Professional Documents
Culture Documents
COMMERCIAL
DRIVERS LICENSE
MANUAL
This material is based upon work supported by the Federal Motor Carri er Safety
Administration under Cooperati ve A greement No. DTFH61-97-X-00017. Any
opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication
are those of the Author(s) and do not neces sarily reflect the view of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Table of Contents
Louisiana has 5 classes of drivers license:
CDL Requirements
CDL Renewals Office Locations
CDL Full Service Office Locations
Page
i-ii
iii
iv
v
Introduction ...........................................................................................................................1-1
Driving Safely......................................................................................................................2-1
Transporting Cargo Safely .....................................................................................3-1
Transporting Passengers Safely ......................................................................4-1
Air Brakes ...............................................................................................................................5-1
Combination Vehicles .................................................................................................6-1
Doubles and Triples......................................................................................................7-1
Tank Vehicles .....................................................................................................................8-1
Hazardous Materials ....................................................................................................9-1
School Bus ..........................................................................................................................10-1
Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection .................................................................................11-1
Basic Vehicle Control Skills Test....................................................................12-1
On-Road Driving ............................................................................................................13-1
ii
CDL REQUIREMENTS
INITIAL ISSUANCE:
Upon successful completion of the sk ills test, the Examiner will issue a
Certificate of Successful Completion and place it in a sealed envelope to be
presented to the CDL office for i ssuance. Tampering with this envel ope
may result in invalidation of your test.
CDL RENEWALS:
$ 5.00 each
-
up to $3.00
Questions:
225-925-6146 or www.expresslane.org
iii
iv
Section 1
INTRODUCTION
No
Yes
Is the
vehicle a
combination
vehicle
towing a unit
over 10,000
pounds
GVWR?
Yes
You
need a
Class A
CDL.
No
Does the
single
vehicle have
a GVWR
over 26,000
pounds?
Yes
You
need a
Class B
CDL.
No
Is the
vehicle
designed to
carry 16 or
more people
(including
the driver)?
No
Yes
You
need a
Class C
CDL.
No
Does the
vehicle
require
No
hazardous
material
placards or
transport a
select agent
or toxin?
Yes
You
need a
Class C
CDL.
No
NOTE:
Figure 1.1
Section 1 - Introduction
Page 1-1
XX
4
X
XX
X
5*
School Bus
Passenger
Tank Vehicles
Class C
Double / Triple
Class B
ENDORSEMENT
Hazardous
Materials
Class A
Sections to Study
XX
X
X
X
X
10
11
12
13
Section 1 - Introduction
Page 1-4
Section 2
DRIVING SAFELY
This Section Covers
Vehicle Inspection
Basic Control of Your Vehicle
Shifting Gears
Seeing
Communicating
Space Management
Controlling Your Speed
Seeing Hazards
Distracted Driving
Aggressive Drivers/Road Rage
Night Driving
Driving in Fog
Winter Driving
Hot Weather Driving
Sharing the Road
Railroad-highway Crossings
Mountain Driving
Driving Emergencies
Antilock Braking Systems
Skid Control and Recovery
Accident Procedures
Fires
Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving
Staying Alert and Fit to Drive
Hazardous Materials Rules
Page 2-1
Figure 2.1
Page 2-2
Figure 2.4
Figure 2.2
Figure 2.3
Page 2-3
or engin
Page 2-4
General
Figure 2.5
Check Mirrors and Windshield. Inspect mi rrors
and wind shield for cracks, dirt, illegal sticke rs, or
other o bstructions to se eing clearly. Clea n an d
adjust as necessary.
Check Emergency Equipment
Front
Page 2-5
Right Side
Right Rear
Condition of wh eels a nd rim s--no missing,
bent, or b roken spacers, stud s, clam ps, o r
lugs.
Condition of tires--p roperly inflated, valve
stems and caps OK, no serious cut s, bulge s,
tread wear, tires not rubbi ng ea ch other, an d
nothing stuck between them.
Tires sam e type, e.g., no t mixed radial and
bias types.
Tires evenly matched (same sizes).
Wheel bearing/seals not leaking.
S uspension.
Condition of spring(s), spring hangers,
shackles, and u-bolts.
A xle secure.
Powered axle(s) not leaking lube (gear oil).
Condition of torque rod arms, bushings.
Condition of shock absorber(s).
If retractable axle equipped, check
condition of lift mechanism. If air powered,
check for leaks.
Condition of air ride components.
Brakes.
Brake adjustment.
Condition of brake drum(s) or discs.
Condition of hoses--look for any wear due
to rubbing.
Brake shoes, brake chamber, slack
adjuster - should not have more than 1
travel for manual brakes and 1 for self
adjusting brakes.
Lights and reflectors.
Side-marker lights clean, operating, and
proper color (red at rear, others amber).
Side-marker reflectors clean and proper
color (red at rear, others amber).
Rear
Page 2-6
Left Side
Get In Vehicle
A ccelerating.
Steering.
Stopping.
Bac king safely.
2.2.1 Accelerating
Subsection 2.1
Test Your Knowledge
The vehicle inspection report tells the motor carrier
about problems that may need fixing. Keep a copy
of your report in the ve hicle for one day. That way,
the next driver can lea rn about any p roblems you
have found.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
2.2.2 Steering
Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands.
Your hands should be on opposite sides of the
wheel. If you hit a curb or a pothole (chuckhole),
the wheel could pull away from your hands unless
you have a firm hold.
2.2.3 Stopping
Push the brake pedal down gradually. The amount
of brake p ressure you need to stop the vehicle will
depend o n the spee d of the vehicl e and h ow
quickly you n eed to sto p. Control the p ressure so
the vehicle comes to a smooth, safe stop. If you
have a man ual tran smission, pu sh t he clut ch in
when the engine is close to idle.
