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

When backing a trailer,

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

B) use the highest reverse gear.

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

D) turn and back toward the right side.

2 / 50

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

A) turn as gently as possible.

B) use the speed retarder.

C) use the engine brake.

D) brake hard.

3 / 50

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

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

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

4 / 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 take up more fuel.

D) They have low friction parts.

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

B) Brake hard and pull off the road.

C) Shift to neutral.

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

6 / 50

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

A) a fully charged 5 B:C fire extinguisher

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

C) All of the above

D) reflective warning triangles or flares

7 / 50

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

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

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

C) Turn wide as you complete the turn.

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

8 / 50

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

A) All of the above

B) Condition of shock absorbers

C) Condition of steering system

D) Condition of brakes

9 / 50

What is black ice?

A) Oil

B) Freshly paved tar

C) Fog or mist

D) Clear ice

10 / 50

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

A) To get greater engine braking

B) To prevent hydroplaning

C) To allow the transmission to shift up

D) To prevent a hydraulic brake failure

11 / 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.

12 / 50

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

A) slow

B) sober

C) safety first-minded and defensive

D) Offensive

13 / 50

Which of the following is true about overhead clearance?

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

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

C) Repaving or packed snow increases the clearance height.

D) Posted heights are always correct.

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 B

B) Figure C

C) Figure A

D) Figure D

15 / 50

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

A) Vibration

B) A loud “bang”

C) The steering wheel pulls to one side

D) All of the above

16 / 50

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

A) pump the brakes.

B) brake hard.

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

D) keep driving until you find a service station.

17 / 50

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

A) Under 4/32 inch

B) Maximum of 2/32 inch

C) Minimum of 2/32 inch

D) Minimum of 4/32 inch

18 / 50

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

A) 1,000 feet

B) 500 feet

C) 50 feet

D) 25 feet

19 / 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 make it hard to steer.

C) It will put the vehicle out of service.

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

20 / 50

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

A) Spare fuses, tire chains and a fire extinguisher

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

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

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

21 / 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) 10 feet

D) 200 feet

22 / 50

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

A) Flammable cargo

B) Duals that touch

C) Short circuits due to damaged insulation

D) Poor ventilation

23 / 50

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

A) two hours or every 100 miles

B) four hours or every 400 miles

C) three hours or every 150 miles

D) one hour or every 50 miles

24 / 50

To go down a long, steep hill you should

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

B) apply your brakes hard.

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

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

25 / 50

Which of the following is true about empty trucks?

A) They require less braking power.

B) They are easier to steer.

C) They have better traction.

D) They require greater stopping distance.

26 / 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) Take your foot off the accelerator

B) Steer to the left or right

C) Accelerate slightly

D) Brake hard

27 / 50

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

A) 7 1/2seconds

B) 4 1/2 seconds

C) 5 seconds

D) 6 seconds

28 / 50

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

A) Every 5 hours and after driving

B) Before driving

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

D) After driving

29 / 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 c

C) Figure A

D) Figure b

30 / 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, then countersteer once you have cleared the obstacle

B) Hit the brakes.

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

D) Apply the brakes while turning.

31 / 50

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

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

B) Shift gears to neutral.

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

D) Shift to a higher gear.

32 / 50

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

A) Fastening your seatbelt

B) Starting the engine

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

D) Putting the vehicle key in your pocket

33 / 50

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

A) one second; 20 feet

B) one second; 10 feet

C) two seconds; 10 feet

D) two seconds; 30 feet

34 / 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.

35 / 50

What is a tractor jackknife?

A) A type of trailer truck

B) A drive-wheel skid

C) Another name for hard steering

D) A device used in the hydraulic system

36 / 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) The engine may overheat and stop.

D) It will be harder to steer.

37 / 50

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

A) Shift to neutral

B) Put on the parking brake

C) Pump the accelerator hard

D) Engage the clutch

38 / 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

39 / 50

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

A) use the controlled braking method.

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

C) turn onto the shoulder without braking.

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

40 / 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) Because they must be delivered first

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

D) In case there are no placards

41 / 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) 6 seconds

D) 5 seconds

42 / 50

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

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

B) Turn on your tail lights.

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

D) Increase your following distance.

43 / 50

A tie rod is part of the ________ system.

A) suspension

B) brake

C) steering

D) exhaust

44 / 50

Which of the following statements is true about alcohol?

A) Some people are not affected by alcohol

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

C) Alcohol increases your ability to drive.

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

45 / 50

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

A) shifting to a higher gear

B) countersteering

C) using the braking effect of the engine

D) using your horn

46 / 50

To extinguish an electrical fire,

A) use a lot of water.

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 the B:C extinguisher on the base of the fire.

47 / 50

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

A) battery failure.

B) engine problems.

C) tire problems.

D) worn brakes.

48 / 50

A broken coolant hose while driving

A) causes the heater to fail.

B) causes the air-conditioner to fail.

C) increases the chances of tire failure.

D) can cause a fire

49 / 50

Where and when is it best to downshift?

A) After starting down a hill

B) Before entering a curve

C) Before speeding up

D) After starting up a hill

50 / 50

The controlled braking method is used

A) by applying the brakes slowly.

B) when making large steering wheel movements

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

D) to make the wheels lock.

Your score is

The average score is 71%

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