CDL Permit Practice Test (50 Questions Answers)

CDL Permit Practice Test (50 Questions Answers): In order to get this special license, you must first take and pass the required CDL knowledge test and skills tests. Using this free sample test correctly will prepare you to take and pass these tests. This practice test is consist of 50 questions and is followed by an answer key.

Taking our free CDL Permit Practice Test and any other practice Endorsement Tests that apply to your vehicle type, and studying the explanations of the correct answers for the practice tests, you can find out how well you are prepared for the actual Commercial Driver’s License Exam and what material you need to review again.

CDL Permit Practice Test (50 Questions Answers)

Test Name	CDL Practice Test 2025
Language	English
License	CDL (Class A, B, or C),
Total Questions	50 Knowledge Practice Test
Test For	Commercial Driver License
Test Preparation	Driving Knowledge
Country	USA
Explanation	No

0 votes, 0 avg

CDL General Knowledge Test 6

1 / 50

If you must pull over to the shoulder on a major highway, you should

A) turn onto the shoulder without braking.

B) brake quickly several times to flash your brake lights.

C) use the controlled braking method.

D) keep one set of wheels on pavement, if possible.

2 / 50

Some vehicles have automatic transmissions. Why is it important to select a low range when going down grades?

A) To allow the transmission to shift up

B) To prevent a hydraulic brake failure

C) To prevent hydroplaning

D) To get greater engine braking

3 / 50

A tie rod is part of the ________ system.

A) exhaust

B) brake

C) steering

D) suspension

4 / 50

How often must drivers of trucks and truck tractors conduct a safety inspection?

A) Before driving

B) After driving

C) Every 5 hours and after driving

D) Before driving, every 3 hours during driving, and after driving

5 / 50

You are driving on slippery ice. Your rear-drive wheels lock and you begin to skid. Which of the following is the best action to take?

A) Brake hard and pull off the road.

B) Take your foot off the accelerator and push the brake.

C) Take your foot off the accelerator and push in the clutch.

D) Shift to neutral.

6 / 50

How much tread depth should you have on your front tires when driving in the winter?

A) Maximum of 2/32 inch

B) Minimum of 4/32 inch

C) Under 4/32 inch

D) Minimum of 2/32 inch

7 / 50

f one-fourth of a multileaf spring is missing, which of the following is most likely to happen?

A) It will have no effect.

B) It will put the vehicle out of service.

C) It will cause a pop-pop-pop sound.

D) It will make it hard to steer.

8 / 50

You are driving a 60-foot rig at 55 mph. How many seconds of space should you have between you and the vehicle ahead?

A) 5 seconds

B) 7 seconds

C) 8 seconds

D) 6 seconds

9 / 50

You should inspect the tires every _________ when driving in very hot weather.

A) two hours or every 100 miles

B) one hour or every 50 miles

C) three hours or every 150 miles

D) four hours or every 400 miles

10 / 50

What are the three types of safety equipment that you must have before driving?

A) Tire-changing equipment, spare fuses, and a fire extinguisher

B) Spare fuses, tire chains and a fire extinguisher

C) Spare fuses, three red reflective triangles, and a fire extinguisher

D) An accident reporting kit, three red reflective triangles, and tire- changing equipment

11 / 50

Where and when is it best to downshift?

A) Before speeding up

B) After starting up a hill

C) Before entering a curve

D) After starting down a hill

12 / 50

What is black ice?

A) Fog or mist

B) Clear ice

C) Freshly paved tar

D) Oil

13 / 50

You wish to turn left from one multilane two-way street into another multilane two-way street. Which of the figures below shows how the turn should be made?

A) Figure b

B) Figure A

C) Figure c

D) Figure d

14 / 50

You are driving a large vehicle that cannot make a right turn without swinging into another lane. Which of the following figures shows the correct way to make the turn?

A) Figure A

B) Figure C

C) Figure D

D) Figure B

15 / 50

What is a tractor jackknife?

A) A drive-wheel skid

B) A device used in the hydraulic system

C) Another name for hard steering

D) A type of trailer truck

16 / 50

If you have to steer away from what’s ahead in order to avoid a crash, which of the following is the best action to take?

A) Turn very sharply to clear whatever is in your way

B) Turn, then countersteer once you have cleared the obstacle

C) Hit the brakes.

D) Apply the brakes while turning.

17 / 50

Controlled braking is

A) releasing the brakes slowly.

B) braking so that the wheels lock

C) stab braking lock.

D) jamming on the brakes.

18 / 50

To extinguish an electrical fire,

A) use the B:C extinguisher on the base of the fire.

B) pull into a service station and wait for qualified firefighters.

C) use the A:B:C extinguisher on the flames of the fire.

D) use a lot of water.

19 / 50

Which of the following emergency equipment should be carried in the truck at all times?

A) reflective warning triangles or flares

B) a fully charged 5 B:C fire extinguisher

C) spare electrical fuses (if the truck has fuses)

D) All of the above

20 / 50

To go down a long, steep hill you should

A) shift to a low gear after starting down the grade.

B) shift to a high gear before starting down the grade.

C) shift to a low gear before starting down the grade.

D) apply your brakes hard.

21 / 50

What is the correct placement of warning devices when parked on the shoulder of a one-way or divided highway?

A) At 100 feet and 500 feet from the rear of the vehicle

B) At 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet from the front of the vehicle

C) At 100 feet and 500 feet from the front of the vehicle

D) At 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet from the rear of the vehicle

22 / 50

When driving down a steep curve in the snow, you should

A) use the speed retarder.

B) turn as gently as possible.

C) use the engine brake.

D) brake hard.

23 / 50

Which of the following is true about overhead clearance?

A) Repaving or packed snow increases the clearance height.