Page 2-8
Page 2-9
2.3.4 Retarders
Some vehi cles have "ret arders." Retarde rs h elp
slow a ve hicle, red ucing t he n eed fo r using you r
brakes. They redu ce b rake wea r and give you
another way to slow down. There are four ba sic
types of retarders (exhaust, engine, hydraulic, and
electric). All retarde rs ca n be turne d o n or off by
the drive r. O n so me vehi cles the retarding p ower
can be adjusted. When turned "on," retarders apply
their bra king power (to the d rive wheels o nly)
whenever yo u let up on the accele rator ped al all
the way.
2.4 Seeing
To be a saf e driver you n eed to know what's going
on all around your vehicle. Not looking properly is a
major cause of accidents.
Figure 2.6
Look for Traffic. Look for vehicl es coming ont o
the hig hway, into you r la ne, or turnin g. Wat ch fo r
brake lights from slowing vehicles. By seeing these
things fa r en ough a head, you can change you r
speed, or change la nes i f nece ssary to avoid a
problem. If a traffic light has be en green for a long
time it will probably change befo re yo u get the re.
Start slowing down and be ready to stop.
Page 2-11
Figure 2.7
2.5 Communicating
2.5.1 Signal Your Intentions
Other drivers can't kno w what you a re going to do
until you tell them.
Signaling wh at you inte nd to d o i s i mportant for
safety. Here are some general rules for signaling.
Turns. The re are thre e g ood rul es fo r using turn
signals:
Signal early. Signal well b efore you turn. It is
the best way to keep others from trying to pass
you.
Signal contin uously. You need both ha nds on
the wheel to turn safely. Don't cancel the signal
until you have completed the turn.
Cancel your signal. Don't forget to turn off your
turn signal after you've turne d (if yo u do n't
have self-canceling signals).
Lane Changes. Put your turn sign al on before
changing la nes. Change lane s slowly an d
smoothly. Th at way a dri ver you didn' t see may
have a chance to h onk his/her horn, or avoid your
vehicle.
Page 2-12
Figure 2.9
Back beyond any hill, curve, or other obstruction
that prevents other drive rs from seei ng the vehicle
within 50 0 fe et. If line of sight view i s obstructe d
due to hill o r curve, move the rear-most triangle to
a point back down the road so warning is provided.
See Figure 2.10.
Figure 2.8
Page 2-13
Figure 2.10
Stopping Distance Chart
Miles
Per
Hour
Driver
Reaction
Distance
Vehicle
Braking
Distance
Total
Stopping
Distance
How Far
The Rig
Will
Travel in
One
Second
15 mph
22 ft.
17 ft.
29 ft.
46 ft.
30 mph
44 ft.
33 ft.
115 ft.
148 ft.
45 mph
66 ft.
50 ft.
260 ft.
310 ft.
50 mph
73 ft.
55 ft.
320 ft.
375 ft.
55 mph
81 ft.
61 ft.
390 ft.
451 ft.
Figure 2.11
The Effect of Vehicle Weight on Stopping
Distance. The heavier the vehicle, the more work
the bra kes must do to sto p it, and the more h eat
they absorb. But the bra kes, tire s, spring s, an d
shock a bsorbers on he avy vehicl es are de signed
to wo rk be st wh en th e vehicle is fu lly loaded.
Empty trucks require gre ater stop ping distan ces
because an empty vehicle has less traction.
Page 2-14
It does not
take a lo
t of water to cause
hydroplaning. Hydroplani ng ca n o ccur at sp eeds
as lo w a s 30 mph if there i
s a lo t of water.
Hydroplaning is more likel y if tire pressure is lo w,
or the trea d i s wo rn. (T he groove s in a tire ca rry
away the water; if they aren't deep, they don't work
well.)
Page 2-15
safe spee d.
Figure 2.12
If you are driving a 40-foot truck a nd only counted
up to 2 seconds, you're too close. Drop back a little
and count a gain until yo u have 4 seco nds of
following di stance (or 5 seconds, if you're goin g
over 40 mph). After a littl e practice, you will know
Section 2 Driving Safely
Figure 2.13
Left Turns. On a l eft turn, make sure you have
reached the center of the intersectio n before yo u
Page 2-18
start the left turn. If you turn too soon, the left side
of your ve hicle may hit another vehicle because of
offtracking.
If there are two turning lanes, always take the right
turn lan e. Don't sta rt in the insi de lan e becau se
you may h ave to swin g right to make the tu rn.
Drivers on your left can be more readily seen. See
Figure 2.14.
nger j ust a
ny of
Page 2-19
6.
room an d
Page 2-22
Page 2-23
Page 2-24
2.13.2 Driving
Slippery Surfaces. Drive slowly and smoothly o n
slippery roads. If it i s ve ry slippery, y ou shouldn't
drive at all. Stop at the first safe place.
Start Gently and Slowly. When first starting, get
the feel of the road. Don't hurry.
the road,
Check for Ice. Check for ice on
especially bridges and overpasses. A lack of spray
from other vehicles indicates ice has formed on the
road. Also, check your mirrors and wiper blades for
ice. If they have ice, the road most likely will be icy
as well.
Adjust Turning and Braking to Conditions.
Make turns as gently as possible. Don't brake any
harder tha n necessary, and don 't use the engin e
brake or sp eed reta rder. (They can cau se the
driving wheels to skid on slippery surfaces.)
