Question 1

The most important rule for driving a tanker is to:

Accepted Answer

Sudden starts, stops, or turns cause liquid surge, which can push the truck or cause a rollover. Smooth driving is essential for stability.

Question 2

When approaching a curve in a tanker, you should:

Accepted Answer

You must slow down *before* the curve. Braking in the curve can cause the wheels to lock or the liquid to surge sideways, leading to a rollover or jackknife.

Question 3

Liquid surge is especially dangerous on:

Accepted Answer

On slippery roads (ice, rain, snow), the force of the liquid surge can easily push the truck, causing a skid or jackknife.

Question 4

Does an empty tanker take longer to stop than a full one?

Accepted Answer

Empty trucks are lighter and have less traction. This can cause wheels to lock up and bounce, increasing stopping distance, especially on wet roads.

Question 5

When stopping a tanker, you should:

Accepted Answer

Controlled braking keeps the vehicle straight. Sudden braking can cause a skid or allow the surge to push the trailer sideways.

Question 6

If you must make a quick stop to avoid a crash, you should:

Accepted Answer

Controlled braking allows you to maintain steering control. If the wheels lock, you lose steering.

Question 7

You are driving a smooth bore tanker. When you stop, the liquid will surge forward and then back. This 'second wave' hitting the back of the tank can:

Accepted Answer

The liquid hits the front bulkhead (surge forward) then rebounds and hits the rear (surge back). If you release the brake too early or don't hold it firmly, the truck can be shoved forward.

Question 8

Tankers are more prone to rollover because:

Accepted Answer

The load is carried high up. A high center of gravity makes the vehicle unstable in curves or sudden lane changes.

Question 9

On wet or icy roads, you should reduce your speed by:

Accepted Answer

Standard CDL safety rule: Reduce speed by 1/3 on wet roads and 1/2 on packed snow to maintain control.

Question 10

When driving a tanker, you should increase your following distance to at least:

Accepted Answer

Because stopping distance is longer and surge can push the truck, tanker drivers need more following distance than standard trucks.

Question 11

If you drive a tanker with baffles, you should still be careful because:

Accepted Answer

Baffles only control front-to-back surge. Side-to-side surge in curves remains a major rollover risk.

Question 12

Retarders (engine brakes) can cause a skid on slippery roads. If the drive wheels begin to skid, you should:

Accepted Answer

Retarders apply braking force to the drive wheels. On slippery surfaces, this can lock the wheels and cause a jackknife. Turn it off when traction is poor.

Question 13

Which action prevents a rollover in a tanker?

Accepted Answer

All these actions help manage the high center of gravity and liquid surge.

Question 14

When exiting a highway using an off-ramp that curves, a tanker driver should:

Accepted Answer

Posted ramp speeds are for cars. Tankers with high centers of gravity must take ramps significantly slower to avoid rollover.

Question 15

If you steer quickly while braking in a tanker:

Accepted Answer

Combining braking (which shifts weight forward) with steering (side force) and liquid surge creates extreme instability, often leading to a rollover.

Question 16

You are driving on a clear night. You must dim your headlights from high to low beam when within how many feet of an approaching vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Standard rule: Dim high beams within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle.

Question 17

A 'Jackknife' occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Trailer jackknife happens when trailer wheels lock (often on empty tankers). Tractor jackknife happens when drive wheels lock.

Question 18

If you lose your brakes on a downgrade, you should:

Accepted Answer

Escape ramps are designed to stop runaway trucks safely. This is the best option if brakes fail.

Question 19

To correct a drive-wheel braking skid, you should:

Accepted Answer

A drive-wheel braking skid is caused by over-braking. Releasing the brakes allows the wheels to roll and regain traction.

Question 20

Because of liquid surge, you should allow more room for:

Accepted Answer

The surge of liquid pushing against the tank direction of travel increases the distance needed to bring the vehicle to a complete halt.

Question 21

If you are driving a tanker carrying Hazmat, you must check your tires:

Accepted Answer

Specific rule for Hazmat loads: Tire checks required every 2 hours or 100 miles.

Question 22

When shifting gears on a tanker, you should:

Accepted Answer

Jerky shifting causes surge. Smooth transitions keep the liquid stable.

Question 23

What is the best way to handle a skid?

Accepted Answer

Skids happen when tires lose grip. The priority is restoring traction (usually by releasing the brake or throttle causing the skid).

Question 24

If you are forced off the road onto the shoulder, you should:

Accepted Answer

Trying to return to the pavement immediately (especially with the lip drop-off) can cause a rollover, especially with a high-CG tanker. Slow down first.

Question 25

Which statement about emergency braking is true?

Accepted Answer

Stab braking (locking wheels, releasing, re-locking) is a technique for non-ABS vehicles. ABS vehicles should just brake firmly.

Question 26

Tankers that are 'Compartmented' (divided into sections) help control:

Accepted Answer

By carrying smaller amounts in separate compartments, the overall mass moving front-to-back is reduced compared to one giant tank.

Question 27

You are driving a tanker full of liquid. If you take a curve too fast:

Accepted Answer

Centrifugal force pushes the liquid to the outside wall of the tank, shifting the center of gravity outward and causing a rollover.

Question 28

If your tanker vehicle has dual parking control valves, you can use pressure from a separate tank to:

Accepted Answer

This emergency system allows you to release the spring brakes temporarily if the main air supply is lost, just enough to move the vehicle to safety.

Question 29

Before driving a tanker, you should verify that:

Accepted Answer

A complete pre-trip inspection covers the tank integrity, valves, covers, and mounting.

Question 30

When driving a tanker, brake 'fading' or failure is most often caused by:

Accepted Answer

Excessive use of service brakes (riding the brake) on downgrades causes heat, which chemically changes the lining or expands the drum (fade), leading to failure.

Question 31

Why should you never load a cargo tank totally full?

Accepted Answer

You must leave room (outage) for expansion. If a tank is 100% full (hydrostatic) and the temperature rises, the liquid expands and will rupture the tank.

Question 32

On a long, steep downgrade, you should:

Accepted Answer

The primary way to control speed on a downgrade is selecting a gear low enough to let the engine hold the speed, saving the brakes for stopping.

Question 33

If you are hauling a liquid that is 'sloshing' significantly, you are likely driving a:

Accepted Answer

Partial loads in smooth bore tanks have the worst surge characteristics.

Question 34

When stopping at a railroad crossing in a tanker carrying hazmat, you must:

Accepted Answer

Placarded vehicles must stop 15-50 feet from the rail, look and listen, and proceed only when safe.

Question 35

If your tanker skids and jackknifes, the trailer pushes the tractor:

Accepted Answer

In a jackknife, the momentum of the heavy trailer pushes the rear of the tractor sideways, causing the unit to fold.

Tanker Driving Practice Questions

Download VoltExam — $17.99 Lifetime

More CDL Hazmat Endorsement Exam Topics