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

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

2 / 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

3 / 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

4 / 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

5 / 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

6 / 50

How many reflective triangles should you carry?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

7 / 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

8 / 50

How often should you check your mirrors?

1. Every ¼ mile

2. Every 8 to 10 seconds

3. When turning or changing lanes

9 / 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

10 / 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

11 / 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

12 / 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

13 / 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

14 / 50

How can you determine if your vehicle is equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS)?

1. Check if your vehicle was manufactured after March 1, 1998 (such as vehicles are required to have the panel light).

2. Check for a yellow ABS malfunction lamp on the instrument panel.

3. Look for wheel speed sensor wires that are coming from the rear of your brakes.

4. All the above can work

15 / 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

16 / 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

17 / 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

18 / 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

19 / 50

If you must make an emergency stop, you should brake so that you:

1. Can steer hard while braking hard

2. Use the full power of the brakes and lock them

3. Stay in a straight line and can steer

20 / 50

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

1. True

2. False

21 / 50

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

1. True

2. False

22 / 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

23 / 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

24 / 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

25 / 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

26 / 50

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

1. Disc Brakes

2. Wedge drum

3. S-cam brake

27 / 50

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

1. Yes

2. No

28 / 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

29 / 50

If a straight vehicle goes into a front wheel skid it will:

1. Slide sideways and spin out

2. Go straight ahead but will turn if you turn the steering wheel

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

30 / 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

31 / 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

32 / 50

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

1. 4

2. 3

3. 2

4. 1

33 / 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

34 / 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

35 / 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

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

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

38 / 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

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

Name a suspension system defect

1. Leaking shock absorbers

2. Under-inflated tires

3. Loose lug nuts

4. Cracked brake cylinder

41 / 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

42 / 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

43 / 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

44 / 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

45 / 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

46 / 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”

47 / 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.

48 / 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

49 / 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

50 / 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

The average score is 67%

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