B) A loaded truck is higher than an empty one.

C) An empty van is higher than a loaded van.

D) Posted heights are always correct.

24 / 50

Which of the following should you examine when inspecting the front of your vehicle?

A) All of the above

B) Condition of steering system

C) Condition of shock absorbers

D) Condition of brakes

25 / 50

Why don’t new trucks use the same gear for going down a hill as they would for going up a hill?

A) They have low friction parts.

B) They have weaker engines.

C) They take up more fuel.

D) They have more air drag.

26 / 50

What causes brakes to fade?

A) Using the brakes too lightly when going downhill

B) Coasting

C) Slowing down from high speeds too quickly

D) Frozen brake pads

27 / 50

the best kind of driver is a(n) __________ one.

A) safety first-minded and defensive

B) sober

C) Offensive

D) slow

28 / 50

You are driving on a highway and your front tire has just blown out. You should

A) pump the brakes.

B) stay off the brake until you have slowed down.

C) brake hard.

D) keep driving until you find a service station.

29 / 50

You are driving on a rainy day and the drive wheels begin to spin. To keep control of the vehicle, which of the following is the best action to take?

A) Steer to the left or right

B) Take your foot off the accelerator

C) Brake hard

D) Accelerate slightly

30 / 50

A broken coolant hose while driving

A) causes the air-conditioner to fail.

B) increases the chances of tire failure.

C) causes the heater to fail.

D) can cause a fire

31 / 50

he proper distance to use high beams is at least _______________ away from an approaching vehicle.

A) 1,000 feet

B) 500 feet

C) 25 feet

D) 50 feet

32 / 50

Which of the following is one of the potential causes of fire in the electrical system?

A) Poor ventilation

B) Duals that touch

C) Flammable cargo

D) Short circuits due to damaged insulation

33 / 50

Which of the following is one of the best ways to deal with tailgaters in heavy traffic?

A) Turn on your tail lights.

B) Speed up to increase the distance between you and the tailgater.

C) Brake quickly several times to flash your brake lights.

D) Increase your following distance.

34 / 50

Which of the following is a sign of a tire failure?

A) Vibration

B) All of the above

C) A loud “bang”

D) The steering wheel pulls to one side

35 / 50

If the radiator shutters freeze shut when driving in the winter, which of the following will occur?

A) The brakes will freeze.

B) Carbon monoxide will leak into your vehicle.

C) It will be harder to steer.

D) The engine may overheat and stop.

36 / 50

Why must you tab or keep shipping papers related to hazardous materials in special places?

A) In case there are no placards

B) f the driver is in an accident and cannot speak, people must know the hazards involved.

C) Because they must be delivered first

D) Because you must know what products you can load together, and which you cannot

37 / 50

What is the total stopping distance when driving a heavy vehicle on dry pavement at 55 mph?

A) 5 seconds

B) 7 1/2seconds

C) 4 1/2 seconds

D) 6 seconds

38 / 50

Which of the following is the best way to slow the vehicle when driving down a hill?

A) Downshift before the hill and keep light, continuous pressure on the brakes.

B) Apply heavy pressure on the brakes from time to time.

C) Shift gears to neutral.

D) Shift to a higher gear.

39 / 50

You are stopped on an incline. How do you keep from rolling back?

A) Put on the parking brake

B) Pump the accelerator hard

C) Engage the clutch

D) Shift to neutral

40 / 50

Which of the following statements is true about alcohol?

A) Alcohol increases your ability to drive.

B) If you eat a lot first, you will not get drunk

C) Some people are not affected by alcohol

D) A few beers are the same as a few shots of whiskey.

41 / 50

The controlled braking method is used

A) to make the wheels lock.

B) by applying the brakes slowly.

C) when making large steering wheel movements

D) by applying the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels.

42 / 50

Which of the following is true about empty trucks?

A) They have better traction.

B) They require greater stopping distance.

C) They are easier to steer.

D) They require less braking power.

43 / 50

At speeds below 40 mph, you need at—————for each————of vehicle length.

A) one second; 20 feet

B) two seconds; 10 feet

C) one second; 10 feet

D) two seconds; 30 feet

44 / 50

If the steering feels heavy or hard, it is probably a sign of

A) engine problems.

B) tire problems.

C) battery failure.

D) worn brakes.

45 / 50

Your brakes have failed on a downgrade. Using an escape ramp, downshifting and ____________________ are helpful in slowing the vehicle.

A) countersteering

B) using the braking effect of the engine

C) shifting to a higher gear

D) using your horn

46 / 50

When backing a trailer,

A) turn and back toward the right side.

B) turn the steering wheel toward the direction you want to go.

C) urn the steering wheel in the opposite direction you want to go.

D) use the highest reverse gear.

47 / 50

One of the steps in shifting up is to

A) press the accelerator and shift to neutral.

B) increase engine and gear speed to the RPM required.

C) push in the clutch and shift to the higher gear at the same time

D) release the clutch and shift to neutral.

48 / 50

You are approaching a vehicle for a pre-trip inspection. What should be the first step?

A) Putting the vehicle key in your pocket

B) Fastening your seatbelt

C) Writing a written report on the condition of the vehicle

D) Starting the engine

49 / 50

What is the proper way to make a right turn when you are driving a long vehicle?

A) Keep the rear of the vehicle far away from the curb

B) Turn quickly to stop other drivers from hitting you.

C) Turn wide as you complete the turn.

D) Turn wide to the left as you start the turn.

50 / 50

You are stopped on the shoulder of a curve that prevents approaching traffic from seeing your vehicle. How far back should you place your last warning device?

A) 200 feet

B) 100 feet

C) 10 feet

D) 500 feet

Your score is

The average score is 74%