass the test Upon completion of the in vehicle component and presentation of your certificate of
19. coolant power steering transmission and oil leaks Check for cracked worn electrical wiring insulation Check the site glass or line on container for proper brake fluid Check the master cylinder for cracks leaks check the brake lines for cracks frays and brake fluid leaks Inside the Vehicle start engine Clutch Gearshift Air Pressure Gauge Oil Pressure Gauge Ammeter Voltmeter Air Brake Steering Play Parking Brake Mirrors Windshield Wipers Lighting Indicators Horns Heater Defroster Safety Emergency Equipment Front Suspension Air Brakes Section 1 General Knowledge If standard check for excessive play in clutch no more than two inches Check the gear ranges to ensure they engage Check the boot for holes and dry rot If automatic check gearshift for ranges Check for cracks and cleanliness Air pressure should build to a minimum of 100 PSI in both the primary and secondary system Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Oil pressure should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Amps Volts should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Build air pressure up to 100 120 PSI cut engine off and release all br
20. hazardous materials Don t use tools which might damage containers or packaging during loading Don t use hooks gt Before loading or unloading set the parking brake Make sure the vehicle will not move gt Many products become more hazardous when exposed to heat Load hazardous materials away from heat sources gt Watch for signs of leaking or damaged containers Leaks spell trouble Do not transport leaking packages You your truck and others could be in danger gt Brace packages containing Class 1 explosives Class 3 flammable liquids Class 4 flammable solids Class 5 oxidizers Class 8 corrosives Class 2 gases and Division 6 1 poisons to prevent movement during transit 74 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt Nosmoking When loading or unloading hazardous materials keep fire away Don t let people smoke nearby gt Never smoke around Class 1 explosives Division 2 1 flammable gas Class 4 flammable solids Class 5 oxidizers Class 3 flammables gt Brace containers so they will not fall slide or bounce during transit Be careful when loading containers with valves or other fittings gt After loading do not open any package during your trip Never transfer hazardous materials from one package to another during the trip You may empty a cargo tank but do not empty any other package while it is on the vehicle gt Cargo heater rules There are special cargo heater regula
21. in emergency braking do not pump the brakes on a bus with ABS gt As you slow down monitor your bus and back off the brakes if it is safe to do so to stay in control Braking if ABS is Not Working Without ABS you still have normal brake functions Drive and brake as you always have Vehicles with ABS have yellow malfunction lamps to tell you if something is not working The yellow ABS malfunction lamp is on the bus s instrument panel As a system check on newer vehicles the malfunction lamp comes on at start up for a bulb check and then goes out quickly On older systems the lamp could stay on until you are driving over five mph If the lamp stays on after the bulb check or goes on once you are under way you may have lost ABS control at one or more wheels Remember if your ABS malfunctions you still have regular brakes Drive normally but get the system serviced soon 58 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Student Management Don t Deal with On bus Problems When Loading and Unloading In order to get students to and from school safely and on time you need to be able to concentrate on the driving task Loading and unloading requires all your concentration Don t take your eyes off what is happening outside the bus If there is a behavior problem on the bus wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away If necessary pull the bus over to handle the problem Handling Serious Proble
22. security threat assessment may be exempt from an additional background check if the TWIC is submitted with the hazardous material endorsement application You will not receive your new or renewed license at the time of application Allow at least 45 days for the application to be processed DMV will notify you when your application has been approved or denied by the U S Transportation Security Administration TSA When approved you may return to DMV to be photographed and pick up your CDL provided you have successfully completed the HAZMAT test The background check is valid for up to five years Hazardous materials endorsement applicants must visit one of the following DMV locations to be fingerprinted gt Abingdon 25552 Lee Highway gt Charlottesville 2055 Abbey Road gt Emporia 103 Commonwealth Boulevard gt Farmville 300 North Virginia Street gt Fredericksburg 5700 Southpoint Boulevard gt Hampton 8109 Roanoke Avenue VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials gt Harrisonburg 3281 Peoples Drive gt Manassas 9800 Godwin Drive gt Martinsville 310 Starling Avenue gt Norton 1729 Park Avenue S W gt Onancock 20 North Street gt Portsmouth 6400 Bickford Parkway gt Richmond 2300 West Broad Street gt Roanoke 5220 Valleypark Drive gt South Boston 2039 Hamilton Boulevard gt Staunton 17 First Street gt Tyson s Corner 1968 Gallows Road gt Vir
23. valve control gt Converter dolly air tank drain valve should be e y 5 gt Ifthe tractor protection valve doesn t work closed o correctly an air hose or trailer brake leak could gt Be sure the air lines are supported and glad hands drain all the air from the tractor This would cause are properly connected the emergency brakes to come on and you could gt If the spare tire is carried on the converter dolly lose control make sure it s secured Test the trailer emergency brakes Make sure the pintle hook is latched The pintle gt Charge the trailer air brake system and check that hook locks one trailer to another the trailer rolls freely gt Make sure that the safety chains are secured to gt Stop and pull out the trailer air supply control the trailers tractor protection valve control or trailer gt Be sure light cords are firmly in the sockets on the emergency valve or place it in the emergency trailers The light cords run from the battery and position operate the lights gt Pull the trailer gently with the tractor to be sure that the trailer emergency brakes are on Air Brakes gt Test the trailer service brakes Make these checks in addition to the pre trip checks that you Check for normal air pressure make for your air brakes Check the air brakes on a double or gt Release the parking brakes and move the vehicle triple trailer the same way you check them for any combination forward slowly vehicle gt
24. 1 2 times the weight of the cargo that is tied down Use chains and tensioning devices winches ratchets and clinching components You must attach the tiedowns to the vehicle correctly using hooks bolts rails and rings VIRGINIA gt Section 6 Transporting Cargo gt Cargo should have at least one tiedown for each 10 linear feet of cargo No matter how small the cargo you should use at least two tiedowns to hold it gt There are special requirements for securing heavy pieces of metal Find out what they are if you plan to carry these materials You find this information in the Code of Federal Regulations gt Refer to the Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR Part 393 100 for additional load securing requirements Header boards or headache racks protect you from your cargo if you crash or make an emergency stop Make sure that the header board structure is in good condition The structure should block the forward movement of any cargo that you are carrying Cargo covers protect other people from spilled cargo and protect the cargo from the weather Many states require cargo covers for spill protection Be familiar with the cargo cover laws in the states where you drive gt Use your mirrors to check the cargo covers while you are driving A flapping cover can tear loose uncovering the cargo and blocking your view or someone else s view Sealed and containerized loads are generally used for freight that
25. 16 or more passengers including the driver You must also have a passenger endorsement on your CDL To get the endorsement you must pass gt the written general knowledge exam gt the written passenger bus exam gt the written air brakes exam if your vehicle is equipped with air brakes gt the skills test required for the class of vehicle that you plan to drive Note If you hold a CDL with a Passenger endorsement and are required to be registered with the Virginia State Police Sex Offenders and Crimes Against Children registry you are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle to transport children to or from activities sponsored by a school or by a child day care facility licensed regulated or approved by the Virginia Department of Social Services Your CDL will display a Q restriction Pre trip Inspection Before driving your bus make sure it is safe gt Review the inspection report made by the previous driver Sign the previous driver s report only if the defects reported earlier have been certified as repaired or certified as not needing repair By signing this report you certify that the defects reported earlier have been fixed gt Conduct a pre trip inspection Follow the inspection method outlined in Section 1 General Knowledge 63 DRIVER S MANUAL Section 8 Transporting Passengers gt Also check gt Access doors and panels Close any emergency exits that are open as well as a
26. 60 psi gt The warning light and buzzer should come on before the air pressure drops below 60 psi in either system If this happens stop driving right away and park the vehicle gt If one air system is low on pressure either the front or rear brakes will not operate fully This means it will take you longer to stop Bring the vehicle to a safe stop and have the air brake system fixed DRIVER S MANUAL a1 Section 2 Air Brakes Inspecting Air Brake Systems Use inspection method described in Section 1 to inspect your vehicle However remember that there are more things to inspect on a vehicle with air brakes than on one without them gt Engine Compartment Check gt gt Check the air compressor drive belt if the compressor is belt driven Check the condition and tightness of the belt gt Walk Around Inspection Check the manual slack adjusters on the S Cam brakes Park on level ground and chock the wheels Turn off the parking brakes so you can move the slack adjusters Use gloves and pull hard on each slack adjuster that you can reach If a slack adjuster moves more than about one inch where the push rod attaches to it it probably needs adjustment Adjust it or have it adjusted Vehicles with too much brake slack can be hard to stop Out of adjustment brakes are the most common problem found in roadside inspections Check the brake drums or discs linings and hoses Brake drums or
27. Any time you hear a tire blow assume that it was one of your tires gt Vibration If your vehicle thumps or vibrates a tire may have gone flat With a rear tire this may be the only sign you get gt Feel If the steering feels heavy one of the front tires has probably failed Sometimes failure of a rear tire causes the vehicle to slide back and forth or fishtail However dual rear tires usually prevent this 34 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S If a tire fails take the following steps gt Hold the steering wheel firmly If a front tire fails it can twist the steering wheel out of your hand Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands at all times gt Stay off the brakes Braking when a tire has failed could cause you to lose control Unless you are about to run into something stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down Then brake gently and pull off the road gt Check the tires Even if the vehicle seems to be handling normally Many times you won t know that a dual tire is flat unless you look at it Crashes If you are in a crash and not seriously hurt you need to take three steps to prevent further damage or injury gt Protect the area gt Notify the authorities gt Care for the injured Protect the Area To prevent another crash this is the first thing you should do gt If your vehicle is involved in the crash try to move it to the side of the road This will help preven
28. Apply trailer brakes with the hand control trolley gt Be sure air flows to all trailers valve gt Use the tractor parking brake or chock the wheels gt You should feel the brakes come on This tells you to hold the vehicle 52 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S that the trailer brakes are connected and working MANUAL Note The trailer brakes should be tested with the hand valve In normal operation however control the trailer brakes with the foot pedal The foot pedal applies air to the service brakes at all wheels Coupling and Uncoupling Doubles and Triples Coupling connecting and uncoupling is basic to the safe operation of combination vehicles Wrong coupling and uncoupling can be dangerous The makes and models of rigs are different So learn the details of coupling and uncoupling the trucks that you will operate Coupling Twin Trailers gt Secure the second rear trailer gt If the second trailer doesn t have spring brakes drive the tractor close to the trailer gt Connect the emergency line and charge the trailer air tank gt Disconnect the emergency line gt If the slack adjusters are set correctly this will set the trailer emergency brakes gt If you aren t sure about the trailer brakes chock the wheels gt Couple the tractor and first semi trailer gt To couple the tractor and first semi trailer follow the steps in Section 3 Combination Vehicles Caution The semi trail
29. DRIVER S MANUAL 69 Section 9 Hazardous Materials tanks and other bulk packaging Police and firefighters use this number to quickly identify hazardous materials Column 5 shows the packing group assigned to a material A packing group categorizes material according to the degrees of danger presented by the material Packing group is prescribed for the most dangerous A Roman numeral must products require more than one label If the column shows the word NONE no label is needed Column 7 lists additional provisions that apply to the material If there is an entry in this column you must refer to Code of Federal Regulations 49CFR172 102 for specific information Column 8 is divided into three parts It shows the section be used numbers of the federal regulations that cover the packaging Column 6 shows the hazard warning label s that shippers requirements for each hazardous material must place on packages of hazardous materials Some Appendix A List of Hazardous Substances and Reportable Quantities The Department of Transportation DOT and the Environmental Protection Agency EPA want to know about spills of hazardous substances These substances are named in Appendix A of the federal regulations Part of this list is shown below The name Phosgene is starred because the name also appears in the hazardous materials table Spills of 10 pounds or more must be reported EEE List of Hazardous Substances and Report
30. Govseecsssneesesseeecennseecsnnnsecanseceesssseconnsscennnaseennnsnceeansscen Antilock Eralane systemi AB Saian auc 58 azardous CoNditiONS sjssiesossiini oisinn eais 30 EQUIPMENt failUPS c seerveasdervesssissnente sherds tensdoeaadsieeadae sven 33 Student e a eerie aetna a ETE a a dass E A T 34 B ICBC NGES E ioe o9 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Table of Contents Section 6 Transporting Cargo Inspecting Cargo seyn n e E E E 60 Cargo weight and DalanGe cisissiscssasinbasssannsnoainasveaanasygiumnatnane 60 Securing Care O ssis Ter E E 61 Other cargo requiring special Care eee eee eeeeeees 61 Section 7 Tank Vehicles inspecting LAM VENI CIES sesse a acdhevacsaitin sesaarsarallansncesssseeauans 62 Driving tank vehicles 62 Sale driving DUES orahe aan R R ESSEER 63 Section 8 Transporting Passengers Prestrip INSPECHON wi ssetreenc cate nittvecotdond eie a 63 Loading the D sen ais 64 Safe driving with USCS isnende 64 After trip vehicle msp ctioNsisssni noiis oreinen 65 Prohibited practiteSssiiisinsniiseiiniannn a 65 Section 9 Hazardous Materials Transporting hazardous materials the key players 67 COMMUNICATION rile Sr e tay sede E 68 Loading and unloading hazardous materials 000 74 Bulk packaging marking loading and unloading 77 Hazardous materials parking and driving rules 78 Hazardous materials emergencies uiiasessissinsiassonssiswarns
31. Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials Airbag Inflaters Asbestos ORM D Other Regulated Material Domestic Consumer Commodity Combustible Liquid Diesel Fuel Fuel Oil Combustible Liquid You must follow the rules for transporting hazardous materials These rules ensure safe drivers and equipment They also tell you how to contain a harardous material and how to communicate its risk VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL To Ensure Safe Drivers and Equipment Definition Placards are diamond shaped signs put on the outside of a vehicle to warn others They identify the hazard class of the cargo Drivers of placarded vehicles must have a commercial driver s license with the hazardous materials endorsement Drivers must learn how to safely load and transport hazardous materials To get the endorsement you must pass a written test on Section 9 of this manual If you transport hazardous materials in a cargo tank with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26 000 pounds or more you will also need a tank vehicle endorsement Section 7 Never drive a vehicle that needs placards unless you have a hazardous materials endorsement Transporting hazardous materials without the proper placards is a crime You will be stopped cited and you will not be allowed to drive your truck further It will cost you time and money Driving without the proper placards could also risk your life and the lives of others If you have a crash emergency workers will
32. Protect explosive packages from other cargo that might cause damage gt Do not transfer a Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 explosive from one vehicle to another on a public roadway except in an emergency If you must make an emergency transfer set out red warning reflectors flags or electric lanterns You must warn others on the road gt Never transport damaged packages of explosives Do not take a package that shows dampness or an oily stain gt Do not transport Division 1 1 or 1 2 explosives in vehicle combinations or triples if gt A marked or placarded cargo tank is in the combination or gt The other vehicle in the combination contains gt Division 1 1 A initiating explosives gt Packages of Class 7 radioactive materials labeled Yellow III gt Division 2 3 poisonous gas or Division 6 1 poisonous materials gt Hazardous materials in a portable tank a DOT Spec 106A or 110A tank Class 8 corrosive materials gt If loading by hand load breakable containers of corrosive liquid one by one Keep them right side up Do not drop or roll the containers Load them on an even floor surface Stack carboys only if the lower tiers can bear the weight of the upper tiers safely Carboys are portable tanks that may be metal or plastic and are placed in a special cage gt Do not load nitric acid above any other product or stack more than 2 tiers high gt Load charged storage batteries so their liqu
33. Speed Driving too fast is a major cause of crashes and fatalities You must adjust your speed to suit weather conditions the road such as hills and curves visibility and traffic VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL ct IO n l KK nowle d ge Speed and Stopping Three things add up to total stopping distance Perception distance Reaction distance Braking distance Total stopping distance Perception distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the time your eyes see a hazard until your brain recognizes it Perception time for an alert driver is about 3 4 second At 55 mph you travel 60 feet in 3 4 second Reaction distance is the distance traveled from the time your brain tells your foot to move from the accelerator until the time your foot pushes the brake pedal An average driver reacts within 3 4 second This adds an additional 60 feet to the distance traveled Braking distance is the distance it takes the vehicle to stop once you hit the brakes At 55 mph on dry pavement it takes a vehicle with good brakes about 2 5 seconds to stop Within that time the vehicle will travel another 192 feet Total stopping distance traveling at 55 mph it will take about 4 seconds to stop your vehicle The vehicle will travel approximately 312 feet before coming to a stop That s longer than the length of a football field iat ia Distance Traveling at 55 mph Total stopping distance 312 feet or 4 seconds Re
34. alert You can cope with fatigue and maximize your alertness by following the federal regulations on hours of service and off duty time You can also combat fatigue and maximize your alertness by maintaining a healthy lifestyle Federal Regulations on Hours of Service and Off Duty Time In an effort to control driver fatigue the federal government established regulations governing hours of service and required off duty time These regulations specify driving time off duty time and prohibit driving after you have been on duty in excess of specified amounts of time Refer to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for specific requirements DRIVER S MANUAL 37 Section 1 General Knowledge Staying Alert gt Get enough rest When you go off duty your first concern should be to get enough rest so that you will have the 7 to 8 hours sleep that every person needs After you have gotten your sleep and you have been awake and alert for more than 8 hours without being notified of your next assignment take a short nap so you will be alert when you return to work Remember sleep is the only way to overcome fatigue gt Schedule your trips safely Ideally you should try to schedule trips for the hours when you are normally awake However many motor carriers operate around the clock Therefore you must be prepared to drive safely during irregular work times gt Rest during your off duty times Everyone is affected by the cir
35. and depends on the condition of your vehicle and the road In bad weather heavy traffic poor pavement or if your vehicle is in poor condition add extra seconds to your following distance Space Behind You can t keep other drivers from following you too closely But you can take action to increase your safety Stay to the right Drivers often tailgate when heavy vehicles can t keep up with traffic If a heavy load slows you down stay in the right lane If you are going uphill do not pass other slow vehicles unless you can pass quickly and safely Deal with tailgaters safely gt Avoid quick changes Before you slow down or turn signal early and reduce your speed gradually gt Increase your following distance Extra space in front of your vehicle can help you avoid sudden stops It also makes it easier for the tailgater to pass you gt Don t speed up It s safer to be tailgated at a low speed than at a high speed gt Avoid tricks Don t turn on your tail lights or flash your brake lights Space to the Sides gt Keep your vehicle centered in the lane and maintain safe clearance on either side VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt Avoid traveling beside other vehicles In heavy traffic keep as much space as possible between your vehicle and other vehicles If you must travel alongside another vehicle drop back or pull forward so that you are sure the other driver can see you gt High winds may
36. and puts on the spring brakes for parking The other valve is spring loaded in the out position When you push the control in air from the separate air tank releases the spring brakes so you can move When you release the button the spring brakes come on again There is only enough air in the separate tank to do this a few times So plan carefully when moving Use the parking brakes whenever you park Dual Air Brake Systems Most newer heavy duty vehicles use dual air brake systems for safety A dual air brake system has two separate air brake systems which use a single set of controls Each system has its own air tank hoses lines etc One system operates the regular brakes on the rear axle or axles The other system operates the regular brakes on the front axle and possibly one rear axle Both systems supply air to the trailer if there is one The first system is called the primary system The other is called the secondary system Before driving a vehicle with a dual air system gt Allow time for the air compressor to build up a minimum of 100 psi pressure in both the primary and secondary systems gt Watch the primary and secondary air pressure gauges or needles if the system has two needles in one gauge gt Pay attention to the low air warning light and buzzer The warning light and buzzer should shut off when air pressure in both systems rises to a value set by the manufacturer This value must be greater than
37. and use of all mirrors is vital to the safe operation of the school bus in order to observe the danger zone around the bus and look for students traffic and other objects in this area You should always check each mirror before operating the school bus to obtain maximum viewing area If necessary have the mirrors adjusted Outside Left and Right Side Flat Mirrors These mirrors are mounted at the left and right front corners of the bus at the side or front of the windshield They are used to monitor traffic check clearances and students on the sides and to the rear of the bus There is a blind spot immediately below and in front of each mirror and directly in back of the rear bumper The blind spot behind the bus extends 50 to 150 feet and could extend up to 400 feet depending on the length and width of the bus Ensure that the mirrors are properly adjusted so you can see gt 200 feet or 4 bus lengths behind the bus gt Along the sides of the bus gt The rear tires touching the ground VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Outside Left and Right Side Convex Mirrors The convex mirrors are located below the outside flat mirrors They are used to monitor the left and right sides at a wide angle They provide a view of traffic clearances and students at the side of the bus These mirrors present a view of people and objects that does not accurately reflect their size and distance from the bus You should position these mirrors t
38. avoid a traffic emergency DRIVER S MANUAL Section 1 General Knowledge In some emergencies you may have to drive off the road Most shoulders are strong enough to support the weight of a large vehicle and offer an escape route Follow these steps if you must drive off the road gt Avoid braking until your speed has dropped to about 20 mph Then brake gently to avoid skidding gt Keep one set of wheels on the pavement if possible This helps you to maintain control gt Stay on the shoulder until your vehicle comes to a stop Signal and check your mirrors before returning to the road gt If you must return to the road before you stop hold the wheel tightly and turn sharply enough to get back on the road safely Don t try to edge on to the road gradually This could cause you to lose control As soon as both front tires are on the paved surface countersteer immediately Skid Control and Recovery A skid happens when the tires lose their grip on the road The best way to stop any skid is to restore traction to the tires The four main causes of skids are gt Overbraking Braking too hard can lock the wheels causing a skid Skids may also happen if you use the speed retarder when the road is slippery gt Oversteering or turning the wheels too sharply may cause a skid gt Overacceleration or supplying too much power to the drive wheels can cause them to spin gt Driving too fast Most serious skids resu
39. can safely pass without stopping If you are carrying Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 explosives gt You must have a written route plan and follow that plan gt Keep a copy of the plan with you while transporting the explosives gt Carriers prepare the route plan ahead of time and give the driver a copy gt You may plan the route yourself if you pick up the explosives somewhere other than at your employer s terminal If you plan the route write it out in advance and keep it with you while transporting the explosives gt Deliver shipments of explosives only to authorized persons or leave them in locked rooms designed for explosives storage A carrier must choose the safest route to transport placarded radioactive materials After choosing the route the carrier must tell the driver about the radioactive materials and tell him the route plan VIRGINIA Section 9 Hazardous Materials Where to Keep Shipping Papers and Emergency Response Information gt gt Do not accept a hazardous materials shipment without a properly prepared shipping paper A shipping paper for hazardous materials must always be easily recognized Other people must be able to find it quickly after an accident gt Put hazardous materials shipping papers on top of your stack of shipping papers or tab them so that they stand out from other papers gt When you are driving keep shipping papers within your reach with your seat belt on o
40. cap tight gt Condition of visible parts gt Rear of engine gt Transmission gt Driveshaft not loose not bent or broken gt Exhaust system visible parts securely mounted no cracks holes or severe dents air hoses and electrical lines clear of exhaust system gt Frame and cross members not cracked broken bent or welded no signs of breaks or holes in box or trailer floor gt Air lines and electrical wiring secured to prevent snagging rubbing wearing gt Spare tire carrier or rack gt Spare tire and or wheel securely mounted in rack gt Spare tire and wheel proper size properly inflated gt Cargo securement for trucks gt Cargo properly blocked braced tied chained 12 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Header board adequate and secure Side boards and stakes strong enough free of damage and properly set in place Canvas or tarp if required properly secured to prevent tearing billowing or blocking of mirrors If vehicle is oversized check that all required signs flags lamps and reflectors are safely and properly mounted and that you have all required permits Check that all curbside cargo compartment doors are securely closed latched or locked and that required security seals are in place gt Right rear gt Wheels and rims gt Tires rear tire tread depth at least 2 32 of an inch may be retreads gt Lug nuts gt Axle seals gt Spacers dual wheels are evenly separated an
41. cause your vehicle to sway This problem is worse for lighter vehicles such as empty trucks High winds may be especially bad coming out of tunnels Space Overhead Because commercial vehicles are larger than most vehicles watch out for overhead objects Make sure you always have overhead clearance gt The weight of a loaded vehicle changes its height An empty vehicle is taller than a loaded one gt Before backing get out of the vehicle and check for overhanging objects such as trees branches or electric wires It s easy to miss these things when backing gt Don t assume that the heights posted at bridges and overpasses are correct Repaving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance since the signs were posted gt If you are not sure that you have space to pass under an object take another route Space for Turns Because of wide turning and offtracking large vehicles can hit other vehicles or objects during turns Definition Trailer wheels follow a different path than the tractor wheels This is called offtracking When turning right gt Turn slowly to give yourself and others time to avoid problems gt If you cannot make the right turn without swinging into another lane turn wide as you complete the turn Refer to the diagram Keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb This will stop other drivers from passing you on the right Incorrect MANUAL gt Don t turn to the left as y
42. discs cannot have cracks longer than half the width of the friction area Linings friction material cannot be loose soaked with oil or grease They cannot be dangerously thin Mechanical parts must be in place and should not be broken or missing gt Check the air hoses connected to the brake chambers to make sure they are not cut or worn due to rubbing gt Check the Air Brake System Checking the air brake system is different from the hydraulic brake check shown in Section 1 General Knowledge gt 42 VIRGINIA Test the low pressure warning signal gt Shut off the engine when you have enough air pressure so that the low pressure warning signal is off gt Turn on the electrical power and step on and off the brake pedal to reduce air tank pressure gt The low air pressure warning signal must gt come on before the pressure drops to less than 60 psi in the air tank or tank with the lowest air pressure in dual air systems COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt If the warning signal doesn t work you could lose air pressure without knowing it This could cause sudden emergency braking In dual systems the stopping distance will be increased Only limited breaking can be done before the spring brakes come on Be sure that spring brakes come on automatically gt Chock the wheels release the parking brakes when you have enough air pressure and shut off the engine gt Step on and off the brake pedal
43. employer Additionally whether or not you find problems you must complete a written report and sign it Buckle up on every trip It s the law DRIVER S MANUAL Section 1 General Knowledge 14 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Department of Motor Vehicles Vehicle Inspection Study Guide TRUCK TRAILER PINTLE HOOK During the actual tests you will be expected to point to or touch each of the parts of your vehicle listed below Name the part and explain what damage or problems you might find The types of damages or problems are listed below and in the vehicle inspection section in the CDL Manual Note All axles touching the ground on one side of the vehicle must be inspected This study guide cannot be used during the actual pre trip inspection portion of the skills test Front of Vehicle Lights Steering Box Steering Linkage Engine Compartment Oil Level Coolant Level Power Steering Fluid Water Pump Alternator Air Compressor Leaks Wiring insulation Hydraulic Brakes if equipped Check for proper color clean lenses cracks missing screws and condensation Also check for function left right turn signals headlights high low beam and four way flashers Check for missing loose bolts cracks and nonfactory welds Check for steering fluid leaks and torn or frayed hoses Check the steering column pitman arm and drag link for cracks bends non factory welds missing castle