Adjust Speed to Conditions. D on't p ass s lower
vehicles unle ss n ecessary. Go slowly and wat ch
far e nough ahead to keep a steady sp eed. Avoid
having to slow down and speed up. Take curves at
slower speeds and do n't brake while in curve s. Be
aware that a s the tempe rature ri ses t o the point
where i ce begins to melt, the ro ad b ecomes even
more slippery. Slow down more.
Adjust Space to Conditions. Don't drive
alongside other vehi cles. Keep a lo nger follo wing
distance. When you see a traffic jam a head, slow
down or sto p to wait fo r it to clea r. Try ha rd to
anticipate stops ea rly an d sl ow down gra dually.
Watch for sn owplows, as well as salt and sand
trucks, and give them plenty of room.
Wet Brakes. When drivin g in heavy rain or d eep
standing water, your b rakes will get wet. Water i n
the bra kes can ca use the bra kes to be wea k, to
apply unevenly, or to g rab. This can cause lack of
braking power, wheel lock ups, pulling to one si de
or the other, and jackknife if you pull a trailer.
Avoid driving throug h de ep pud dles or flowi ng
water if possible. If not, you should:
Slow d own and pl ace transmi ssion i n a lo w
gear.
Page 2-26
2.14.2 Driving
Watch for Bleeding Tar. Tar in the road pavement
frequently rises to the surface in very h ot weather.
Spots where tar "ble eds" to the surfa ce a re ve ry
slippery.
Go Slowly Enough to Prevent Overheating.
High speeds cre ate more heat for tire s and th e
engine. In de sert conditions the h eat may build up
to the point whe re it is d angerous. Th e heat will
increase chances of t ire f ailure or even f ire, an d
engine failure.
Page 2-27
Use cautio n
when passin g
bicyclists because the ai r cu rrent
created by a passing vehicles may
cause bi cyclists to ha ve an
accident.
Page 2-28
Following
Page 2-30
Figure 2.15
Figure 2.16
There is al so a no passing zo ne sign on two -lane
roads. Th ere may be a white stop line painted on
the pavement before the railr oad tracks. The f ront
of the schoo l bus m ust remain b ehind this lin e
while stopped at the crossing.
Crossbuck Signs. This s ign ma rks th e gr ade
crossing. It requires you to yield the right -of-way to
the train. If t here is no white line painted on the
Page 2-31
Figure 2.18
ced in
Reduce Speed. Speed must be redu
accordance with your ab ility to see approaching
trains in any direction, and speed must be held to a
point which will permit y ou to stop short of the
tracks in case a stop is necessary.
Don't Expect to Hear a Train. Because of noise
inside your vehicl e, you cannot expect to hear the
train horn until the train is dang erously close to the
crossing.
Don't Rely on Signals. You should not rely solely
upon th e pre sence of wa rning signals, gates, o r
flagmen to warn of the approa ch o f trains. Be
especially alert at crossings that do not have gates
or flashing red light signals.
Double Tracks Require a Double Check.
Remember that a train o n one tra ck may hide a
train on the other tra ck. Loo k both ways befo re
crossing. After one train has cleared a crossing, be
sure no other trains are near before starting across
the tracks.
Yard Areas and Grade Crossings in Cities and
Towns. Yard area s an d g rade crossings in cities
and towns a re just a s da ngerous as rural g rade
crossings. Approach them with as much caution.
Page 2-32
Page 2-34
Page 2-37
Page 2-38
Page 2-39
2.21 Fires
Truck fire s can ca use da mage an d in jury. Learn
the causes of fires and how to prevent them. Know
what to do to extinguish fires.
Page 2-40
Class/Type of Fires
Class
A
Type
Wood, Paper, Ordinary Combustibles
Extinguish by Cooling and
Quenching Using Water or Dry
Chemicals
Gasoline, Oil, Grease, Other Greasy
Liquids
Extinguish by Smothering, Cooling
or Heat Shielding using carbon
Dioxide or Dry Chemicals
Electrical Equipment Fires
Extinguish with Nonconducting
Agents such as Carbon Dioxide or
Dry Chemicals. DO NOT USE
WATER.
Fires in Combustible Metals
Extinguish by Using Specialized
Extinguishing Powders
Figure 2.20
Figure 2.21
Page 2-41
What
Determines
Blood
Alcohol
Concentration? BAC is determined by the amount
of alcohol yo u drin k (mo re alcoh ol me ans hig her
BAC), ho w fast you d rink (faste r dri nking mea ns
higher BAC), and you r weight (a small pe rson
doesn't have to drink as much to re ach the same
BAC).
.15
Reduction in
reaction time.
.04
.08
.11
.15
.19
.23
.26
.30
.34
1
0
.38
.10*
Noisy, possible
embarrassing
behavior, mood
swings.
ImpairOnly Safe
ment
Driving Limit
Begins
Definite impairment in
coordination &
judgment .
Effects
.08
.00
240
able relaxation.
220
.05 Notice
Less inhibited.
200
Effects on Driving
Condition
180
.02
Effects on Body
160
BAC
140
120
Effects Of Increasing
Blood Alcohol Content
Figure 2.23
Page 2-42
Page 2-43
had en ough
Take a Nap. If you can't stop for the nig ht, at least
pull off at a safe place, su ch as a rest area or truck
stop, and take a nap. A nap as short as a half-hour
will do mo re to overcome fatigue than a half-h our
coffee stop.
2.23.4 Illness
Once in a while, you may become so ill that you
cannot ope rate a motor vehicle saf
ely. If this
happens to you, you mu st not drive. However, in
case of an emergency, you may d rive to the
nearest place where you can safely stop.
