CDL · Antilock Brakes

When driving a doubles combination on a slippery downgrade, what braking technique reduces jackknife risk most?

Correct answer

Smooth, progressive brake application that maintains rolling wheels on all axles — combined with appropriate gear selection and engine braking to reduce reliance on service brakes

  1. A Maximum brake force on the front axle only
  2. B Smooth, progressive brake application that maintains rolling wheels on all axles — combined with appropriate gear selection and engine braking to reduce reliance on service brakes
  3. C Pump braking at random intervals
  4. D Use only the trailer hand valve

Why this is the answer

Progressive braking maintains wheel rotation on all axles, preventing the lockup that triggers jackknife. On downgrades, engine braking (selecting a lower gear before the descent) reduces service brake reliance — the engine's compression does the primary retarding work, leaving service brakes for final speed control. The trailer hand valve (which applies only trailer brakes) is dangerous on slippery surfaces as it can lock the trailer wheels while tractor wheels continue rolling — a guaranteed jackknife setup.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Chapter 7, Doubles and Triples, Downgrade Braking

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