44. for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and cracked burnt or loose wires Check for missing loose bolts Check belts for tension cracked or frayed lines and leaks Look under the engine compartment for coolant power steering transmission and oil leaks Check for cracked worn electrical wiring insulation Check the site glass or line on container for proper brake fluid Check the master cylinder for cracks leaks check the brake lines for cracks frays and brake fluid leaks Inside the Vehicle start engine Clutch Gearshift Air Pressure Gauge Oil Pressure Gauge Ammeter Voltmeter Air Brake Hydraulic Brake if equipped Steering Play Parking Brake Mirrors Windshield Wipers Lighting Indicators Horns Heater Defroster Section 1 General Knowledge If standard check for excessive play in clutch no more than two inches Check the gear ranges to ensure they engage Check the boot for holes and dry rot If automatic check gearshift for ranges Check for cracks and cleanliness Air pressure should build to a minimum of 100 PSI in both the primary and secondary system Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Oil pressure should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Amps Volts should come
45. improper setting Steering wheel Clutch Accelerator Brake controls Foot brake Trailer brake Parking brake Retarder controls Transmission controls Interaxle differential lock Horns Windshield wiper washer A vY yvy yv yv yv yv yY yY yY Y a y Lights be sure none are broken and the lenses are clean gt Headlights Dimmer switch wv Turn signals y 4 way flashers wv Clearance identification marker light switches gt Check the mirrors and windshield Look for cracks dirt illegal stickers or other obstructions DRIVER S MANUAL 11 Section 1 General Knowledge gt Check the emergency equipment gt Working fire extinguisher properly charged and mounted gt Spare electrical fuses gt Three reflective triangles Turn off the engine and check the lights and 4 way flashers Make a walk around inspection gt Check that all lights are working gt Check the left front side gt Driver s door glass and side view mirrors clean properly mounted and not broken gt Door opens and closes properly and fits flush against the cab gt Left front wheel gt Left front suspension gt Left front brake gt Front gt Front axle Steering system Windshield Lights and reflectors not broken lenses clear and clean gt Right side gt Right front check same items as checked for left front v v v gt Fuel tanks no leaks bands tight secure to vehicle fuel
46. liquid will expand during transit gt the weight of the liquid and gt the legal weight limits gt Drive smoothly Because your tank vehicle has a high center of gravity and because of liquid surge you must start slow down and stop smoothly You must also make smooth turns Otherwise your vehicle could roll over gt Use controlled or stab braking If you must stop quickly to avoid a crash use controlled or stab braking Remember if you steer quickly while braking your vehicle could roll over Safe Driving Rules gt Slow down before curves Then accelerate slightly through the curve The posted speed for a curve may be too fast for a tank vehicle Stay below the posted speed gt Maintain a safe stopping distance between you and the vehicle ahead Remember wet roads double the normal stopping distance Empty tank vehicles may take longer to stop than loaded ones gt Don t over steer over accelerate or over brake This could cause your vehicle to skid or roll over If your drive wheels or trailer wheels begin to skid your vehicle may jackknife If your vehicle starts to skid take immediate action to restore traction to the wheels VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 8 Transporting Passengers Section 8 Transporting Passengers Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge You must have a commercial driver s license if you plan to drive a vehicle designed to carry
47. not park within 300 feet of an open fire 78 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Attending Parked Vehicles gt The person watching a placarded vehicle must gt Bein the vehicle and awake He cannot be in the sleeper berth gt Or the person must be within 100 feet of the vehicle and have it within clear view gt Be aware of the hazards of the materials being transported gt Know what to do in an emergency and gt Be able to move the vehicle if needed No Flares gt If you need to use warning devices use reflective triangles or red electric lights gt NEVER use burning signals such as flares or fuses around a gt Tank used for Class 3 flammable liquids or Division 2 1 flammable gas whether loaded or empty gt Vehicle loaded with Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 explosives No Smoking gt Do not smoke while driving or within 25 feet of a placarded cargo tank used for Class 3 flammable liquids or Division 2 1 gases gt Do not smoke or carry a lighted cigarette cigar or pipe while driving or within 25 feet of any vehicle which contains Class 1 Explosives Class 2 1 Flammable Materials Class 3 Flammable Liquids Class 4 1 and 4 2 Flammable Materials Class 5 Oxidizers Refuel with the Engine Off gt Turn off your engine before fueling a motor vehicle carrying hazardous materials gt Someone must always be at the nozzle controlling the fuel flow Carry a 10 B C Fire Extinguishe
48. nuts cotter pins and proper lubrication Check by pulling out the dipstick wiping it and reinserting it then pull out to look at the low and full marks to determine the level Observe the site glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped explain removing radiator cap for level Do not remove cap Observe the sight glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped open the cap and check for proper level Check for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and coolant leaks Check for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and cracked burnt or loose wires Check for missing loose bolts Check belts for tension cracked or frayed lines and leaks Look under the engine compartment for coolant power steering transmission and oil leaks Check for cracked worn electrical wiring insulation Check the site glass or line on container for proper brake fluid Check the master cylinder for cracks leaks check the brake lines for cracks frays and brake fluid leaks Inside the Vehicle start engine Clutch Gearshift Air Pressure Gauge Oil Pressure Gauge Ammeter Voltmeter Air Brake Hydraulic Brake if equipped Steering Play Parking Brake Mirrors Windshield Wipers Lighting Indicators Horns Heater Defroster Section 1 General Knowledge If standard check for excessive play in clutch no more tha
49. or that the cab will hit the trailer during turns gt Check the air and electric lines to the trailer gt gt DRIVER S Be sure that the electrical cord is plugged in and secured Air lines should be properly connected to the gland hands You should not have air leaks Air lines should be secured with enough slack for turns All lines should be free from damage MANUAL gt Check the landing gear gt Be sure that the landing gear is fully raised Check for missing bent or damaged parts gt Make sure the crank handle is in place and secured gt If the landing gear is power operated make sure that there are no air or hydraulic leaks Air Brakes Make these checks in addition to the pre trip checks that you make for your air brakes Check the airbrakes on a double or triple trailer the same way you check them for any combination vehicle gt Be sure air flows to all trailers gt Use the tractor parking brake or chock the wheels to hold the vehicle gt Wait for the air pressure to reach normal then push the red trailer air supply knob This will send air to the emergency supply lines gt Use the trailer handbrake to send air to the service line gt Go to the back of the last trailer You should hear air escaping This shows that the entire system is charged gt Close the emergency line valve gt Be sure that either the trailer handbrake or the service brake pedal is on Op
50. show a temperature higher than normal stop driving as soon as safely possible There could be something wrong that could lead to engine failure or fire Check engine belts and hoses Check the belts for tightness by pressing on the belts Be sure coolant hoses are in good condition Loose belts or broken hoses can lead to engine failure and fire While you re driving inspect the tires every two hours or every 100 miles Air pressure increases with temperature Do not let air out If you let air out the pressure will be too low when the tires cool If a tire is too hot to touch remain stopped until the tire cools Otherwise the tire may blow out or catch on fire Never remove the radiator cap or any part of the pressurized system until the system has cooled Steam and boiling water can spray under pressure and cause severe burns If you can touch the radiator cap with your bare hand it is probably cool enough to open You can also check the coolant level of a hot engine if a coolant container is part of a pressurized system Driving Tips gt Watch for bleeding tar In hot weather spots where tar bleeds to the road surface are very slippery Drive slow enough to prevent overheating High speeds create more heat for tires and the engine In desert conditions the heat may rise to a dangerous level The heat will increase the chance of tire failure engine failure and fire Mountain Driving Gravity plays a major role in
51. the trailer and fasten the safety catch gt Check the air lines and electrical lines for signs of damage gt Make sure the air and electrical lines will not hit any moving parts of the vehicle gt Raise the front trailer supports landing gear gt Use low gear range to begin raising the landing gear Once free of weight switch to the high gear range gt Raise the landing gear all the way up Never drive with the landing gear part of the way up It could catch on railroad tracks or other things gt After raising the landing gear secure the crank handle gt When the full weight of the trailer is resting on the tractor gt Check for enough clearance between the rear of the tractor frame and the landing gear When the tractor turns sharply it must not hit the landing gear gt Check for enough clearance between the top of the tractor tires and the nose of the trailer gt Remove the trailer wheel chocks Uncoupling Tractor Semitrailers gt Position the rig gt Make sure the surface of the parking area can support the weight of the trailer gt Line up the tractor with the trailer Pulling out at an angle can damage the landing gear gt Ease the pressure on the locking jaws gt Shut off the trailer air supply to lock the trailer brakes gt Ease pressure on the fifth wheel locking jaws by backing up gently This will help you release the fifth wheel locking lever VIRGINIA COMMERCIA
52. to reduce the air tank pressure gt The parking brake knob should pop out when the air pressure falls to the manufacturer s specification usually between 20 and 40 psi This causes the spring brakes to come on gt Check the rate of air pressure build up gt When the engine is at operating RPM check the manufacturer s specifications to determine the correct operating RPM the pressure should build from 85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds in dual air systems gt If the vehicle has larger than minimum air tanks the buildup time can be longer Check the manufacturer s specifications gt In single air systems built before 1975 pressure typically builds from 50 to 90 psi within 3 minutes with the engine at an idle speed of 600 900 RPM gt If air pressure does not build fast enough your pressure may drop too low during driving This will require an emergency stop Don t drive until you get the problem fixed Test the air leakage rate gt When the air system is fully charged between 120 and 125 psi turn off the engine release the service brake and time the air pressure drop The loss rate should be less than 2 psi in one minute for single vehicles It should be less than 3 psi in one minute for combination vehicles gt Apply 90 psi or more with the brake pedal After the initial pressure drop if air pressure falls more than 3 psi in one minute for single vehicles 4 psi for combination vehicles
53. tractor and first trailer to the second and third trailers gt Couple the tractor to the first trailer Use the steps outlined in Section 3 Combination Vehicles gt Move the converter dolly into position and couple the first trailer to the second trailer using the steps outlined for coupling doubles The triple rig is now complete a gt Uncouple the triple rig gt Uncouple the third trailer by pulling out the dolly Then unhitch the dolly using the steps outlined for uncoupling doubles gt Uncouple the rest of the rig the same way you would uncouple a double bottom rig Follow the steps already outlined Pulling Doubles Triples Trailers gt Prevent roll overs gt Double and triple tractor trailer combinations are less stable than other commercial vehicles Therefore steer gently and go slowly around curves corners and on and off ramps gt Remember a safe speed on a curve for a straight truck or a single trailer combination vehicle may be too fast for a set of double or triple trailers gt Beware of the crack the whip effect gt Doubles and triples are more likely to turn over than other combination vehicles because of the crack the whip effect You must steer gently when pulling trailers The last trailer in a combination is the most likely one to turn over gt Study Section 3 Combination Vehicles to make sure you fully understand the crack the whip effect gt Look ahead gt You mu
54. until whatever was burning has cooled If you don t see any smoke or flames don t assume that the fire is out It could be smoldering and it could restart VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL 35 Section 1 General Knowledge Hazardous Materials Rules for All Commercial Drivers All drivers should know something about hazardous materials You must be able to recognize hazardous materials and you must know if you can haul it without having a hazardous materials endorsement on your commercial driver s license Hazardous materials are products that pose a risk to health safety and property during transportation The table below lists 9 hazard classes Explosives Mass Detonation Dinitrophenol Projections Hazards Ammunition Smoke White Phosphorus Mass Fire Hazards Article Explosive No 5 Minor Hazards Fireworks Very Insensitive Blasting Agents Explosive Blasting Type E Extremely Insensitive Article Explosive Extremely Insensitive Flammable Gases Propane Non Flammable Gases Helium Compressed Poisonous Toxic Gases Fluorine Compressed a Gee Flammable Liquids Gasoline Alcohol Diesel Fuel Fuel Oils Flammable Solids Ammonium Picrate Wetted Spontaneously Combustible Phosphorus White Dry Dangerous When Wet Sodium Oxidizers Ammonium Nitrate Liquid Organic Peroxides Organic Peroxide Type B Liquid Poison Toxic Material Potassium Cyanide Infectious Substances Diagnostic Specimen 4 1 4 2 4 3 Sail Be
55. vehicle every brake must do its share of the work Brakes out of adjustment stop doing their share before brakes that are in adjustment This causes the other brakes to overheat and fade Brakes can get out of adjustment quickly especially when they are hot Therefore brake adjustment must be checked frequently Low Air Pressure If the low pressure warning comes on stop and safely park your vehicle as soon as possible You could have an air leak in the system Controlled braking is possible only while enough air remains in the air tanks Once air pressure drops between 20 and 40 psi the spring brakes will come on A heavily loaded vehicle will take a long distance to stop because the spring brakes do not work on all axles Lightly loaded vehicles or vehicles on slippery roads may skid out of control when the spring brakes come on Therefore it is much safer to stop while there is enough air in the tanks to use the foot brakes Parking Brakes Use the parking brakes any time that you park except gt if the brakes are very hot from having just come down a steep grade or gt if the brakes are very wet in freezing temperatures If the brakes are hot they could be damaged by the heat Let the brakes cool before using the parking brakes Use wheel chocks to hold the vehicle If the brakes are wet and the temperatures are freezing they can freeze so that the vehicle cannot move Use the brakes lightly while driving in a low ge
56. 500 If the police have probable cause to stop you and suspect that you have been drinking or using drugs they will ask you to take a breath test This test analyzes the amount of alcohol and drugs in your body Under implied consent laws if you operate a motor vehicle on Virginia s public roads you agree to take a chemical test upon request You are required to take the test If you refuse your license will be immediately suspended for seven days and it may be suspended for one year whether or not you are convicted of driving under the influence If you are convicted of DUI the suspension period for refusing the test will be added to the DUI revocation period Railroad crossing violations will result in a gt 60 day disqualification for a first offense gt 120 day disqualification for a second offense committed within three years gt one year disqualification for a third offense committed within three years MANUAL Virginia law prohibits the court from allowing drivers of commercial motor vehicles or persons holding a CDL and operating a non commercial motor vehicle to attend a driver improvement clinic in lieu of a conviction or to reduce or defer a conviction If you are convicted of a felony sexual offense involving a minor you must register with the Virginia State Police You must re register within 30 days of moving Organ Tissue Donation When you apply for your driver s license learner s permit commer
57. Bulk packaging is any packaging in which hazardous materials are loaded with no intermediate form of containment and which gt Asa receptacle for liquid holds 450 liters or 119 gallons or more or gt Asareceptacle for solids holds 400 kilograms 882 pounds or 450 liters 119 gallons or more or gt Asareceptacle for gas has a water capacity greater than 454 kilograms 1000 pounds refer to the definition in 49 CFR 173 115 Bulk packaging includes transport vehicles and freight containers A cargo tank is a bulk packaging which is gt atank intended primarily for carrying liquids or gases and includes appurtenances reinforcements fittings and closures For tank see 49 CFR 178 337 1 or 178 345 1 c gt permanently attached to or forms a part of a motor vehicle If it is not permanently attached to a motor vehicle it is loaded or unloaded without being removed from the motor vehicle and gt not made according to specifications for cylinders portable tanks tank cars or multi unit tank car tanks or intermediate bulk containers Portable tanks are bulk containers which are not permanently attached to a vehicle The product is loaded or unloaded while the portable tanks are off the vehicle Many types of cargo tanks are in use The most common cargo tanks are MC306 406 for flammable liquids and MC331 for gases Other liquid hazardous materials must be transported in other types of specification tanks such as
58. Identification Numbers Hazard class or Division Hazardous materials Packing Group Label s required if not excepted Special provisions 8 Packaging authorizations descriptions and proper shipping names 3 4 5 Poisonous 6 1 UN3124 1 solids self heating n o s Column 1 tells which shipping mode s such as air or water the entry affects Five different symbols may appear in Column 1 This column also provides information about the material s proper shipping name shows the proper shipping name hazard class and packing group to use even if the material doesn t match the hazard class definition A means the hazardous material described in Column 2 is subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations HMR only when offered or intended for transport by air unless it is a hazardous substance or hazardous waste W means the hazardous material described in Column 2 is subject to HMR only when offered or intended for transportation by water unless it is a hazardous substance hazardous waste or marine pollutant D means the proper shipping name is appropriate for describing materials for domestic transportation but may not be proper for international transportation identifies a proper shipping name that is used to describe materials for international transportation A different shipping name may be used when only domestic transportation is involved VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL 173
59. L Section 3 Combination Vehicles gt Put the parking brakes on while the tractor is pushing against the kingpin This will hold the rig with pressure off the locking jaws gt Chock the trailer wheels gt Chock the trailer wheels if the trailer doesn t have spring brakes or if you aren t sure The air could leak out of the trailer air tank and release the emergency brakes Without chocks the trailer could move gt Lower the landing gear gt If the trailer is empty lower the landing gear until it makes firm contact with the ground gt If the trailer is loaded turn the crank in low gear a few extra turns after the landing gear makes firm contact with the ground This will lift some weight off the tractor This makes it easier to unlatch the fifth wheel It also makes it easier to couple next time gt Disconnect the air lines and electrical cable gt Disconnect the air lines from the trailer Connect the glad hands to the dummy couplers at the back of the cab or couple them together gt Hang the electrical cable with the plug down to prevent moisture from entering it gt Make sure the lines are supported so they won t be damaged while driving the tractor gt Unlock the fifth wheel gt Raise the release handle lock gt Pull the release handle to the open position gt Keep your feet and legs clear of the rear tractor wheels to avoid serious injury in case the vehicle moves gt Pull th
60. Look to the right of the road Watch the side of the road when another car or truck comes toward you It can take several seconds to recover from blindness caused by glare Even two seconds of glare blindness can be dangerous A vehicle going 55 mph will travel more than half the distance of a football field during that time gt Get enough sleep before you drive Being tired and lack of alertness are problems for drivers at night Most people are less alert at night especially after midnight This is even more true if you have been driving for a long time MANUAL gt If you are sleepy pull off the road and get some sleep You cannot control your need for sleep Drivers who are tired may not see hazards as soon or react as quickly This increases the chance of a crash The roadway During the day there is usually enough light to see well At night some streets may have bright lights but others will have poor lighting On most roads you will probably have to depend on your headlights Less light means you will not be able to see hazards as quickly Pedestrians joggers bicyclists animals and other objects may be difficult to see Even when there are street lights the scene may be confusing Traffic signals and hazards can be hard to see against a background of signs store windows and other lights gt Drive slower when lighting is poor or confusing Drive slowly enough so that you can stop within the distance that you can
61. MC307 407 or MC312 412 Markings gt You must display the ID number of the hazardous materials in portable tanks cargo tanks and intermediate bulk packaging containers ID numbers are shown in column 4 of the Hazardous Materials Table Federal regulations require black 100 mm 3 9 inch numbers on orange panels placards or a white diamond shaped background if placards are not required gt Specification cargo tanks must show retest date markings VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials gt In addition portable tanks gt Must show the lessee or owner s name gt Must display the shipping name of the contents on two opposite sides gt The letters of the shipping name must be at least 2 inches tall on portable tanks with capacities of more than 1 000 gallons and 1 inch tall on portable tanks with capacities of less than 1 000 gallons gt The ID number must appear on each side and each end of a portable tank or other bulk packaging that holds 1 000 gallons or more gt The ID number must appear on two opposite sides if the portable tank holds less than 1 000 gallons gt The ID numbers must be visible when the portable tank is on the motor vehicle If they are not visible you must display the ID number on both sides and on both ends of the motor vehicle gt Ifthe identification numbers cannot be seen from outside the vehicle additional numbers must be affixed to the exterior front rear a
62. RG N Ensure working fire extinguisher properly charged and mounted spare electrical fuses unless equipped with circuit breakers three reflective triangles Check for missing cracked shifted or bent springs If 1 4 or more are missing your vehicle could be put out of service Check both mounts and the U bolts for cracks non factory welds missing or loose bolts and nuts Check for cracks leaks and missing bolts Check the rims for bends cracks and nonfactory welds Check the hub oil seal for missing bolts cracks leaks and proper level if equipped with site glass Check the tire for at least 4 32 tread depth in the major grooves Check for cuts bulges and proper air pressure using an air gauge Check the lug nuts for missing loose nuts and rust around them Check the slack adjuster for missing cotter pins If the slack adjuster moves more than one inch where the push rod attaches to it it probably needs to be adjusted Slack adjusters should not be at more than a 90 degree angle with the brakes applied Check the chambers for cracks dents and air leaks Check the hoses for loose connections dry rot holes and air leaks Check the drum for cracks non factory welds and signs of grease or oil Check the rotor for cracks non factory welds and signs of fluid leaks Check the lines for cuts holes loose connections and fluid leaks Check the calipers for cracks missing loose bolts and flui
63. Spring Shackle Main Spring Axle gt Cracked or broken spring hangers gt Missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring If one fourth or more are missing your vehicle could be put out of service But any defect is dangerous gt Broken leaves in the multileaf spring gt Leaves that have shifted and could hit a tire or other part Broken Leaf MANUAL Shock Absorber Height Control Valve Frame Reinforcement Upper Bellows Support Co ntrol Arm Lower Bellows Axle Seat Support gt Leaking shock absorbers gt Torque rod or arm u bolts spring hangers or other axle positioning parts that are cracked damaged or missing gt Air suspension systems that are damaged and or leaking gt Any loose cracked broken or missing frame members Exhaust system Check for gt Leaking parts gt Leaks which could allow carbon monoxide to leak into your cab gt Parts rubbing against the fuel system tires or other moving parts gt Loose broken or missing parts Emergency equipment Your vehicle must be equipped with the following emergency equipment gt Properly charged and securely mounted fire extinguisher gt Spare electrical fuses gt Three reflective triangles as warning devices for parked vehicles Cargo gt Make sure your truck is not overloaded Be sure that the cargo is balanced and secured before each trip gt If you are carrying hazardous materials be sure you have
64. The control is usually marked normal and slippery When you put the control in the slippery position the limiting valve cuts the air pressure to the front brakes by half Front wheel braking is good under all conditions Tests have shown that front wheel skids from braking are not likely even on ice Make sure the control is in the normal position so that you will have normal stopping power Many vehicles have automatic front wheel limiting valves These valves reduce air to the front brakes except when the brakes are put on very hard 60 psi or more application pressure These valves cannot be controlled by the driver Spring brakes are used for emergency and parking brakes Emergency and parking brakes must be held by a mechanical force because air pressure can leak away When driving powerful springs are held back by air pressure If the air pressure is removed the springs put on the brakes A parking brake control in the cab allows the driver to let the air out of the spring brakes This lets the springs put on the brakes A leak in the air brake system which causes all air to be lost will also cause the springs to put on the brakes Tractor and straight truck spring brakes will come on fully when air pressure drops to a range of 20 to 40 psi Do not wait for the brakes to come on automatically When the low air pressure warning light and buzzer first come on bring the vehicle to a safe stop while you can still cont
65. VER S gt The proper shipping name ID number label and placards MUST be correct on your hazardous materials shipment Your life and the lives of others depend on it Crashes Incidents gt Asa professional driver your job at the scene of crash is to gt Keep people away from the scene gt Limit the spread of material only if you can do so safely gt Tell emergency workers about the danger of the hazardous materials gt Provide emergency workers with shipping papers and emergency response information gt Flammable liquids may be transferred from one tanker to another on a public highway in an emergency situation gt Follow this checklist gt Keep people far away and upwind When facing the vehicle the wind should be blowing on your back not in your face gt Warn others of the danger gt Send for help gt Follow your employer s instructions Fires gt You might have to control minor truck fires on the road gt However unless you have the training and equipment don t fight hazardous materials fires Hazardous materials fires require special training and protective gear gt When you discover a fire send for help gt You may use the fire extinguisher to keep minor truck fires from spreading to the cargo area before firefighters arrive gt Feel trailer doors to see if they are hot If they feel hot or if smoke is seeping out around the doors you may have a carg
66. able Quantities continued Hazardous Substance Other Names That the Product May Be Called Reportable Quantity RQ Pounds Kilograms Phenyl mercaptan Benzinethiol 100 45 4 Thiophenol Phenylmercuric acetate Mercury acetato 0 phenyl 100 45 4 100 45 4 pews o Phosphoric acid Hydrogen Phosphide 100 Nays 4 nitrophenyl ester Diethyl p nitropheny phosphate 100 45 4 Phosphoric acid lead salt Lead phosphate Column 1 shows names of elements and compounds that are hazardous substances N Phenylthiourea y o a en Phosphorodithioic acid 0 0 diethy S ethylthio methylester Phosgene Phosphine Carbonyl chloride Column 2 shows other names that these substances may be called Column 3 shows the reportable quantity for each product If you spill this amount of the material or more you or your employer must report the spill Packages that contain a reportable quantity of the material will show the letters RQ The letters RQ will also show on the shipping paper If the words INHALATION HAZARD appear on the shipping paper or package you must use the POISON INHALATION HAZARD or POISON GAS placards These placards must be used in addition to other placards required by the product s hazard class Always display the hazard class and the POISON placards even for small amounts Appendix B shows the lists of marine pollutants VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials Shipping Pa
67. action Distance Braking Distance Total Stopping Distance Braking distance 192 feet 2 5 seconds Reaction Distance 60 feet 3 4 second Perception Distance 60 feet 3 4 second DRIVER S MANUAL Section 1 General Knowledge Rules of Thumb Speed and Curves gt When you double your speed it takes four times as If you take a curve too fast your tires can lose traction with much distance to stop your vehicle your vehicle will the road This could cause your vehicle to skid off the road or have four times the destructive power in a crash roll over Tests show that trucks with a high center of gravity gt You can t steer or brake a vehicle unless you have can roll over at the posted speed limit for a curve traction Traction is the friction between the tires and gt Slow to a safe speed before you enter a curve the road Reduce your speed on wet and slippery roads gt Braking in a curve is dangerous because you can lock gt Wet roads can double stopping distance Reduce your the wheels and cause a skid speed by about 1 3 on a wet road For example slow gt Never exceed the posted speed limit for a curve down from 55 mph to 35 mph i gt Downshift to a gear that will let you accelerate slightly gt On packed snow reduce your speed by 1 2 or more in the curve This will help you keep control gt If the road is icy reduce your speed to a crawl Stop driving as soon as you can i 4 oe Spe
68. afely Because you cannot see everything behind your vehicle backing is always dangerous Avoid backing whenever you can When you must back follow these safety rules gt Look at your path before you begin backing Get out of the vehicle and check your clearance to the sides and overhead gt Turn on four way flashers and blow the horn before backing gt Back slowly Use the lowest reverse gear gt Back and turn toward the driver s side This allows you to see better You can watch the rear of your vehicle by looking out the side window Use driver side backing even if it means going around the block to put your vehicle in this position The extra safety is worth it gt Use a helper A helper can check your blind spots for you The helper should stand where he or she has a view of the rear of the truck and where the driver can see the helper If you lose sight of the helper stop VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge He may be in a place of danger Before you begin backing agree on hand signals that you both understand Backing with a Trailer gt When backing a car straight truck or bus you turn the top of the steering wheel in the direction that you want to go When backing a trailer turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction Once the trailer starts to turn you must turn the wheel the other way to follow the trailer gt When you back a trailer try to position your vehicle so
