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

What causes brakes to fade?

A) Frozen brake pads

B) Slowing down from high speeds too quickly

C) Coasting

D) Using the brakes too lightly when going downhill

2 / 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) Shift to neutral.

C) Brake hard and pull off the road.

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

3 / 50

To go down a long, steep hill you should

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

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

C) apply your brakes hard.

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

4 / 50

When backing a trailer,

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

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

C) use the highest reverse gear.

D) turn and back toward the right side.

5 / 50

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

A) 5 seconds

B) 4 1/2 seconds

C) 6 seconds

D) 7 1/2seconds

6 / 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) Hit the brakes.

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

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

D) Apply the brakes while turning.

7 / 50

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

A) Condition of steering system

B) All of the above

C) Condition of brakes

D) Condition of shock absorbers

8 / 50

A broken coolant hose while driving

A) causes the air-conditioner to fail.

B) causes the heater to fail.

C) can cause a fire

D) increases the chances of tire failure.

9 / 50

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

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

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

C) Spare fuses, tire chains and a fire extinguisher

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

10 / 50

The controlled braking method is used

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

B) when making large steering wheel movements

C) by applying the brakes slowly.

D) to make the wheels lock.

11 / 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 D

C) Figure B

D) Figure C

12 / 50

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

A) brake hard.

B) keep driving until you find a service station.

C) pump the brakes.

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

13 / 50

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

A) Because they must be delivered first

B) In case there are no placards

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

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

14 / 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) 8 seconds

B) 7 seconds

C) 5 seconds

D) 6 seconds

15 / 50

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

A) Increase your following distance.

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

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

D) Turn on your tail lights.

16 / 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 more air drag.

B) They have weaker engines.

C) They have low friction parts.

D) They take up more fuel.

17 / 50

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

A) Minimum of 4/32 inch

B) Under 4/32 inch

C) Minimum of 2/32 inch

D) Maximum of 2/32 inch

18 / 50

Which of the following is true about empty trucks?

A) They are easier to steer.

B) They require less braking power.

C) They have better traction.

D) They require greater stopping distance.

19 / 50

Which of the following statements is true about alcohol?

A) Alcohol increases your ability to drive.

B) Some people are not affected by alcohol

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

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

20 / 50

Which of the following is true about overhead clearance?

A) Posted heights are always correct.

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

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

D) Repaving or packed snow increases the clearance height.

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 front of the vehicle

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

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

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

22 / 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.

23 / 50

What is a tractor jackknife?

A) Another name for hard steering

B) A device used in the hydraulic system

C) A drive-wheel skid

D) A type of trailer truck

24 / 50

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

A) After driving

B) Every 5 hours and after driving

C) Before driving

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

25 / 50

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

A) It will make it hard to steer.

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

C) It will put the vehicle out of service.

D) It will have no effect.

26 / 50

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

A) It will be harder to steer.

B) The engine may overheat and stop.

C) The brakes will freeze.

D) Carbon monoxide will leak into your vehicle.

27 / 50

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

A) one hour or every 50 miles

B) three hours or every 150 miles

C) four hours or every 400 miles

D) two hours or every 100 miles

28 / 50

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

A) Pump the accelerator hard

B) Engage the clutch

C) Put on the parking brake

D) Shift to neutral

29 / 50

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

A) using your horn

B) using the braking effect of the engine

C) shifting to a higher gear

D) countersteering

30 / 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) two seconds; 30 feet

D) one second; 10 feet

31 / 50

One of the steps in shifting up is to

A) release the clutch and shift to neutral.

B) press the accelerator and shift to neutral.

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

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

32 / 50

To extinguish an electrical fire,

A) use a lot of water.

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

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

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

33 / 50

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

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

B) a fully charged 5 B:C fire extinguisher

C) reflective warning triangles or flares

D) All of the above

34 / 50

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

A) sober

B) Offensive

C) slow

D) safety first-minded and defensive

35 / 50

Where and when is it best to downshift?

A) Before speeding up

B) After starting down a hill

C) After starting up a hill

D) Before entering a curve

36 / 50

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

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

B) use the controlled braking method.

C) turn onto the shoulder without braking.

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

37 / 50

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

A) 500 feet

B) 1,000 feet

C) 50 feet

D) 25 feet

38 / 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) Duals that touch

C) Flammable cargo

D) Poor ventilation

39 / 50

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

A) tire problems.

B) battery failure.

C) worn brakes.

D) engine problems.

40 / 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 d

B) Figure A

C) Figure c

D) Figure b

41 / 50

What is black ice?

A) Fog or mist

B) Clear ice

C) Oil

D) Freshly paved tar

42 / 50

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

A) brake hard.

B) turn as gently as possible.

C) use the speed retarder.

D) use the engine brake.

43 / 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) 500 feet

C) 10 feet

D) 100 feet

44 / 50

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

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

B) Starting the engine

C) Putting the vehicle key in your pocket

D) Fastening your seatbelt

45 / 50

A tie rod is part of the ________ system.

A) exhaust

B) brake

C) suspension

D) steering

46 / 50

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

A) Shift gears to neutral.

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

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

D) Shift to a higher gear.

47 / 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) Keep the rear of the vehicle far away from the curb

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

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

48 / 50

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

A) To prevent a hydraulic brake failure

B) To get greater engine braking

C) To allow the transmission to shift up

D) To prevent hydroplaning

49 / 50

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

A) All of the above

B) The steering wheel pulls to one side

C) Vibration

D) A loud “bang”

50 / 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) Accelerate slightly

B) Brake hard

C) Take your foot off the accelerator

D) Steer to the left or right

Your score is

The average score is 73%

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