Page 2-44
Figure 2.25
Page 2-46
Section 3
TRANSPORTING CARGO
SAFELY
This Section Covers
Inspecting Cargo
Cargo Weight and Balance
Securing Cargo
Cargo Needing Special Attention
Figure 3.1
Figure 3.2
Cargo should have at l east one tied own for each
ten feet of cargo. Make sure you ha ve enou gh
Page 3-2
3.4.3 Livestock
Livestock can move a round in a trail er, ca using
unsafe han dling. With le ss than a full load, use
false b ulkheads to ke ep livesto ck bun ched
together. Ev en when bu nched, special ca re is
necessary be cause live stock can lean on cu rves.
This shifts the cente r of gravity and make s rollover
more likely.
Section 3
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Page 3-3
Section 4
TRANSPORTING
PASSENGERS SAFELY
This Section Covers
Vehicle Inspection
Loading
On the Road
After-trip Vehicle Inspection
Prohibited Practices
Use of Brake-door Interlocks
Page 4-1
Class
Page 4-2
4.3.2 At Stops
Riders can stumble when getting on
or off, and
when the bus starts or stops. Caution rid ers to
watch their step wh en le aving the bu s. Wait fo r
them to sit down o r b race them selves befo re
starting. Sta rting an d st opping shou ld be a s
smooth as possible to avoid rider injury.
Occasionally, you m ay ha ve a drunk o r di sruptive
rider. You must ensure this rider's safety as well as
that of others. Don't di scharge such riders where it
would be un safe for them . It may be safer at the
next sch eduled stop o r a well-lig hted area where
there a re o ther peo ple. Many carriers h
ave
guidelines for handling disruptive riders.
4.3.6 Drawbridges
Stop at Drawbridges. Stop at drawbridges that do
not have a signal light or traffic cont rol attendant.
Stop at least 50 feet before the draw of the bridge.
Look to ma ke sure the d raw i s comple tely clo sed
before crossing. You do not need to stop, but must
slow down and make sure it's safe, when:
There is a traffic light showing green.
The bridge has an attend ant o r traffic office r
who controls traffic
whenever th e bridg e
opens.
Page 4-3
any othe r
Section 4
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Page 4-4
Section 5
AIR BRAKES
This Section Covers
Figure 5.1
Page 5-1
Figure 5.2
Wedge Brakes. In this type of b rake, the brake
chamber p ush rod pu shes a wedge di rectly
between the ends of two brake shoes. This shoves
them ap art and a gainst the insi de of the brake
drum. We dge brakes may have a single bra ke
chamber, or two brake chambers, pushing wedges
in at both en ds of the brake shoe s. Wedge type
brakes may be self-a djusting or m ay requi re
manual adjustment.
Disc Brakes. In a ir-operated d isc brakes, a ir
pressure a cts on a b rake chamber and slack
adjuster, like s-cam b rakes. But instea d of the scam, a "power screw" is used. The pressure of th e
brake chamber on the slack adju ster turns the
power screw. The power screw clamps the disc or
rotor between the b rake l ining p ads of a calipe r,
similar to a large c-clamp.
Wedge brakes a nd di sc brake s are le ss common
than s-cam brakes.
Page 5-3
Figure 5.3
On newer vehicles, the malfunction lamp comes on
at start-u p for a bulb ch eck, and the n goes out
quickly. On older sy stems, the lamp co uld stay on
until you are driving over five mph.
If the lamp stays on after t he bul b check, or goes
on on ce you are und er way, you may have lost
ABS control at one or more wheels.
In the case o f towed units manufactu red before it
was required by the Department of T ransportation,
it may be difficult to tell if the unit is equipped with
ABS. Look under the vehicl e for the elect ronic
control unit (ECU) and wheel spee d sensor wires
coming from the back of the brakes.
Page 5-4
Subsection 5.1
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Figure 5.4
tanks, hoses, lines, etc.
One sy stem t ypically
operates th e regul ar b rakes on th e re ar axle o r
axles. The other system ope rates the reg ular
brakes on th e front axle (and possibly one rea r
axle). Both systems supply air to the trailer (if there
is one). The firs t system is called the "primary"
system. Th e other i s called the "
secondary"
system. See Figure 5.4.
Page 5-6
Page 5-7
Page 5-8
How Far
The Rig
Will
Travel in
One
Second
Driver
Reaction
Distance
Vehicle
Braking
Distance
15 mph
22 ft.
17 ft.
29 ft.
46 ft.
30 mph
44 ft.
33 ft.
115 ft.
148 ft.
45 mph
66 ft.
50 ft.
260 ft.
310 ft.
50 mph
73 ft.
55 ft.
320 ft.
375 ft.
55 mph
81 ft.
61 ft.
390 ft.
451 ft.
Miles Per
Hour
Figure 5.6
Subsection 5.4
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Page 5-10
Section 6
COMBINATION VEHICLES
This Section Covers
Driving Combinations
Combination Vehicle Air Brakes
Antilock Brake Systems
Coupling and Uncoupling
Inspecting Combinations
Figure 6.1
Page 6-2
Figure 6.3
Figure 6.2
Stop Using the Brake. Release the brakes to ge t
traction back. Do not use the trail er hand brake (i f
you have one) to "straighten out the rig." This is the
wrong thin g to do si nce the brakes o n the trailer
wheels caused the skid in the first place. Once the
trailer wheels grip the roa d again, the trailer will
start to follow the tractor and straighten out.
Figure 6.4
Page 6-3
Subsection 6.1
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Figure 6.5
Look at Your Path. Look at your li ne of travel
before you begin. Get ou t and wal k a round the
vehicle. Check yo ur clearance to th e side s a nd
overhead, in and near the path of your vehicle.