69. akes press hard on the foot brake and hold down for one minute air pressure should not drop over three PSI Turn ignition key on and continue with foot brake pumping air pressure down At around 60 PSI the Low Air buzzer should sound and or a warning light should appear Keep pumping air down with foot brake and at about 40 PSI the parking brake knob should pop out Check steering wheel play of no more than ten degrees approximately two inches of movement at the rim of a 20 inch steering wheel Set the parking brake put the vehicle in low gear and gently release your foot from the brake pedal and clutch if equipped until you feel the vehicle pulling against the brake The vehicle should not move Check mirrors for proper adjustment Check the windshield for cracks cleanliness and illegal stickers Check the wipers for looseness dry rot and function Check the following for function panel light high low beam indicator left and right turn signal indicators and four way flasher indicator Check both the highway and city horns for proper function Check both the defroster and heater fans for proper function Ensure working fire extinguisher properly charged and mounted spare electrical fuses unless equipped with circuit breakers three reflective triangles Listen for air leaks in the brakes and in the suspension This page is designed to be removed from the manual for reference while studying for t
70. ammable Gas gt ashipper s certification signed by the shipper This certification states that the shipper prepared the shipment according to federal regulations gt If the shipping paper describes hazardous and non Shipping name hazard class and ID number must not be hazardous products the hazardous materials will be abbreviated unless authorized in the federal regulations The description must also show gt Division 2 3 Poison Gas gt described first or gt The total quantity of each hazardous product and the gt highlighted in a contrasting color or unit of measure for example pounds Total quantity gt identified by an X placed before the shipping must appear before or after the basic description name in a column labeled HM If a reportable The packaging type and unit of measure may be quantity is present in one package the letters RQ abbreviated For example b d instead of X Beg gr a 10 ctns Paint 3 UN1263 PG II 500 Ibs Shipping description gt The letters RQ if a reportable quantity is present gt The shipping description for a hazardous material gt The name of the hazardous substance if the letters RQ includes in this order appear gt the proper shipping name gt For n o s not otherwise specified and generic descriptions the technical name of the hazardous material must be shown For example weed killer is a generic name The technical name is paraquat gt hazard class or divisi
71. ar to heat and dry them Or use wheel chocks to hold the vehicle Never leave your vehicle unattended without applying the parking brakes or chocking the wheels The vehicle could roll causing injury and damage aa VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Section 3 Combination Vehicles Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge Study th IS section if you plan to drive combination vehicles tractor trailers doubles triples or a straight truck with a trailer The information in this section gives you the minimum knowledge that you need to drive combination vehicles Study Section 4 Doubles and Triples if you plan to drive these vehicles Combination Vehicle Air Brakes Study Section 2 Air Brakes before you read this section In combination vehicles the braking system has parts to control the trailer brakes This section describes the parts that control the trailer brakes Trailer Hand Valve gt The trailer hand valve is also called the trolley valve or Johnson bar It only operates the trailer brakes Not all towing vehicles trucks or tractors have trailer hand valves gt Use the hand valve to test the brakes Do not use it when driving because it could make the trailer skid gt When you are driving use the foot brake The foot brake sends air to all brakes on the vehicle including the trailer s gt Never use the hand valve for parking All the air might leak out and un
72. are listed below and in the vehicle inspection section in the CDL Manual Note All axles touching the ground on one side of the vehicle must be inspected This study guide cannot be used during the actual pre trip inspection portion of the skills test Front of Vehicle Lights Steering Box Steering Linkage Engine Compartment Oil Level Coolant Level Power Steering Fluid Water Pump Alternator Air Compressor Leaks Wiring insulation Hydraulic Brakes if equipped Check for proper color clean lenses cracks missing screws and condensation Also check for function left right turn signals headlights high low beam and four way flashers Check for missing loose bolts cracks and nonfactory welds Check for steering fluid leaks and torn or frayed hoses Check the steering column pitman arm and drag link for cracks bends non factory welds missing castle nuts cotter pins and proper lubrication Check by pulling out the dipstick wiping it and reinserting it then pull out to look at the low and full marks to determine the level Observe the site glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped explain removing radiator cap for level Do not remove cap Observe the sight glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped open the cap and check for proper level Check for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and coolant leaks Check
73. ark it gt Secure the area gt Stay there gt Send someone else for help When sending another person for help give that person gt A description of the emergency gt Your exact location and direction of travel gt Your name the carrier s name and the name of the community or city where your terminal is located Terminal refers to where you picked up the load gt The proper shipping name hazard class and ID number of the hazardous materials if you know them Remember this is required information and will be found on the shipping paper This is a lot for someone to remember Write it down for the person that you send for help The emergency response team must know this information to handle the emergency Never try to repack leaking containers Don t try to repair leaks unless you have the training and equipment VIRGINIA Section 9 Hazardous Materials Responses to Specific Hazards In response to a specific hazard refer to gt the hazardous materials data sheet that accompanies the shipping paper or the emergency response action as given by the shipper or the Emergency Response Guide Definition The National Response Center helps coordinate emergency reponses to chemical hazards It is a resource for police and firefighters It maintains a 24 hour toll free line National Response Center 800 424 8802 or 202 267 2675 Required Notification You or your employer must phone t
74. assenger bus restricted to a Class B or Class C passenger vehicle N Operation of a passenger bus restricted to a Class C passenger vehicle O You may not operate a tractor trailer Q You are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle to transport children to or from activities sponsored by a school or by a child day care facility licensed regulated or approved by the Virginia Department of Social Services V You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle without your medical variance waiver skill performance documentation Z You may not operate a vehicle with Full Air brakes Moving Violations If you receive an intrastate CDL when you are under age 20 and you renew at age 20 you must retake all exams if you have received one or more moving violations CDL Fees Commercial driver s licenses issued by DMV are valid for eight years CDL holders with a hazardous materials endorsement must continue to follow the federal guidelines and renew their hazmat endorsement every five years The validity period for driver s licenses issued to persons registered as sex offenders will be no more than five years Driver s license 4 00 per year 4 00 per year 20 00 CDL designation 8 00 per year 8 00 per year 20 00 and class is et ai ie A CDL instruction 3 00 2 00 permit The CDL fee is 8 00 per year or a minimum or 20 00 Since the CDL validity period is eight years your fee will be 64 00
75. ave little or no traction You may not be able to steer or brake Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph Hydroplaning is more likely if tire pressure is low or the tread is worn gt Take your foot off the accelerator and push in the clutch gt This will slow your vehicle and let the wheels turn freely gt Do not use the brakes to slow down gt If the drive wheels begin to skid push the clutch to let them turn freely Speed on Downgrades gt As you go downhill your vehicle s speed increases gt Never exceed the maximum safe speed on a downgrade gt Downshift to a low gear before starting down a grade gt You must use the braking effect of the engine to control your speed on downgrades The engine s braking effect is greatest when it is near the governed RPMs and the transmission is in a low gear gt Save your brakes so that you can slow or stop as required by road and traffic conditions VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge Braking Emergency braking does not mean pushing down on the brake pedal as hard as you can That will lock the wheels and cause a skid Instead brake so that you keep your vehicle in a straight line You can use the controlled braking method or the stab braking method Controlled Braking gt Apply the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels gt Steer as little as possible gt If you need to steer harder or if the wheels l
76. ay provide limited visibility directly in back of the bus if the bus is equipped with a glass bottomed rear emergency door There is a blind spot area directly behind the driver s seat as well as a large blind spot area that begins at the rear bumper and could extend up to 400 feet or more behind the bus You must use the exterior side mirrors to monitor traffic that approaches and enters this area You should position the mirror to see gt The top of the rear window in the top of the mirror gt All of the students including the heads of the students right behind you MANUAL Loading and Unloading Passengers gt Turn on your school bus traffic warning lights gt You must turn on the warning lights in accordance with state law before you stop to load or unload students gt If the posted speed limit is less than 35 mph turn on the warning lights at least 100 feet before the stop gt If the posted speed is 35 mph or more turn on the warning lights at least 200 feet before the stop gt Do not use the warning lights except when loading and unloading passengers gt Extend the warning sign stop arm and crossing control arm gt Extend the warning sign and crossing control arm only when the bus is stopped to load and unload passengers When loading or unloading students gt Check your mirrors continuously Do not use the emergency four way hazard flashers gt Stop in the right lane of the road
77. azardous materials Hazardous materials pose a risk to health safety and property Most hazardous materials cannot be carried on a bus Federal regulations require shippers to mark containers of hazardous materials with the material s name ID number and hazard label There are nine different hazard labels The labels are four inches and diamond shaped Do not transport hazardous materials unless you are sure federal regulations allow it 64 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt Buses may carry gt Small arms ammunition labeled ORM D gt Emergency hospital supplies and drugs gt Buses may never carry gt Class 2 poison liquid Class 6 poison tear gas or irritating material gt More than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons gt Explosives in the space occupied by passengers except small arms ammunition gt Labeled radioactive materials in the space occupied by passengers gt More than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials and no more than 100 pounds of any one class Riders may sometimes board a bus carrying an unlabeled hazardous material Do not allow riders to carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline gt Do not allow riders to stand forward of the back of the driver s seat Buses designed to allow standing must have a 2 inch line on the floor or some other marking that shows riders where they cannot stand This is called the standee line All standing riders must stay behind it
78. azardous materials endorsement a driver must know how to gt Identify hazardous materials gt Safely load shipments gt Placard a vehicle in accordance with federal regulations gt Safely transport shipments Follow the Regulations Learn the regulations and follow them For example you must have a current medical card in your possession to haul hazardous materials Following the regulations reduces the risk of injury from hazardous materials Taking shortcuts and breaking the rules is unsafe and could be deadly Additionally drivers who violate the regulations can be fined and put in jail Inspect your vehicle before and during each trip Police may stop and inspect your vehicle When stopped they may check your shipping papers vehicle placards the hazardous materials endorsement on your driver s license and your knowledge of hazardous materials Licensing and Endorsements You must have a commercial driver s license CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement to drive a vehicle carrying hazardous materials that requires placards You must pass a written test to get this endorsement Everything you need to know to pass the written test is in this section However this is just the beginning You can learn more by reading the federal and state regulations for hazardous materials and by attending training courses Training Requirements Hazardous materials courses are usually offered by your employer college
79. cadian rhythm This is the name of the 24 hour cycle of alertness and sleep that affects everyone Normally most people have low points of alertness from 2 to 6 a m and from 2 to 5 p m If you are already tired your risk of falling asleep during these periods is greatly increased That s why it s important to get as much rest as possible during your off duty hours Remember many heavy vehicle crashes occur between midnight and 6 a m gt Take a nap If you get sleepy a short nap will do more for you than a cup of coffee Find a safe place to pull over and stop Remember parking on the shoulder of an interstate or other main highway is dangerous and is not permitted except in an emergency Napping is not considered an emergency Find a rest area truck stop or a safe place along a nearby road gt Avoid drugs No drugs can help you overcome being tired Stimulants may keep you awake for a while but they won t make you alert When they wear off you ll be even more tired than if you had never taken them Sleep is the only way to overcome fatigue gt Avoid medication Many medications can make you sleepy These medications usually have a label or folder that warns against operating vehicles or machinery while taking them Cold pills are one of the most common medicines that will make you sleepy If you must drive with a cold you are better off suffering from the cold than from the effects of the medicine gt Keep cool A ho
80. cation lights Turn signals Brake lights gt Be sure that your windshield and mirrors are clean Dirt on your windshield and mirrors can increase the glare from other vehicles lights This will make it hard for you to see other vehicles and hazards v v v v v Fog Fog reflects light and can reflect your own headlights back into your eyes Use only your low beams Look for road edge markings to guide you Even light fog reduces your ability to see and judge distances If possible pull off the road and wait until the fog has lifted If you must drive be sure to gt Obey all fog related warning signs Reduce your speed Turn on all your lights Use only your low beams v v v Ww Be prepared for sudden stops Cold Weather Driving Vehicle Checks During your pre trip inspection pay extra attention to the following items Be sure that these systems are working correctly and that you know how to use them before you begin driving gt Coolant and antifreeze gt Defrosting and heating equipment gt Wipers and washers gt Tires Be sure your tires have enough tread to provide sufficient traction to steer and push the vehicle through snow In addition gt Clear your vehicle of all snow and ice Be sure your lights reflectors windows and mirrors handholds steps and deck plates are free of snow and ice gt Asa precaution carry the right number of chains and extra cross links Make sure they fit your dri
81. ccess panels for baggage restroom service engine etc before driving gt Bus Interior gt Aisles and stairwells should always be clear gt Be sure that handholds and railings floor covering signaling devices including the restroom emergency buzzer and emergency exit handles are in good working order gt Be sure that all seats are securely fastened to the bus gt Never drive with an open emergency exit door or window gt The emergency exit sign on an emergency door must work If the door has a red emergency light the light must work Turn it on at night and whenever you use your outside lights gt Roof hatches You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air However do not leave them open all the time Remember that the bus will have a higher clearance when the hatches are open gt Safety equipment Be sure your bus has a fire extinguisher and emergency reflectors as required by law The bus must also have spare electrical fuses unless equipped with circuit breakers Always fasten your safety belt when you drive Loading the Bus gt Secure all baggage and freight so that gt You can move freely and easily gt Riders sitting by any window or door can exit in an emergency gt Riders will not be injured if carry ons fall or shift gt All aisles and doorways are clear Folding aisle seats are not allowed gt Watch for cargo or baggage containing h
82. ch you would not know about until you used the brakes on the road Using Air Brakes To Brake Normally gt Push down the brake pedal gt Control the pressure so that the vehicle comes to a smooth safe stop gt If you have a manual transmission don t push in the clutch until the engine RPM is down close to idle gt When stopped select a starting gear To Brake in an Emergency gt Brake so that you keep your vehicle in a straight line This will allow you to turn if it becomes necessary Use the controlled braking or stab braking method described in Section 1 General Knowledge VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 2 Air Brakes Braking On Downgrades On a long and steep downgrade use your brakes only as a supplement to the braking effect of the engine gt Apply the brakes just hard enough to feel a slowdown gt When your speed is approximately 5 mph below your safe speed release the brakes gt When your speed has increased to your safe speed repeat steps 1 and 2 gt Repeat these steps until you reach the end of the downgrade Stopping Distance Air brakes increase your stopping distance Hydraulic brakes used on cars and light medium trucks work instantly Air brakes take half second or more for the air to flow through the lines to the brakes Thus vehicles with air brakes require more stopping distance than vehicles with hydraulic brakes Stopping distance for vehicles with air brakes is ma
83. cial driver s license or photo ID card you will be asked if you wish to become an organ donor If you decide to become a donor your choice will be noted on the front of your driver s license or photo ID card If you wish to change your decision later you must notify DMV and pay a 10 00 fee You may also complete this transaction on the Internet with a DMV issued PIN number You may have the change made free of charge at your next renewal The decision to become an organ tissue donor will not affect your driving privileges Applying to Register to Vote You can use DMV s driver s license application to indicate your wish to apply to register to vote You may also use the driver s license application to change your voter registration name and address You may also use the separate address change notification form You are not registered to vote until your local registrar approves your application Once registered you will receive a card showing your voting location and election district Contact your local registrar if you do not receive this notification If you have questions contact the State Board of Elections 1 800 552 9745 TDD 1 800 260 3466 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge Section 1 General Knowledge Safety IS the most important reason to inspect your vehicle Inspecting your vehicle for defects can prevent breakdowns and crashes Federal and state laws require drivers to inspect
84. completion DMV will allow you to take the behind the wheel test again gt If you fail to show up for a scheduled CDL skills test without notifying the examiner in advance DMV will charge you a 50 fee Test Tip The knowledge exam determines your familiarity with the operation of commercial vehicles motor vehicle laws and safe driving techniques Test questions are taken from the information in this manual You must answer at least 80 percent of the general knowledge questions correctly To prepare for the knowledge exam study all information in this manual When taking the knowledge exam select the one best answer Remember your first answer is usually correct Once you pass the required knowledge exam s you can take the CDL skills exams These exams include three areas gt Pre trip inspection gt Basic vehicle control gt On road driving You must take the skills exams in the type of vehicle for which you want to be licensed Translators or interpreters may not be used during testing including the pre trip inspection Disqualifications If you are convicted of any of the following violations when driving a commercial or non commercial motor vehicle you will be disqualified or prohibited from driving commercial vehicles gt You will receive a one year disqualification for the following offenses gt Driving with a blood alcohol content BAC of 0 04 percent gt Driving while under the influence of drugs
85. creoins 80 USA Patriot Act Requirements for hazardous materials endorsement nrs rissiirersiiisacsieirssiiidsire 83 2 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Introduction What is a Commercial Motor Vehicle gt a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating GVWR of 26 001 pounds or more gt a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating GCWR of 26 001 pounds or more if the vehicle s being towed has a GVWR of more than 10 000 pounds gt vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver gt any size vehicle that transports hazardous materials and that requires federal placarding Who are Commercial Drivers Commercial drivers are all persons paid or volunteer who operate commercial motor vehicles Volunteer drivers of church buses private or public school buses and mechanics who test drive commercial vehicles must meet commercial driver s license requirements Commercial driver s license requirements don t apply to gt operators of emergency vehicles such as firefighters gt active duty military personnel operating military vehicles gt operators of farm vehicles when gt used by farmers gt used to move farm goods supplies or machinery to or from their farm gt not used as a common or contract motor carrier and gt used within 150 miles of the farm gt vehicles operated by persons only for personal use such as recreational vehicles and ren
86. cription of injuries gt Classification name and quantity of hazardous materials involved if available Remember this is required information and you will find it on the shipping paper gt Type of incident such as leak spill or fire Description of how hazardous materials are involved gt Whether a continuing danger to life exists at the scene gt Ifa reportable quantity of a hazardous substance was involved you should be able to give the name of the shipper and the quantity of the hazardous substance discharged gt Be prepared to give your employer the required information as well Carriers must also make a detailed written report to the National Response Center within 30 days of an incident The Chemical Transportation Emergency Center CHEMTREC also has a 24 hour toll free line CHEMTREC provides emergency personnel with technical information about the properties of hazardous materials CHEMTREC offers the service for a fee not a free service 82 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER CHEMTREC 800 424 9300 S MANUAL USA Patriot Act Requirements for Hazardous Materials Endorsements Federal law requires individuals applying for or renewing a Commercial Driver s License CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement to be fingerprinted for a background check A holder of a valid Transportation Workers Identification Credential TWIC card who has already undergone a Transportation Security Administration TSA
87. d tires are not touching one another spacers not bent damaged or rusted gt Suspension gt Brakes gt Lights and reflectors gt Spacers if applicable not cracked broken or loose gt Axle seal hub oil seal not leaking and at proper level gt Rear gt Lights and reflectors gt License plate gt Splash guards gt Cargo securement gt Left side Check all items checked for the right side Also check gt Battery s if they are not mounted in the engine compartment Check the signal lights Start the engine and check the brake system gt Hydraulic brake check gt DRIVER S If the vehicle has hydraulic brakes pump the brake pedal 3 times Apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for 5 seconds The pedal should not move If it does there may be a leak or other problem Get it fixed before driving MANUAL gt Air brake check gt If the vehicle has air brakes build air pressure to 100 120 psi Turn off the engine release all brakes Press hard on the foot brake and hold down for one minute gt On combination vehicles air pressure should not drop over 4 psi On single vehicles air pressure should not drop over 3 psi Turn ignition on With the foot brake pump the air pressure down At about 60 psi the low air light must come on A buzzer may sound as well On older vehicles a wig wam arm will fall in view of the driver Keep pumping air down with foot brak
88. d hitting the kingpin too hard gt Stop when the kingpin locks into the fifth wheel Check the connection for security gt Raise the trailer landing gear slightly off the ground gt Pull the tractor gently forward while the trailer brakes are locked to be sure that the trailer is locked onto the tractor Secure the vehicle gt Put the transmission in neutral gt Put on the parking brakes gt Shut off the engine Take the key with you so someone else won t move the truck while you are under it Inspect the coupling gt Use a flashlight if necessary gt Make sure that there is no space between the upper and lower fifth wheel If there is space something is wrong The kingpin may be on top of closed fifth wheel jaws and the trailer would come loose very easily gt Go under the trailer and look into the back of the fifth wheel Make sure the fifth wheel jaws have closed around the lt BASE shank of lt SHANK the kingpin lt HEAD Refer to the Kingpin diagram Kingpin gt B as VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL gt Check that the locking lever is in the lock position gt Check that the safety latch is in the position over the locking lever On some fifth wheels the catch must be put in place by hand If the coupling isn t right don t drive the coupled unit Get it fixed gt Connect the electrical cord and check the air lines gt Plug the electrical cord into
89. d leaks Check the door for cracked or bent hinges and that it functions properly Check the mirrors for cracks cleanliness and missing loose bolts nuts Check the fuel tank for cracks holes and that the straps are not loose or cracked Shiny metal by straps could indicate a loose strap Check under fuel tank for leaks Check the drive shaft for cracks non factory welds missing loose bolts or nuts and proper lubrication Check the exhaust system for cracks holes missing loose bolts and nuts Check for signs of soot which can indicate an exhaust leak Check the vehicle frame for cracks bends nonfactory welds and rust Check for leaks cuts cracks or sign of wear Check to make sure it is clear and not loose IA COMMERCIAL Coupling System Mounting Bolts Safety Latch Platform Release Arm Kingpin Apron Sliding Fifth Wheel Locking Pins Lights Reflector Rear of Vehicle Rear Wheels Rear Suspension Rear Brakes Front of Trailer Air Electric Lines Header Board Lights Reflectors Side of Trailer Landing Gear Lights Reflectors Doors Ties Frame Wheels Suspension Brakes Rear of Trailer Lights Reflectors Door Ties Splash Guards DRIVER S Check for loose or missing bolts clamps brackets or nuts Check for loose or missing nuts or bolts Ensure it is in position over locking lever and engaged Check for cracks or breaks Ensure it is locked in place Ensure the k
90. de up of four different factors gt Perception distance the distance your vehicle travels from the time your eyes see a hazard until your brain recognizes it gt Reaction distance the distance your vehicle travels from the time your brain tells your foot to move from the accelerator until the time your foot pushes the brake gt Brake lag distance the distance your vehicle travels from the time your foot pushes the air brake until the brake takes hold gt Braking distance the distance your vehicle travels between the time the brakes take hold and the vehicle stops The air brake lag distance at 55 mph on dry pavement adds about 32 feet At 55 mph with good traction and braking conditions the total stopping distance for a vehicle with air brakes is more than 313 feet That s longer than a football field Brake Fading or Failure Excessive use of the service brakes causes overheating and leads to brake fade Excessive heat in the brakes causes chemical changes in the lining which reduces friction and causes the brake drums to expand As the overheated drums expand the brake shoes and linings have to move farther to contact the drums The force of contact between the shoes and drums is also reduced Overuse may increase brake fade until the vehicle cannot be slowed or stopped at all DRIVER S MANUAL Section 2 Air Brakes Brakes that are out of adjustment may also cause brake fade To safely control the
91. ds on how hard and how long the brakes are used Too much heat can make the brakes stop working gt Supply pressure gauges tell you how much pressure is in the air tanks These gauges are on all air braked vehicles gt Application pressure gauge shows how much air pressure you are applying to the brakes This gauge is not on all vehicles If the application pressure decreases when you are holding the same speed it means that the brakes are fading Slow down and use a lower gear The need for increased pressure can also be caused by brakes that are out of adjustment air leaks or mechanical problems Low air pressure warning comes on before the air pressure in the tanks falls below 60 psi This warning signal is required on all vehicles with air brakes The warning is usually a red light In some vehicles a buzzer may also come on Another type of warning is the wig wag This device drops a mechanical arm into your view when the pressure in the system drops below 60 psi An automatic wig wag will rise out of your view when the pressure goes above 60 psi MANUAL On large buses the low pressure warning signal often comes on at 80 85 psi Stop light switch turns on the brake lights when you put on the air brakes Front brake limiting valves were used in vehicles made before 1975 to reduce the chance of the front wheels skidding on slippery surfaces Actually the limiting valves reduce the stopping power of the vehicle
92. e At about 40 psi the parking brake knob and if applicable the trailer parking brake knob should pop out Failure to perform the air brake check during pre trip inspection will result in the automatic failure of the CDL road skills exam gt Parking brake check gt gt gt Set the parking brake Put the vehicle in low gear and gently release the clutch until you feel the vehicle pulling against the brake The vehicle should not move If you find anything wrong with the brake system get it fixed before you drive gt If you are driving a bus also check gt the passenger entry steps and handrails secure no worn matting door opens and closes correctly seating secure emergency exits open and close correctly Check on both outside and inside baggage compartment door opens and closes correctly and is secure gt Ifyou are driving a tractor trailer also check gt air electrical lines no leaks cuts cracks or signs of wear no tangles or dragging against tractor parts glad hands secure or objects securely bolted to tractor frame catwalk clear and not loose all parts of the coupling system 5th wheel lower plate etc you will not be able to see the lower VIRGINIA Section 1 General Knowledge plate if the vehicle is hooked up loose or missing mounting brackets clamps bolts or nuts 5th wheel and slide mounting securely in place trailer front side and rear ai
93. e tractor partly clear of the trailer gt Pull the tractor forward until the fifth wheel comes out from under the trailer gt Stop with the tractor frame under the trailer This prevents the trailer from falling to the ground if the landing gear collapses or sinks gt Secure the tractor gt Apply the parking brake gt Place the transmission in neutral gt Inspect the trailer supports gt Make sure the ground is supporting the trailer gt Make sure the landing gear is not damaged gt Pull the tractor clear of the trailer gt Release the parking brakes gt Check the area and drive the tractor forward until it clears the trailer DRIVER S MANUAL Section 3 Combination Vehicles Driving Combination Vehicles Rollovers More than half of truck driver deaths in crashes result from truck rollovers Piling up cargo in the truck moves the center of gravity higher from the road A higher center of gravity makes it easier for the truck to turn over A fully loaded rig is 10 times more likely to roll over in a crash than an empty rig Two things can help keep you from rolling your vehicle gt Keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible Also load the cargo so that it is centered on your rig Cargo that is loaded to one side can make the trailer lean and could cause the vehicle to roll over gt Drive slowly around turns Reduce your speed on on and off ramps Avoid quick lane changes especially when fu
