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

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

2 / 50

Air Brake equipped vehicles must have:

1. An air use gauge

2. A supply pressure gauge

3. At least two brake heaters

3 / 50

IF a straight vehicle (no trailer or articulation) goes into a front-wheel skid, it will:

1. Slide sideways and spin out

2. Go straight ahead even if the steering wheel is turned

3. Go to the right

4 / 50

If you're driving a long distance, you should

1. Stop often and take short breaks before you feel drowsy or tired

2. Take a short break once or twice during the trip when you are feeling tired or drowsy

3. Avoid short breaks but keep the window open

5 / 50

Cargo that can shift should have at least __ tie-down(s)

1. 4

2. 3

3. 2

4. 1

6 / 50

Which of these statements about managing space is true?

1. Many accidents are caused by drivers keeping too much space in front of their vehicles

2. Smaller vehicles require more space to stop than larger ones

3. When the road is slippery you should keep more space in front of your vehicle

7 / 50

The air compressor governor controls:

1. The speed of the air compressor

2. Air pressure applied to the brakes

3. When air is pumped into the air tanks

8 / 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

9 / 50

If you are checking your tires for a pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?

1. Dual tires should be touching each other

2. Tires of mismatched sizes should not be used on the same vehicle

3. Radial and bias-ply tires can be used together on the same vehicle

10 / 50

The safety release valve is located on the air tanks and is used by?

1. Pulling a hand valve

2. Self-operated when the air pressure is above 150 psi

3. Must be pulled after every working day

11 / 50

The distance that you should look ahead of your vehicle while driving amounts to about ____ at highway speeds

1. One block

2. 500 feet

3. ¼ mile

12 / 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

13 / 50

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

1. Disc Brakes

2. Wedge drum

3. S-cam brake

14 / 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

15 / 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

16 / 50

What is the “gross combination weight” (GCW)?

1. Weight of cargo, plus weight of drivers and passengers

2. The maximum weight specified by the manufacturer that a vehicle can hold

3. Weight of trailer plus weight of cargo

4. Weight of power unit, plus trailer, plus cargo

17 / 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

18 / 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

19 / 50

What is the average reaction distance?

1. 32 feet

2. 61 feet

3. 93 feet

20 / 50

What is the formula for stopping distance with air brakes?

1. Reaction distance and effective braking distance

2. Perception distance and effective braking distance

3. Perception distance, reaction distance, brake lag distance, and effective braking distance

21 / 50

When driving through roadway work zones, you should

1. Turn on your parking lights

2. Watch for sharp pavement drop-offs

3. Reduce speed only if workers are close to the roadway

22 / 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.

23 / 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

24 / 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

25 / 50

How often while on the road must you stop to inspect your cargo?

1. Every 1 hour of 50 miles

2. Every 3 hours or 150 miles

3. Every 6 hours or 300 miles

4. Before and after your trip

26 / 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

27 / 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

28 / 50

The modulating control valve is?

1. A spring-loaded valve that will let you put on the brakes on slowly if the service brakes fail.

2. There is no such thing

3. Should not be used because it is very unsafe

29 / 50

What is the definition of a Hazard?

1. A road user or road condition that presents a possible danger

2. Something you can safely ignore

3. Something you can easily avoid

4. Something you must stop for

30 / 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

31 / 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”

32 / 50

Which of the following is NOT something you should check during a trip?

1. Mirrors

2. Cargo and cargo covers

3. Tires

4. Text messages

33 / 50

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

1. Yes

2. No

34 / 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

35 / 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

36 / 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

37 / 50

How many reflective triangles should you carry?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

38 / 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

39 / 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

40 / 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

41 / 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

42 / 50

What should you do if you get stuck on the railroad tracks?

1. Stay in your vehicles

2. Call for help

3. Get out of your vehicle and away from the tracks

43 / 50

You should put the starter switch key into your pocket while you perform the pre-trip inspection because?

1. Someone could start and move the truck

2. Someone could steal the truck

3. It could damage the starting mechanism

4. Any of the above could occur

44 / 50

Converter dollies built on or after March 1, 1998, are required to have anti-lock brakes. These dollies will have

1. A yellow malfunction lamp in the center of the dolly

2. A yellow malfunction lamp on the right side of the dolly

3. A yellow malfunction lamp on the left side of the dolly

45 / 50

What is the best way to figure out how many sections of following distance you have?

1. Wait until the vehicle ahead of you passes a shadow or landmark. Then count the seconds until you reach it.

2. Send a text message to a friend to text you back in ten seconds. See how far you have traveled in that time.

3. Use the stopwatch on your cell phone to determine how long it takes you to reach a mile marker after the vehicle in front of you passed it.

4. Get ¼ closer to the vehicle in front of you, then back off again. Multiply how long this took you by four to give the following distance.

46 / 50

Which is not one of the four basic skills that operating a commercial motor vehicle requires?

1. Accelerating

2. Steering

3. First-aid certification

4. Backing safely

47 / 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

48 / 50

Which of these is NOT part of the basic method for shifting up?

1. Releasing the clutch and pressing the accelerator at the same time

2. Releasing the clutch

3. Pushing in the clutch and shifting into a higher gear at the same time

4. Accelerating while pressing the clutch and turning toward the driver's side

49 / 50

When driving down a long steep hill you should:

1. Release the brake when you are 5 mph below your “safe” speed

2. Use stab braking

3. Begin braking when you are 10 mph above your safe speed

50 / 50

Every time you park your vehicle and shut the engine off, you should:

1. Turn the steering wheel as far to the left as you can

2. Leave it in gear (if it has a manual transmission)

3. Apply the parking brake

The average score is 67%

By submitting this form, I agree that Advanced Technology Institute may contact me via email, telephone, wireless phone, or text message regarding its programs and offers. I understand these calls may be generated using an automated dialer. Standard text and/or usage rates may apply. By this submission I understand that if I am outside the United States, I am consenting to the transfer of my personal data to, and its storage in, the United States, and I understand that my personal data will be subject to processing in accordance with U.S. laws.