Use Mirrors on Both Sides. Check t he out side
mirrors on b oth side s fre quently. Get out of the
vehicle and re-inspect your path if you are unsure.
Back Slowly. This will let you make
before you get too far off course.
corrections
Page 6-4
Page 6-5
Subsection 6.2
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Page 6-6
Page 6-7
Page 6-8
uple
Page 6-9
Figure 6.8
Use the
seven-step insp ection pro cedure
described in Section 2 to inspect your combination
vehicle. Th ere are m ore things to in spect on a
combination vehicle th an on a single v ehicle. (Fo r
example, tires, wh eels, lights, refl ectors, etc.)
Section 6 - Combination Vehicles
Page 6-10
Landing Gear
Subsection 6.5
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Page 6-11
Section 7
DOUBLES AND TRIPLES
This Section Covers
Page 7-1
Figure 7.1
Page 7-2
Never unl ock the pintle hook with the dolly still
under the rear trailer. The dolly tow bar may fly up,
possibly causing injury, and making it v ery difficult
to re-couple.
Landing Gear
Page 7-3
Section 7
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
Section 8
TANK VEHICLES
This Section Covers
8.1.1 Leaks
On all ta nk vehicles, the most im portant item to
check for is leaks. Ch eck under a nd around the
vehicle for si gns of a ny leaking. Don't carry liquids
or gases in a leaking tank. To do so is a crime. You
will be cited and preve nted from drivi ng furthe r.
You may also be liable for the clean up of any spill.
In general, check the following:
Check the tank's body or shell for dents or
leaks.
Check the
intake, di scharge, and cut-off
valves. Make sure the valves are in the correct
position befo re lo ading, unloading, or moving
the vehicle.
Check pip es, conn ections, and hoses fo r
leaks, especially around joints.
Check manh ole cove rs a nd vents. Ma ke su re
the cove rs have ga skets an d they clo se
correctly. Keep the vent s clea r so the y work
correctly.
Section 8 - Tank Vehicles
8.2.3 Bulkheads
8.2.6 Outage
Never load a cargo tank totally full. Liquids expa nd
as they warm and you must leave room for the
expanding li quid. Thi s is called "o utage." Since
different liquids expand by different amounts, they
require diffe rent amou nts of outage. You must
know the outage requirement when hauling liquids
in bulk.
8.3.3 Curves
Slow do wn before curves, then a ccelerate slig htly
though th e curve. The posted speed f or a curve
may be too fast for a tank vehicle.
8.3.5 Skids
Don't over steer, over accelerate, or over brake. If
you do, your vehicle m ay ski d. On tan k traile rs, if
your drive wheels or trail er wh eels be gin to ski d,
your vehicl e may jackkn ife. When a ny vehicle
starts to ski d, you must take action
to restore
traction to the wheels.
Page 8-2
Section 8
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Page 8-3
Section 9
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
This Section Covers
Page 9-1
Page 9-2
Division
Class
1
Mass Explosives
Projection Hazards
Mass Fire Hazards
Very Insensitive
Extreme Insensitive
Dynamite
Flares
Display Fireworks
Ammunition
Blasting Agents
Explosive Devices
2.1
2.2
Flammable Gases
Non-Flammable
Gases
Poisonous/Toxic
Gases
Flammable Liquids
Propane
Helium
3-
Fluorine, Compressed
Gasoline
Flammable Gases
Spontaneously
Combustible
Spontaneously
Combustible When
Wet
Ammonium Picrate,
Wetted
White Phosphorus
Sodium
5.1
5.2
Oxidizers
Organic Peroxides
Ammonium Nitrate
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Peroxide
6.1
Poison (Toxic
Material)
Infectious
Substances
Radioactive
Corrosives
Miscellaneous
Hazardous Materials
ORM-D (Other
Regulated MaterialDomestic)
Combustible Liquids
Potassium Cyanide
4.1
4.2
4.3
Examples
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
2.3
Name of Class or
Division
6.2
789E-
Anthrax Virus
Uranium
Battery Fluid
Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCB)
Food Flavorings,
Medicines
Fuel Oil
Figure 9.1
Page 9-3
(A)
(W)
(D)
(I)
Page 9-4
Hazardous Materials
Description & Proper
Shipping Names
(1) (2)
A
Acetaldehyde ammonia
Hazard
Class or
Division
Identification
Numbers
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
UN1841
III
PG
Label
Codes
Special
Provisions
(172.1010
Exceptions
Non
Bulk
Bulk
(7)
(8A)
(8B)
(8C)
IB8, IP6
155
204
240
Figure 9.4
Appendix A to 49 CFR 172
List of Hazardous Substances and Reportable Quantities
Hazardous
Substances
Phenyl mercaptan
@
Phenylmercuric
acetate
N-Phenylthiourea
Phorate
Phosgene
Phosphine Carb
Phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid,
diethyl
4-nitrophenyl ester
Synonyms
Benzinethiol,
Thiophenol
Mercury, (acetato-0)
phenyl
100 (45.4)
100 (45.4)
Thiourea, phenyl
100 (45.4)
Phosphorodithioic acid,
O,O-diethyl S(ethylthio), methylester
onyl chloride
Hydrogen Phosphide
10 (4.54)
10 (4.54) *
100 (45.4)
5000 (2270)
Diethyl-p nitrophenyl
phosphate
100 (45.4)
Phosphoric acid,
1 (.454)
Lead phosphate
lead salt
* Spills of 10 pounds or more must be reported.
Figure 9.5
(G)
Page 9-5
Shipping Paper
TO:
ABC
Corporation
88 Valley
Street
Anywhere,
VA
Quantity HM
1
cylinder
RQ
(RQ
means that
this is a
reportable
quantity.)
