TOW TRUCK OPERATOR EVALUATION EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Medium duty trucks are primarily - ✔✔boom trucks, but there are medium duty tilt
beds in operation.
✔✔Heavy duty trucks consist of - ✔✔tandem axle boom trucks, rotating boom trucks,
and XP side pulls that demonstrate new technology in vehicle recovery.
✔✔Class 1 light duty trucks can tow___________ - ✔✔cars, trucks, and light vans
weighing 6,000 pounds or less with 4 tires.
✔✔Class 2 light duty trucks can tow ___________________ - ✔✔cars, trucks and vans
weighing 6,001 through 10,000 pounds with 4 tires.
✔✔Class 3 medium duty trucks can tow __________________________ - ✔✔trucks
and vans weighing 10,000 through 14,000 pounds with 6 tires or more.
✔✔Class 4 medium duty trucks can tow _____________________ - ✔✔trucks, buses,
and vans weighing 14,001 through 16,000 pounds with 6 tires or more.
✔✔Class 5 medium duty trucks can tow ________________ - ✔✔trucks, RVs, buses,
and vans weighing 16,001 through 19,500 pounds with 6 tires or more.
✔✔The year a vehicle was made can be determined by looking at what? - ✔✔the 8th
character from the right in the vehicle's VIN number, then cross-referencing that
character with a chart.
✔✔Chains and the grades of chain that are suitable for the towing industry - ✔✔grade
70 transport chain, and grade 80 alloy chain.
✔✔Check bed locks for broken bolts, bent locks, and lubrication. Check hydraulic fluid
level. Inspect attachment pins on hydraulic pistons and attachment points to the frame
of a truck. Inspect winch attachment bolts. If light bar is attached to bed, make sure all
lighting is working properly. All this should be part of the operator's daily what? -
✔✔truck inspection
✔✔The most common size of chain in light duty work - ✔✔3/8 inch as measured on one
side of the link.
✔✔3/8 inch chain, graded 70 is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔6,600 pounds
✔✔3/8 inch chain, graded 80 is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔7,300 pounds
, ✔✔The most common sizes of wire rope used for light duty towing - ✔✔3/8 inch 6x19
and 7/16 inch 6x19
✔✔Daily inspection of an operator's truck should include checking chains for what? -
✔✔kinks, twists, knots, cracked or broken links, stretching, bending, and other
abnormalities.
✔✔What does 6x19 mean when referring to wire rope? - ✔✔6 strands and 19 wires per
strand
✔✔3.8 inch wire rope is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔3,500 pounds
✔✔7/16 inch wire rope is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔4,700 pounds
✔✔How long is wire rope on a tilt bed? - ✔✔normally 50 feet long
✔✔How long is wire rope on a boom truck? - ✔✔100 to 150 feet long
✔✔Daily inspection of an operator's truck should include checking wire rope for what? -
✔✔broken wires, broken strands, distortion around the hook area, flat spots on the
cable, damaged thimbles, kinks, and drums not wrapped properly
✔✔Wire rope should be properly __________________ - ✔✔lubricated.
✔✔What safety equipment is required when working with wire rope? - ✔✔gloves
✔✔How are winches powered on trucks today? - ✔✔electric and hydraulic
✔✔Most light duty winches have a safe working capacity of how many pounds? -
✔✔8,000 to 10,000 pounds
✔✔Daily inspection of an operator's truck should include checking the winch for what? -
✔✔fluid level, tangles in the cable, bolts securing the winch to the truck, and
engagement of power
✔✔Purple straps and loops have a safe capacity of _____________ - ✔✔2, 600 pounds
✔✔Green straps and loops have a safe capacity of _________________ - ✔✔5,300
pounds
✔✔Yellow straps and loops have a safe capacity of ________________________ -
✔✔8,400 pounds
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Medium duty trucks are primarily - ✔✔boom trucks, but there are medium duty tilt
beds in operation.
✔✔Heavy duty trucks consist of - ✔✔tandem axle boom trucks, rotating boom trucks,
and XP side pulls that demonstrate new technology in vehicle recovery.
✔✔Class 1 light duty trucks can tow___________ - ✔✔cars, trucks, and light vans
weighing 6,000 pounds or less with 4 tires.
✔✔Class 2 light duty trucks can tow ___________________ - ✔✔cars, trucks and vans
weighing 6,001 through 10,000 pounds with 4 tires.
✔✔Class 3 medium duty trucks can tow __________________________ - ✔✔trucks
and vans weighing 10,000 through 14,000 pounds with 6 tires or more.
✔✔Class 4 medium duty trucks can tow _____________________ - ✔✔trucks, buses,
and vans weighing 14,001 through 16,000 pounds with 6 tires or more.
✔✔Class 5 medium duty trucks can tow ________________ - ✔✔trucks, RVs, buses,
and vans weighing 16,001 through 19,500 pounds with 6 tires or more.
✔✔The year a vehicle was made can be determined by looking at what? - ✔✔the 8th
character from the right in the vehicle's VIN number, then cross-referencing that
character with a chart.
✔✔Chains and the grades of chain that are suitable for the towing industry - ✔✔grade
70 transport chain, and grade 80 alloy chain.
✔✔Check bed locks for broken bolts, bent locks, and lubrication. Check hydraulic fluid
level. Inspect attachment pins on hydraulic pistons and attachment points to the frame
of a truck. Inspect winch attachment bolts. If light bar is attached to bed, make sure all
lighting is working properly. All this should be part of the operator's daily what? -
✔✔truck inspection
✔✔The most common size of chain in light duty work - ✔✔3/8 inch as measured on one
side of the link.
✔✔3/8 inch chain, graded 70 is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔6,600 pounds
✔✔3/8 inch chain, graded 80 is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔7,300 pounds
, ✔✔The most common sizes of wire rope used for light duty towing - ✔✔3/8 inch 6x19
and 7/16 inch 6x19
✔✔Daily inspection of an operator's truck should include checking chains for what? -
✔✔kinks, twists, knots, cracked or broken links, stretching, bending, and other
abnormalities.
✔✔What does 6x19 mean when referring to wire rope? - ✔✔6 strands and 19 wires per
strand
✔✔3.8 inch wire rope is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔3,500 pounds
✔✔7/16 inch wire rope is safe for towing how many pounds? - ✔✔4,700 pounds
✔✔How long is wire rope on a tilt bed? - ✔✔normally 50 feet long
✔✔How long is wire rope on a boom truck? - ✔✔100 to 150 feet long
✔✔Daily inspection of an operator's truck should include checking wire rope for what? -
✔✔broken wires, broken strands, distortion around the hook area, flat spots on the
cable, damaged thimbles, kinks, and drums not wrapped properly
✔✔Wire rope should be properly __________________ - ✔✔lubricated.
✔✔What safety equipment is required when working with wire rope? - ✔✔gloves
✔✔How are winches powered on trucks today? - ✔✔electric and hydraulic
✔✔Most light duty winches have a safe working capacity of how many pounds? -
✔✔8,000 to 10,000 pounds
✔✔Daily inspection of an operator's truck should include checking the winch for what? -
✔✔fluid level, tangles in the cable, bolts securing the winch to the truck, and
engagement of power
✔✔Purple straps and loops have a safe capacity of _____________ - ✔✔2, 600 pounds
✔✔Green straps and loops have a safe capacity of _________________ - ✔✔5,300
pounds
✔✔Yellow straps and loops have a safe capacity of ________________________ -
✔✔8,400 pounds
