What supplies compressed air to the brake reservoirs while the engine is running?
Correct answer: The air compressor.
The compressor pumps air into the reservoirs. The other components transmit braking force or hold the brakes, rather than replenish stored air.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Air compressor; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
The air pressure reaches the compressor governor’s cut-out setting. What should happen?
Correct answer: The compressor stops pumping air into the system.
The governor controls pumping at the cut-in and cut-out settings. Cut-out does not mean the engine stops or the reservoirs are emptied; use the vehicle’s specified pressure settings.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Governor cut-out; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
Your compressor has its own oil supply rather than sharing engine lubrication. What additional maintenance check is needed?
Correct answer: Check that compressor’s oil level.
Some compressors have a separate oil supply. An acceptable engine oil level does not establish that a separately lubricated compressor has enough oil.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Separate compressor lubrication; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
Why can an air-braked vehicle still have several brake applications available after the compressor stops pumping?
Correct answer: The reservoirs hold a supply of compressed air.
Reservoirs store braking air. That reserve is limited: it does not make continued driving with a failed air supply safe.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Stored-air reserve; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
Why is water left in an air-brake reservoir especially dangerous in freezing weather?
Correct answer: It can freeze and interfere with brake operation.
Moisture can freeze in the system and cause brake trouble. The handbook calls for draining water and oil from tanks using the equipment’s proper procedure.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Water in air tanks; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
Your vehicle has manual air-tank drains. What does the Colorado CDL handbook advise?
Correct answer: Drain the tanks at the end of each working day.
Manual drains remove collected water and oil. Waiting for a malfunction allows contamination to build up; follow the vehicle’s drain procedure and maintenance instructions.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Manual reservoir drains; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
A truck has an alcohol evaporator for its air system. How should it be treated?
Correct answer: Maintain it as specified; it does not eliminate tank-drain checks.
An alcohol evaporator is fitted only on some systems. Follow the equipment’s instructions and continue required moisture-management checks; do not improvise additives for other systems.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Alcohol evaporator equipment; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
The air reservoir’s safety relief valve opens because system pressure is too high. What does this indicate?
Correct answer: A system problem needs attention by a mechanic.
The safety valve protects against excessive pressure. Its operation is a reason to find the fault, not disable the protection or assume the brakes are otherwise sound.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Safety valve discharge; physical PDF page 62 (printed 62); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
In normal air-brake operation, pressing the brake pedal farther generally does what?
Correct answer: Applies more air pressure to the service brakes.
The foot valve meters service-brake pressure according to pedal demand. It does not adjust the governor’s pressure setting.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Foot valve pressure; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
When you release the air-brake pedal after a normal application, what happens to the air used for that application?
Correct answer: It is exhausted from the brake chambers.
Releasing the pedal vents the application air so the service brakes can release. New air must be supplied from the reservoirs for later applications.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Releasing the service pedal; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
Why should you avoid pumping air brakes unnecessarily?
Correct answer: Repeated applications can use air faster than it is replenished.
Each application consumes air. Repeated unnecessary applications can reduce the available reserve, especially if the compressor cannot keep up.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Repeated unnecessary pumping; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
What actually slows the wheel when a drum-type service brake applies?
Correct answer: Friction between the brake lining and the drum.
Air pressure operates the brake mechanism, but contact between lining and drum creates the friction that slows the wheel and produces heat.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Drum brake friction; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
In an S-cam drum brake, what does rotation of the S-cam do?
Correct answer: Pushes the brake shoes outward against the drum.
The chamber’s pushrod and slack adjuster turn the camshaft. The S-shaped cam spreads the shoes against the inside of the drum. This describes S-cam brakes, not every air-brake design.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, S-cam action; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
What does a supply air-pressure gauge tell the driver?
Correct answer: How much air pressure is available in the reservoir system.
Supply gauges monitor stored air pressure. They do not measure lining wear or show the individual braking force at each wheel.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Supply pressure reading; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
On a vehicle fitted with an application-pressure gauge, more pressure than usual is needed to maintain the same speed downhill. What may this suggest?
Correct answer: Brake fade or another braking-system problem.
An unusual increase in required application pressure can indicate fade, adjustment trouble, leaks or other mechanical problems. The gauge alone does not identify the exact fault.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Application pressure trend; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
How are the stop lights commonly activated in the air-brake system described by the handbook?
Correct answer: Air pressure operates an electrical switch.
An air-operated electrical switch turns on the stop lights when the service brakes are applied. The warning system and parking control serve different purposes.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 5, Brake-light switch; physical PDF page 63 (printed 63); reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