94. e with another bus on the highway gt Keep a safe distance between vehicles if you must pass gt When turning left get into the left lane if there is one in plenty of time to make the turn safely Following Other Vehicles gt Always leave at least a bus length between you and the vehicle in front of you gt Outside of cities and towns keep at least 200 feet between you and the vehicle in front of you Railroad Crossings gt As you approach a railroad crossing tap your brakes lightly to warn other drivers that the bus is about to stop gt Turn on your four way hazard lights at least 200 feet before a railroad crossing gt Come toa full stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail gt Open the entrance door and driver s window gt Turn off the warning lights unless you are loading and unloading passengers gt Listen and look carefully in both directions gt When it is safe to cross close the entrance door and turn off the four way hazard lights gt Cross the railroad tracks in a gear which allows you to cross the rails completely without changing gears gt If the gate comes down as you are starting across the railroad highway crossing drive through the gate Speed Limits for Buses gt When traveling on highways where the maximum speed limit is 55 mph or less you must not exceed 45 mph or the minimum speed limit if one is posted whichever is greater gt When traveling on intersta
95. ear disqualification for your first conviction of violating of an out of service order gt You will receive a two year disqualification for your first conviction of violating an out of service order while operating a vehicle carrying hazardous materials or designed to carry 16 or more passengers gt You will receive a five year disqualification for the second and following convictions of violating out of service orders gt You will receive a five year disqualification if you are convicted of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter where a death occurred as a direct result of the operation of a commercial vehicle gt You may not operate commercial motor vehicles if you are convicted of driving under the influence even if you are issued a restricted license that allows you to drive during the suspension period This applies even if the violation occurred in your personal car If the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FMCSA notifies DMV that you have been determined to be an eminent hazard and disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle the information will be noted on your driving record Also any disqualification imposed by DMV will run concurrently with the disqualification imposed by FMCSA 8 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Serious traffic violations are gt Driving 15 or more miles per hour in excess of the posted speed limit Reckless driving A violation resulting in a fatal traffic crash I
96. earn to drive a school bus you must take the general knowledge school bus and passenger vehicle exams CDL instruction permits are generally issued for 180 days and may be renewed once without testing The CDL instruction permit allows you to drive a commercial vehicle of the class and type shown on the permit only when a person licensed to drive the same type of vehicle is with you Refer to the Virginia Driver s Manual for an explanation of all requirements including the passenger vehicle general knowledge and road skills tests If you have never held a CDL you will be required to obtain and hold a commercial instruction permit for a minimum of 30 days before taking the skills test s unless you complete an approved Virginia CDL driver education course If you complete the course the minimum holding period is 14 days If you currently hold a CDL and wish to upgrade to a higher class add an endorsement that requires a skills test or take a skills test to remove a restriction you will need to obtain the appropriate commercial instruction permit and hold for a minimum of 14 days before taking the skills test A skills test is required to obtain a passenger endorsement and a school bus endorsement A skills test is required to remove the following ERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL 3 Introduction restrictions no air brakes no full air brakes no tractor trailer no manual transmission while operating a commercial motor vehicle operatio
97. ed and Distance Ahead gt Empty trucks require greater stopping distance An RON empty vehicle has less traction The brakes are designed gt You should always be able to stop within the distance to control the maximum weight of the unit therefore you can see ahead the brakes lock up more readily when the trailer is gt Fog rain or other conditions may require you to slow empty or lightly loaded This can cause skidding and down loss of control gt At night you can t see as far with low beams as you can with high beams When you use low beams slow down Maximum Speed Limits for Commercial Motor Vehicles ae Non limited Access Highways School Highways Limited i Vehicle Type Interstate Highways Access Punes or Designated as i aan Four or More Less Than Residential a Rural Rustic emmeyi Lanes Four Lanes Zones Road Trucks Up to 70 mph as posted 55 mph 55 mph 45 mph 2 e oF 8 35 mph 5 sis ca Up to 70 mph as posted 55 mph 55 mph 55 mph a5 mph 35 mph 5 Buses 4 Maximum 60 mph where 25 mph 3 School Buses the posted speed limit is 45 mph 1 45 mph 1 45 mph 1 Ne 35 mph 5 more than 55 mph 1 A school bus may travel 45 mph or the minimum speed allowable if the posted speed limit is 55 mph or less A school bus may travel up to 60 mph on an interstate or any other highway where the posted speed limit is more than 55 mph 2 Unless otherwise posted and driving conditions permit the maximum speed lim
98. ehicle cannot be slowed or stopped at all Brakes that are out of adjustment may also cause brake fade To safely control the vehicle every brake must do its share of the work Brakes out of adjustment stop doing their share before brakes that are in adjustment This causes the other brakes to overheat and fade Brakes can get out of adjustment quickly especially when they are hot Therefore brake adjustment must be checked frequently Brake failure on downgrades Driving slowly and braking properly will almost always prevent brake fade on long downgrades Once the brakes fail however you must look outside your vehicle for something to stop it Your best hope is an escape ramp Ramps are usually located a few miles from the top of a downgrade Signs will be posted telling you about it Use the escape ramp if it is available If you don t see an escape ramp take the least hazardous escape route an open field or a side road that flattens out or turns up hill Look for an escape route as soon as you know that your brakes don t work The longer you wait the more speed your vehicle will gain and it will be harder to stop Tire Failure The sooner that you know a tire has failed the more time you will have to react The major signs of a tire failure are gt Sound A loud bang often indicates a blowout However it may take several seconds for your vehicle to react and you might think that the sound came from another vehicle
99. en The safety unlocking handle should be in the automatic lock position gt If you have a sliding fifth wheel make sure it is locked DRIVER S MANUAL a7 Section 3 Combination Vehicles gt Make sure that the trailer kingpin is not bent or broken gt Inspect the area and chock the wheels gt Make sure the area around the vehicle is clear gt Be sure the trailer wheels are chocked or the spring brakes are on gt Be sure that cargo is secured so that it will not move while the tractor is being coupled to the trailer gt Position the tractor gt Put the tractor directly in front of the trailer Never back under the trailer at an angle You might push the trailer sideways and break the landing gear gt Use your mirrors to check your position by looking down both sides of the trailer gt Back slowly gt Back until the fifth wheel touches the trailer gt Don t hit the trailer gt Secure the tractor gt Put on the parking brake gt Put the transmission in neutral gt Check the trailer height gt The trailer should be low enough that it is raised slightly by the tractor when you back the tractor under it gt Raise or lower the trailer as needed If the trailer is too low the tractor may strike and damage the nose of the trailer If the trailer is too high it may not couple correctly This can result in damage to the back of the cab and could require heavy equipment to move the trac
100. en feet of the front or rear corners of your vehicle Place a warning device 100 feet behind or ahead of your vehicle Place it on the shoulder or in the lane where you stopped k 20 gt pHo sl gt 10 ido On a one way or divided highway place warning devices 10 feet 100 feet and 200 feet behind your vehicle VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge Place a warning device before any hill curve or anything else that prevents other drivers from seeing your vehicle with 500 feet When you place the triangles hold them between yourself and the oncoming traffic This helps ensure your safety 100 500 Managing Space To be a safe driver you need space all around your vehicle When something goes wrong space gives you time to think and to take action While this is true for all vehicles it is very important for large vehicles Large vehicles require more space for stopping and turning Space Ahead You need space in front of you in case you must stop suddenly In crashes trucks and buses most often hit the vehicle in front of them This is because they were following too closely If the vehicle ahead of you is smaller than your vehicle it can probably stop faster than you can If you follow too closely you could hit it if the driver stops suddenly The rule of seconds If you are driving below 40 mph maintain at least one second for each 10 feet of vehicle l
101. en the service line valve to check that service pressure goes through all trailers Then close the valve If you do not hear air escaping from both lines be sure that the shut off valves on the trailer s and dolly s are open You must have air all the way to the back for all the brakes to work gt Test the tractor protection valve gt Charge the trailer air brake system Build up normal air pressure and push in the air supply knob gt Turn off the engine gt Step on the brake pedal several times to reduce air pressure in the tanks gt When the air pressure falls into the pressure range specified by the manufacturer usually within the range of 20 to 40 psi the trailer air supply control should pop out or go from the normal position to the emergency position The trailer air supply control may also be called the tractor protection valve control gt If the tractor protection valve doesn t work correctly an air hose or trailer brake leak could drain all the air from the tractor This would cause the emergency brakes to come on and you could lose control VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 3 Combination Vehicles gt Test the trailer emergency brakes gt Charge the trailer air brake system and check that the trailer rolls freely gt Stop and pull out the trailer air supply control tractor protection valve control or trailer emergency valve or place it in the emergency position gt Pull the trai
102. ength gt At speeds over 40 mph add an extra second for safety Here s how it works gt Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point such as an overpass sign fence corner or other marker gt Begin counting off the seconds it takes you to reach the same place in the road gt If you reach the mark before you have counted off the correct number of seconds you re following too closely Slow down and increase your following distance DRIVER S MANUAL 25 Section 1 General Knowledge Examples gt If you are driving a 40 foot vehicle at speeds under 40 mph leave 4 seconds between you and the vehicle ahead One second for each 10 feet of vehicle length 1X4 or 4 seconds gt If you are driving a 40 foot vehicle at speeds over 40 mph leave 5 seconds between you and the vehicle ahead One second for each 10 feet of vehicle length plus an additional second for safety 1X4 4 plus an extra second for safety 5 seconds gt If you are driving a 60 foot vehicle at speeds under 40 mph leave 6 seconds between you and the vehicle ahead One second for each 10 feet of vehicle length 1X6 or 6 seconds gt If you are driving a 60 foot vehicle at speeds over 40 mph leave 7 seconds between you and the vehicle ahead One second for each 10 feet of vehicle length plus an additional second for safety 1X6 6 plus an extra second for safety 7 seconds Remember the rule of seconds applies only in good weather
103. ent of Transportation medical card U S civil marriage certificate v v v v v rr vy Unexpired Merchant Mariner License bearing an official raised seal or a certified copy For more information visit www dmvNOW com or call 804 497 7100 MANUAL Department of Motor Vehicles P O Box 27412 Richmond Virginia 23269 0001 OT Te eo y 1 DMV 60 July 7 2014 Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles DMV 2014 All rights reserved G68 o ed maae with recycled material Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
104. ephone out of driver s window for later use if operable gt If no radio or radio is inoperable dispatch a passing motorist or are resident to call for help As a last resort dispatch two older responsible students to go for help gt Order the evacuation gt Evacuate students from the bus gt Do not move a student you believe may have suffered a next or spinal injury unless his or her life is in immediate danger gt Special procedures must be used to move neck spinal injury victims to prevent further injury gt Direct a student assistant to lead students to the nearest safe place gt Walk through the bus to ensure no students remain on the bus Retrieve emergency equipment gt Join waiting students Account for all students and check for their safety gt Protect the scene Set out emergency warning devices as necessary and appropriate gt Prepare information for emergency responders DRIVER S MANUAL 59 Section 6 Transporting Cargo Section 6 Transporting Cargo Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge This section tells you about hauling cargo safely You must understand basic cargo safety rules to get a CDL Cargo that is loaded wrong or that is not secured is a danger to others and you Loose cargo can gt fall from the vehicle and cause a crash gt hurt or kill you if you stop quickly or crash gt make it difficult for you to steer
105. er spring brakes parking brakes If the spring brakes don t release when you push the trailer air supply control check the air line connections Older trailers do not have spring brakes If the air supply in the trailer air tank has leaked away there will be no emergency brakes and the trailer wheels will turn freely If you crossed the air lines you could drive away but you would not have trailer brakes This is very dangerous Always test the trailer brakes before driving Use the hand valve or pull the air supply control tractor protection valve control Pull gently against the trailer in a low gear to make sure the brakes work DRIVER S MANUAL a5 Section 3 Combination Vehicles Trailer Air Tanks Each trailer and converter dolly has one or more air tanks These air tanks are filled by the emergency supply line from the tractor The tanks provide the air pressure used to operate the trailer brakes Air pressure is sent from the air tanks to the brakes by the relay valves Pressure in the service line tells how much pressure the relay valves should send to the trailer brakes The pressure in the service line is controlled by the brake pedal and the trailer hand brake Don t let water and oil build up in the air tanks If you do the brakes may not work Each tank has a drain valve on it Drain each tank every day If your tanks have automatic drains they will keep the moisture out But ope
106. er with the heaviest load should be behind the tractor The lighter trailer should be in the rear Definition A converter gear or dolly is a coupling device with one or two axles and a fifth wheel It is used to couple a semi trailer to the rear of a tractor trailer combination forming twin trailers gt Position the converter dolly in front of the second rear trailer gt Release the dolly brakes by opening the dolly air tank petcock If the dolly has spring brakes use the dolly parking brake control gt If itisn t too far wheel the dolly into position by hand Line it up with the kingpin gt Or use the tractor and first semi trailer to pick up the converter dolly gt Position the combination tractor and first semi trailer as close as possible to the converter dolly VIRGINIA Section 4 Doubles and Triples gt Move the dolly to the rear of the first semi trailer and couple it to the trailer gt Lock the pintle hook gt Secure the dolly support in the raised position gt Pull the dolly into position as close as possible to the nose of the second semi trailer gt Lower the dolly support gt Unhook the dolly from the first trailer gt Wheel the dolly into position in front of the second trailer in line with the kingpin gt Connect the converter dolly to the front trailer gt COMMERCIAL Back the first semi trailer into position in front of the dolly tongue Hook the dol
107. es Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge A tank vehicle is a vehicle used to carry any liquid or liquid gas in a tank of 1 000 gallons or more A portable tank is a bulk container that is not permanently attached to the vehicle Inspecting Tank Vehicles In addition to the pre trip inspection outlined in Section 1 General Knowledge you must inspect additional special items found on a tank vehicle Since tank vehicles come in many types and sizes check the vehicle s operator s manual to make sure you know how to inspect your tank vehicle On all tank vehicles however leaks are the most important thing to check for Don t carry liquids or gases in a leaking tank When checking your vehicle be sure to check the following gt Check the tank s body or shell for dents and leaks gt Check the intake discharge and cut off valves Make sure the valves are in the correct position before loading unloading or moving the vehicle gt Check the pipes connections and hoses for leaks especially around joints gt Check manhole covers and vents Make sure the covers have gaskets and that they close correctly Keep the vents clear so that they work correctly gt Check special purpose equipment If your vehicle has the following equipment be sure it works gt vapor recovery kits gt grounding and bonding cables gt emergency shut off systems gt built in fire extinguisher
108. est When transporting hazardous wastes you must sign and carry a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest The name and EPA identification number of the shippers carriers and destination must appear on the manifest Shippers must prepare date and sign the manifest Treat the manifest as a shipping paper when transporting the waste Only give the waste shipment to a carrier with an EPA identification number or an EPA permitted treatment storage or disposal facility Each carrier driver transporting the shipment must sign the manifest After you deliver the shipment keep your copy of the manifest Each copy must have all needed signatures and dates It must include the signature of the person to whom you delivered the waste MANUAL Placarding Attach the appropriate placards to the vehicle before you drive it If you find that your vehicle is not placarded or placarded improperly you may move it only during an emergency to protect life or property To decide which placards to use you must know gt The hazard class of the materials gt The amount of hazardous materials shipped gt The total weight of all hazardous materials in your vehicle Placard Tables There are two placard tables that tell you how to placard your vehicle Placard Table 1 Any Amount Table 1 materials must be placarded whenever any amount is transported any amount of 23 POISON GAS 172 540 DANGEROUS WHEN 5 2 Organic Peroxide Type B l
109. f the slack adjuster moves more than one inch where the push rod attaches to it it probably needs to be adjusted Slack adjusters should not be at more than a 90 degree angle with the brakes applied Check the chambers for cracks dents and air leaks Check the hoses for loose connections dry rot holes and air leaks Check the drum for cracks non factory welds and signs of grease or oil Check the rotor for cracks non factory welds and signs of fluid leaks Check the lines for cuts holes loose connections and fluid leaks Check the calipers for cracks missing loose bolts and fluid leaks Check the door for cracked or bent hinges and that it functions properly Check the mirrors for cracks cleanliness and missing loose bolts nuts Check the fuel tank for cracks holes and that the straps are not loose or cracked Shiny metal by straps could indicate a loose strap Check under fuel tank for leaks IA COMMERCIAL Under the Vehicle Drive shaft Exhaust System Frame Rear of Vehicle Rear Wheels Rear Suspension Rear Brakes Rear Lights If Passenger Vehicle Also Inspect Passenger Entry Seating Emergency Exits Baggage Compartment if equipped DRIVER S Check the drive shaft for cracks non factory welds missing loose bolts or nuts and proper lubrication Check the exhaust system for cracks holes missing loose bolts and nuts Check for signs of soot which can indicate an exha
110. ftracking Offtracking in a 90 degree turn r g Use the inspection procedure described in Section 1 General Knowledge to inspect your combination vehicle Remember that there is a lot more to inspect on a combination vehicle than on a single vehicle more wheels tires lights reflectors etc There are also some new things to check Maximum width of swept path followed by innermost tire Inspecting Doubles and Triples Path followed by the innermost tire Path followed by the outside tractor tire Coupling System Landing Gear and Double Triple Trailers gt Check the lower fifth wheel gt Mounting to the frame should be secure Steering gt Steer the front end of your vehicle wide enough around a corner so that the rear end does not run over the curb pedestrians and other vehicles gt Check to be sure there are no missing or damaged gt At the same time keep the rear end of your vehicle parts close to the curb This will stop other drivers from gt Be sure there is enough grease passing you on the right gt You should not see space between the upper and gt If you cannot complete the turn without entering lower fifth wheel another traffic lane turn wide as you complete the turn Refer to the diagram below Incorrect VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL gt Locking jaws should be around the shank not the head of the kingpin gt The release arm should be properly seated and the safety la
111. gh to reduce your speed to 35 mph This should take about 3 seconds Release the brakes Repeat these steps until you reach the end of the downgrade VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge Railroad Crossing Railroad crossings are always dangerous Always look both ways Trains may come at any time from either direction Follow these rules when crossing railroad tracks ROUND YELLOW WARNING SIGN V Co gt Because of the noise in your cab you won t hear the train horn until the train is very close gt Don t try to race a train to the crossing It is very difficult to judge the speed of a train gt Reduce your speed Be sure you can stop before you reach the tracks if necessary gt Don t rely on train warning signals or flagmen to let you know of an approaching train gt Double tracks require more caution A train on one track may hide a train on the other track gt After one train has cleared the crossing check again Be sure that no other train is coming before you cross the tracks gt A railroad crossing with steep approaches can cause your vehicle to hang up on the tracks This is most likely to happen to vehicles that have low ground clearance such as drop frame trailers and car carriers If you get hung up on a railroad crossing notify the police immediately so that nearby trains can be stopped gt Be sure you can get all the way across the tracks before you begi
112. ginia Beach Hilltop 1712 Donna Drive gt Winchester 4050 Valley Pike gt Wytheville 800 East Main Street Suite 100 Fingerprinting is also available at DMV 2 Go mobile offices For dates and locations view the DMV 2 Go calendar at www dmvNOW com DMV2Go DRIVER S MANUAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials Acceptable Documents for Proof of U S Citizenship Immigration Status for Hazardous Materials Endorsement To be eligible for a hazardous materials endorsement ap plicants are required to provide documents to show proof of U S citizenship or immigration status as specified in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration s Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR 383 71 Applicants must present either gt one document from list A or gt one document from list B and one document from list C One document needed List A gt Unexpired U S Passport book or card Unexpired Merchant Mariner Document Unexpired Free and Secure Trade Card Unexpired NEXUS Card Unexpired Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection Card v v v v Unexpired United States Enhanced Driver s License Unexpired Enhanced Tribal Card Unexpired Permanent Resident Card 1 551 v v v Ww Unexpired Foreign Passport AND immigrant visa with I 551 annotation of Upon Endorsement Serves as Temporary I 551 Evidencing Permanent Residence of 1 Year gt Unexpired Re entry Permit I 327 gt Unexpired Department of Homeland Sec
113. gt On divided highways five lane roads where the middle lane is used for turning or heavily traveled roads unload the students on the side of the road where they live Stop only when the bus can be seen clearly at a safe distance gt Make sure all students are on the bus and seated before moving gt Before backing the bus make sure all students are on the bus and seated gt When unloading make sure all students are clear of the bus before moving Most injuries occur when the bus is stopped to load or unload students gt Never park the bus so that the emergency exit will be blocked while students are on board gt Report drivers who illegally pass a bus stopped to load or unload passengers Make a note of gt the license plate number and state gt the make type and color of the vehicle and gt date time and location of the incident Backing the Bus gt Do not back the bus unless there is no other safe way to move the vehicle Drive around the block or make a detour rather than backing the bus gt Pick up passengers before backing or turning gt Post a lookout on the inside back of the bus to warn of obstacles approaching persons or other vehicles gt Check your mirrors constantly while backing VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 5 School Buses gt Only unload passengers after you have completed the backing maneuver Passing and Turning gt Avoid passing or driving side by sid
114. he National Response Center when any of the following occur as a direct result of a hazardous materials incident gt v Y Ww COMMERCIAL A person is killed An injured person requires hospitalization Estimated property damage exceeds 50 000 The general public is evacuated for one hour or more One or more major transportation arteries including highway airways railways or waterways or facilities are closed for one hour or more Fire breakage spillage or suspected radioactive contamination occurs Fire breakage spillage or suspected contamination occurs and involves a shipment of infectious substance other than a diagnostic specimen or regulated medical waste Release of a marine pollutant in a quantity exceeding 450L 119 gallons for a liquid and 400kg 882 pounds for a solid Unintentional release of a hazardous material or the discharge of any quantity of hazardous waste Specification cargo tank with capacity of 1000 gallons or greater which suffers structural damage to the lading retention system or damage that requires repair to the lading retention system An undeclared hazardous material is discovered DRIVER S MANUAL 81 Section 9 Hazardous Materials When you call the National Response Center be ready to give gt Your name gt The name and address of the carrier for whom you work gt The carrier s phone number gt Date time and location of the incident gt A des
115. he vehicle inspection portion of the CDL road test VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL 19 Section 1 General Knowledge Front Wheels Rims Hub Seal Tire Lug Nuts Driver Fuel Area Door Window Mirrors Fuel Area Rear of Vehicle Rear Wheels Rear Suspension Air Brakes Lights Passenger Entry Seating Emergency Exits Baggage Compartments if equipped Check the rims for bends cracks and nonfactory welds Check the hub oil seal for missing bolts cracks leaks and proper level if equipped with site glass Check the tire for at least 4 32 tread depth in the major grooves Check for cuts bulges and proper air pressure using an air gauge Cannot have recaps or retreads Check the lug nuts for missing loose nuts and rust around them Check the door for cracked or bent hinges and that it functions properly Check the mirrors for cracks cleanliness and missing loose bolts nuts Check cap is tight and no fuel leaks Check the rear wheels the same as the front with the exception of the tire depth it should be 2 32 in the major grooves Check the space between the dual tires Tires should not be touching and no sign of debris If equipped with spacers they should not be bent cracked or nonfactory welds Inspect the same as the front Check for proper color and clean lenses reflectors cracks missing screws and condensation Also check for function of left right tu
116. heck both mounts and the U bolts for cracks non factory welds missing or loose bolts and nuts Check for cracks leaks and missing bolts Check the rims for bends cracks and nonfactory welds Check the hub oil seal for missing bolts cracks leaks and proper level if equipped with site glass Check the tire for at least 4 32 tread depth in the major grooves Check for cuts bulges and proper air pressure using an air gauge Check the lug nuts for missing loose nuts and rust around them Check the slack adjuster for missing cotter pins If the slack adjuster moves more than one inch where the push rod attaches to it it probably needs to be adjusted Slack adjusters should not be at more than a 90 degree angle with the brakes applied Check the chambers for cracks dents and air leaks Check the hoses for loose connections dry rot holes and air leaks Check the drum for cracks non factory welds and signs of grease or oil Check the rotor for cracks non factory welds and signs of fluid leaks Check the lines for cuts holes loose connections and fluid leaks Check the calipers for cracks missing loose bolts and fluid leaks Check the door for cracked or bent hinges and that it functions properly Check the mirrors for cracks cleanliness and missing loose bolts nuts Check the fuel tank for cracks holes and that the straps are not loose or cracked Shiny metal by straps could indicate a loose strap
117. hock trailers and semi trailers to prevent motion when uncoupled from the tractor or power unit Hazardous Materials Parking and Driving Rules Parking with Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 Explosives gt Never park with Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 explosives within 5 feet of the traveled part of the road gt Do not park within 300 feet of gt abridge tunnel or building gt a place where people gather or gt an open fire If you must park for example to refuel be as quick as possible gt Do not park on private property unless the owner is aware of the danger Someone must always watch the parked vehicle You may let someone else watch the vehicle only if it is gt on the shipper s property or gt on the carrier s property or gt on the consignee s property Safe Havens You may leave your vehicle unattended in a safe haven A safe haven is an approved place for parking unattended vehicles loaded with explosives Local or state and federal authorities identify areas for safe havens Parking a Placarded Vehicle Not Carrying Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 Explosives gt You may park a placarded vehicle not carrying explosives within 5 feet of the traveled part of the road only if your work requires it Move the vehicle as soon as possible Someone must always watch the vehicle when parked on a public road or shoulder gt Do not uncouple a trailer with hazardous materials and leave it on a public street gt Do
118. horize DMV to send your personal information to Selective Service unless you have already registered If you are underage 18 your parent or guardian must sign your application authorizing the Selective Service to register you when you turn 18 Law prohibits DMV from issuing any type of driver s license or photo ID card to an applicant who is required by federal law to register with the Selective Service but who refuses to authorize DMV to send his information to Selective Service If you have questions about Selective Service registration visit the Selective Service web site at www sss gov or call 847 688 6888 TTY 847 688 2567 Out of State CDL If you hold an expired out of state CDL you must pass all required CDL knowledge and skills tests to qualify for a Virginia CDL Virginia does not recognize tests or certificates from out of state third party testers or driving schools Compliance with Motor Carrier Safety Regulations All CDL applicants must certify that they are in compliance with the federal and Virginia motor carrier safety regulations Virginia law requires that all CDL applicants who certify that they will operate a commercial motor vehicle in non excepted interstate or intrastate commerce shall provide the Department of Motor Vehicles with an original or certified copy of a medical examiner s certificate prepared by a medical examiner as defined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Any commercial driver
