CDL Practice Test

CDL Emergency Procedures Practice Questions

Emergency Procedures makes up 4 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CDL practice test. Here are 10 of the 50 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Covers the CDL general knowledge exam. 80% to pass on the real test.

1. 1. When experiencing a tire blowout on the front wheel, what is the first action you should take?

   • A.Pull onto the shoulder right away
   • B.Grip the steering wheel firmly and keep straight
   • C.Apply the brakes hard immediately to slow down
   • D.Turn the steering wheel toward the side of the blowout

   Answer: B. When a front tire blows out, grip the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle going straight to maintain control. Braking hard or turning can cause loss of control.

2. 2. If your brakes fail while driving, what should you do first?

   • A.Pump the brake pedal rapidly
   • B.Apply the parking brake immediately
   • C.Shift into neutral and coast
   • D.Downshift and use engine braking

   Answer: D. When brakes fail, downshift to use engine braking to slow the vehicle safely. Pumping may work if there's a leak, but engine braking is the primary emergency technique.

3. 3. What type of skid occurs when the drive wheels lose traction and slide sideways?

   • A.Drive-wheel skid
   • B.All-wheel skid
   • C.Front-wheel skid
   • D.Trailer skid

   Answer: A. A drive-wheel skid happens when the driving wheels lose traction, often from over-acceleration or over-braking. The rear of the vehicle slides sideways.

4. 4. How should you recover from a drive-wheel skid?

   • A.Apply brakes firmly to regain traction on the drive wheels
   • B.Accelerate to regain traction and pull through the skid
   • C.Stop accelerating and turn in the direction you want to go
   • D.Turn into the skid direction and maintain steady pressure

   Answer: C. To recover from a drive-wheel skid, stop accelerating and steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go. This allows the wheels to regain traction.

5. 5. In a front-wheel skid, what happens to vehicle steering?

   • A.The steering wheel becomes loose and spins freely
   • B.The vehicle pulls to one side and starts to jackknife
   • C.The vehicle doesn't respond to steering input
   • D.The vehicle turns too sharply

   Answer: C. In a front-wheel skid, the front wheels lose traction and the vehicle doesn't respond to steering input, continuing straight regardless of wheel position.

6. 6. What is the most dangerous type of skid for combination vehicles?

   • A.Trailer skid (jackknife)
   • B.Front-wheel skid (plowing)
   • C.Drive-wheel skid on ice
   • D.All-wheel skid

   Answer: A. Trailer skids are most dangerous because they can cause jackknifing, where the trailer pushes the tractor around. This can happen very quickly and is difficult to recover from.

7. 7. If your steering fails, what should you do immediately?

   • A.Accelerate to get off the road quickly and safely
   • B.Turn off the engine to prevent further mechanical damage
   • C.Apply parking brake hard to stop the vehicle quickly
   • D.Use brakes, horn, and flashers to warn others

   Answer: D. When steering fails, immediately use brakes to slow down, sound the horn, and turn on emergency flashers to warn other drivers while looking for a safe place to stop.

8. 8. What should you do first if you discover an engine fire?

   • A.Use water from a jug to put out the flames
   • B.Turn off the engine and don't reopen the hood
   • C.Open the hood fully to find where the fire started
   • D.Drive to the nearest fire station

   Answer: B. For engine fires, turn off the engine immediately and keep the hood closed to avoid feeding oxygen to the fire. Opening the hood can cause the fire to flare up.

9. 9. What type of fire extinguisher should be used on electrical fires?

   • A.Water-based extinguisher for maximum cooling and fire suppression
   • B.Class C (carbon dioxide) extinguisher
   • C.Foam extinguisher for electrical system fires and components
   • D.Class A extinguisher designed for ordinary combustible materials

   Answer: B. Class C fire extinguishers are designed for electrical fires and won't conduct electricity. Water-based extinguishers can conduct electricity and should never be used on electrical fires.

10. 10. If you discover a tire fire, what should you do?

    • A.Use sand to smother the fire and cut off oxygen
    • B.Call for professional help and evacuate the immediate area
    • C.Remove the tire and roll it away from the vehicle
    • D.Pour water on the tire to extinguish the flames

    Answer: D. The CDL manual says water is used on tire fires to cool the tire. A burning tire is very hot and can reignite, so keep cooling it with plenty of water and do not try to remove it.