CDL School

ATI's Commercial Driving programs are designed to get you ready for a new career in just 6 weeks.

Commercial Driver’s License are:

Single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more
A combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more if the vehicle(s) being towed has a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs.
A vehicle that carries 16 or more passengers, including the driver
Any size vehicle that transports hazardous materials and that requires federal placarding

Commercial Driver’s License requirements do not apply to:

operators of emergency vehicles, such as firefighters
Active-duty military personnel operating military vehicles
Operators of vehicles, such as recreational vehicles and rental moving vans, used only for personal use
Operators of Covered Farm Vehicles as defined in § 46.2-649.3
Operators of farm vehicles if:

The vehicle is used by farmers to move farm goods, supplies or machinery to or from their farm
The vehicle is used within 150 miles of the farm, and
The vehicle is not used as a common or contract motor carrier.

CDL (Commercial Driver's License) Practice Test

Getting your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is an essential step for a career in commercial driving. Whether you're aiming to drive a tractor-trailer, a bus, or a delivery truck, passing the CDL exam is crucial. This practice test is designed to help you prepare for the actual exam by covering key topics, including general knowledge, air brakes, and combination vehicles. By taking this practice test, you can assess your current knowledge, identify areas for improvement, and gain the confidence needed to succeed. Good luck with your preparation and on your journey to becoming a professional commercial driver!

To begin please provide First and Last name and email!

Results and answers will be email after completion.

1 / 50

What is the minimum number of tie downs for a 20-foot load?

1. At least one tie down for every 20 feet

2. At least two tie downs for every 10 feet

3. At least one tie down for every 5 feet

4. At least one tie down for every 10 feet

2 / 50

What can you do at an accident scene to help avoid another accident

1. Have a drink to calm your nerves

2. Set out warning devices to keep other vehicles from running into the accident scene

3. Leave your vehicle, do nothing, and get to higher ground

4. Stay in your vehicle and do nothing until help arrives

3 / 50

The road you are driving on becomes very slippery due to glare ice, which of these is a good thing to do in such a situation?

1. Stop driving and park where it is safe to do so

2. Downshift to stop

3. Apply the brakes often to keep the linings dry

4 / 50

The most common type of foundation brakes found on heavy vehicles is the:

1. Disc Brakes

2. Wedge drum

3. S-cam brake

5 / 50

Which of these statements about cold weather driving is true?

1. There is no need to worry about engine overheating when the weather is very cold

2. Windshield washer antifreeze should be added to the washer reservoir

3. Exhaust system leaks are less dangerous in cold weather

4. In snowstorms, wiper blades should be adjusted so that they do not make direct contact with the windshield

6 / 50

What kind of fire is a B:C extinguisher good for?

1. Electrical, fuel

2. Meat, cheese

3. Wood, paper, cloth

4. Metal, rubber

7 / 50

A stale green light means?

1. The light ahead just turned green

2. The light ahead has been green for quite a while

3. The light ahead has just turned red

8 / 50

Which of these statements about backing a heavy vehicle is true?

1. You should avoid backing whenever you can.

2. When you use a helper, they should use a clear spoken signal.

3. It is safer to back toward the right side of the vehicle than towards the driver's side.

9 / 50

If a tire blows out, you should put the brakes on hard to stop quickly

1. True

2. False

10 / 50

If your vehicle is 40 feet long and you are traveling at 50 MPH, what is the safe following distance?

1. 3 seconds

2. 4 seconds

3. 7 seconds

4. 5 seconds

11 / 50

If you are being tailgated, you should?

1. Flash your brake lights

2. Increase your following distance

3. Signal the tailgater when it is safe to pass you

12 / 50

Which of these statements about double clutching and shifting is true?

1. Double clutching should not be used when the road is slippery

2. Double clutching should only be used with a heavy load

3. You can use the tachometer to tell you when to shift

13 / 50

Of the choices below, the first thing to do when a low air pressure warning comes on is:

1. Stop and safely park as soon as possible

2. Up shift

3. Adjust the brake pedal for more travel

14 / 50

Gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR means the following:

1. Total weight of a single vehicle

2. Total weight of a single plus its load

3. Both above

4. No answers are correct

15 / 50

Modern air brake systems combine three different systems. They are the service brakes, the parking brakes and the:

1. Emergency brakes

2. Foot brakes

3. S-cam brakes

16 / 50

How many reflective triangles should you carry?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

17 / 50

A vehicle is loaded with most of the weight on the steering axle. What may result?

1. Hard steering and possible breakdown

2. Better handling

3. A need to disconnect the steering axle brakes

18 / 50

If you are convicted for driving under the influence while driving a commercial vehicle, and this is your first offense, you will most likely get:

1. A warning

2. At least one-year suspension of your CDL

3. A fine of $500

19 / 50

Stab braking

1. Involves steady pressure on the brake pedal without locking the wheels

2. Involves releasing the brakes only after the wheels lock up

3. Should never be used

20 / 50

The most common cause of serious vehicle skids is?

1. Driving too fast for road conditions

2. Poorly adjusted brakes

3. Bad tires

4. Poorly designed roads

21 / 50

A car suddenly cuts in front of you, creating a hazard. What should you not do?

1. Slow down to prevent a crash

2. Signal and change lanes to avoid the car if possible

3. Honk and stay close behind the car

4. Both A and B

22 / 50

To correct a rear wheel or drive wheel braking skid, you should:

1. Apply more braking pressure to the brake pedal

2. Apply more pressure to the brake pedal and steer, counter steer

3. Release brakes and counter steer

23 / 50

Why should you be in proper gear before starting down a hill?