119. i trailers Steering To avoid the crack the whip effect steer gently and smoothly when you pull a trailer or trailers gt Follow far enough behind other vehicles at least one second for each 10 feet of your vehicle length plus another second if you are going over 40 mph gt Look far enough down the road to avoid having to make a sudden lane change gt At night drive slowly enough to see obstacles soon enough that you can change lanes or stop gently gt Always slow down to a safe speed before going into a turn Braking gt Control your speed to avoid having to make sudden stops gt Large combination vehicles take longer to stop when they are empty than when they are fully loaded gt When lightly loaded the stiff suspension springs and strong brakes make it easy to lock the wheels Your trailer can swing out and strike other vehicles Your tractor can jackknife very quickly gt Bobtail tractors tractors without semitrailers can be hard to stop smoothly It takes longer to stop a bobtail than it takes to stop a tractor semitrailer loaded to the maximum gross weight gt In any combination rig allow plenty of following distance Look far enough ahead so that you can brake early Preventing Skids When the wheels of a trailer lock up the trailer tends to swing around This is called a trailer jackknife This is more likely to happen when the trailer is empty or loaded lightly To stop a skid follo
120. id won t spill Keep them right side up Make sure other cargo won t fall against or short circuit them gt Never load corrosive liquids next to or above gt Division 1 4 gt Class 4 flammable solids gt Class 5 oxidizers gt Division 2 3 Zone B gases VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials gt Never load corrosive liquids with gt Division 1 1 or 1 2 Division 1 3 gt Division 1 5 blasting agents gt Division 2 3 Zone A gases gt Division 4 2 spontaneously combustible materials gt Division 6 1 PGI Zone A poison liquids Class 2 compressed gasses including cryogenic liquids Cryogenic liquids are liquids carried at very cold temperatures See 49CFR177 for additional details gt If your vehicle doesn t have racks to hold cylinders the cargo space floor must be flat The cylinders must be gt Held upright or braced laying down flat or gt In racks attached to the vehicle or gt In boxes that will keep them from turning over Division 2 3 poisonous gas or Division 6 1 poisonous materials gt Never transport these materials in containers with interconnections gt Never load a package labeled POISON or POISON INHALATION HAZARD in the driver s cab sleeper or with food material for human or animal consumption Class 7 radioactive materials Some packages of Class 7 radioactive materials show a number called the transport index The shipper labe
121. ingpin is not bent apron is not bent cracked or broken Locking jaws are closed around kingpin Ensure it is in locked position not cracked or broken Check for loose or missing pins None broken damaged Ensure it is not cracked lenses clear clean proper color no condensation Check for function left right turn signal four way flashers and brake Check the rear wheels the same as the front with the exception of the tire depth it should be 2 32 in the major grooves Check the space between the dual tires Tires should not be touching and no sign of debris If equipped with spacers they should not be bent cracked or non factory welds Inspect this area the same as the front Suspensions vary and all items should be checked for cracks bent non factory welds missing loose bolts or nuts Inspect walker beams torsion bars and air bellows if equipped Inspect this area the same as the front of the vehicle Ensure glad hands are secure and rubber seals not split cracked or missing electrical connection locked into place Ensure it is not cracked or bulged Ensure it is not cracked clear clean proper color no condensation Check for function Check for missing bent or cracked frames Handle secured Ensure it is not cracked clear clean proper color no condensation Check for function Ensure it opens and closes properly hinges not cracked ties not broken or missing Ensure it is
122. ions names other materials that you must keep apart Do Not Load In the Same Vehicle with Animal or human food unless the poison package is overpacked in an approved way Foodstuffs are anything you swallow However mouthwash toothpaste and skin creams are not foodstuff Division 6 1 or 2 3 POISON or POISON INHALATION HAZARD labeled material Division 5 1 oxidizers Class 3 flammable liquids Class 8 corrosive liquids Division 5 2 organic peroxides Division 1 1 1 2 1 2 Class A or B explosives Division 1 5 blasting agents Division 2 1 flammable gasses Division 4 1 flammable solids Division 4 2 spontaneously combustible Division 4 3 dangerous when wet See 499CRF177 for additional details Charged storage batteries Division 1 1 Class A explosives Class 1 detonating primers Division 2 3 poisonous gas Zone A or Division 6 1 poison liquids PG I Zone A Any other explosives unless in authorized containers or packaging Acids corrosive materials or other acidic materials which could release hydrocyanic acid from cyanides Division 6 1 cyanides or for example cyanide mixtures i Cyanides Inorganic n o s Silver Cyanide Sodium Cyanide Other materials unless the nitric acid is not loaded above any other material and not more than two tiers high Nitric acid Class 8 MANUAL Bulk Packaging Marking Loading and Unloading Bulk Packaging
123. iquid or solid temperature controlled ORGANIC PEROXIDE 72552 6 1 Inhalation hazard zone A or B POISON INHALATION HAZARD RADIOACTIVE 172 556 172 555 7 Radioactive Yellow III label only VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials Placard Table 2 1 001 Ibs or more Except for bulk packaging the hazard classes in Table 2 need placards only if the total amount transported weighs 1 001 Ibs or more including the package To find out if you need a placard add the amounts from all shipping papers for all the Table 2 products that you have on board Category of Material Hazard class or ty ee Placard as Reference number and description as appropriate exposes 17252 as POSNE TS 172524 EXPLOSIVES 1 6 172 525 NON FLAMMABLE Combustible liquid COMBUSTIBLE 172 544 FLAMMABLE SOLID 172 546 SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIBLE ORGANIC PEROXIDE 172 547 722550 5 2 Other than Organic Peroxide Type B liquid or solid temperature controlled 6 1 Other than inhalation POISON or POISON hazard zone A or B INHALATION CLASS 9 S 172 504 f no placard required 172 552 1722553 1725350 172 560 DRIVER S MANUAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials gt You may use DANGEROUS placards instead of separate placards for each Table 2 hazard class if gt you have loaded two or more Table 2 hazard classes that weigh 1 001 Ibs or more and which require different placards and
124. is carried part way by rail or ship Some containers have their own tiedown devices or locks that attach directly to a special frame Others must be loaded onto flat bed trailers These containers must be properly secured just like any other cargo Other Cargo Requiring Special Care gt COMMERC Dry bulk tanks require special care because they often have a high center of gravity which can cause the load to shift or the trailer to flip over Be careful when driving around curves and making sharp turns Hanging meat in a refrigerated truck is a very unstable load with a high center of gravity Be very careful when driving on sharp curves such as ramps and exit ramps Drive slowly Livestock can move around in a trailer causing a shift in weight and balance If you are carrying less than a full load use false bulkheads to keep the livestock bunched together Even when bunched together live stock may lean on curves This shifts the center of gravity and makes rollover more likely Over length over width and or over weight loads require special transit permits These permits are issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Driving is usually limited to certain times Special equipment may be necessary such as signs flashing lights flags etc Over sized loads may require a police escort or pilot vehicles with warning signs and flashing lights IAL DRIVER S MANUAL 61 Section 7 Tank Vehicles Section 7 Tank Vehicl
125. it is 45 mph on all public roads except primary highways Routes 1 599 and the Interstate 3 Localities may increase or decrease the 25 mph speed limit in school zones You may travel up to the posted speed limit 4 You may travel 25 mph or up to the posted speed limit on highways in business or residential districts 5 Some highways designated as rural rustic roads may have posted speed limits other than 35 mph You may drive up to the speed limit on those roads VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Slippery when wet gt Shady parts of a road will remain icy and slippery long after open areas have melted gt Bridges freeze before the road freezes Be careful when the temperature is around 32 degrees F gt Slight melting makes ice wet Wet ice is more slippery than ice that is not wet gt Black ice is a thin layer that is clear enough that you can see the road underneath It makes the road look wet When the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet watch for black ice gt If ice is on the front of your mirror mirror support or antenna the road surface is probably starting to ice up gt Roads are very slippery when rain first begins Just after rain begins water mixes with oil on the road making it unusually slippery Hydroplaning In some weather water or slush collects on the road When this happens your vehicle can hydroplane The tires lose contact with the road and h
126. k surge can be very strong Unbaffled tanks are usually those used to carry food products such as milk Sanitation regulations forbid the use of baffles because it is difficult to clean the inside of the tank Therefore be very cautious when driving smooth bore tanks Start and stop slowly and smoothly gt Watch out for side to side surge Baffled liquid tanks have bulkheads with holes that let the liquid flow between the smaller tanks The baffles help control the forward backward liquid surge however the liquid can still surge side to side This can cause the vehicle to roll over gt Distribute the weight evenly when loading your vehicle Some liquid tanks are divided into several smaller tanks by bulkheads When loading and unloading the smaller tanks pay attention to the weight distribution Don t put too much weight on the front or rear of the vehicle gt Never load a cargo tank totally full Liquids expand as they warm This is called outage You must leave room for the liquid to expand Different liquids expand by different amounts and require different amounts of outage You must know the outage requirement for the liquids that you haul MANUAL gt Know how full to load your vehicle A full tank of dense liquid such as some acids may exceed legal weight limits Therefore you may only partially fill tanks with heavy liquids The amount of liquid that you can load into a tank depends on gt the amount that the
127. l on a tag attached to the package For example compressed gas cylinders often have tags or decals Placards warn others of hazardous materials They are placed on the outside of the vehicle and identify the hazard class of the cargo A placarded vehicle must have at least four identical placards Placards must be readable from all four directions Therefore they are put on the front rear and both sides of the vehicle Placards measure 10 3 4 inches square and are turned in a diamond shape Cargo tanks and other bulk packaging display the identification number of their contents on placards Or they may use orange panels or white diamond shape displays the same size as placards VE R S MANUAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials Lists of Regulated Products Shippers carriers and drivers use three lists to identify hazardous materials gt The Hazardous Materials Table in the federal regulations gt Appendix A to the Hazardous Materials Table the List of Hazardous Substances and Reportable Quantities and gt Appendix B to the Hazardous Materials Table the List of Marine Pollutants Before transporting a material look for its name on these three lists Some materials may be on all lists Others may be on only one The Hazardous Materials Table shows each material s shipping name hazard class ID number packaging group and required labels The illustration below shows part of the table 172 101 Hazardous Materials Table
128. l skid the front of the vehicle continues in a straight line no matter how much you turn the steering wheel You may not be able to steer around a curve or turn Lack of tread on the front tires and cargo loaded incorrectly may also cause front wheel skids gt The only way to stop a front wheel skid is to let your vehicle slow down gt Stop turning and hard braking gt Slow down as quickly as possible without skidding Hazardous Conditions Driving becomes hazardous when visibility is reduced or when the road surface is covered with rain snow or ice Reduce your speed and increase your following distance Night Driving Three factors affect safe driving at night the driver the roadway and the vehicle The driver Your vision and the vision of other drivers is not as sharp in low light conditions Drivers can also be blinded for a short time by the lights of oncoming vehicles Older drivers are especially bothered by glare from the lights of other vehicles gt Use your high beams when it is safe and legal High beams increase your ability to see However glare from your headlights can blind other drivers Dim your lights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle Dim your light when following within 200 feet of another vehicle If a driver coming toward you doesn t dim his lights don t get back by turning on your high beams This increases the chance of a crash gt Don t look directly at bright lights when driving
129. le Load the heaviest parts of the cargo on the bottom MANUAL Balance the Weight Weight that is poorly balanced will make vehicle handling unsafe Too much weight on the steering axle will make it difficult to steer It can also damage the steering axle and tires Shifting the weight to the back of the vehicle can make the steering axle weight too light This makes steering unsafe Too little weight on the driving axles can cause poor traction Drive wheels may spin During bad weather the truck may not be able to keep going Wrong Right I I I 1 i 1 Wrong l Right l 1 1 1 1 i Wrong 1 I Right 1 I Wrong l 1 I I I I 1 I I i H Wrong H Right I Securing Cargo gt Blocking is used in the front back and on the sides of a piece of cargo to keep it from sliding Blocking is shaped to fit snugly against the cargo It is secured to the cargo deck to keep the cargo from moving gt Bracing also prevents cargo movement Bracing goes from the floor to the upper part of the cargo It can also go to the walls of the cargo compartment gt Cargo tiedowns are used on flatbed trailers without sides The tiedowns keep the cargo from shifting or falling off the vehicle In closed vans tiedowns keep the cargo from shifting gt You must use the correct type of tiedowns and correct strength tiedowns The combined strength of all cargo tiedowns must be strong enough to lift 1
130. ler gently with the tractor to be sure that the trailer emergency brakes are on gt Test the trailer service brakes gt Check for normal air pressure gt Release the parking brakes and move the vehicle forward slowly gt Apply trailer brakes with the hand control trolley valve gt You should feel the brakes come on This tells you that the trailer brakes are connected and working Note The trailer brakes should be tested with the hand valve In normal operation however control the trailer brakes with the foot pedal The foot pedal applies air to the service brakes at all wheels Coupling and Uncoupling Combination Vehicles Coupling and uncoupling is basic to the safe operation of combination vehicles Wrong coupling and uncoupling can be dangerous The makes and models of rigs are different So learn the details of coupling and uncoupling for the trucks that you will operate Coupling Tractor Semitrailers gt Inspect the fifth wheel gt Check for damaged or missing parts gt Check to see that the mounting to the tractor is secure Make sure there are no cracks in the frame gt Be sure that the fifth wheel plate is greased Failure to keep the fifth wheel plate greased could cause steering problems because of friction between the tractor and trailer gt Make sure the fifth wheel is in the proper position for coupling The wheel should be tilted down toward the rear of the tractor The jaws should be op
131. lly loaded Read Section 6 Transporting Cargo for important information about loading your rig Rearward Amplification and the Crack the Whip Effect The effects of motion increase as the motion travels from the front of the truck to the rear This is called rearward amplification and causes the crack the whip effect or fish tailing When you make a quick lane change the crack the whip effect can turn over the trailer The chart shows eight types of combination vehicles and the rearward amplification of each when it makes a quick lane change Rigs with the greatest rearward amplification are shown at the bottom of the chart Rearward amplification of 2 0 in the chart means that the rear trailer is twice as likely to turn over as the tractor Triples have a rearward amplification of 3 5 and are 3 and one half times as likely to turn over as a five axle tractor and trailer 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 5 axle tractor I I I I semitrailer H H l H H with 45 ft P H 1 1 i i i 3 axle tract i LEPAA axle tractor semitrailer sef I 1 f I I with 27 ft S l raf ws i ETET double ast i M mitritd TE trailers i 1 i i i 12 iu ire EE train double 27t A 1 rab t Fe trailers i i 1 to i Rook ok a e E Ped ddd ds mountain aff i ERE kii TS double 45 ft 1 I I i IO Liike a California Q truck full ef i tMiot tat re oe ray tea esf i Peat ti a conventional pai I 1 I i I double 27 ft E le E E LETTEL i wen gf MBI ii N
132. located in title 49 parts 171 180 You will hear these regulations referred to as 49 CFR 171 180 The Hazardous Materials Table in the regulations includes a list of hazardous materials However this table does not show all hazardous materials A material is considered hazardous based on its characteristics A shipper decides if a product meets the definition of a hazardous material in the regulations Because the federal regulations change often be sure that your copy is up to date You may get a copy from your local Government Printing Office bookstore and various publishers Union or company offices often have copies for drivers to use Intent of the Federal Regulations Transporting hazardous materials can be risky Federal regulations tell you how to contain the material and communicate the risk They also assure safe drivers and equipment gt Packaging rules tell shippers how to package the materials safely They also tell drivers how to load transport and unload the material MANUAL gt To communicate the risk shippers use hazard warning labels and markings on packages They also provide shipping papers emergency response information and placards These labels and papers communicate the hazard to the shipper carrier and the driver gt To assure safe drivers anyone who transports hazardous materials must have a commercial driver s license CDL and a hazardous materials endorsement To pass the test for the h
133. lock the brakes in trailers that don t have spring brakes This would allow the vehicle to roll away gt Always use the parking brakes when parking If the trailer does not have spring brakes use wheel chocks to keep the trailer from moving gt Turn off the tractor engine and put the transmission in the lowest forward gear or reverse for parking MANUAL Tractor Protection Valve If the trailer breaks away or develops a bad leak the tractor protection valve closes and keeps air in the tractor or truck The tractor protection valve is controlled by the trailer air supply control in the cab The trailer air supply valve allows you to open and shut the tractor protection valve The tractor protection valve will close automatically if air pressure is low in the range of 20 to 40 psi When the tractor protection valve closes it stops air from going out of the tractor It also lets air out of the trailer emergency line This causes the trailer emergency brakes to come on Trailer Air Supply Control On newer vehicles the trailer air supply control is a red 8 sided knob You use this knob to control the tractor protection valve Push it in to supply air to the trailer Pull it out to shut off the air and put on the trailer emergency brakes If air pressure drops into the range of 20 to 40 psi the valve will pop out and close the tractor protection valve On older vehicles tractor protection valve control
134. ls these packages Radioactive II or Radioactive III and prints the package s transport index on the label Radiation surrounds each package and passes through all nearby packages As a result the number of packages you can load together is controlled Their closeness to people animals and exposed film is also controlled DRIVER S MANUAL 75 Section 9 Hazardous Materials The transport index shown below shows how close you can load Class 7 radioactive materials to people animals or film For example you can t leave a package with a transport index of 1 1 within 2 feet of people or cargo space walls during transit The total transport index of all packages in a single vehicle cannot exceed 50 Single vehicles include automobiles vans trucks tractors and semi trailers Radioactive Transport Index You will not be tested on the numbers in this table Do not leave radioactive yellow II or yellow III labeled packages near people animals or film longer than shown in this table To People or Cargo Compartment Partitions Total Transport Index Minimum Distance in Feet to Nearest Undeveloped Film 0 2 24 4 8 8 12 eid Hours Hours Hours Hours eo VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Federal regulations require that some products be loaded separately You cannot load them together in the same cargo space The table below lists some examples The Segregation and Separation chart in the federal regulat
135. lt from driving too fast for road conditions Drivers who adjust their driving to fit the conditions don t have to overaccelerate brake hard or oversteer to avoid hazards Rear wheel drive wheel skids are the most common types of skid They are caused by overacceleration or overbraking gt Overaccleration skids usually happen on ice or snow Stop the skid by taking your foot off the accelerator If the road is slippery push in the clutch This allows the wheels to roll freely and regain traction gt Overbraking skids happen when the rear drive wheels lock Locked wheels have less traction than rolling wheels and usually slide sideways A bus or straight truck will slide sideways A vehicle towing a trailer will jackknife Take the following actions to stop a rear wheel braking skid gt Stop braking This will let the rear wheels roll and keep them from sliding further If you are on a slippery surface push in the clutch to let the wheels turn freely gt Turn quickly If your vehicle begins to slide sideways quickly steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go 30 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt Countersteer As soon as your vehicle begins to move in the correct direction turn the steering wheel quickly in the opposite direction This will prevent a skid in the opposite direction Be careful not to over correct Front wheel skids are often caused by driving too fast for the conditions In a front whee
136. ly to the front trailer gt Lock the pintle hook gt Secure the converter gear support in the raised position Be sure that the trailer brakes are locked or that the wheels are chocked Make sure the trailer height is correct It must be slightly lower than the center of the fifth wheel so that the trailer is raised slightly when the dolly is pushed under it Back the converter dolly under the rear trailer Raise the landing gear slightly off the ground to prevent damage if the trailer moves Test the coupling by pulling against the pin of the rear semi trailer Make a visual check of the coupling gt Make sure that there is no space between the upper and lower fifth wheel If there is something is wrong gt Make sure the fifth wheel jaws have closed around the shank of the kingpin Connect the safety chains air hoses and light cords Close the converter dolly air tank petcock and shut off valves at the rear of the second trailer The service and emergency line shut off valve at the rear of the second trailer should be closed Open the shut off valves at the rear of the first trailer and on the dolly Raise the landing gear Charge the trailers air supply gt Push in the trailer air supply knob gt Check for air at the rear of the second trailer by opening the emergency line shut off valve gt If there is no air pressure there something is wrong and the brakes won t work DRIVER S MANUAL 53
137. material s hazard class shows the risks associated with it There are 9 different hazard classes The chart below gives the meaning of each hazard class and lists the types of materials included in each class Division Name of Class or Division Example Tal 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 Explosives Mass Detonation Projections Hazards Mass Fire Hazards Minor Hazards Very Insensitive Extremely Insensitive Dinitrophenol Ammunition Smoke White Phosphorus Article Explosive No 5 Fireworks Blasting Agents Explosive Blasting Type E Article Explosive Extremely Insensitive 2 Flammable Gases Dp DS Non Flammable Gases Poisonous Toxic Gases Propane Helium Compressed Fluorine Compressed Flammable Liquids Gasoline Alcohol Diesel Fuel Fuel Oils Flammable Solids Spontaneously Combustible Dangerous When Wet Division Name of Class or Division Ammonium Picrate Wetted Phosphorus White Dry Sodium Example 5 1 Oxidizers 5 2 Organic Peroxides Ammonium Nitrate Liquid Organic Peroxide Type B Liquid 6 1 6 2 Poison Toxic Material Infectious Substances Potassium Cyanide Diagnostic Specimen Radioactive Radioactive Material Uranium Hexafloride Corrosives Sulfuric Acid Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials Airbag Inflaters Asbestos None ORM D Other Regulated Material Domestic Consumer Commodity Combustible Liquid Co
138. mbustible Liquid Definitions A shipping paper describes the hazardous materials being transported Shipping papers include shipping orders bills of lading and manifests After an accident or hazardous materials accident or spill you may be injured and unable to tell others about your hazardous cargo Firefighters and police can prevent or reduce the amount of damage and injury if they know about the hazardous materials you are carrying Your life and the lives of others could depend on quickly locating hazardous materials shipping papers gt Shippers must describe hazardous materials correctly and include an emergency response telephone number on the shipping papers gt Carriers and drivers must tab hazardous materials shipping papers or keep them on top of other shipping papers They must also keep the emergency response information with the shipping papers gt Drivers must keep hazardous materials shipping papers gt Ina pouch on the driver s door or VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL D R Diesel Fuel Fuel Oil gt In clear view within immediate reach while the driver s safety belt is fastened or gt On the driver s seat when the driver is out of the vehicle or in a pouch on the driver s door Package labels are diamond shaped hazard warning labels found on most hazardous materials packages These labels inform others of the hazard If the diamond label does not fit on the package shippers may put the labe
139. mirrors to check the traffic around you and to check your vehicle Check your mirrors when you change lanes or merge Check your mirrors to see where the rear of the vehicle is while you make turns Check your mirrors quickly and return your attention to the road ahead Use your mirrors to check your tires If you are carrying open cargo use the mirrors to check it Look for loose straps ropes or chains Watch for a flapping or ballooning tarp Blind spots are danger areas which cannot be seen in your mirrors Therefore many vehicles have convex or spot mirrors that show a wider area than flat mirrors Remember everything in a convex or spot mirror appears smaller than it really is Objects also seem farther away than they really are Always make mirror adjustments before you start your trip Mirrors can only be checked accurately when the trailer s is straight Communicating It is important to know what is going on around your vehicle But it is also important to let others know what you are doing Use your vehicle to communicate with other drivers You can communicate with your headlights brake lights signal lights and horn Signal Ahead gt Signal early before you turn merge or change lanes gt Brake early and slow gradually for turns gt Flash your brake lights to warn other drivers that you need to slow down or stop Don t stop suddenly gt Turn off your signal after you make the turn merge or la
140. mountain driving On upgrades gravity slows you down The steeper and longer the grade and the heavier your load the slower you will drive When coming down a downgrade gravity increases the speed of your vehicle Try to plan ahead and get information about any steep grades along your planned route gt DRIVER S Select a safe speed Base your speed on the following gt The weight of your vehicle and cargo Length of the grade gt Steepness of the grade gt Road conditions gt Weather conditions MANUAL gt Never drive faster than the speed posted on Maximum Safe Speed signs Remember that the speed posted on these signs could be too fast for a large vehicle or for the weather conditions gt Pay attention to warning signs that tell the length and steepness of the grade gt Use the braking effect of your engine to maintain a safe speed The braking effect of the engine is best when the transmission is in a low gear Save your brakes so you can slow down or stop for traffic and road conditions gt Shift the transmission to a lower gear before you start down the grade Don t downshift after you ve gained speed You won t be able to shift into a lower gear You may not be able to get back into any gear For older trucks use the same gear for going down a hill that you would use to climb the hill New trucks have more powerful engines and can climb hills in higher gears than older trucks Therefore in newe
141. mproper or erratic traffic lane change Following the vehicle ahead too closely Driving a commercial motor vehicle without a CDL v v v v v A Driving a commercial motor vehicle without a CDL in the driver s immediate possession gt Driving a commercial motor vehicle without the proper CDL class and or endorsements for the specific vehicle group being operated or for the passengers or type of cargo being transported gt Texting while operating a commercial motor vehicle gt Use of a handheld mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle All CDL drivers are subject to Virginia s controlled substance and alcohol testing laws If you operate a commercial vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs refuse to take a blood alcohol test or are found to have a BAC of 0 04 percent or greater your CDL will be disqualified The disqualification period ranges from one year to life but does not necessarily affect your privilege to drive a non commercial vehicle If you operate a vehicle on Virginia s roadways you agree to take a chemical test upon request to determine if you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs This is called implied consent Any person who possesses or consumes an alcoholic beverage while operating a school bus transporting children is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor A person convicted of this offence is punishable by confinement in jail for up to 12 months and or a fine of up to 2
142. ms gt Follow your school s procedures for discipline or refusal of rights to ride the bus gt Stop the bus Park in a safe location off the road perhaps a parking lot or a driveway gt Secure the bus Take the ignition key with you if you leave your seat gt Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice Remind the offender of the expected behavior Do not show anger but do show that you mean business gt Ifa change of seating is needed request that the student move to a seat near you gt Never put a student off the bus except at school or at his or her designated school bus stop If you feel that the offense is serious enough that you cannot safely drive the bus call for a school administrator or the police to come and remove the student Always follow your state or local procedures for requesting assistance Handling Emergencies Emergency Drills Virginia law requires that you hold an emergency exit drill at least once during the first 90 calendar days of the school year or more often if needed Your local school board or board of education may require more frequent drills Emergency Situations gt Bus crashes gt Do not move the bus until police or school officials arrive gt Check the bus for injured students gt Protect the crash scene by setting out flares or reflectors MANUAL gt Do not leave students unattended Have a
143. n of a passenger bus restricted to a Class B passenger vehicle and operation of a passenger bus restricted to a Class C passenger vehicle CDL Instruction Permit Endorsements and Automatic Restrictions You may only operate an empty tank vehicle and may not operate a tank vehicle that previously contained hazardous materials that has not been purged of any residue N Endorsement with an X Restriction You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle carrying passengers Exceptions include federal or state auditors and inspectors test examiners other trainees and the commercial driver s license holder accompanying the commercial driver s instruction permit holder P Endorsement with a P Restriction S Endorsement with a P Restriction You may not operate a school bus vehicle carrying passengers Exceptions include federal or state auditors and inspectors test examiners other trainees and the commercial driver s license holder accompanying the commercial driver s instruction permit holder CDL Instruction Permit Restrictions K You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle outside of Virginia K Prior to July 1 2014 You may not operate a vehicle with air brakes L You may not operate a vehicle with air brakes L Prior to July 1 2014 You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle outside of Virginia M_ Operation of a passenger vehicle is restricted to a Class B or Class C passenger vehicle
