NYS TOW TRUCK ENDORSEMENT EXAM (EXAM AND
TERMS WITH DEFINATION) ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|AGRADE
air dam - ANSWER: a flexible air-deflecting panel usually located below the radiator
support.
Approach Angle - ANSWER: the angle between the plane of the carrier bed or
platform and the ground.
Auxiliary Braking Device - ANSWER: a device which attaches to the disabled vehicle
to assist the tow truck's brakes in retarding or stopping both vehicles.
auxiliary equipment - ANSWER: equipment that is not necessary to perform the basic
function of the primary equipment.
Auxiliary Tow Lights - ANSWER: stop, tail and turn signal lights attached to the
trailing end of the towed vehicle, and operated as part of the towing vehicle's
lighting system. Also see "Drag Lights".
Auxiliary Winch - ANSWER: same as "Drag Winch": a winch whose cable goes directly
to the load, and not over the end of the boom.
Axle Covers - ANSWER: devices used to cover drive axle shaft openings to help
prevent contamination or loss of wheel bearing lubrication during towing or
transporting operations.
Bed Locks - ANSWER: devices on a vehicle with a movable bed that secure the bed in
place while traveling.
a boom - ANSWER: a structural member, extending from the mast, that supports the
load and is used to hold, extend or lift a load free of the ground and clear of the tow
truck body
breaking strength rating - ANSWER: the maximum weight or load, as established by
the manufacturer, that new, unused equipment can bear, under ideal laboratory
conditions, without being damaged.
bridle - ANSWER: a V or Y type coupling device used to attach and center a cable in
recovery, loading and unloading operations.
cab - ANSWER: the driver/passenger carrying part of the truck.
Cab-to-Axle (CA) - ANSWER: the distance from the back of the truck cab to the center
of the rear axle. See chassis manufacturer's dimensions.
, cable - ANSWER: steel wire rope used for pulling and supporting a load.
car carrier - ANSWER: a vehicle equipped to transport one to three motor vehicles on
a flat platform that slides or tilts to the ground to facilitate the loading and unloading
of these vehicles; may or may not have an additional assembly attached to the rear
to facilitate towing an additional vehicle. These units are also known as slidebacks,
rollbacks, transporting equipment carriers and flatbeds.
Chain Grade or Strength Rating - ANSWER: the number placed on chain by the
manufacturer as part of the National Association of Chain Manufacturers' system of
identifying chain. Chain manufactured by NACM standards also bears a letter that
identifies the manufacturer.
cross member - ANSWER: a general term applied to transverse members in the
understructure of a vehicle.
Curb weight - ANSWER: the unloaded weight of a truck, axle or axle combination.
disabled vehicle - ANSWER: a motor vehicle that is illegally parked, abandoned, or a
vehicle unable to operate under its own power or that has been involved in an
accident.
dolly - ANSWER: a four wheeled carriage used, in towing, to support the trailing end
of the towed vehicle.
drag lights - ANSWER: same as "Auxiliary Tow Lights": stop, tail and turn signal lights
attached to the trailing end of the towed vehicle, and operated as part of the towing
vehicle's lighting system.
drag winch - ANSWER: a winch whose cable goes directly to the load, and not over
the end of the boom. Also see "Auxiliary Winch".
driveline - ANSWER: a vehicle's drive shaft and associated joints.
fascia - ANSWER: flexible material commonly used as a bumper cover
forks - ANSWER: devices attached to the lift bar (also see "Tow Bar") for lifting a
vehicle by the axle, frame or structural member. May be classified as chain, axle or
frame forks.
Front Axle Weight (FAW) - ANSWER: the curb weight of the front axle of the front
axle combination while the truck is unloaded
grab hook - ANSWER: a chain hook that will not slide; used with safety chains and
some tow sling hook-ups.
TERMS WITH DEFINATION) ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|AGRADE
air dam - ANSWER: a flexible air-deflecting panel usually located below the radiator
support.
Approach Angle - ANSWER: the angle between the plane of the carrier bed or
platform and the ground.
Auxiliary Braking Device - ANSWER: a device which attaches to the disabled vehicle
to assist the tow truck's brakes in retarding or stopping both vehicles.
auxiliary equipment - ANSWER: equipment that is not necessary to perform the basic
function of the primary equipment.
Auxiliary Tow Lights - ANSWER: stop, tail and turn signal lights attached to the
trailing end of the towed vehicle, and operated as part of the towing vehicle's
lighting system. Also see "Drag Lights".
Auxiliary Winch - ANSWER: same as "Drag Winch": a winch whose cable goes directly
to the load, and not over the end of the boom.
Axle Covers - ANSWER: devices used to cover drive axle shaft openings to help
prevent contamination or loss of wheel bearing lubrication during towing or
transporting operations.
Bed Locks - ANSWER: devices on a vehicle with a movable bed that secure the bed in
place while traveling.
a boom - ANSWER: a structural member, extending from the mast, that supports the
load and is used to hold, extend or lift a load free of the ground and clear of the tow
truck body
breaking strength rating - ANSWER: the maximum weight or load, as established by
the manufacturer, that new, unused equipment can bear, under ideal laboratory
conditions, without being damaged.
bridle - ANSWER: a V or Y type coupling device used to attach and center a cable in
recovery, loading and unloading operations.
cab - ANSWER: the driver/passenger carrying part of the truck.
Cab-to-Axle (CA) - ANSWER: the distance from the back of the truck cab to the center
of the rear axle. See chassis manufacturer's dimensions.
, cable - ANSWER: steel wire rope used for pulling and supporting a load.
car carrier - ANSWER: a vehicle equipped to transport one to three motor vehicles on
a flat platform that slides or tilts to the ground to facilitate the loading and unloading
of these vehicles; may or may not have an additional assembly attached to the rear
to facilitate towing an additional vehicle. These units are also known as slidebacks,
rollbacks, transporting equipment carriers and flatbeds.
Chain Grade or Strength Rating - ANSWER: the number placed on chain by the
manufacturer as part of the National Association of Chain Manufacturers' system of
identifying chain. Chain manufactured by NACM standards also bears a letter that
identifies the manufacturer.
cross member - ANSWER: a general term applied to transverse members in the
understructure of a vehicle.
Curb weight - ANSWER: the unloaded weight of a truck, axle or axle combination.
disabled vehicle - ANSWER: a motor vehicle that is illegally parked, abandoned, or a
vehicle unable to operate under its own power or that has been involved in an
accident.
dolly - ANSWER: a four wheeled carriage used, in towing, to support the trailing end
of the towed vehicle.
drag lights - ANSWER: same as "Auxiliary Tow Lights": stop, tail and turn signal lights
attached to the trailing end of the towed vehicle, and operated as part of the towing
vehicle's lighting system.
drag winch - ANSWER: a winch whose cable goes directly to the load, and not over
the end of the boom. Also see "Auxiliary Winch".
driveline - ANSWER: a vehicle's drive shaft and associated joints.
fascia - ANSWER: flexible material commonly used as a bumper cover
forks - ANSWER: devices attached to the lift bar (also see "Tow Bar") for lifting a
vehicle by the axle, frame or structural member. May be classified as chain, axle or
frame forks.
Front Axle Weight (FAW) - ANSWER: the curb weight of the front axle of the front
axle combination while the truck is unloaded
grab hook - ANSWER: a chain hook that will not slide; used with safety chains and
some tow sling hook-ups.
