Hawaii CDL General Knowledge cheat sheet

Pre-trip inspection is required before each trip; the CDL test uses the seven-step walk-around: lights, engine compartment, coupling system, trailer, brakes, catwalk/undercarriage, and rear lights.

Check tire tread depth: minimum 4/32 inch for front steer tires and 2/32 inch for all other tires; look for cuts, bulges, and exposed cord.

Test air brake system leakage with the engine off: with fully charged tanks, loss must not exceed 3 psi per minute for a single vehicle or 4 psi per minute for a combination.

Build air pressure to governor cut-out (about 120-125 psi), then fan the brakes; the low-air warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi.

With the engine off and brakes released, press the brake pedal firmly and hold: a steady drop of no more than 3 psi per minute (single) or 4 psi (combination) is acceptable.

Check the slack adjusters by pulling each one with a lever; more than about 1 inch of free play at the push rod indicates adjustment is needed.

Inspect the fifth wheel: jaws closed around the kingpin, locking lever secured, no gap between fifth wheel plate and trailer apron, and mounting bolts tight.

Verify all lights work with a helper or reflective surface: headlights (high and low), turn signals, four-way flashers, brake lights, clearance lights, and marker lights.

Engine compartment checks include oil level, coolant level, power steering fluid, belts (no more than 3/4 inch deflection), hoses, and the windshield washer fluid.

Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + brake lag distance + braking distance; at 55 mph this is roughly 419 feet for a loaded tractor-trailer.

Perception distance at 55 mph is about 60 feet; reaction distance is also about 60 feet, assuming a 3/4 second perception and 3/4 second reaction time.

Brake lag for air brakes is about 3/4 second, adding roughly 60 feet at 55 mph before the brakes even begin to work.

Speed limits on Hawaii roads: 60 mph maximum on freeways unless posted otherwise; school zones are 25 mph or as posted; residential areas are typically 25 mph.

Use the stab braking method for vehicles without ABS: apply brakes fully, release when wheels lock, and reapply when wheels roll again.

Controlled braking means applying steady pressure while keeping the vehicle in a straight line; release and reapply if steering becomes difficult.

When backing, use a helper whenever possible; if alone, use GOAL (Get Out And Look) and back toward the driver's side (left) for better visibility.

Steering: use both hands on the wheel; for a right turn in a large vehicle, swing wide and watch the rear wheels, which track inside the front wheels.

Downshift before entering a curve or downgrade; braking in a curve can cause a skid, and a vehicle's center of gravity shifts outward.

A manual transmission has a clutch and gear pattern; a non-synchronized (crash box) transmission requires double-clutching to match engine and transmission speeds.

Double-clutch procedure: press clutch, shift to neutral, release clutch, press clutch again, shift to the next gear, release clutch.

Upshift pattern: accelerate to governed rpm, then shift to the next higher gear; downshift before the engine lugs or the vehicle loses power.

Progressive shifting means shifting at lower rpm as you accelerate through the gears, saving fuel and reducing wear on the engine.

Never coast with the clutch depressed or in neutral; you lose engine braking and control, and it is illegal in many states including Hawaii.

Engine braking (Jake brake) is restricted in some areas; check local signage, especially in residential and noise-sensitive zones.

Automatic transmissions: use the selector for the load; do not shift to neutral while moving except when stopped for long periods.

When starting on a hill, use the parking brake or clutch friction point to prevent rolling backward; rollback is a common CDL test failure.

Use the 4-6 second following rule for a loaded tractor-trailer; at 55 mph, 4 seconds equals about 323 feet.

Aim high in steering: look 12-15 seconds ahead (about 1/4 mile at highway speed) to spot hazards early.

Blind spots: a tractor-trailer has large No-Zone areas on both sides, directly behind, and in front of the cab; if you cannot see the driver's mirror, they cannot see you.

Signal your intentions at least 100 feet before turning or changing lanes, and cancel the signal after completing the maneuver.

Use four-way flashers when stopped on the shoulder, when driving slowly (below 40 mph where posted), and in hazardous conditions as required.

Tap the brakes to warn following drivers of a slowdown; brake lights communicate more effectively than hand signals at highway speeds.

At night, dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 200 feet when following another vehicle.

Check mirrors every 5-8 seconds; scan the gauges and mirrors systematically to maintain situational awareness.

Following distance formula: one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 mph; add one second for speeds above 40 mph.

For a 60-foot vehicle at 55 mph: 6 seconds (60/10) plus 1 second = 7 seconds of following distance.

Stop 1 car length behind the vehicle ahead when stopped; if behind a large vehicle, stop where you can see its rear tires touching the road.

Space to the sides: keep at least one lane of space when possible; avoid driving beside other large vehicles for extended periods.

Space ahead: you need at least one vehicle length for each 10 mph of speed to stop safely; at 55 mph that is about 5.5 vehicle lengths.

Space behind: maintain speed and allow faster traffic to pass; if being tailgated, increase your own following distance to allow gradual braking.

Overhead clearance: know your vehicle's height; posted clearances of less than 1 foot above your height require caution.

When turning, allow extra space for the rear wheels to clear curbs and the inside of the turn; off-tracking can be 4-8 feet.

Identify hazards early: scan 12-15 seconds ahead, check mirrors, and identify escape routes before they are needed.

If a tire blows out, hold the steering wheel firmly, keep the vehicle straight, and gradually slow down; do not brake hard.

If the brakes fail, downshift through the gears, use the parking brake gradually, and look for an escape ramp or safe runoff area.

If you must drive off the road, slow down before leaving the pavement, then brake gently; avoid hard braking on soft shoulders.

