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

To go down a long, steep hill you should

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

B) apply your brakes hard.

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

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

2 / 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) Brake hard

C) Accelerate slightly

D) Take your foot off the accelerator

3 / 50

When backing a trailer,

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

B) use the highest reverse gear.

C) turn and back toward the right side.

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

4 / 50

What is black ice?

A) Oil

B) Freshly paved tar

C) Clear ice

D) Fog or mist

5 / 50

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

A) Short circuits due to damaged insulation

B) Flammable cargo

C) Duals that touch

D) Poor ventilation

6 / 50

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

A) A loud “bang”

B) The steering wheel pulls to one side

C) All of the above

D) Vibration

7 / 50

A tie rod is part of the ________ system.

A) steering

B) exhaust

C) brake

D) suspension

8 / 50

What causes brakes to fade?

A) Slowing down from high speeds too quickly

B) Frozen brake pads

C) Coasting

D) Using the brakes too lightly when going downhill

9 / 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) Shift to a higher gear.

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

D) Shift gears to neutral.

10 / 50

Controlled braking is

A) releasing the brakes slowly.

B) braking so that the wheels lock

C) jamming on the brakes.

D) stab braking lock.

11 / 50

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

A) All of the above

B) reflective warning triangles or flares

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

D) a fully charged 5 B:C fire extinguisher

12 / 50

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

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

B) In case there are no placards

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

D) Because they must be delivered first

13 / 50

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

A) 25 feet

B) 500 feet

C) 50 feet

D) 1,000 feet

14 / 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) 100 feet

B) 500 feet

C) 200 feet

D) 10 feet

15 / 50

The controlled braking method is used

A) when making large steering wheel movements

B) by applying the brakes slowly.

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

D) to make the wheels lock.

16 / 50

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

A) To prevent hydroplaning

B) To get greater engine braking

C) To prevent a hydraulic brake failure

D) To allow the transmission to shift up

17 / 50

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

A) Before driving

B) Every 5 hours and after driving

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

D) After driving

18 / 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 B

B) Figure C

C) Figure D

D) Figure A

19 / 50

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

A) Pump the accelerator hard

B) Put on the parking brake

C) Shift to neutral

D) Engage the clutch

20 / 50

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

A) Turn wide as you complete the turn.

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

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

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

21 / 50

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

A) Condition of brakes

B) Condition of steering system

C) Condition of shock absorbers

D) All of the above

22 / 50

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

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

B) It will make it hard to steer.

C) It will have no effect.

D) It will put the vehicle out of service.

23 / 50

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

A) using the braking effect of the engine

B) using your horn

C) countersteering

D) shifting to a higher gear

24 / 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) 6 seconds

B) 5 seconds

C) 8 seconds

D) 7 seconds

25 / 50

Which of the following is true about overhead clearance?

A) Posted heights are always correct.

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

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

D) Repaving or packed snow increases the clearance height.

26 / 50

One of the steps in shifting up is to

A) press the accelerator and shift to neutral.

B) release the clutch and shift to neutral.

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

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

27 / 50

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

A) turn as gently as possible.

B) use the speed retarder.

C) brake hard.

D) use the engine brake.

28 / 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) Starting the engine

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

D) Fastening your seatbelt

29 / 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) Take your foot off the accelerator and push the brake.

B) Brake hard and pull off the road.

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

D) Shift to neutral.

30 / 50

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

A) Offensive

B) sober

C) safety first-minded and defensive

D) slow

31 / 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.

32 / 50

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

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

B) pump the brakes.

C) keep driving until you find a service station.

D) brake hard.

33 / 50

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

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

B) Turn on your tail lights.

C) Increase your following distance.

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

34 / 50

What is a tractor jackknife?

A) A drive-wheel skid

B) A type of trailer truck

C) A device used in the hydraulic system

D) Another name for hard steering

35 / 50

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

A) Under 4/32 inch

B) Minimum of 2/32 inch

C) Minimum of 4/32 inch

D) Maximum of 2/32 inch

36 / 50

Which of the following statements is true about alcohol?

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

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

C) Alcohol increases your ability to drive.

D) Some people are not affected by alcohol

37 / 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 c

C) Figure d

D) Figure A

38 / 50

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

A) The engine may overheat and stop.

B) The brakes will freeze.

C) Carbon monoxide will leak into your vehicle.

D) It will be harder to steer.

39 / 50

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

A) 4 1/2 seconds

B) 6 seconds

C) 7 1/2seconds

D) 5 seconds

40 / 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) four hours or every 400 miles

D) three hours or every 150 miles

41 / 50

Where and when is it best to downshift?

A) Before speeding up

B) After starting down a hill

C) Before entering a curve

D) After starting up a hill

42 / 50

Which of the following is true about empty trucks?

A) They require greater stopping distance.

B) They require less braking power.

C) They have better traction.

D) They are easier to steer.

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

D) use the controlled braking method.

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

C) Spare fuses, tire chains and a fire extinguisher

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

45 / 50

To extinguish an electrical fire,

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

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

C) use a lot of water.

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

46 / 50

A broken coolant hose while driving

A) causes the air-conditioner to fail.

B) causes the heater to fail.

C) increases the chances of tire failure.

D) can cause a fire

47 / 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 take up more fuel.

B) They have weaker engines.

C) They have low friction parts.

D) They have more air drag.

48 / 50

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

A) engine problems.

B) battery failure.

C) worn brakes.

D) tire problems.

49 / 50

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

A) one second; 10 feet

B) one second; 20 feet

C) two seconds; 10 feet

D) two seconds; 30 feet

50 / 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 front of the vehicle

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

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

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

Your score is

The average score is 74%

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