7.0 Basic Vehicle Control and Maneuvering CDL-A Practice Quiz
27 exam-style questions covering 9% of the CDL-A exam. Instant feedback on every answer, progress tracking, no signup required.
This domain is part of the CDL Class A practice test. Each question is tagged by exam objective and difficulty so you can drill exactly the areas you need.
Sample Questions
During the basic control skills test, a driver may be asked to perform straight-line backing. According to the CDL manual, what does this exercise require?
- A. Back the vehicle in a straight line between two rows of cones without touching or knocking them over
- B. Back the vehicle at highway speed while keeping the mirrors clear
- C. Back the vehicle into a perpendicular loading dock from 200 feet away
- D. Back the vehicle using only the center mirror without looking out the side windows
The CDL manual describes straight-line backing as backing the vehicle in a straight line between two rows of cones without touching or knocking them over or crossing the boundary lines.
During a skills test exercise, a driver stops forward motion and pulls the vehicle forward to correct position before resuming the backing maneuver. The CDL manual calls this a pull-up. How does the manual score pull-ups?
- A. Initial pull-ups are not penalized, but an excessive number of pull-ups will count as errors
- B. Every single pull-up counts as an automatic failure
- C. Pull-ups are completely unlimited with no scoring consequence
- D. Pull-ups count the same as encroachments, one error each
The CDL manual states drivers will not be penalized for initial pull-ups; however, an excessive number of pull-ups will count as errors.
The CDL manual sets different limits on how many times a driver may exit the vehicle for outside observations (looks) depending on the exercise. For straight-line backing specifically, what is the maximum allowed look count?
- A. Up to three looks are permitted for straight-line backing
- B. Only one look is allowed for straight-line backing
- C. Looks are unlimited as long as each look takes less than 30 seconds
- D. No looks are permitted under any circumstances
The CDL manual states the maximum number of looks is two for most exercises, except for the straight-line backing exercise, which allows only one look.
The CDL manual describes the offset back/right exercise for the basic control skills test. Which description matches the manual?
- A. The driver reverses straight backward over a distance equal to the trailer length
- B. The driver is asked to back into a space to the right rear of the vehicle; the driver drives straight forward to the outer boundary and then backs the vehicle into the opposite lane until the front of the vehicle passes the first set of cones
- C. The driver backs the vehicle onto a turntable and rotates 90 degrees to the right
- D. The driver is asked to parallel park on the right side of the road in conventional fashion
The CDL manual describes the offset back/right as driving straight forward to the outer boundary and then backing the vehicle into the space to the right rear until the front of the vehicle passes the first set of cones without striking boundary lines or cones.
The CDL manual describes two parallel parking exercises. In the parallel park driver side exercise, on which side of the vehicle is the parking space located?
- A. To the right of the vehicle, along the right curb
- B. To the left of the vehicle; the driver backs into a space on the driver's side
- C. Behind the vehicle, requiring a straight-line back into the spot
- D. The space can be on either side; the examiner chooses at random
The CDL manual describes parallel park driver side as a space to the left; the driver drives past the entrance to the space and backs in from the driver's side.
During any basic control skills exercise, the examiner tracks encroachments. According to the CDL manual, what is an encroachment and how is it scored?
- A. An encroachment is a gear-change made during a backing maneuver; each one adds 10 seconds
- B. An encroachment is when the driver exceeds the speed limit; it results in immediate failure
- C. An encroachment is any time any portion of the vehicle touches or crosses over an exercise boundary line or cone; each one counts as an error
- D. An encroachment occurs only if all four wheels leave the lane simultaneously
The CDL manual defines an encroachment as any time any portion of the vehicle touches or crosses over an exercise boundary line or cone; each encroachment counts as an error.
The CDL manual also describes an offset back/left exercise. How does offset back/left differ from offset back/right?
- A. Offset back/left is performed at twice the speed of offset back/right
- B. Offset back/left uses a longer approach lane than offset back/right
- C. In offset back/left the driver backs into a space to the left rear of the vehicle instead of the right rear
- D. Offset back/left is not a scored exercise; it is only a demonstration
The CDL manual describes offset back/left as backing into a space to the left rear of the vehicle, compared with offset back/right which targets the right rear.
When a driver is permitted to exit the vehicle during a skills test exercise for an outside observation (look), the CDL manual prescribes a specific safety procedure for exiting. Which procedure matches the manual?
- A. Leave the engine running and the door open, then lean out to look
- B. Ask the examiner to hold the steering wheel while the driver exits
- C. Step off the running board with arms free to swing for balance
- D. Place the vehicle in neutral and set the parking brake; face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times when exiting
The CDL manual requires the driver to place the vehicle in neutral and set the parking brake, then face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times when exiting to take an outside observation.
Key Terms in This Domain
- Offset backing: Back the vehicle from one lane into a parallel lane (right or left) using a curve maneuver
- Backing rules of thumb: Back slowly, use mirrors, back in a straight line as much as possible, back to the driver's side when given the choice (better visibility)
- Straight-line backing: Back in a straight line within a marked lane; use both mirrors, make small steering corrections, and stop frequently to verify
- Parallel parking: Maneuver the vehicle into a marked parking spot parallel to the curb on the driver or passenger side
- Skid (front-wheel/steering): Caused by too much speed in a turn, too much braking, worn front tires, or load too far back; recovery: let the vehicle slow down
- Alley dock: Back the vehicle into a marked dock or alley from a 90-degree approach angle
- CDL Class C: Required for a vehicle designed for 16+ passengers (incl. driver) or carrying placarded hazardous materials
- Endorsement P (passenger): Required for vehicles designed for 16+ passengers including the driver
- Restriction L (air brakes): Applied when a driver does not take the CDL skills test in a vehicle with full air brakes; cannot operate air-brake CMVs
- Standee line (passenger CMV): Marked line behind the driver beyond which standing passengers must not stand
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Other CDL-A Domains
- 1.0 Driver Qualifications and CDL Fundamentals
- 2.0 Driving Safely and On-Road Operation
- 3.0 Transporting Cargo Safely
- 4.0 Air Brakes
- 5.0 Combination Vehicles
- 6.0 Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection
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