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

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

2 / 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

3 / 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

4 / 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

5 / 50

Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency

1. True

2. False

6 / 50

If you need to leave the road in a traffic emergency, you should

1. Avoid braking until your speed has decreased to about 20 mph

2. Tap repeatedly on the brakes

3. Try to get all the wheels off the pavement

7 / 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

8 / 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

9 / 50

Is it safe to add coolant to a coolant recovery tank or coolant overflow tank while the engine is at operating temperature?

1. Yes, but only if the coolant recovery container is part of the pressurized system

2. No, never

3. Yes, as long as the engine isn’t overheated

10 / 50

You do not have a hazardous materials endorsement on your commercial driver’s license. You are asked to haul hazardous materials in a placarded vehicle you should:

1. Refuse to haul the load

2. Haul the load without the endorsement

3. Take the load out the vehicle and haul the load without hazardous materials

4. Ask someone else to haul the load

11 / 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

12 / 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

13 / 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

14 / 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

15 / 50

What are some advantages of going right instead of left around an obstacle?

1. You can avoid a head on collision

2. Someone may be passing to the left

3. Both answers are correct

16 / 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.

17 / 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

18 / 50

To prevent skidding, you should

1. Turn the wheel sharply for all turns

2. Adjust to conditions while driving

3. Brake hard at all stops

19 / 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

20 / 50

What is a pull-up?

1. Re-posting of your vehicle when backing

2. A replacement for backing

3. Short forward movement to save brake wear

4. A diaper

21 / 50

High Beams Should be

1. Used whenever it is safe and legal to do so

2. Turned On when an oncoming driver does not dim his or her lights

3. Dimmed when you are 100 feet of another vehicle

22 / 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

23 / 50

Which of these statements about driving in areas with strong winds is true?

1. You should drive alongside other vehicles to help break up the wind

2. The lighter your vehicle, the less trouble you will have the wind

3. Winds are especially a problem when coming out of tunnels

24 / 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

25 / 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

26 / 50

What are some things to do at an accident scene to prevent another accident?

1. Try to get your vehicle to the side of the road

2. If you're stopping to help, park away from the accident

3. Both above are correct

27 / 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

28 / 50

Stab braking should not be used on vehicles

1. Hauling hazardous materials

2. Equipped with air brakes

3. Towing trailers

4. Equipped with anti-lock brakes

29 / 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

30 / 50

How many reflective triangles should you carry?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

31 / 50

Which statement is true about rear drive-wheel braking skids?

1. When pulling a trailer, the trailer can push the towing vehicle sideways

2. The locked wheels have more traction than the ones that are rolling

3. It is not a cause of jackknifing

4. The vehicles front wheels will slide sideways

32 / 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

33 / 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

34 / 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

35 / 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

36 / 50

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

1. Disc Brakes

2. Wedge drum

3. S-cam brake

37 / 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.

38 / 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

39 / 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

40 / 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

41 / 50

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

1. True

2. False

42 / 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

43 / 50

Which of the following is a key steering component?

1. Gear box

2. Bearing plate

3. Torque rod

4. Leaf spring

44 / 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

45 / 50

Empty trucks have the best braking

1. True

2. False

46 / 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

47 / 50

If you have a heavy load that is slowing you down on an upgrade, you should

1. Shift into a lower gear

2. Drive on the shoulder so that others can pass you easily

3. Exit the roadway until traffic is lighter

48 / 50

How often should you check your mirrors?

1. Every ¼ mile

2. Every 8 to 10 seconds

3. When turning or changing lanes

49 / 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

50 / 50

What is the average reaction distance?

1. 32 feet

2. 61 feet

3. 93 feet

The average score is 67%

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