144. n the drains to make sure Shut off Valves Shut off valves are also called cut out cocks They are used in the service and emergency air lines at the back of trailers that tow other trailers These valves let you close the air lines when another trailer is not being towed Check that all shut off valves are in the open position except the ones at the back of the last trailer The valves at the back of the last trailer must be closed Trailer Service Parking and Emergency Brakes gt 46 VIRGINIA New trailers have spring brakes just like trucks and truck tractors Converter dollies and trailers built before 1975 are not required to have spring brakes gt Trailers that do not have spring brakes have emergency brakes which work from the air stored in the trailer air tank gt The emergency brakes come on whenever air pressure in the emergency line is lost gt These trailers do not have a parking brake gt The emergency brakes come on whenever the air supply knob is pulled out or the trailer is disconnected But the brakes will not hold if there is not sufficient air pressure in the trailer air tank gt Eventually the air will leak away and there will be no brake gt Therefore always use wheel chocks when you park trailers without spring brakes COMMERCIAL gt A major leak in the emergency line will cause the tractor protection valve to close and the trailer emergency brakes to come
145. n to cross gt Do not shift gears when crossing railroad tracks gt Vehicles equipped to carry passengers or hazardous cargo must come to a complete stop at railroad crossings You must also stop if the lights are flashing the arms are down or you are directed to stop by signs or the police Equipment Failures Brake Failures Brakes kept in good condition seldom fail Most hydraulic brake failures occur for two reasons 1 loss of hydraulic pressure or 2 brake fade on long hills Loss of hydraulic pressure When the system won t build up pressure the brake pedal will feel spongy or go to the floor Take the following steps gt Downshift Putting your vehicle in a lower gear will help slow the vehicle gt Pump the brakes This will sometimes generate enough hydraulic pressure to stop the vehicle DRIVER S MANUAL Section 1 General Knowledge gt Find an escape route While slowing your vehicle look for an escape route an open field side street or escape ramp Air Brake Fading or Failure Excessive use of the service brakes causes overheating and leads to brake fade Excessive heat in the brakes causes chemical changes in the lining which reduce friction and cause the brake drums to expand As the overheated drums expand the brake shoes and linings have to move farther to contact the drums The force of contact between the shoes and drums is also reduced Overuse may increase brake fade until the v
146. n two inches Check the gear ranges to ensure they engage Check the boot for holes and dry rot If automatic check gearshift for ranges Check for cracks and cleanliness Air pressure should build to a minimum of 100 PSI in both the primary and secondary system Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Oil pressure should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Check the gauge for cracks and cleanliness Amps Volts should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Build air pressure up to 100 120 PSI cut engine off and release all brakes press hard on the foot brake and hold down for one minute air pressure should not drop over four PSI Turn ignition key on and continue with foot brake pumping air pressure down At around 60 PSI the Low Air buzzer should sound and or a warning light should appear Keep pumping air down with foot brake and at about 40 PSI the release valves should pop out for the trailer and the truck Pump the brake pedal three times apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for five seconds The pedal should not move If it does there may be a leak Check steering wheel play of no more than ten degrees approximately two inches of movement at the rim of a 20 inch steering wheel
147. nd both sides Tank Loading and Unloading The person in charge of loading and unloading a cargo tank must make sure a qualified person is always watching The person watching must gt Be alert Have a clear view of the cargo tank Be within 25 feet of the tank 177 834 i 3 Know the hazards of the materials involved Know procedures to follow in an emergency and v v v v v Be authorized and able to move the cargo tank Close all manholes and valves before moving a tank of hazardous materials no matter how small the amount in the tank or how short the distance Manholes and valves must be closed to prevent leaks Flammable Liquids gt Turn off your engine before loading or unloading any flammable liquids gt Run the engine only if you need it to operate a pump gt Ground a cargo tank correctly before filling through an open filling hole gt Ground the tank before opening the filling hole and maintain the ground until after you close the filling hole DRIVER S 77 MANUAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials Compressed Gas gt Keep liquid discharge valves on a compressed gas tank closed except when loading and unloading gt Run the engine only if you need it to operate a pump gt If you run your engine turn it off after transferring the product and before you unhook the hose gt Unhook all loading unloading connections before coupling uncoupling or moving a chlorine tank gt Always c
148. ne change gt Use your 4 way emergency flashers when moving slowly or when you are parked gt Don t signal other drivers to pass you This could cause a crash MANUAL Pass with Caution gt Check your side mirrors for traffic approaching you from behind gt Check ahead Do you have sufficient room to pass gt Use your turn signal gt Just before you begin passing check your mirrors and blind spots once more for approaching traffic Communicate Your Presence to Others gt Don t assume that other drivers bicyclists or pedestrians can see or hear your vehicle Use your low beam headlights at dawn and dusk Use your low beam headlights in fog rain or snow so other drivers will see you gt When you pass tap your horn lightly gt Use your horn only when needed Otherwise your horn may scare others gt When you stop on the side of the road gt Turn on your 4 way emergency flashers gt Place reflective triangles or flares within 10 minutes of stopping Place them as shown in the following diagrams If you stop on a road or the shoulder of any road you must put out emergency warning devices reflective triangles or flares within 10 minutes Place the warning devices in the following locations lt 100 100 lt gt lt lt lt On two lane roads carrying traffic in both directions or on an undivided highway place warning devices within t
149. not bent or cracked non factory welds Check same as rear wheels Check the same as front suspension Check same as front brakes Ensure it is not cracked lenses clear clean proper color no condensation Check for function same as rear of tractor Ensure it opens and closes properly hinges not cracked ties not broken or missing Ensure it is secured no nuts or bolts missing MANUAL Basic Control of Your Vehicle To drive a vehicle safely you must be able to control its speed and direction Safe operation of a commercial vehicle requires skills in gt Accelerating gt Steering gt Shifting gears Be sure to apply the parking brake when you leave your vehicle Accelerating gt Partly engage the clutch before taking your foot off the brake gt Use the parking brake to keep from rolling back Release it only when you have enough power to keep from rolling back gt Speed up smoothly and gradually so the vehicle does not jerk Sudden acceleration can cause mechanical damage If you are pulling a trailer sudden acceleration can damage the coupling gt Speed up slowly when traction is poor such as in rain or snow If you use too much power the drive wheels spin If the drive wheels spin let up on the accelerator Steering gt Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands gt Your hands should be at the 9 o clock and 3 o clock positions opposite sides on the steering wheel Backing S
150. not know about your hazardous cargo Hazardous materials drivers must also know which products they can load together Section 9 of this manual covers these regulations Before loading a truck with more than one type of product you must know if it is safe If you do not know ask your employer To Contain a Hazardous Material Many hazardous materials can injure or kill on contact Federal regulations tell shippers how to package these materials safely This protects drivers and others from contact with the hazardous materials Other regulations tell drivers how to load transport and unload bulk tanks These are called containment rules To Communicate the Risk The shipper uses a shipping paper package labels and placards to warn dock workers and drivers of the presence of hazardous materials the hazard class and the specific hazardous material The shipping paper describes the hazardous material being transported Shipping orders bills of lading and manifests are examples of shipping papers After an accident or hazardous material spill or leak you may be injured and unable to tell others about your hazardous cargo Fire fighters and police can prevent or reduce the VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge amount of damage and injury if they know what hazardous materials you are carrying Your life and the lives of others could depend on quickly locating hazardous materials shipping papers For this reason y
151. nst Children registry are prohibited from obtaining a school bus endorsement during any period in which registration is required School Bus Endorsement To get your CDL and the endorsement to drive a school bus you must pass gt the written general knowledge test gt the written passenger bus test gt the written school bus test gt the written air brakes test if your vehicle is equipped with air brakes gt the skills test required for the class of vehicle that you plan to drive If you plan to drive a bus equipped with air brakes you must take the skills test in a bus equipped with air brakes To prepare for these tests study Section 1 General Knowledge gt Section 2 Air Brakes if your vehicle will be equipped with air brakes gt Section 5 School Buses gt Section 8 Transporting Passengers VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 5 School Buses If you plan to drive a school bus designed to carry fewer than 16 passengers including the driver you do not need to obtain a CDL or the passenger bus endorsement However you must have the school bus endorsement on your driver s license Therefore you will need to pass the school bus knowledge and skills tests You will be restricted to driving buses designed to carry fewer than 16 passengers including the driver and this restriction will be printed on your license Fees are not charged for a school bus endorsement on the driver s license or the comme
152. ny drugs while you are on duty It s illegal to be under the influence of any controlled substance narcotic or other substance that can make a driver unsafe This includes prescription and over the counter drugs that may make you sleepy or affect your driving ability Possession and use of a drug is legal if your doctor tells you that the drug will not affect your driving ability Alcohol and Drug Testing Federal regulations require that drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle and hold a CDL be tested for misuse of alcohol and the use of controlled substances such as amphetamines marijuana opiates PCP and cocaine gt Testing for misuse of alcohol gt onarandom basis gt fora reasonable suspicion of misuse gt following a crash and gt when returning to duty gt You may be tested for controlled substances prior to employment on a random basis for reasonable suspicion of use following a crash and SO ON when returning to duty Promptly follow your employer s instructions for alcohol and drug testing Violation of the regulations for alcohol and drug use and testing can jeopardize your career as a commercial driver VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge Section 2 Air Brakes Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge If you plan to drive a truck or bus with air brakes you need to study this section If you plan to pull a t
153. o fire DO NOT open the doors Opening the doors lets in air and makes the fire flare up Without air many fires smolder and cause less damage gt If your cargo is already on fire do not try to fight the fire It isn t safe gt Keep the shipping papers with you and give them to emergency workers when they arrive gt Warn other people of the danger Keep them away MANUAL Leaks Spills gt If you discover a cargo leak identify the hazardous materials that are leaking Use the shipping papers labels or package location to identify the materials DO NOT TOUCH any leaking material Many people injure themselves by touching hazardous materials Do not try to identify the material or find the source of a leak by smell Toxic gases can destroy your sense of smell Even if they don t smell they can injure or kill you Never eat drink or smoke around a leak or spill If hazardous materials are spilling from your vehicle do not move it except for safety reasons You may move it off the road and away from places where people gather Move your vehicle only if you can move it without danger to yourself or others Never continue driving with hazardous materials leaking from your vehicle Remember the carrier pays for the cleanup of contaminated parking lots roadways and drainage ditches The costs are enormous Don t leave a trail of contamination If hazardous materials are spilling from your vehicle gt P
154. o see gt The entire side of the bus up to the mirror mounts gt Front of the rear tires touching the ground gt Atleast one traffic lane on either side of the bus Outside Left and Right Side Crossover Mirrors These mirrors are mounted on both left and right front corners of the bus They are used to see the front bumper danger zone area directly in front of the bus that is not visible by direct vision and to view the danger zone area to the left side and right side of the bus including the service door and front wheel area The mirror presents a view of people and objects that does not accurately reflect their size and distance from the bus The driver must ensure that these mirrors are properly adjusted Ensure that the mirrors are properly adjusted so you can see gt The entire area in front of the bus from the front bumper at ground level to a point where direct vision is possible Direct vision and mirror view vision should overlap gt The right and left front tires touching the ground gt The area from the front of the bus to the service door gt These mirrors along with the convex and flat mirrors should be viewed in a logical sequence to ensure that a child or object is not in any of the danger zones Overhead Inside Rearview Mirror This mirror is mounted directly above the windshield on the driver s side area of the bus This mirror is used to monitor passenger activity inside the bus It m
155. oblems you might find The types of damages or problems are listed below and in the vehicle inspection section in the CDL Manual Note All axles touching the ground on one side of the vehicle must be inspected This study guide cannot be used during the actual pre trip inspection portion of the skills test Front of Vehicle Lights Engine Compartment Oil Level Coolant Level Power Steering Fluid Water Pump Alternator Air Compressor Leaks Wiring insulation Hydraulic Brakes if equipped Check for proper color clean lenses cracks missing screws and condensation Also check for function left right turn signals headlights high low beam and four way flashers Check by pulling out the dipstick wiping it and reinserting it then pull out to look at the low and full marks to determine the level Observe the site glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped explain removing radiator cap for level Do not remove cap Observe the sight glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped open the cap and check for proper level Check for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and coolant leaks Check for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and cracked burnt or loose wires Check for missing loose bolts Check belts for tension cracked or frayed lines and leaks Look under the engine compartment for
156. ock release the brakes gt Reapply the brakes as soon as possible Stab Braking gt Use stab braking only on vehicles that do not have anti lock brake systems gt Apply your brakes fully gt Release the brakes when the wheels lock up gt Assoon as the wheels start rolling apply the brakes fully again It can take up to one second for the wheels to start rolling after you release the brakes If you reapply the brakes before the wheels start rolling the vehicle will not straighten out Steering to Avoid a Crash Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency If you don t have enough room to stop you may have to steer away from what s ahead Many times you can turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can stop Often steering to avoid an obstacle is the best answer in an emergency situation However top heavy vehicles and tractors with multiple trailers may roll over When steering to avoid a crash take the following steps gt Keep both hands on the steering wheel gt Do not apply the brakes while you are turning Applying the brakes could lock your wheels and cause you to skid out of control gt Do not turn more than you need The more sharply you turn the greater the risk of turning over or skidding gt Be ready to countersteer as soon as you have passed whatever was in your path Definition Countersteering is turning the wheel back in the other direction after steering to
157. of 26 001 pounds or more if the vehicle s being towed have a GVWR of more than 10 000 pounds Vehicles in this class include gt tractor trailer Oe a Aaa gt truck and trailer combinations gt tractor trailer buses If you hold a class A license and you have the correct endorsements you may also operate vehicles listed in classes B and C Class A Class B Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26 001 pounds or more Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26 001 pounds or more towing another vehicle with a GVWR of 10 000 pounds or less This class includes gt straight trucks 26 001 Ib 26 001 Ib or more 10 000 Ib or less Towed Unit Class B large buses gt gt segmented buses gt trucks towing vehicles with a GVWR of 10 000 pounds or less MANUAL If you hold a class B license and you have the correct endorsements you may also operate vehicles listed in class C Class C Any vehicle that is not included in classes A or B that carries hazardous materials requiring placards or is designed S to carry 16 or more a passengers including the driver Class C Remember the class of a vehicle is determined by its gross vehicle weight rating and the manufacturer s design The vehicle s class determines the type of CDL and endorsements that you need If you drive a redesigned or altered vehicle the vehicle s original class determine
158. of being in a crash are seven times greater if you drive after drinking than if you drive sober Alcohol also affects coordination reaction time and vision Ninety percent of the information used in driving comes from seeing Alcohol relaxes the eye muscles As a result you cannot focus properly Any restriction in vision could cause you to crash Blood alcohol content BAC is the amount of alcohol in your body BAC depends on the amount of alcohol consumed the time spent drinking and your body weight The more you drink the higher your BAC will be and the more affected your driving will become It takes at least an hour for the blood stream to rid itself of one ounce of alcohol Only time can get rid of the effects of alcohol Coffee cold showers or exercise will not make you sober Mixing alcohol with other drugs usually multiplies the effects of both Having one drink and taking an aspirin or simple cold pill could have the same effect as several drinks MANUAL Almost any drug can reduce your ability to drive safely It s not just illegal drugs that cause problems Many over the counter drugs and prescription drugs can cause sleepiness and dizziness These drugs often affect your alertness and reaction time Read the label before taking any drug or medicine Look for warnings about the side effects If you are uncertain about the effects of a drug ask your doctor or pharmacist Laws prohibit possession and use of ma
159. of the hazardous material Or it may be in a guidance book such as the Emergency Response Guide ERG The driver must provide the emergency response information to any federal state or local authority responding to or investigating a hazardous materials incident Certification statement When the shipper packages hazardous materials he certifies that the package has been prepared according to federal regulations The signed shipper s certification appears on the original shipping paper Exceptions A shipper does not have to sign a certification statement if the shipper is a private carrier transporting its own product and the product will not be transported by another carrier The shipper does not have to sign a certification statement if the material is transported in a cargo tank supplied by the carrier Unless a package is clearly unsafe you may accept the shipper s certification concerning proper packaging Some carriers have additional rules about transporting hazardous materials Follow your employer s rules when accepting shipments Package Markings and Labels Shippers print required markings directly on the package an attached label or tag The most important package marking is the name of the hazardous material It is the same name as the one used on the shipping paper The shipper will put the following information on the package gt The name and address of the shipper or consignee the business or person to
160. on gt You may not notice a leak in the service line until you put the brakes on Then the air loss from the leak will lower the air tank pressure quickly If it goes low enough the trailer emergency brakes will come on Inspecting a Combination Vehicle Use the inspection procedure described in Section 1 General Knowledge to inspect your combination vehicle You will also have some new things to check Make the following checks in addition to the ones already listed in Section 1 Coupling System and Landing Gear gt Check the lower fifth wheel gt gt Mounting to the frame should be secure Check to be sure there are no missing or damaged parts Be sure there is enough grease if the trailer is not hooked up You should not see space between the upper and lower fifth wheel Locking jaws should be around the shank not the head of the kingpin The release arm should be properly seated and the safety latch lock engaged gt Check the upper fifth wheel gt gt Be sure the glide plate is securely mounted to the trailer frame Be sure that the kingpin is not damaged gt Check the sliding fifth wheel gt There should not be any damaged or missing parts It should be properly greased All locking pins should be present and locked in place If air powered there should be no air leaks Check that the fifth wheel is not so far forward that the tractor frame will hit the landing gear
161. on gt the identification number and gt the packing group the group is displayed in gt Roman numerals for example Il HI The numerals may be preceded by the letters PG The shipper of hazardous wastes must put the word WASTE before the name of the material on the shipping VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials paper hazardous waste manifest For example Waste Acetone 3 PGII UN1090 PG II gt You may not use a hazard class or ID number to describe a non hazardous material gt Shippers must list an emergency response telephone number on the shipping paper The number can be used by emergency workers to get information about any hazardous materials involved in a spill or fire gt Shippers must also provide emergency response information to the motor carrier for each hazardous material being shipped The driver must carry this information You must be able to use this information away from the motor vehicle and it must provide information on how to safely handle incidents involving the materials shipped It must include the shipping name of the hazardous material and information about the risks of fire and explosion and risks to health It must also include information about initial methods for handling fires spills and leaks of materials The emergency information may be included on the shipping paper or another document that includes the basic description and technical name
162. on valve to close When this happens the air supply knob will pop out gt Emergency lines are often coded with the color red red hose red couplers This keeps them from getting mixed up with the blue service line Hose Couplers or Glad Hands Glad hands are coupling devices They connect the service and emergency air lines from the truck or tractor to the trailer Couplers have a rubber seal which prevents air from escaping Clean the couplers and rubber seals before connecting the lines When you connect the glad hands press the two seals together with the couplers at a 90 degree angle to each other A turn of the glad hand attached to the hose will join and lock the couplers Some vehicles have dead end or dummy couplers Attach hoses to these when they are not in use This prevents water and dirt from getting into the coupler and the air lines If the vehicle does not have dummy couplers the glad hands can sometimes be locked together When coupling make sure that you couple the right glad hands together To help avoid mistakes some vehicles have color coded hoses and couplers Blue is used for the service lines and red is used for the emergency supply lines Sometimes metal tags with the words service and emergency are attached to the lines If you cross the air lines supply air will be sent to the service line and will not charge the trailer air tanks Air will not be available to release the trail
163. ou must tab shipping papers related to hazardous materials or keep them on top of other shipping papers You must keep shipping papers gt Ina pouch on the driver s door or gt In clear view and within reach while driving or gt On the driver s seat when you are out of the vehicle Shipping labels are four inch diamond shaped warning labels and are placed on hazardous materials packages These labels inform others of the hazard If the diamond label won t fit on the container shippers put the label on a tag For example compressed gas cylinders that will not hold a label will have tags or decals Placards are 10 3 4 inches on each side and are diamond shaped Cargo tanks and other bulk packaging display the D number of their contents on placards or orange panels A placarded vehicle must have at least 4 identical placards They are placed on the front rear and both sides of the vehicle Not all vehicles that carry hazardous materials need placards The regulations about placards are given in Section 9 of this manual You can drive a vehicle carrying hazardous materials if it does not require placards If it requires placards you may not drive it unless you have a hazardous material endorsement on your commercial driver s license Staying Alert and Fit to Drive Driving a commercial vehicle requires skill education and physical fitness Driving for long hours is tiring and even the best drivers will become less
164. ou start the turn The driver behind you may think you are turning left and try to pass you on the right If you must cross into an oncoming lane to make a turn watch out for vehicles coming toward you Give them room to pass or stop However don t back up for them You could hit the vehicle behind you When turning left gt Reach the center of the intersection before you begin your turn If you turn too soon your vehicle could hit another vehicle because of offtracking sile gt tee z d gt r on fe iei S ie 8 d Ag gt ry o a a hor rae s 5 an a See TS Hea 6 pa Oo se 3 as z y v n F If there are two lanes always use the right turn lane Don t begin a left turn in the left lane Se because you Fea Gl tains seen may have to a ipa ies Sa Uae swing right to mame re o complete the a Wee oe turn You can ee S see drivers on fel iso ecm e your left easier EME x he than those on ps ea fe gle ee your right Space to Cross or Enter Traffic Keep these points in mind when crossing or entering traffic gt Because commercial vehicles are larger and accelerate more slowly than passenger cars you may need a much larger gap to enter traffic Acceleration varies with your load Allow more room if your vehicle is fully loaded Before you begin across a road make sure you can get all the way across before traffic reaches you Controlling
165. owing standard red green or amber indicators Some drivers may be granted waivers from these vision requirements For information concerning waivers for intrastate travel contact DMV For information concerning waivers for interstate travel contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at Vision Program 400 7th Street S W Washington DC 20590 Motor carriers are required to comply with a variety of federal and state laws that are not addressed in this manual Learn about the requirements in the Motor Carrier Programs section of the DMV website www dmvNOW com Taking the CDL Tests All commercial vehicle drivers class A B and C vehicles must take the general knowledge exam Check the following chart to find out which exams you need to take in addition to the general knowledge exam To drive this vehicle Class A B and C Study this section Section 1 General Knowledge Section 6 Transporting Cargo Section 2 Air Brakes If you do not take the air brakes exam you will be restricted to driving vehicles without air brakes K restriction Vehicles with air brakes Class A combination vehicle Section 3 Combination Vehicles In addition to the exams listed above you must take special exams for each endorsement T Double triple trailer Section 4 Doubles and Triples H Hazardous materials Section 9 Hazardous Materials The hazardous materials endorsement test cannot be taken using a translator
166. per The shipping paper shown below describes a shipment Hazard Class from Column 3 X means that a hazardous material is being transported RQ means Proper shipping name from that this is a reportable quantity Column 2 of the Hazardous Materials Table Page 1 of 1 Shipping Paper TO Wafers R US Bex Corporation 88 Valley Street 75 Dawson Aveny Silicon Junction CA oleta CA 93 ID number and E TN group E TN the Hazardous Materials Table rs rs es E 10 ctns Paint 3 UN1263 PG II 500 Ibs This is to certify that the above named materials are properly classified described packaged marked and labeled and are in proper condition for transportation according to the applicable regulations to the Department of Transportation Shipper Essex Corp Carrier Knuckle Bros Per Shultz Per Date 6 27 88 Date gt A shipping paper for hazardous materials must include En Pa Definition A hazard class indicates the general nature of the hazard Within some classes divisions exist to indi cate additional hazards gt page numbers if the shipping paper has more than one page The first page must show the total number of pages For example page 1 of 4 gt a proper shipping description for each For example Class 2 covers all compressed gases Within hazardous material Refer to the following Class 2 section Shipping Description for a list of items s Drion 2i Fiamme Ce Us PEI a pues gt Division 2 2 Nonfl
167. per fueling loose fuel connections gt Cargo flammable cargo improperly sealed or loaded cargo poor ventilation Fire Prevention gt Pre trip inspection Make a complete inspection of the electrical fuel and exhaust systems tires and cargo Be sure that your fire extinguisher is charged Be sure that you know how to use it gt Inspections while traveling Check the tires and hubs for signs of excessive heat whenever you stop during a trip Frequently check the instruments and gauges for signs of overheating Use your mirrors to look for signs of smoke from the tires or other areas of the vehicle gt Safe procedures Don t get careless Always follow correct safety procedures for fueling the vehicle using brakes handling flares and other activities that can cause a fire Fire Fighting Your life and the lives of others may depend on your ability to fight a fire Study the instructions printed on the extinguisher Know how your fire extinguisher works before you drive the vehicle If a fire occurs gt Pull off the road gt Park in an open area away from buildings trees brush other vehicles or anything that might catch fire gt Don t pull into a service station gt Notify the police of your problem and location Section 1 General Knowledge Keep the fire from spreading before you try to put it out gt If your engine is on fire turn off the engine as soon as you can Open the hood as little a
168. r gt The tractor or power unit on placarded vehicles must have a fire extinguisher with a UL rating of 10 B C or more gt Make sure the extinguisher is fully charged gt Know how to operate it before you need it MANUAL Equipment for Chlorine gt A driver transporting chlorine in cargo tanks must have an approved gas mask in the vehicle The driver must also carry an emergency kit for controlling leaks in the dome cover plate fittings on the cargo tank Permit and Route Restrictions gt gt Most states and some localities require permits to transport hazardous materials and wastes Rules about permits can change Make sure you have all the needed permits before you start Many states and localities have either route restrictions or designated routes for the transportation of hazardous materials These restrictions and designations can change often If you work for a carrier ask your dispatcher about route restrictions or permits If you are an independent trucker and are planning a new route check with agencies where you plan to travel Some localities prohibit transportation of hazardous materials through tunnels over bridges or other roadways Check before you start Whenever you drive a placarded vehicle avoid heavily populated areas crowds tunnels narrow streets and alleys Take other routes even if they are more inconvenient Never drive a placarded vehicle near open fires unless you
