Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumSteering Techniques

When operating a commercial motor vehicle, a driver should grip the steering wheel with their thumbs resting along the inside of the rim or hooked over the wheel spokes to maximize steering leverage.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. Commercial drivers must keep their thumbs positioned along the outside perimeter of the steering wheel rim to prevent severe hand and thumb injuries caused by sudden steering wheel kickback.
Commercial drivers must maintain a firm two-handed grip on opposite sides of the steering wheel with thumbs placed along the outside surface of the rim. Hooking thumbs inside the rim or across the spokes is dangerous because striking a pothole, curb, or road hazard can cause the steering wheel to whip or kick back violently, instantly breaking or dislocating the driver's thumbs and causing a dangerous loss of vehicle control.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze standard commercial driver hand placement and grip requirements.
Commercial drivers are instructed to maintain a firm, two-handed grip on opposite sides of the steering wheel with thumbs resting along the outside surface of the rim.
This grip ensures balanced vehicle control while protecting the driver's hands and fingers from mechanical kickback.
2
Evaluate the mechanical hazards of placing thumbs inside the steering wheel rim or spokes.
Front-wheel impacts with road ruts, curbs, or tire blowouts transfer extreme rotational force back through the steering column.
A sudden wheel kickback will violently rotate the spokes against any thumb hooked inside the rim, causing immediate fractures or dislocations and loss of vehicle control.
3
Determine the validity of the statement based on CDL safety regulations.
The statement is False.
Placing thumbs inside the rim or over spokes is an unsafe practice that violates basic commercial vehicle control guidelines.

Key Concept

Commercial Motor Vehicle Steering Wheel Grip and Kickback Injury Prevention
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question

Topics

Steering Techniques

More questions from this topic