Steering to avoid a hazard: brake first, then steer; do not brake and steer simultaneously at high speed.

If your vehicle catches fire, stop, turn off the engine, get everyone out, and move at least 100 feet away; call 911.

Hydroplaning occurs when water is deeper than the tread; slow down, do not brake hard, and steer straight until traction returns.

In fog, reduce speed, use low beams (not high beams), and turn on four-way flashers if visibility drops below 100 feet.

Skids occur when tires lose traction from over-braking, over-steering, over-accelerating, or driving too fast for conditions.

To recover from a drive-wheel skid, remove pressure from the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

To recover from a front-wheel skid, release the brake and steer in the direction of the skid; do not accelerate.

To recover from a rear-wheel skid, steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding (steer into the skid).

Do not brake hard during a skid; braking transfers weight and can worsen the slide.

ABS prevents wheel lockup; during ABS activation, maintain firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal and steer where you want to go.

On ice, reduce speed to a crawl, increase following distance to 10 seconds or more, and avoid sudden steering, braking, or acceleration.

Black ice forms on bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas; reduce speed before entering these zones.

The low-air warning buzzer must sound before the air pressure drops below 60 psi; the spring brakes will engage at about 20-45 psi.

The safety valve on the air tank releases at about 150 psi to prevent tank rupture.

The alcohol evaporator or air dryer removes moisture from the air system; drain air tanks daily to prevent freeze-ups.

If the alternator/generator warning light comes on, the battery is not charging; turn off unnecessary electrical loads and seek service.

If the engine overheats, pull over safely, let it cool, and check coolant level; never open a hot radiator cap.

If the oil pressure gauge drops or the warning light comes on, stop the engine as soon as safely possible to avoid damage.

The governor cuts the compressor in at about 100 psi and out at about 125 psi; if pressure does not build, check the compressor or governor.

The parking brake (spring brake) is applied when air pressure is released; it engages automatically if air pressure is lost.

Aggregate working load limit (WLL) of tiedowns must be at least 50% of the cargo weight for cargo up to 10,000 lbs; higher for heavier loads.

For cargo over 10,000 lbs, the aggregate WLL must be at least 50% of the cargo weight up to 10,000 lbs plus 25% of the weight above 10,000 lbs.

Minimum number of tiedowns: one for articles up to 5 feet and 1,100 lbs; two for articles longer than 5 feet but under 10 feet; more for longer articles.

Every tiedown must be attached to the vehicle's frame or mounting points; do not attach to side rails or other non-structural parts.

Cargo must be secured to prevent shifting; front-end structures must be at least 4 feet high for logs and similar cargo.

Inspect cargo and tiedowns after the first 50 miles and every 150 miles or 3 hours thereafter, and after any emergency stop.

Cover loads of loose material (gravel, sand, mulch) with a tarp to prevent spillage; Hawaii requires covers on certain routes.

Do not overload axles; check the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and axle weight ratings before loading.

For school buses, stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing, open the door, and turn off noisy devices to listen.

Hazardous materials: a placarded vehicle must stop at railroad crossings, and the driver must carry shipping papers within reach.

For passenger vehicles, check that all passengers are seated and secure before moving; do not allow passengers to stand in the aisle.

When unloading passengers, use the four-way flashers and ensure the area is clear; never leave passengers unattended in a running vehicle.

For tank vehicles, be aware of liquid surge; reduce speed in curves and brake gently to prevent rollover.

Hawaii requires a special endorsement for hazardous materials, tank vehicles, and passenger transport; doubles/triples require an endorsement too.

For oversize loads, display red flags (or lights at night) at the widest points and front/rear extremities; check permit requirements.

Buses must stop at railroad crossings unless the crossing is exempt and clearly posted; school buses must stop at all crossings.

Air brake system components: compressor, governor, air tanks, safety valve, alcohol evaporator/air dryer, foot valve, slack adjusters, and spring brakes.

The compressor pumps air into the tanks; the governor controls when the compressor cuts in (about 100 psi) and out (about 125 psi).

The safety valve releases at about 150 psi; the low-air warning activates below 60 psi; spring brakes apply at about 20-45 psi.

Leak test: with the engine off and brakes released, pressure loss must not exceed 3 psi per minute (single) or 4 psi (combination).

Applied leak test: with the engine off and brakes applied, loss must not exceed 3 psi per minute (single) or 4 psi (combination).

The alcohol evaporator or air dryer removes moisture; drain air tanks daily to prevent freeze-ups in cold weather.

Slack adjusters: with the brakes released, pull the slack adjuster; more than 1 inch of free play means adjustment is needed.

The parking brake is a spring brake: it applies when air pressure is released and releases when air pressure is applied.

Hawaii's legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and older; 0.02% for drivers under 21 (zero tolerance).

Commercial drivers are subject to FMCSA hours-of-service rules: 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, 14-hour on-duty window, and 60/70-hour limits over 7/8 days.

Hawaii requires a CDL for vehicles over 26,001 lbs GVWR, vehicles towing over 10,000 lbs, and vehicles designed for 16 or more passengers.

Hawaii's move-over law requires drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the roadside.

Hawaii law prohibits texting while driving and using a handheld cell phone; hands-free devices are permitted for drivers 18 and older.

Seat belt use is mandatory for the driver and all passengers; child passengers must use appropriate child safety seats.

Drivers must carry a valid CDL, medical examiner's certificate, and vehicle registration; a current DOT medical card is required for interstate driving.

Railroad crossings: a placarded vehicle must stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail, and school buses must stop at all crossings.