169. r They apply braking power only to the drive wheels If your drive wheels have poor traction the retarder may cause them to skid Always turn off the retarder when the road is wet icy or covered with snow especially if the unit is empty or lightly loaded Seeing To be a safe driver you need to know what s going on all around your vehicle Look Ahead Because stopping or changing lanes may take a lot of distance you must know what the traffic is doing on all sides of you Expert drivers look far ahead so they will know how much room they have to move They try to focus their eyes 12 to 15 seconds ahead At low speeds this equals approximately one block On the highway this equals approximately 1 4 of a mile When you scan ahead check for traffic road conditions sharp pavement drop offs and signs Also look for slow moving vehicles These vehicles may be marked with a red triangle with an orange center Be especially careful when driving through work zones 24 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Looking ahead doesn t mean that you aren t paying attention to other things going on around you Good drivers shift their attention back and forth near and far Remember you re the expert Anticipate trouble and leave yourself a place to go if a hazard appears suddenly A hazard is anyone or anything that can cause an unsafe condition The best drivers are defensive and prepared for hazards Use Your Mirrors Look in your
170. r electrical connections header board landing gear etc safety latch in position over locking lever platform no cracks or breaks in platform structure release arm in engaged position and safety latch in place kingpin apron kingpin not bent apron lays flat on 5th wheel skid plate visible part of apron is not bent cracked or broken locking jaws completely closed around shank or kingpin sliding 5th wheel locking pins in the locked position not broken or damaged lights and reflectors not broken lenses clear and clean Remember semi trailers cannot exceed a length of 53 feet If you find anything unsafe during the pre trip inspection get it fixed before you drive It s against federal and state laws to operate an unsafe vehicle Inspection During the Trip gt gt Watch your gauges for signs of trouble Use your senses to check for problems Look listen smell and feel Check critical parts when you stop gt v v v v v Tires wheels and rims Brakes Lights and reflectors Brake and electrical connections to the trailer Trailer coupling devices Cargo covers and tiedowns It s a good idea to inspect your vehicle within the first 50 miles of the trip and also every 150 miles or every 3 hours whichever comes first After trip Inspection and Report Inspect your vehicle at the end of the trip day or tour of COMMERCIAL duty If you find any problems report them to your
171. r from pumping air When the tank pressure falls to the cut in pressure around 100 psi the governor allows the compressor to start pumping again Air storage tanks hold compressed air The number and size of the tanks varies among vehicles The tanks will hold enough air to allow the brakes to be used several times even if the compressor stops working Air tank drains allow you to drain water and compressor oil that may accumulate in the tanks Water and oil tend to collect in the bottom of the air tank and are bad for the air brake system The tank must be drained completely to remove all moisture Otherwise water can freeze in cold weather and cause brake failure Each air tank is equipped with a drain valve in the bottom Be sure to drain the tanks completely There are two types of drain valves gt Manual valves which are operated by turning a quarter turn or by pulling a cable Refer to the diagram below You must drain the tank yourself at the end of each day of driving gt Automatic valves automatically drain water and oil They may also be drained manually z Air Tank x Manual Draining Valve Alcohol evaporator puts alcohol into the air system This helps reduce the risk of ice in air brake valves and other parts during cold weather Ice inside the system can cause brake failure it as necessary You must also drain the air tank every day to get rid of water and oil unless the system has automatic drain
172. r ina pouch on the driver s door They must be seen easily by someone entering the cab gt When you are not behind the wheel leave the shipping papers in the driver s pouch or on the driver s seat gt Emergency response information must be kept with the shipping paper Papers for Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 Explosives gt COMMERCIAL A carrier must give each driver transporting Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 explosives a copy of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations FMCSR Part 397 The carrier must also give the driver written instructions about what to do if the driver is delayed or in an crash These instructions must include gt Names and telephone numbers of people to contact including carrier agents or shippers gt Information about the explosives being transported gt Information about what to do in emergencies such as fires crashes or leaks The driver must sign a receipt for these documents When you are driving you must have and be familiar with the gt shipping papers written emergency instructions Vv written route plan a copy of FMCSR part 397 Ww DRIVER S MANUAL 79 Section 9 Hazardous Materials Check Your Tires at the Beginning of Each Trip and gt Each Time the Vehicle is Parked Make sure your tires are properly inflated before you begin your trip Check placarded vehicles with dual tires at the start of each trip and when you park Use a tire pressu
173. r trucks use a lower gear for going down a hill than you would use for climbing the hill gt Be sure your brakes are adjusted before you begin a trip through the mountains If you use your brakes too much they will fade Excessive heat causes the brake drums to expand As a result the brake shoes have to travel further and exert less stopping force This situation is made even worse if the brakes were not properly adjusted to begin with Remember the more you use your brakes the more quickly they will get out of adjustment gt Use the proper braking technique Use your brakes on a long steep downgrade plus the braking power of your engine When your vehicle is in the proper low gear use this braking technique gt Apply the brakes just enough to feel a definite slowdown gt Reduce your speed to 5 mph below your safe speed This should take about 3 seconds Then release the brakes gt When your speed has increased to your safe speed repeat the first steps gt Know where the escape ramps are located on your route Escape ramps have been built on many steep downgrades They are made to stop runaway vehicles without injuring drivers and passengers and to avoid damaging vehicles Escape ramps use a long bed of loose soft material to slow runaway vehicles Use them if you lost your brakes If your safe speed on a steep grade is 40 mph don t apply your brakes until your speed reaches 40 mph Apply your brakes enou
174. railer with air brakes you must study this section and Section 3 Combination Vehicles Air brakes use compressed air to make the brakes work Air brakes stop large and heavy vehicles safely but the brakes must be maintained and used correctly Air brakes are three different braking systems service brake parking brake and emergency brake systems gt The service brake system applies and releases the brakes when you use the brake pedal during normal driving gt The parking brake system applies and releases the parking brakes when you use the parking brake control gt The emergency brake system uses parts of the service and parking brake systems to stop the vehicle if the service brake system fails Air Brake System Parts gt Air compressor pumps air into the air storage tanks reservoirs It is connected to the engine through gears or a v belt The compressor may be air cooled or cooled by the engine cooling system It may have its own oil supply or it may be lubricated by engine oil If the compressor has its own oil supply check the oil level during the pre trip inspection gt Air compressor governor controls when the air compressor pumps air into the air storage tanks When air tank pressure rises to the cut out level around 125 pounds per square inch psi the governor stops the DRIVER S MANUAL 39 Section 2 Air Brakes gt Check the alcohol container every day in cold weather and fill compresso
175. rcial driver s license The fee for a driver s license with a school bus endorsement is 4 00 per year If you wish to operate a school bus that is designed to carry 16 or more passengers you must obtain a commercial driver s license You will need to pass the CDL general knowledge test the passenger knowledge test school bus knowledge test and the air brake knowledge test if the vehicle is equipped with air brakes In addition to the written tests you must pass the road skills test in a commercial vehicle representative of the type you propose to operate If you operate only a school and or activity bus you may have commercial license privileges restricted for this purpose and pay only the driver s license fee of 4 00 per year or 20 00 for a 5 year license However if you intend to operate commercial vehicles other than the school or school activity bus or if you have a class A CDL or add other endorsement you will have to pay the fees for the CDL and the additional endorsements Pre Trip Inspection Before driving make sure your bus is safe Conduct a pre trip inspection gt Follow the inspection method outlined in Section 1 General Knowledge Also gt Make sure all lettering is clean and easy to read gt Check the school bus traffic warning lights to make sure they are working gt Check the operation of the traffic warning sign stop arm and crossing control arm if your bus is equipped with these feat
176. re gauge to check the pressure This is the only acceptable way to check pressure Do not drive with a tire that is leaking or flat except to the nearest safe place to fix it Remove any overheated tire Place it a safe distance from your vehicle Don t drive until you correct the cause of overheating Follow the rules about parking and attending placarded vehicles They apply even when you are checking repairing or replacing tires Stop Before Railroad Crossings 392 10 gt gt gt Stop before a railroad crossing if your vehicle gt is placarded or gt carries any amount of chlorine or gt is a cargo tank empty or loaded used for hazardous materials You must stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail Proceed only when you are sure that no train is coming Don t shift gears while crossing the tracks Hazardous Materials Emergencies In a hazardous materials emergency always remember gt gt gt gt No smoking Warn others Keep people away Avoid contact or inhaling Emergency Response Guidebook ERG gt The Department of Transportation produces a guidebook for firefighters police drivers and others about how to protect themselves and the public from hazardous materials This book is indexed by proper shipping names and hazardous materials identification numbers Emergency workers look for this information on the shipping paper VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRI
177. responsible student or passing motorist notify the authorities gt Keep students on the bus unless there is extensive damage or danger of further injury or fire gt If another vehicle is involved get the gt driver s name address phone number driver s license number insurance company name and policy number gt vehicle s license plate number and the state and the type of vehicle gt name address and phone number of wit nesses or other drivers involved in the crash Break Downs gt Set out flares or reflectors gt Turn on the emergency four way hazard lights gt Keep the students on the bus until other transportation arrives unless there is danger of injury Evacuations An evacuation situation can happen to anyone anytime anywhere Knowing what to do before during and after an evacuation can mean the difference between life and death Determine Need to Evacuate the Bus The first and most important consideration is for you to recognize the hazard If time permits contact your dispatcher to explain the situation before making a decision to evacuate the school bus The decision to evacuate the bus must be timely A decision should include consideration of the following conditions gt Is there a fire or danger of fire gt Is there a smell of raw or leaking fuel gt Is there a chance the bus could be hit by other vehicles gt Is the bus in the path of a sighted tornado or rising waters
178. rials regulations to determine the product s gt proper shipping name hazard class identification number correct packaging v v v correct label and markings gt correct placards gt Prepares products for shipping The shipper gt packages marks and labels all materials gt prepares shipping papers gt provides emergency response information gt supplies placards gt Certifies on the shipping paper that the shipment has been prepared according to federal regulations If you are pulling cargo tanks supplied by you or your employer the certification statement is not required The carrier is a person or company engaged in the transportation of passengers or property as a for hire or private carrier The carrier gt Takes the shipment from the shipper to its destination gt Refuses improper shipments gt Reports accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials to the proper government agency The driver safely transports the shipment without delay The driver gt Makes sure the shipper has identified marked and labeled the hazardous materials gt Refuses leaking packages and shipments DRIVER S MANUAL 67 ous Materials gt Placards his vehicle when loading if required gt Follows all regulations about transporting hazardous materials Communication Rules gt Keeps hazardous materials shipping papers and emergency response information in the proper place A
179. rn signals brake lights reverse lights and four way flashers Steps and handrails secure no missing hardware no worn matting door opens and closes correctly Check that all seats are secure with no missing hardware Check the function of all exits both inside and out including all warning devices Check that doors open and close correctly and are secure with no missing hardware 20 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVE R S MANUAL Department of Motor Vehicles Vehicle Inspection Study Guide COMBINATION VEHICLES During the actual tests you will be expected to point to or touch each of the parts of your vehicle listed below Name the part and explain what damage or problems you might find The types of damages or problems are listed below and in the vehicle inspection section in the CDL Manual Note All axles touching the ground on one side of the vehicle must be inspected This study guide cannot be used during the actual pre trip inspection portion of the skills test Front of Vehicle Lights Steering Box Steering Linkage Engine Compartment Oil Level Coolant Level Power Steering Fluid Water Pump Alternator Air Compressor Leaks Wiring insulation Hydraulic Brakes if equipped Check for proper color clean lenses cracks missing screws and condensation Also check for function left right turn signals headlights high low beam and four way flashers Check for missing loose bolt
180. rol the brakes The braking power of spring brakes depends on the brakes being in adjustment If the brakes are not adjusted right the regular brakes and the emergency parking brakes will not work correctly Parking brake controls In newer vehicles with air brakes you put on the parking brakes with a diamond shaped yellow push pull control knob You pull the knob out to put on the parking brakes spring brakes and you push the knob in to release them On older vehicles parking brakes may be controlled by a lever Never push down the brake pedal when the spring brakes are on The brakes could be damaged by the combined force of the springs and air pressure Modulating control valves may be used to apply the spring brakes gradually A control handle on the dashboard is spring loaded so you have a feel for the braking action The more you move the control lever VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 2 Air Brakes the harder the brakes come on This allows you to control the spring brakes if the service brakes fail When parking a vehicle with a modulating control valve move the lever as far as it will go and hold it in place with the locking device gt Dual parking control valves If the main air pressure is lost the springs brakes come on Some vehicles such as buses have a separate air tank which can be used to release the spring brakes This allows you to move the vehicle in an emergency One of the valves is a push pull type
181. s cracks and nonfactory welds Check for steering fluid leaks and torn or frayed hoses Check the steering column pitman arm and drag link for cracks bends non factory welds missing castle nuts cotter pins and proper lubrication Check by pulling out the dipstick wiping it and reinserting it then pull out to look at the low and full marks to determine the level Observe the site glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped explain removing radiator cap for level Do not remove cap Observe the sight glass or line markings for proper level If not equipped open the cap and check for proper level Check for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and coolant leaks Check for missing loose bolts cracks proper belt tension cracked or frayed belts and cracked burnt or loose wires Check for missing loose bolts Check belts for tension cracked or frayed lines and leaks Look under the engine compartment for coolant power steering transmission and oil leaks Check for cracked worn electrical wiring insulation Check the site glass or line on container for proper brake fluid Check the master cylinder for cracks leaks check the brake lines for cracks frays and brake fluid leaks Inside the Vehicle start engine Clutch Gearshift Air Pressure Gauge Oil Pressure Gauge Ammeter Voltmeter Air Brake Hydraulic Brake if equipped Steering Play
182. s good for Then you can use the speedometer to know when to shift up Basic method for shifting down gt Downshifting requires knowing when to shift Use either the tachometer or the speedometer to decide when to downshift DRIVER S MANUAL 23 Section 1 General Knowledge gt Take your foot off the accelerator Push in the clutch and shift to neutral gt Release the clutch gt Press the accelerator Increase engine and gear speed to the RPM required in the lower gear gt Push in the clutch and shift to the lower gear at the same time gt Release the clutch and press the accelerator at the same time You should downshift gt Before starting down a hill Slow down and shift down to a speed that you can control without using the brakes hard Make sure your gear is low enough Usually you will use a lower gear than you would use to climb the same hill gt Before entering a curve Slow down to a safe speed Downshift before you enter the curve This helps you control your vehicle while turning You can begin to accelerate as you leave the curve Retarders Jake brake Electric or Hydraulic Retarders help slow a vehicle so that you don t need to use your brakes as much This reduces brake wear and gives you another way to slow your vehicle All retarders can be turned on or off by the driver When turned on retarders apply their braking power whenever you take your foot completely off the accelerato
183. s possible Shoot the fire extinguisher through louvers the radiator grille or from the underside of the vehicle gt If you have a cargo fire in a van or box trailer keep the doors shut especially if your cargo contains hazardous materials Opening the doors will supply the fire with oxygen and will cause it to burn very fast Use the right fire extinguisher By regulation B C extinguishers are required on commercial vehicles A B C are an acceptable alternate gt B C type extinguishers work on electrical fires and burning liquids Don t use water on electrical or gasoline fires gt A B C type extinguishers work on burning wood paper and cloth as well as burning liquid and electrical fires gt Water can be used on wood paper cloth and burning tires Don t use water on an electrical fire you could get shocked or on a fire involving petroleum products gt If you re not sure what to use especially if you have a hazardous material fire wait for qualified fire fighters Extinguish the fire only if you know what you are doing and it is safe to do so gt When using the extinguisher stay as far away from the fire as possible gt Aim at the source or base of the fire not up in the flames gt Position yourself upwind Let the wind carry the extinguisher to the fire instead of carrying the flames to you gt Be sure you have a path of retreat if you are unable to control the fire gt Continue
184. s universities and associations In fact the federal regulations require training and testing for all drivers who transport hazardous materials You must be trained and tested at least once every 3 years Your employer must provide this training and testing Your employer must also keep a record of the training completed by each employee who works with hazardous materials Federal regulations also require that drivers receive special training before driving a vehicle transporting certain flammable gas materials or highway route controlled VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 9 Hazardous Materials radioactive materials Drivers transporting cargo tanks and portable tanks must also receive specialized training Your employer must provide this training Permits The majority of states and some localities require registrations or permits to transport hazardous material or subsets of such materials In Virginia a permit is required for transporting hazardous waste States and counties may also require drivers to follow special hazardous materials routes The federal government may require permits or exemptions for special hazardous materials cargo such as rocket fuel Find out about permits exemptions and special routes for the places that you drive Transporting Hazardous Materials The Key Players The shipper sends hazardous products from one place to another by truck rail ship or airplane The shipper gt Uses hazardous mate
185. s or emergency valves may not operate automatically gt gt gt You may have a lever rather than a knob Use the normal position for pulling the trailer Use the emergency position to shut off air and put on the trailer emergency brakes Trailer Air Lines gt Every combination vehicle has two air lines the service line and the emergency line They run between each vehicle tractor to trailer trailer to dolly dolly to second trailer The service line is also called the control line or signal line It carries air which is controlled by the foot brake or the trailer hand brake Pressure in the service line changes depending on how hard you press the foot brake or hand valve The service line is connected to relay valves These valves allow the trailer brakes to be applied more quickly The emergency line is also called the supply line It has two purposes gt First it supplies air to the trailer air tanks gt Second it controls the emergency brakes on combination vehicles gt Loss of air pressure in the emergency line causes the trailer brakes to come on Loss of pressure VIRGINIA gt COMMERCIAL Section 3 Combination Vehicles could be caused by the trailer braking loose and tearing apart the emergency air hose It could also be caused by a hose metal tubing or other part which breaks and lets out the air gt When the emergency line loses pressure it also causes the tractor protecti
186. s the type of CDL and endorsements that you need The type of CDL that you need is not determined by the class that the redesigned vehicle falls within CDL Endorsements H Permits you to drive a vehicle that transports hazardous materials Permits you to drive a tank vehicle Permits you to drive a passenger carrying vehicle Permits you to drive a school bus Permits you to drive a double or triple trailer x HA nN DZ Permits you to drive a tank vehicle AND a vehicle that transports hazardous materials If DMV cancels any endorsement displayed on your CDL you will be required to return to DMV to have a new CDL issued that does not display the cancelled endorsement Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your CDL CDL Restrictions B You must wear corrective lenses when operating a commercial motor vehicle E You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle with a manual transmission J You may only operate a school activity bus You may not operate any other type of commercial motor vehicle K You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle out side of Virginia L You may not operate a vehicle with Full Air or Air over Hydraulic brakes If you plan to operate a vehicle with either of these types of air brakes you must take the air brakes knowledge test You also must take the road test in a vehicle equipped with Full Air or Air over Hydraulic brakes VIRGINIA COMM Introduction M Operation of a p
187. s with oil grease or brake fluid on them Shoes worn thin missing or broken Cracked worn or frayed air hoses Cracks or dents in the air chamber v v v v v Broken or loose slack adjusters should not be at more than a 90 degree angle with brakes applied Steering system Look for gt Missing nuts bolts cotter keys or other parts on the steering box gt Bent loose or broken parts of the steering linkage including the steering gear box pitman arm and the drag link gt Worn or frayed power steering hoses pumps mounted securely no leaks and fluid level full gt Power steering fluid leaks gt Steering wheel play of more than 10 degrees approximately 2 inches of movement at the rim of a 20 inch steering wheel Steering Wheel Power Steering Cylinder Hydraulic Fluid Reservoir Steering Arm ea Drag Link Gear Box Pitman Arm 4 Spindle Steering Knuckle 10 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt If your vehicle has a steering axle brake be sure that it is never disabled Suspension system all axles The suspension system holds up the vehicle and its load It keeps the axles in place Therefore broken suspension parts are very dangerous Look for front rear and trailer suspension defects gt Spring hangers that allow movement of an axle from the proper position Hydraulic Shock Absorber Leaf Spring Vehicle Frame Frame Bearing Plates Front e Hanger
188. see ahead gt Watch for drunk drivers Be extra careful when bars and restaurants are closing Watch drivers who weave drive too slow or too fast or stop for no reason The vehicle At night you must depend on your headlights to see and be seen However you can t see as much with your headlights at night as you can see during the day gt Adjust your speed so that you can stop within the distance that you can see ahead With your low beams you can see ahead about 250 feet With your high beam you can see ahead between 300 and 500 feet If you are driving with your low beams on you should be able to stop within 250 feet If you are driving with your high beams on you should be able to stop within 300 to 500 feet You should be able to stop within the distance that you can see ahead With low beams you can see 250 feet ahead With high beams you can see 300 to 500 feet ahead VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge gt Make sure that your headlights are clean and adjusted properly Dirty headlights give only half the light they should This makes it harder for you to see and harder for other drivers to see you If your headlights are out of adjustment they won t give you a good view and they can blind other drivers gt Be sure that all lights and reflectors are clean and working so that other drivers can see you These lights include gt Markers lights Clearance lights Tail lights Identifi
189. sssseseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 4 Dual air brake Syte MS g inon e E ENE 41 Troops to Tuck M eeen a E E CO 4 pn SYSTEMS eeeeeeeesteeeeeeteetectsetse eee eeeeees CDL Classi GALI ONS errre a E EE EE 4 Sng AMO rA KES innet a aena CDL endorsement rernarsmeaiai ra n 5 TO A E EENE P AN SA 5 Section 3 Combination Vehicles oving VIOlALIONS 2 s 5c ccecsesvescdcodasdesdtesde narenn 5 Ser nner Sa a ea eee as Combination vehicle air brakes 0 ccecceeeeseeeeeeeeeeeees 44 Takin e CDL E a 7 Inspecting a combination vehicle cece eeeeeee 46 a eee Sides EEPE EA E T EA AT Coupling aad uncoupling combination Vehid Senia 47 Organ tissue donatio sasni EREN RES 9 No Nn PE VETES aariaa R 30 Applying to register to vole oreiiianaraniiiataaiaaa 9 Section 4 Doubles and Triples Section 1 General Knowledge Inspecting doubles and triples cee eee eee eee eeee 51 PRECIP inpe oiean aaraa 9 Coupling and uncoupling a aa A AE 53 Inspection during the trip 13 Pulling doubles triples trailers 2 0 0 cee eee teeter terete 54 After trip inspection and report cee eeseeee rete 13 Basic control of your Vehicle cece eee essere eeeteeteee 23 DOSING sesso ine as rele sedate diacinstabietiet cheat cceeieceatenienenees 24 Section 5 School Buses Vee a ee ea School bus endorseMent ccecceceeeeeeeeceeeeeeessesseeeneenees 55 Contlingspeed LTTE ay Pret inspection wanna 55 Brakin 29 Operating the bus Safely zisiesr srein eas 56 8
190. st drive doubles and triples very smoothly to prevent a rollover or jackknife Therefore look far ahead so you can slow down or change lanes gradually if necessary gt Manage your space gt Doubles and triples take up more space than other commercial vehicles They are longer and also need more space because you cannot turn or stop them suddenly gt Allow more following distance gt Make sure you have large enough gaps before entering or crossing traffic gt Be sure you are clear on the side before you change lanes gt Be even more careful in adverse conditions gt In bad weather slippery conditions or when driving in the mountains you must be very careful when driving doubles and triples gt You have greater length and more dead axles to pull with your drive axles than with other vehicles There is more chance for skids and loss of traction 4 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Section 5 School Buses Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge To drive a school bus you must be at least 18 years of age You must also hold a valid commercial driver s license Depending on the weight and size of the bus that you will drive you will be issued a Class B or Class C license Additionally you must have a passenger bus endorsement and a school bus endorsement on your CDL Individuals required to register with the Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Agai
191. t or that have an attendant that controls traffic when the bridge opens VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 8 Transporting Passengers After trip Vehicle Inspection Inspect your bus at the end of each shift If you work for an interstate carrier you must complete a written inspection report for each bus driven The report must specify each bus and list any defect that would affect safety or result in a breakdown The report must also state if there are no defects Report damage to hand holds seats emergency exits and windows at the end of your shift Mechanics can make repairs before the bus goes out again Mass transit drivers should also make sure passenger signaling devices and brake door interlocks work properly Prohibited Practices gt Avoid fueling your bus with riders on board unless abso lute necessary Never refuel the bus in a closed building with riders on board gt Don t talk with riders or engage in distracting activity while driving gt Do not tow or push a disabled bus with riders on board unless getting off would be unsafe Tow or push the bus to the nearest safe spot to discharge passengers Follow your employer s guidelines on towing or pushing disabled buses gt Urban transit coaches may have a brake and accelerator interlock system The interlock applies the brakes and holds the throttle in idle position when the rear door is open The interlock releases when you close the rear door Do not
192. t poorly ventilated cab can make you sleepy Keep the window or vent cracked or use the air conditioner gt Take a break Stay alert by stopping for a short break every 2 to 3 hours Walk around and give your vehicle a safety check VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Drinking and Driving Every year roughly 19 000 people are killed because of drivers who have been drinking About one half of all fatal crashes involve drinking drivers Be sure that you know the facts A few drinks will improve your driving Alcohol is a drug that will make you less alert and reduce your ability to drive safely Some people can drink a lot and not feel the effects Everyone who drinks alcohol is affected Just one drink affects your ability to drive safely If you eat a lot you won t get as Food will not keep you from drunk getting drunk Coffee and fresh air will help you get sober Only time will help you get sober Other methods don t work Stick with beer It s not as strong A 12 ounce glass of beer a five as wine or whiskey ounce glass of wine and a shot of liquor have the same amount of alcohol Just one alcoholic drink can affect your driving ability Even a small amount of alcohol affects the brain Alcohol first affects the part of the brain that controls judgment and self control This can keep you from knowing when you are getting drunk Alcohol affects your judgment and driving ability Your chances
193. t another crash gt If you are stopping to help at the scene of a crash park away from the crash The area around the crash will be needed by emergency vehicles gt Put on your flashers gt Set out reflective triangles to warn other traffic Make sure that other drivers will see them in time to avoid another crash Notify the Authorities If you have a CB or cellular telephone put out a call over the emergency channel or dial 911 before you get out of your vehicle If not wait until the crash scene has been protected then phone or send someone to phone the police Remember to determine where you are so you can give an accurate location Care for the Injured If a qualified person is helping the injured stay out of the way unless asked to assist Otherwise do the best you can to help anyone who is injured gt Don t move a severely injured person unless there is a danger of fire or passing traffic makes it necessary gt Stop heavy bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound gt Keep the injured person warm MANUAL Fires Truck fires can cause damage and injury Learn the causes of fires and how to prevent them Know what to do to extinguish fires Causes of Fire gt After accidents spilled fuel improper use of flares gt Tire under inflated tires and dual tires that touch gt Electrical system short circuits due to damaged insulation loose connections gt Fuel driver smoking impro