DEF
Corporation
55
Mountain
FROM:
Street
Nowhere,
CO
Description
Page
1 of 1
Phosgene, 2.3,
UN1076
Poison, Inhalation
Hazard,
Zone A
25 lbs
Weight
(Phosgene is the
proper shi
pping
name from C olumn
2 of the Haz ardous
Materials T
able.)
(2.3 is the
Hazard
Class from C olumn
3 of the Haz ardous
Materials T
able.)
(Un1076 is
the
Identification
Number from
Column 4 of
the
Hazardous materials
Table.)
This is to certif y th at the a bove n amed m aterials are
properly c lassified, d escribed, pack aged marked and
labeled, and are in pro per c ondition for tr ansportation
according to the ap plicable regu lations of the Un ited
States Department of Transportation.
DEF
Carrier:
Safety
Corporation
Per:
First
Smith
Date:
October 15,
2003
Special Instructions: 24 hour Emerg ency C ontact,
John Smith 1-800-555-5555
Shipper:
Per:
Date:
Figure 9.6
Page 9-6
Page 9-7
9.3.10 Placarding
Attach the approp riate pl acards to the vehicl e
before you d rive it. You are only allo wed to move
an impro perly placa rded vehicle
during an
emergency, in order to protect life or property.
Placards must appear on both sides and both ends
of the vehicle. Each placard must be:
Easily seen from the direction it faces.
Placed so the words o r numbers are level an d
read from left to right.
At least thre e inche s a way from any other
markings.
Kept cle ar of attach ments or devices such a s
ladders, doors, and tarpaulins.
Kept cl ean a nd u ndamaged so th at th e colo r,
format, and message are easily seen.
Be affixed to a backg
round of co ntrasting
color.
The use of Drive Safely and other slogans is
prohibited.
The front pla card may be on the front of the
tractor or the front of the trailer.
To de cide which pla cards to use, you ne ed to
know:
The hazard class of the materials.
The amount of hazardous materials shipped.
The total we ight of all cl asses of ha zardous
materials in your vehicle.
Page 9-8
Placard Table 2
1,001 Pounds Or More
Category of Material
(Hazard class or division
number and additional
Placard Name
description, as
appropriate)
Combustible
5.1 Oxidizers
Explosives 1.4
Explosives 1.5
Explosives 1.6
Flammable Gas
Non-Flammable Gas.
Flammable
Combustible*
Flammable Solid
Spontaneously
Combustible
Oxidizer
Organic Peroxide
Poison
Figure 9.8
Placards used to identify the primary or s ubsidiary
hazard class of a materia l must have the hazard
class o r division n umber displaye d in the lowe r
corner of the placa
rd. Permane ntly affixed
subsidiary h azard pl acards with out the ha zard
class n umber may be use d as lo ng a s they stay
within col or specifi cations. No n-permanently
affixed sub sidiary h azard placards without the
hazard class number may be used until October 1,
2005.
Placards may be displayed for hazardous materials
even if not req uired so long a s the pla card
identifies th e hazard
of the material bei
ng
transported.
A bulk p ackaging i s a single contai ner with a
capacity of 119 gallon s or more. A bulk packa ge,
and a vehicle transporting a bulk package, must be
placarded, e ven if it onl y has th e resid ue of a
Page 9-9
5.
Division 2.3
(Poisonous) gas Zone
A or Division 6.1
(Poison) liquids, PGI,
Zone A.
Charged storage
batteries.
Class 1 (Detonating
primers).
Division 6.1
(Cyanides or cyanide
mixtures).
Figure 9.9
Mixed loads. The rule s re quire so me products to
be lo aded separately. You cann ot load t hem
together in the same cargo space. Figure 9.9 li sts
some exampl es. Th e regul ations (the S egregation
and Se paration Cha rt) n ame othe r ma terials you
must keep apart.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Subsection 9.4
Test Your Knowledge
5.
9.5.1 Markings
Page 9-12
Subsection 9.5
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
Page 9-13
9.6.4 No Flares!
You mig ht b reak do wn an d have to use sto pped
vehicle signals. Use reflective trian gles o r red
electric lig hts. Never use burning signals, su ch a s
flares or fuses, around a:
Tank used for Class 3 (Flammable Liquids) or
Division 2.1 (Flammabl e G as) whether l oaded
or empty.
Vehicle l oaded with Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3
(Class A or B) Explosives.
9.6.6 No Smoking
Do n ot smoke within 25 f eet of a placarded cargo
tank u sed for Cla ss 3 (flammable liquids) or
Division 2.1 (gases). Also, do not smoke or carry a
lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe within 25 feet of any
vehicle, which contains:
Class 1 (Explosives)
Class 3 Flammable Liquids)
Class 4 (Flammable Solids)
Class 5 (Oxidizers)
Page 9-14
9.7.2 Accidents/Incidents
As a p rofessional d river, y our jo b at th e scen e of
an accident is to:
Keep people away from the scene.
Limit the spread of material, only if you ca
n
safely do so.
Communicate the dange r of the hazardou s
materials to emergency response personnel.
Provide em ergency respond ers wit h the
shipping pa pers and e mergency re sponse
information.
Follow this checklist:
Check to see that your driving partner is OK.
Keep shipping papers with you.
Keep people far away and upwind.
Warn others of the danger.
Send for help.
Follow your employer's instructions.
9.7.3 Fires
You might have to co ntrol minor truck fires on th e
road. However, unle ss yo u have the training an d
Page 9-15
A person is killed.
An injured person requires hospitalization.
