Air Brakes
This endorsement is required for driving a vehicle with air brakes. To receive this endorsement, applicants must pass a written test. The test consists of 25 multiple choice questions. Each question has three answer choices. To pass, the applicant must answer at least 20 questions correctly. Test questions come from the New Mexico Commercial Driver License Manual. Questions come from the chapter covering: Air Brakes. The Air Brakes endorsement may be used with the Class A, B or C CDL.
Number of Question
Passing Score
19. Emergency brakes:
Explanation
All trucks, truck tractors, and buses must be equipped with emergency brakes and parking brakes.
20. Before driving a vehicle with air brakes, you should ensure that the ____ come on automatically when air pressure falls below 45 psi.
Explanation
Before driving a vehicle with air brakes, you should ensure that the spring brakes come on automatically when air tank pressure falls to a level between 20 and 45 psi. You can do this by chocking the wheels and releasing air from the braking system by stepping on and off the brake pedal. Once the pressure levels drop to an unsafe level, the parking brake valve should pop out and spring brakes should come on.
21. The parking brake in a newer vehicle is applied by:
Explanation
In newer vehicles with air brakes, the parking brake is controlled by a yellow, diamond-shaped knob. The driver should pull the knob outward to apply the parking brakes and push the knob inward to release them.
22. What kind of force do emergency brakes use?
Explanation
Air brakes are really three different braking systems: the service brake, the parking brake, and the emergency brake. Emergency and parking brakes are applied with mechanical force.
23. Some water and compressor oil is usually found in the compressed air within an air brake system. The water and compressor oil:
Explanation
If water and compressor oil are left to build up in an air brake system, the system can be damaged. Air storage tanks are equipped with drains to allow this accumulation to be removed. Manually controlled drains should be operated at the end of each day of driving.
24. What is often found in compressed air?
Explanation
Compressed air in an air brake system usually contains a certain amount of water and compressor oil. The water and oil can damage the brakes if left to accumulate in the system. Tanks must be drained regularly to remove this build-up.
25. If the spring brakes are on, you should:
Explanation