194. tal moving vans VIRGINIA COMM It s illegal for commercial drivers to have more than one license You must keep the license issued by the state where you live All other licenses must be returned to the states that issued them If you fail to return licenses from other states you could be fined up to 5 000 put in jail for up to 90 days or both You may not hold both a Virginia issued CDL and a Virginia DMV issued photo ID CDL Age Requirements You must be at least 18 years of age to hold a CDL Under federal law you must be a commercial driver at least 21 years of age to drive across state lines transport hazardous materials or transport interstate freight e g mail within the state If you are under 21 years of age you may be issued a CDL with a L restriction This restriction indicates that your driving privileges are valid only in Virginia CDL Instruction Permit If you want to learn to drive commercial motor vehicles you must get a commercial driver s license instruction permit To obtain a CDL instruction permit you must pass the CDL general knowledge exam and the other knowledge exams for the vehicles that you want to drive For example if you want to learn to operate a tank vehicle and a passenger bus you must take the general knowledge exam the tank vehicle exam and the passenger vehicle exam If you intend to drive a vehicle equipped with air brakes you must take the air brakes exam If you want to l
195. tance Watch ahead for slowing or stopped traffic Slow down gradually Avoid driving through deep puddles or flowing water Water in your brakes can cause the brakes to be weak apply unevenly or to grab This reduces braking power and causes wheel lockups and pulling to one side It could cause a jackknife if you are pulling a trailer If you must drive through water following these steps gt Slow down gt Put your transmission in low gear Engage the clutch smoothly gt Put on the brakes gently This presses the linings against the brake drums or discs and keeps mud silt sand and water out of your brakes gt Increase the engine RPM and cross the water while keeping light pressure on your brakes gt Assoon as you are out of the water maintain light pressure on the brakes for a short distance This will heat them and dry them out gt Make a test stop as soon as it is safe If the brakes do not work well drive for another short distance with light pressure on the brakes Don t apply too much pressure on the brakes or you may overheat the brake drums and linings COMMERCIAL Hot Weather Driving Vehicle Checks gt Make sure you have plenty of engine oil and engine coolant Engine oil lubricates the engine and helps keep it cool Antifreeze helps the engine under hot conditions and in cold conditions While you are driving check the oil temperature gauge and the engine temperature gauge If these gauges
196. tch lock engaged gt Check the upper fifth wheel gt Be sure the glide plate is securely mounted to the trailer frame gt Be sure that the kingpin is not damaged gt Check the sliding fifth wheel gt There should not be any damaged or missing parts gt Itshould be properly greased MANUAL 51 DRIVER S Section 4 Doubles and Triples gt All locking pins should be present and locked in gt place gt If air powered there should be no air leaks Wait for the air pressure to reach normal then push the red trailer air supply knob This will send air to the emergency supply lines v Check th t the tifthwheelisnotsotar forward gt Use the trailer handbrake to send air to the service that the tractor frame will hit the landing gear or line that the cab will hit the trailer during turns gt Go to the back of the last trailer You should hear gt Check the air and electric lines to the trailer air escaping This shows that the entire system is charged gt Be sure that the electrical cord is plugged in and sacred gt Close the emergency line valve gt Air lines should be properly connected to the glad gt Be sure that either the trailer handbrake or the hands You should not have air leaks Air lines service brake pedal is on Open the service line should be secured with enough slack for turns valve to check that service pressure goes through AMI hould be free irom d all trailers Then close the
197. te or other highways where the maximum speed limit is more than 55 mph you must not exceed 60 mph gt In school business and residential areas you must not exceed the posted speed limit If no speed limit is posted drive 25 mph gt When traveling on a highway designated as a rural rustic road you must not exceed the posted speed limit If no speed limit is posted you must not exceed 35 mph Remember weather road and traffic conditions may require you to travel slower than these speed limits When in doubt slow down DRIVER S MANUAL 57 Section 5 School Buses Antilock Braking Systems ABS Your school bus will have a yellow ABS malfunction lamp on the instrument panel if it is equipped with ABS How ABS Helps You When you brake hard on slippery surfaces in a vehicle without ABS your wheels may lock up When your steering wheels lock up you lose steering control When your other wheels lock up you may skid or even spin the vehicle ABS helps you avoid wheel lock up and maintain control You may or may not be able to stop faster with ABS but you should be able to steer around an obstacle while braking and avoid skids caused by over braking Braking with ABS When you drive a vehicle with ABS you should brake as you always have In other words Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely and stay in control gt Brake the same way regardless of whether you have ABS on the bus However
198. the air loss rate is too high gt Check for air leaks and fix them before driving or you could lose your brakes while driving Check the air compressor governor cut in and cut out pressures gt Air compressor pumping should start at about 100 psi and stop at about 125 psi Check the manufacturer s specifications MANUAL gt Run the engine at a fast idle The air governor should cut out the air compressor at the manufacturer s specified pressure The air pressure shown by your gauge s will stop rising gt With the engine idling step on and off the brake to reduce the air tank pressure The compressor should cut in at the manufacturer s specified cut in pressure The pressure should begin to rise gt If the air governor does not work as described above it may need to be repaired A governor that does not work correctly may not keep enough air pressure for safe driving gt Test the parking brake gt Stop the vehicle put on the parking brake gt Put the vehicle in low gear and gently release the clutch until you feel the vehicle pulling against the brake The vehicle should not move gt Test the service brakes gt Wait for normal air pressure to build release the parking brake move the vehicle forward slowly about 5 mph and apply the brakes firmly using the brake pedal gt Watch to see if the vehicle pulls to one side feels unusual or stops slowly gt This test can show you problems whi
199. the platform that holds the pentle hook for cracks Check that the release latch is engaged and in place Check the pentle hook and ring to make sure of no cracks bends and closed completely around ring Check the chains to make sure they are attached and locked Check the lights on the rear of truck for proper color clean lenses reflectors and cracks missing screws and condensation Also check for the function of left right turn signals brake lights and four way flashers Check air and electrical lines for leaks cracks signs of wear and proper connection Check headerboard for cracks and bends Check lights and reflectors same as others Check landing gear for cracks bends fully raised and handle secure Check lights reflectors same as others Check doors if equipped are secure and not missing hardware Check tie downs if equipped for cracks bends secure and no missing hardware Check the frame for cracks bends non factory welds and rust Inspect area same as rear of truck Check lights reflectors same as others Check doors ties same as others Check splash guards are secure no missing hardware MANUAL Department of Motor Vehicles Vehicle Inspection Study Guide STRAIGHT TRUCK SCHOOL BUS During the actual tests you will be expected to point to or touch each of the parts of your vehicle listed below Name the part and explain what damage or problems you might find The types of damages or problems
200. the proper papers and placarding Inspection Steps Before you inspect the vehicle make sure that the parking brakes are on and the wheels are chocked If you have to tilt the cab secure loose items so they won t fall Review the last vehicle inspection report Drivers may have to make a vehicle inspection report each day The motor carrier must repair any items that affect safety The motor carrier must certify on the report that the repairs were made or that they were unnecessary VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL Section 1 General Knowledge Check the engine compartment Engine oil level Coolant level in radiator condition of hoses Power steering fluid level hose condition Battery fluid level connections and tie downs r y FY y Y Automatic transmission fluid level you may have to start the engine gt Check belts for tightness and wear alternator water pump air compressor gt Leaks in the engine compartment fuel coolant oil power steering fluid hydraulic fluid water pump gt Cracked worn electrical wiring insulation Start the engine and inspect inside the cab gt Check the gauges to be sure they are working properly gt Oil pressure should come up to normal within seconds after the engine is started Ammeter and or voltmeter Coolant temperature Engine oil temperature T r wT Ww Warning lights and buzzers should go out right away gt Check the controls for looseness sticking damage or
201. the vehicle Additionally loose cargo can be damaged by sliding back and forth and can damage the vehicle You may load and secure the cargo yourself or someone else may load and secure it In either case you must gt inspect the cargo unless it is a sealed load or the manner of handling makes inspection impractical gt recognize overloads and poorly balanced weight gt ensure that the cargo is properly secured If you plan to carry hazardous materials that require placards on your vehicle you must have a hazardous materials endorsement You must be at least 21 years of age Section 9 of this manual gives you the information that you need to pass the hazardous materials test Inspecting Cargo As part of the pre trip inspection make sure that the truck is not overloaded Be sure that the cargo is balanced and secured properly Inspect the cargo before you begin your trip Make any adjustments needed Check the cargo and securing devices as often as necessary during the trip to keep the load secure VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Federal state and local regulations cover commercial vehicle weight where you can drive large vehicles and requirements for securing and covering cargo These regulations vary from place to place Know the regulations for the areas where you plan to drive Cargo Weight and Balance Definitions of Weight Gross vehicle weight GVW The total weight of a single vehicle plus the cargo
202. their vehicles before every trip Federal and state inspectors can inspect your vehicle If they find that it is unsafe they can put it out of service until you have it fixed If you are convicted of violating an out of service order your CDL will be disqualified There are three kinds of inspections gt pre trip gt during the trip gt after the trip Pre trip Inspection A pre trip inspection helps you find problems that could cause a breakdown or crash What to Look for During the Inspection Tires all axles gt Check for proper tire pressure using an air pressure gauge gt It is illegal to use regrooved recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels of a bus gt Look for gt Mismatched tire sizes gt Radial and bias ply tires used together gt Atleast 4 32 of tread depth in major grooves on front tires MANUAL DRIVER S 9 Section 1 General Knowledge gt At least 2 32 of tread depth in major grooves on other tires gt Cuts or other damage gt Dual tires touching Wheels and rims all axles Check for Damaged rims or wheels Rust around wheel nuts loose lug nuts Missing clamps spacers studs or lugs Mismatched bent or cracked lock rings Wheels or rims that have been welded v v v v v wv Axle seal hub oil seal not leaking proper fluid level Brakes all axles Look for brake drum and shoe problems on front rear and trailer brakes gt Cracked drums Shoes or pad
203. tion Check both the defroster and heater fans for proper function This page is designed to be removed from the manual for reference while studying for the vehicle inspection portion of the CDL road test VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL y Section 1 General Knowledge Safety Emergency Equipment Front Suspension Springs Spring Mount s Shock Absorber Front Wheel Rims Hub Seal Tire Lug Nuts Front Brakes Slack Adjuster Chambers Air Hose Brake Drum Hydraulic Brakes if equipped Driver Fuel Area Door Mirrors Fuel Tank 18 VIRG N Ensure working fire extinguisher properly charged and mounted spare electrical fuses unless equipped with circuit breakers three reflective triangles Check for missing cracked shifted or bent springs If 1 4 or more are missing your vehicle could be put out of service Check both mounts and the U bolts for cracks non factory welds missing or loose bolts and nuts Check for cracks leaks and missing bolts Check the rims for bends cracks and nonfactory welds Check the hub oil seal for missing bolts cracks leaks and proper level if equipped with site glass Check the tire for at least 4 32 tread depth in the major grooves Check for cuts bulges and proper air pressure using an air gauge Check the lug nuts for missing loose nuts and rust around them Check the slack adjuster for missing cotter pins I
204. tions for loading Class 1 explosives Class 3 flammable liquids Division 2 1 flammable gas These rules are found in the Code of Federal Regulations The regulations generally forbid use of cargo heaters including automatic cargo heating refrigeration units Unless you have read all the related regulations do not load these products in a cargo space that has a heater gt Use closed cargo space You cannot have overhang or tailgate loads of these materials Class 1 explosives Class 4 flammable solids Class 5 oxidizers You must load these hazardous materials in a closed cargo space unless all packages are gt fire and water resistant or gt covered with a fire and water resistant tarp Precautions for Specific Hazards Class 1 explosive materials gt Turn off your engine before loading or unloading explosives Then check the cargo space You must gt Disable cargo heaters Disconnect heater power sources and drain heater fuel tanks gt Make sure there are no sharp points that might damage cargo Look for bolts screws nails broken side panels and broken floor boards gt Use a floor lining with Division 1 1 1 2 or 1 3 explosives The floors must be tight and the liner MANUAL must be either non metallic material or non ferrous metal metal that does not contain iron gt Use extra care to protect explosives Never use hooks or other metal tools Never drop throw or roll packages
205. tor from the trailer gt Connect the air lines to the trailer gt Check the glad hand seals and connect the tractor emergency air line to the trailer emergency glad hand gt Check the glad hand seals and connect the tractor service air line to the trailer service glad hand gt Make sure the air lines are safely supported so that they won t be crushed or caught while you back the tractor under the trailer gt Supply air to the trailer gt From the cab push in the trailer air supply knob or move the tractor protection valve control from the emergency to the normal position This will supply air to the trailer brake system gt Wait until the air pressure is normal gt Check the brake system for crossed air lines Shut off the engine so you can hear the brakes gt Apply and release the trailer brakes and listen for the sound of the trailer brakes being applied and released You should hear the brakes move when applied and air escape when the brakes are released gt Check the air brake system pressure gauge for signs of major air loss gt When you are sure the trailer brakes are working start the engine gt Make sure the air pressure is up to normal Lock the trailer brakes gt Pull out the trailer air supply knob or move the tractor protection valve from normal to emergency Back under the trailer Use the lowest reverse gear gt Back the tractor slowly under the trailer to avoi
206. u stop Know how much space your bus needs to accelerate and merge with traffic Never assume other drivers will brake to give you room when you signal or begin to pull out gt Reduce speed on curves Crashes on curves result from excessive speed In good weather the posted speed on a curve is safe for cars but may be too fast for buses If your bus leans toward the outside on an banked curve you are driving too fast gt Stop at railroad crossings gt Stop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before railroad crossings gt Listen and look in both directions for trains gt Improve your ability to see or hear an approaching train by opening your forward door gt Ifa train has just passed make sure that another train isn t coming from the opposite direction gt If your bus has a manual transmission never change gears while crossing the tracks gt Slow down and check for other vehicles gt At street car crossings gt At railroad tracks used only for industrial switching within a business district gt Where a policeman or flagman is directing traffic gt Ifa traffic signal shows green gt At crossings marked exempt or abandoned gt Stop at drawbridges that do not have a signal light or traffic control attendant gt Stop at least 50 feet before the draw of the bridge gt Make sure the draw is completely closed before crossing gt Slow down at drawbridges that show a green traffic ligh
207. up to normal within seconds after the engine is started If no gauge identify the location of the warning light that indicates a system failure Build air pressure up to 100 120 PSI cut engine off and release all brakes press hard on the foot brake and hold down for one minute Air pressure should not drop over three PSI Turn ignition key on and continue with foot brake pumping air pressure down At around 60 PSI the Low Air buzzer should sound and or a warning light should appear Keep pumping air down with foot brake and at about 40 PSI the parking brake knob should pop out Pump the brake pedal three times apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for five seconds The pedal should not move If it does there may be a leak Check steering wheel play of no more than ten degrees approximately two inches of movement at the rim of a 20 inch steering wheel Set the parking brake put the vehicle in low gear and gently release your foot from the brake pedal and clutch if equipped until you feel the vehicle pulling against the brake The vehicle should not move Check mirrors for proper adjustment Check the windshield for cracks cleanliness and illegal stickers Check the wipers for looseness dry rot and function Check the following for function panel light high low beam indicator left and right turn signal indicators and four way flasher indicator Check both the highway and city horns for proper func
208. ures gt Clean and adjust the mirrors gt Check emergency equipment such as flag flares or reflectors first aid kit fire extinguishers gt Check all gauges on the instrument panel gt Check for exhaust leaks Do not drive the bus if gt the oil or water level is LOW or ADD DRIVER S MANUAL 55 Section 5 School Buses gt the turn signals flashing traffic warning lights or brake lights do not operate gt there are problems with the brakes or steering or there are noticeable exhaust leaks Operating the Bus Safely Virginia law requires all school bus drivers to wear safety belts Virginia law prohibits the use of hand held or hands free cell phones or other wireless devices while operating a school bus The only exceptions are in an emergency situation or when the vehicle is lawfully parked and for the purposes of dispatching School bus drivers may use two way radio devices authorized by the owner of the school bus Danger Zones and Use of Mirrors The danger zone is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger The danger zones may extend as much as 30 feet from the front bumper with the first 10 feet being the most dangerous 10 feet from the left and right sides of the bus and 10 feet behind the rear bumper of the bus In addition the area to the left of the bus is always considered dangerous because of passing cars Correct Mirror Adjustment Proper adjustment
209. urity Transpor tation Security Administration Transportation Worker Identification Credential with an Expiration date For Comparability Only OR 84 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Two documents needed one from list B and one from list C List B gt UBS Certificate of Citizenship N 560 or 561 U S Certificate of Naturalization N 550 or 570 U S Citizen Identification Card I 179 or 197 Expired U S passport within 12 months of expiration rT y F a Unexpired driver s license issued by a State or outlying possession of the United States gt Unexpired ID card issued by a State or outlying posses sion of the United States Must include a State or State agency seal or logo such as a State University ID gt U S military ID card or U S retired military ID gt U S military dependent s card gt Unexpired Department of Homeland Security Transpor tation Security Administration Transportation Worker Identification Credential gt Unexpired Merchant Mariner Credential List C gt Consular Report of Birth Abroad FS 240 gt Certification of Report of Birth Abroad DS 1350 or FS 545 gt Original or certified copy of birth certificate issued by a State county municipal authority or outlying posses sion of the United States bearing an official seal Voter s registration card Native American tribal document with photo U S social security card U S military discharge papers DD 214 Departm
210. use this safety feature in place of the parking brake DRIVER S MANUAL 65 Section 9 Hazardous Materials Section 9 Hazardous Materials Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge Hazardous materials Hazman endorsements are not transferable from other states All tests must be taken HAZMAT tests cannot be given orally or in a language other than English The federal USA Patriot Act requires all applicants for HAZMAT endorsements to be fingerprinted for a background check The HAZMAT background check may be transferred from another state The background check fee is 83 00 See page 83 of this manual for more information about background checks and fingerprinting locations Applicants for hazardous materials endorsements must comply with Transportation Security Administration requirements in 49 C ER Part 1572 A lawful permanent resident of the United States requesting a hazardous materials endorsement must also provide his U S Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS alien registration number Compliance with Federal motor carrier safety regulations a motor carrier or other person to whom this part is applicable must comply with the rules in parts 390 through 397 inclusive of this subchapter when he she is transporting hazardous materials by a motor vehicle which must be marked or placarded in accordance with 177 823 of this title The Code of Federal Regulations
211. ust leak Check the vehicle frame for cracks bends nonfactory welds and rust Check the rear wheels the same as the front with the exception of the tire depth it should be 2 32 in the major grooves Check the space between the dual tires Tires should not be touching and no sign of debris If equipped with spacers they should not be bent cracked or nonfactory welds Inspect this area the same as the front Suspensions vary and all items should be checked for cracks bent non factory welds missing loose bolts or nuts Inspect walker beams torsion bars and air bellows if equipped Inspect this area the same as the front of the vehicle Check for proper color and clean lenses reflectors cracks missing screws and condensation Also check for function of left right turn signals brake lights reverse lights and four way flashers Check that steps and handrails secure no missing hardware no worn matting door opens and closes correctly Check that all seats are secure with no missing hardware Check the function of all exits both inside and out including all warning devices Check that doors open and close correctly and are secure with no missing hardware MANUAL Department of Motor Vehicles Vehicle Inspection Study Guide COACH TRANSIT BUS During the actual tests you will be expected to point to or touch each of the parts of your vehicle listed below Name the part and explain what damage or pr
212. valve If you do not Deere EE MOT Aa E hear air escaping from both lines be sure that gt Check the landing gear the shut off valves on the trailer s and dolly s are gt Be sure that the landing gear is fully raised Check open You must have air all the way to the back for missing bent or damaged parts for all the brakes to work gt Make sure the crank handle is in place and gt Test the tractor protection valve secured gt Charge the trailer air brake system Build up gt If the landing gear is power operated make sure normal air pressure and push in the trailer air that there are no air or hydraulic leaks supply knob gt Inspect the double and triple trailers gt Turn off the engine gt Make sure that all shut off valves are in the correct gt Step on the brake pedal several times to reduce position Shut off valves are located at the rear of air pressure in the tanks the trailer and in the service and emergency lines gt When the air pressure falls into the pressure range Shut off valves should be open closed as follows specified by the manufacturer usually within the gt Shut off valves at the rear of the front trailers range of 20 to 40 psi the trailer air supply control should be open should pop out or go from the normal position to the emergency position The trailer air suppl gt Shut off valves at the rear of the last trailer Bency P PP y control may also be called the tractor protection should be closed
213. valves gt 4O VIRGINIA Safety valve is installed in the first tank that the air compressor pumps air to The safety valve protects the tank and the rest of the system from too much pressure The valve is usually set to open at 150 psi If the safety valve releases air something is wrong Have the system fixed by a mechanic Brake pedal applies air pressure and puts on the brakes Pushing the pedal down harder applies more pressure Letting it up reduces the air pressure and releases the brakes COMMERCIAL DRIVER S Releasing the brakes lets compressed air out of the system and reduces air pressure in the tanks The air pressure must be made up by the air compressor Pressing and releasing the pedal unnecessarily can let out air faster than the compressor can replace it If the pressure gets too low the brakes may lock up Foundation brakes are used at each wheel The most common type is the S cam drum brake Refer to the diagram Brake chamber Push rod Brake drum Slack adjuster Adjusting nut Axle Brake cam Cam roller R ums rin e p Brake Brake shoe lining Brake drums are located on each end of the vehicle s axles The wheels are bolted to the drums The braking mechanism is inside the drum To stop the brake shoes and linings are pushed against the inside of the drum This causes friction which slows the vehicle and creates heat The amount of heat that a drum can take without damage depen
214. ve tires DRIVER S MANUAL 31 Section 1 General Knowledge Check the chains for broken hooks worn or broken cross links and bent or broken side chains Learn how to put the chains on before you need to use them Remove ice from the radiator shutters Make sure the winterfront is not closed too tightly If the shutters freeze or the winterfront is closed too much the engine may overheat Check the exhaust system for loose parts and for signs of leaks Loose connections can let carbon monoxide leak into the vehicle This can cause sleepiness In large amounts it can kill you Driving Tips 2 ww 32 VIRGINIA Drive smoothly and slowly on slippery roads Don t hurry If the roads are very slippery don t drive at all Stop at the first safe place Adjust turning and braking to road conditions Make turns as gently as possible Don t brake any harder than necessary Don t use the engine brake or speed retarder on slippery or wet roads They can cause the driving wheels to skid Adjust speed to conditions Don t pass slower vehicles unless necessary Go slow and watch far enough ahead to keep a steady speed Avoid slowing down and speeding up Take curves at slower speeds and don t brake while you re in the curve Remember as the temperature rises and the ice begins to melt the road becomes even more slippery Adjust space to road conditions Don t drive beside other vehicles Keep extra following dis
215. w these steps gt Recognize the skid You can check for a skid ne or tava by looking in your mirrors Any time that you Direction apply the brakes of slide hard check the mirrors to make sure the trailer is staying straight behind your vehicle Once Pex ma the trailer swings locked up out of your lane or spinning it s very difficult to prevent a jackknife 50 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S MANUAL Section 4 Doubles and Triples gt Stop using the brake Release the brakes to get traction Do not use the trailer hand brake to straighten the trailer This is the wrong thing to do since brakes on the trailer wheels caused the skid in the first place Once the trailer wheels grip the road again the trailer will start to follow the tractor and straighten out Section 4 Doubles and Trip es Every Virginia CDL test includes information from Section 1 General Knowledge Offtracking When a vehicle goes around a corner the rear wheels follow a different path than the front wheels This is called offtracking or cheating Because of offtracking the path followed by a tractor semi is wider than the rig itself See the figure below The rear wheels of the powered unit will offtrack some The rear wheels of the trailer will offtrack even more If there is more than one trailer the rear wheels of the last trailer will offtrack the most The longer the vehicle the greater the amount of of
216. who fails to comply with these requirements will not be eligible for a commercial driver s license Effective May 21 2014 CDL drivers who certify to one of the non excepted categories of commercial motor vehicle CMV operation will be required to have their physical examination completed by a medical examiner who is listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration s FMCSA s National Registry of Medical Examiners The Department of Motor Vehicles DMV will not accept any medical examination certificate that is not completed by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry and does not display the medical examiner s registry number For more information on how to locate a medical examiner who is on the Registry go to https nationalregistry fmcsa dot gov NRPublicUl home seam or visit www dmvNOW com To obtain a medical examination form contact J J Keller and Associates at 1 800 327 6868 Label Master at 1 800 621 5808 the Virginia Trucking Association or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at www fmcsa dot gov Vendors may charge a fee for this form MANUAL Vision Standards To operate commercial motor vehicles you must have gt 20 40 or better vision in each eye with or without corrective lenses and gt 140 degrees or better horizontal vision These visual requirements must be met without the aid of a telescopic lens Additionally you must be able to recognize traffic signs and devices sh
217. whom the shipment is being sent 72 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL DRIVER S gt The hazardous material s shipping name and identification number gt The labels required If a reportable quantity or inhalation hazardous is being shipped the shipper will also put RQ or INHALATION HAZARD on the package Packages with liquid containers inside will have arrows pointing in the correct upright direction The labels used always reflect the hazard class of the product Labels should appear near the proper shipping name Recognizing Hazardous Materials Learn to recognize shipments of hazardous materials To find out if the shipment includes hazardous materials look for these clues gt An entry with a proper shipping name hazard class and ID number gt A highlighted entry or one with an X or RQ in the hazardous materials column Look for other clues and ask gt What business is the shipper in Paint dealers chemical suppliers scientific supply houses pest control or agricultural suppliers explosives munitions or fireworks dealers are all likely sources for hazardous materials gt Do you see tanks with diamond labels or placards around the business gt What type of package is being shipped Cylinders and drums are often used for hazardous materials shipments gt Is a hazard class label proper shipping name and ID number on the package gt Does the package have handling precautions Hazardous Waste Manif
218. you can back in a straight line If you must back on a curved path back to the driver s side so you can see gt Back slowly gt Use both mirrors The mirrors help you see if the trailer is staying on the proper path Correct the trailer s path by turning the top of the steering wheel in the direction of the drift gt Pull forward Make pull ups to reposition your vehicle as needed Shifting Gears Manual Transmissions Basic method for shifting up Most heavy vehicles with manual transmissions require double clutching to change gears This is the basic method gt Release the accelerator Push in the clutch and shift to neutral gt Release the clutch gt Let the engine and gears slow to the RPM required for the next gear This takes practice gt Push in the clutch and shift to the higher gear gt Release the clutch and press the accelerator at the same time Shifting gears using double clutching requires practice If you remain too long in neutral you may have trouble putting the vehicle into the next gear Don t try to force it Return to neutral release the clutch increase engine speed to match road speed and try again There are two ways to know when to shift up gt Engine speed RPM Study the manual for your vehicle and learn the operating RPM range Watch your tachometer and shift up when your engine reaches the top of the range gt Road speed MPH Learn the speeds that each gear i

CDL Manual - Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

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