Basic Control, Shifting & Backing
10 free questions, part of the General Knowledge CDL practice test
Basic control covers starting, stopping, steering, shifting (including when double-clutching is actually required), and backing a commercial motor vehicle. You need to know how to time your shifts by engine RPM or road speed, and the six basic safety rules for backing, starting with getting out and walking the path before you move.
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Start Class A CDL Theory ($15)Questions about Basic Control, Shifting & Backing
Do you have to double-clutch to shift a CDL manual transmission?
Only on unsynchronized manual transmissions. If the transmission is synchronized, you shift straight through without the extra clutch step.
Why do you turn off the retarder on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads?
Because the retarding power applied to the drive wheels can make them skid on a slippery surface. Shut it off any time traction is reduced.
What's the first thing you should do before backing a commercial vehicle?
Get out and walk around the vehicle to check your path of travel. That's rule one of the six basic backing rules, before you ever put it in reverse.