Estimated property damage exceeds $50,000.
The general public is eva cuated for m ore than
one hour.
One o r m ore major tran sportation arte ries o r
facilities are closed for one hour or more.
Fire, bre akage, spilla ge, or su
spected
radioactive contamination occurs.
Fire, brea kage, spilla ge or
suspected
contamination o ccur i nvolving shipm ent of
etiologic agents (bacteria or toxins).
A situation exists of su ch a nature (e.g.,
continuing danger to life exists at the scene of
an incident) that, in the judgment of the carrier,
should be reported.
CHEMTREC
(800) 424-9300
Page 9-17
None
0.1 to
1.0
1.1 to
5.0
5.1 to
10.0
10.1 to
20.0
20.1 to
30.0
30.1 to
40.0
40.1 to
50.0
0-2
Hrs.
2-4
Hrs.
4-8
Hrs.
8-12
Hrs.
Over 12
Hrs.
8C
TO PE OPLE OR CARGO
COMPARTMENT
PARTITIONS
TOTAL TRANSPO
INDEX
RT
Radioactive Separation
Table A
00000
12345
3 4 6 8 11
4 6 9 11
5 8 12
16
15
22
10 15 20 29
11 17 22 33
12 19 24 36
Figure 9.10
Do not leave radioac tive yellow - II or yellow - III
labeled package s nea r people, anim als, or film
longer than shown in Figure 9.10
None
None
Hydrochloric Acid,
Battery Acid
Miscellaneous
Formaldehyde,
Hazardous
Asbestos
Materials
ORM-D (Other
Regulated
Hair Spray or
MaterialCharcoal
Domestic)
Combustible
Fuel Oils, Lighter
Liquids
Fluid
Figure 9.11
orrosives
7.
8.
including it s
1.
2.
10 100,00
2
.2
.02
.002
Figure 9.12
0
20,000
2,000
200
20
Page 9-20
Section 10
SCHOOL BUSES
This Section Covers
Figure 10.1
Page 10-1
Figure 10.3
Figure 10.2
Page 10-2
Figure 10.4
Page 10-3
Page 10-4
Page 10-5
Page 10-6
Figure 10.5
Pavement Markings. Pavement m arkings mea n
the sa me a s the advance warning sign. T hey
consist of an X with the letters RR and a nopassing marking on two-lane roads.
There is al so a no passing zo ne sign on two -lane
roads. Th ere may be a white stop line painted on
the pavement before the railr oad tracks. The f ront
of the schoo l bus m ust remain b ehind this lin e
while stopped at the crossing. See Figure 10.6.
Figure 10.6
Crossbuck Signs. This sign marks the crossing. It
requires you to yield the right-of-way to the train. If
there is no white line painted on the pavement, you
must stop the bus befo re the cro ssbuck sign.
Page 10-7
Figure 10.7
Figure 10.8
A scho ol b us is on e of th e safest vehi cles o n th e
highway. However, a school bus does not have the
slightest edg e whe n invo lved in a crash with a
train. Because of a trains size and weight it cannot
stop quickly. An emergency escape route does not
exist for a train. You ca n prevent sch ool bu s/train
crashes by followi ng these re
commended
procedures.
Appro aching the Crossing:
Slow do wn, including shifting to a lo wer
gear in a m anual tra nsmission bu s, and
test your brakes.
Activate hazard light s ap proximately 200
feet before t he cro ssing. Make sure y our
intentions are known.
Scan yo ur surroundings and check for
traffic behind you.
Stay to the right of the roadway if possible.
Choose an escape route in the eve nt of a
brake failure or problems behind you.
At the Crossing:
Stop no clo ser than 1 5 feet and no fart her
than 50 feet from the nea rest rail, whe re
you have the best view of the tracks.
Place the t ransmission in Park, or if th ere
is no Pa rk shift point, in Neutral a nd press
down on th e service b rake or set the
parking brakes.
Turn off all radio s an d n oisy eq uipment,
and silence the passengers.
Page 10-8
Cro
Open the
service door an d d rivers
window. L ook a nd li sten fo r an
approaching train.
ssing the Track:
Check the crossin g sig nals ag ain be fore
proceeding.
At a multiple-track crossing, stop only
before the first set of tracks. Whe n you are
sure n o train is a pproaching on any track,
close the service door and proceed across
all of th e tracks until you have completely
cleared them.
Cross the tracks in a lo w gea r. Do not
change gears while crossing.
If the gate comes do wn after you h ave
started across, drive th rough it even i f it
means you will break the gate.
10.7.3 Backing
Backing a school bus is strongly discouraged. You
should back your bus only when you have no other
safe way to move the ve hicle. Y ou should never
back a scho ol bu s when students are outsi de o f
the bus. Backing is da ngerous and increases your
risk of a colli sion. If you have no ch oice and you
must back your bus, follow these procedures:
Post a loo kout. The pu rpose of the lo okout is
to warn you about ob stacles, app roaching
persons, an d othe r ve hicles. The lookout
should not gi ve directio ns on h ow to back the
bus.
Signal for quiet on the bus.
Constantly check all mirrors and rear windows.
Back slowly and smoothly.
If no lookout is available:
Set the parking brake.
Turn off the motor an d take the keys with
you.
Walk to the rear of the bus to determine
whether the way is clear.
If you must back-u p at a student pick-u p point,
be sure to pick up students before backing and
watch for late comers at all times.
Be sure that all stude nts are in the bu s before
backing.
If you must back-up at a student drop-off point,
be sure to unload students after backing.