1. You need to be in the same gear at the bottom of the hill

2. You will not be able to shift into a lower gear once you are going down a hill

3. The clutch is made to be used on even surfaces

24 / 50

You must drive on a slippery road. Which of these is a good thing to do in such a situation?

1. Use a smaller following distance

2. Apply the brakes during turns

3. Slow down gradually

4. All of the above

25 / 50

As the blood alcohol concentration or BAC goes up, what will happen?

1. The drinker clearly sees how alcohol is affecting them

2. The effect of alcohol decreases

3. The person becomes more dangerous if allowed to drive

4. The drinker can sober up in less time

26 / 50

Which of these statements about tires and hot weather driving is true?

1. You should inspect your tires more often because they are more likely to fail

2. If a tire it is too hot to touch you should drive on it to cool it off

3. Recapped tires are less likely to fail in hot weather than new tires

27 / 50

Letting hot air out of tires:

1. Is a good idea because the extra pressure will be relieved

2. Will have no effect at all

3. Will cool them down. You will be able to continue your trip sooner

4. Is a bad idea because when the tires cool off, the pressure will be too low

28 / 50

The most important hand signal that you and a helper should agree on is?

1. “Go”

2. “Stop”

3. “Faster”

4. “Turn up the music”

29 / 50

Which of these is a sign of tire failure?

1. Steering that feels heavy

2. A loud bang

3. Vibration

4. All answers are correct

30 / 50

A key principle to remember about loading cargo is to keep the load

1. To the front

2. To the rear

3. Balanced in the cargo area

31 / 50

Name some things you should check on the front of your vehicle during the walk around inspection?

1. Fuel tank, engine, tires

2. Brakes, air lines, suspension

3. Signal and clearance lights, headlights

4. Cab area, coupling system, rims

32 / 50

You must park on the side of a level, straight, two lane road. Where should you place the three reflective triangles?

1. One within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 200 feet to the rear.

2. One within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 100 feet from the front of the vehicle.

3. One about 50 feet from the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 100 feet from the front of the vehicle.

4. One within 10 feet of the front of the vehicle, one about 200 feet from the front, and one about 100 feet to the rear

33 / 50

Which of the following will be true about brake function if your antilock braking system (ABS) fails?

1. You will still have normal brake function and will just need to get the ABS repaired soon

2. It may cause problems with other mechanical systems and possibly pose a huge fire risk

3. It will slow your truck to a halt and force you to pull over

4. You will have no brake function and your truck will be out of control

34 / 50

When approaching a curve, you should:

1. Downshift while in the curve

2. Downshift as you come out of the curve

3. Downshift before entering the curve and accelerate slightly as you go through it

4. Downshift at any time, it doesn’t make a difference

35 / 50

Blocking the cargo to keep it from shifting must be done

1. At the front, back, and/or sides of a piece of cargo

2. Only at the front of a piece of cargo

3. At the cargo deck

36 / 50

What is Hydroplaning?

1. Tires lose contact with the road and have no traction

2. Turning steering wheel but vehicle does not turn

3. Braking but vehicle does not stop

4. Form of surfing

37 / 50

Whenever you stop for a break during your trip, you should

1. Call in and check with dispatch

2. Check critical items such as the tires, brakes, and cargo tie downs

3. Chech critical items such as the windshield wipers, heater, and defroster

38 / 50

How can you test the parking brake?

1. Set the parking brake and pull forward gently

2. Move back slowly and set the parking brake

3. Set the parking brake at highway speeds

39 / 50

Should the pre-trip inspection report from the last driver be reviewed during your pre-trip inspection?

1. Yes

2. No

40 / 50

To safely adjust your speed to current driving conditions, what should you look for ahead?

1. Traffic and road conditions

2. Road signs and traffic

3. Police and weigh stations

41 / 50

To maintain alertness on your trips, you should

1. Avoid medications that cause drowsiness

2. Schedule your trips for the daytime hours

3. Get 8-9 hours of sleep beforehand

4. Do all of the above

42 / 50

Air Brake equipped vehicles must have:

1. An air use gauge

2. A supply pressure gauge

3. At least two brake heaters

43 / 50

What is the minimum tread depth for tires not installed in the front?

1. 4/32

2. 2/32

3. 7/16

4. 3/8

44 / 50

Empty trucks have the best braking

1. True

2. False

45 / 50

The Driver must be able to see a warning that is given before air pressure in the service air tanks falls below:

1. 20 psi

2. 40 psi

3. 60 psi

46 / 50

How can you start moving without rolling backwards?

1. Engage the clutch before moving your foot off the brake

2. Apply the trailer brake hand valve

3. Set the parking brake whenever necessary

4. Do all the above

47 / 50

Which of these is a proper use of vehicle lights and flashers?

1. Turning on your headlights during the day when visibility is reduced due to rain or snow

2. Flashing your brake lights to warn someone behind you of a hazard that will require slowing down

3. Flashing your brake lights to warn someone behind you that you're going to stop on the road

4. All answers are correct

48 / 50

Which of the following is a key steering component?

1. Gear box

2. Bearing plate

3. Torque rod

4. Leaf spring

49 / 50

In your mirror, you see a car approaching from the rear. The next time you should check your mirror, you don’t see the car. To change lanes, you should

1. Assume the car left the roadway and change lanes as usual.

2. Ease into the other lane slowly so the other car can get out of the way.

3. Wait until you are sure the car is not in your blind spot.

50 / 50

On average, is the total stopping distance with air brakes?

1. Approximately 400 feet

2. Approximately 420 feet

3. Approximately 450 feet

4. Approximately 370 feet

The average score is 67%

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