Section 10
Test Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Page 10-11
Section 11
Pre-trip Vehicle
Inspection Test
Internal Inspection
External Inspection
11.1
All Vehicles
Oil Level
Coolant Level
Temperature Gauge
Ammeter/Voltmeter
Emergency Equipment
Steering Play
Wipers/Washers
Lighting Indicators
en
Horn
Heater/Defroster
Safety Belt
Page 11-2
Lights/Reflectors
Mounts
Look for cracked or broken spri ng ha ngers,
missing or d amaged bu shings, and broken,
loose, or missing b olts, u-bolts o r othe r axle
mounting p arts. (T he mounts
should b e
checked at e ach point where they are secured
to the vehicle frame and axle[s]).
Shock Absorbers
11.2.3 Brakes
Slack Adjustors
Steering Box/Hoses
Steering Linkage
11.2.2 Suspension
Springs/Air/Torque
Brake Chambers
Brake Hoses/Lines
Brake Linings
Page 11-3
11.2.4 Wheels
Rims
Tires
Note: You will not get credit if you simply kick the
tires to check for proper inflation.
Hub Oil Seals/Axle Seals
See that hub oil/grea se seals a nd axl e seal s a re
not leaking and, if wheel has a sight glass, oil level
is adequate.
Lug Nuts
d or
Drive Shaft
Exhaust System
Frame
Spacers
If equipped, che ck that spa cers are not bent,
damaged, or rusted through.
Battery/Box
Fuel Tank
Page 11-4
Doors/Ties/Lifts
Kingpin/Apron/Gap
11.2.7 Tractor/Coupling
Locking Pins (Fifth Wheel)
Air/Electric Lines
Catwalk
Mounting Bolts
Locking Jaws
Lighting Indicators
Lights/Reflectors
Stop Arm
Passenger Entry/Lift
Emergency Exit
Seating
Doors/Ties/Lifts
Frame
11.4 Trailer
Air/Electrical Connections
Remainder of Trailer
Header Board
Page 11-6
Fuel Tank(s)
Passenger Entry/Lift
Emergency Exits
Passenger Seating
Compartments
Battery/Box
Page 11-7
Page 11-8
Section 12
Basic Vehicle Control
Skills Test
This Section Covers
12.1
own in Fi
gures 12 -1
SCORING
EXERCISES
12.2
Figure 12.1
Page 12-2
Figure 12.2
Page 12-3
Figure 12.3
Page 12-4
Figure 12.4
Page 12-5
Figure 12.5
Page 12-6
Figure 12.6
Page 12-7
Section 13
On-road Driving
This Section Covers
After turn:
Make sure turn signal is off.
Get up to sp eed of traffic, use turn sig nal, and
move into right-most lane when safe to do so
(if not already there).
13.1.2 Intersections
As you approach an intersection:
Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
Dec elerate gently.
Brake smo othly and, if
necessary, chang e
gears.
If necessa ry, come to a complete
stop (n o
coasting) b ehind a ny st op si gns, signal s,
sidewalks, or stop lines maintaining a safe gap
behind any vehicle in front of you.
Your vehicle must not roll forward or backward.
When driving through an intersection:
Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
Decelerate a nd yield to any pede strians an d
traffic in the intersection.
Do not
change lane s or
shift gears
unnecessarily while proceeding thro ugh the
intersection.
Keep your hands on the wheel.
Once through the intersection:
Continue checking traffic.
Accelerate smoothly a nd ch ange g ears a s
necessary.
13.1.5 Expressway
Before entering the expressway:
Check traffic.
Use proper signals.
Merge smoothly into the proper lane of traffic.
Once on the expressway:
Maintain proper
lane positio ning, vehicle
spacing, and vehicle speed.
Continue to che ck traffic thoroug hly in all
directions.
You will be instructed to change lanes:
You must make necessary traffic checks.
Use proper signals.
Change lane s smoothly when it i s safe to d o
so.
When exiting the expressway:
Make necessary traffic checks.
Use proper signals.
Decelerate smoothly in the exit lane.
Once o n th e exit ra mp, y ou m ust continue to
decelerate within the l ane m arkings a nd
maintain ad equate spa cing b etween your
vehicle and other vehicles.
Cancel your turn signal.
13.1.6 Stop/Start
For thi s maneuver, you will be asked to pull your
vehicle over to the si de of the roa d and stop as if
you were going to get out and check something on
your vehi cle. You mu st c heck traffic thoro ughly i n
all dire ctions and m ove to the ri ght-most lan e o r
shoulder of road.
As you prepare for the stop:
Check traffic.
Activate your right turn signal.
Decelerate smoothly, bra ke evenly, chang e
gears as necessary.
Bring you r vehicle to
a full stop without
coasting.
Once stopped:
Vehicle mu st be pa rallel to the
curb o r
shoulder of the road an d safely out of the
traffic flow.
Vehicle shoul d not b e blo cking driveways, fire
hydrants, intersections, signs, etc.
Cancel your turn signal.
Activate your four-way emergency flashers.
Section 13 On-road Driving
13.1.7 Curve
When approaching a curve:
Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
Before entering th e cu rve, r educe speed so
further braking or shifting i s not re quired in the
curve.
Keep vehicle in the lane.
Continue checking traffic in all directions.
Page 13-2
smoothly using
13.1.9 Bridge/Overpass/Sign
After driving under an overpass, you may be asked
to tell the examine r what the posted clearance or
height was. After going over a bridge, you may b e
asked to tell the examiner what the posted weight
limit was. If y our test route does not have a bridge
or ove rpass, you may b e aske d ab out anothe r
traffic sig n. Whe n a sked, be prepa red to identify
and explain to the examiner a ny traffic sign which
may appear on the route.
13.1.15 Steering
Page 13-3