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

Air Brake equipped vehicles must have:

1. An air use gauge

2. A supply pressure gauge

3. At least two brake heaters

2 / 50

Front end header boards:

1. Protect you from cargo in case of collision

2. Block the forward movement

3. Protect you from your cargo in case of collision and block the forward movement of your cargo

4. No answers are correct

3 / 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

4 / 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

5 / 50

Empty trucks have the best braking

1. True

2. False

6 / 50

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

1. True

2. False

7 / 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

8 / 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

9 / 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

10 / 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

11 / 50

Signs of distracted drivers include?

1. Vehicles constantly traveling above the speed limit.

2. Drivers having conversations with passengers

3. Vehicles exciting the roadway

4. Drivers listening to overly loud music

12 / 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

13 / 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

14 / 50

Name a suspension system defect

1. Leaking shock absorbers

2. Under-inflated tires

3. Loose lug nuts

4. Cracked brake cylinder

15 / 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

16 / 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

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

For what three things related to cargo are drivers responsible?

1. Size of cargo, where cargo is placed, and unbalanced cargo

2. Inspection of cargo, balanced weight of cargo, secured cargo

3. Secured cargo inspection of sealed cargo, balanced weight of cargo

4. Inspection of a sealed container, balanced weight of cargo, where cargo is placed

19 / 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

20 / 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

21 / 50

How long does it take a typical tractor-trailer to clear a single railroad track? A double railroad track?

1. It takes 14 seconds to clear a single track and more than 15 seconds to clear a double track

2. It takes 10 seconds to clear a single track and more than 12 seconds to clear a double track

3. It takes 7 seconds to clear a single track and more than 10 seconds to clear a double track

22 / 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

23 / 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

24 / 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

25 / 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

26 / 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

27 / 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

28 / 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

29 / 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

30 / 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

31 / 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

32 / 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

33 / 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

34 / 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

35 / 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

36 / 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

37 / 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

38 / 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

39 / 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

40 / 50

The load means the following?

1. The maximum safe weight a tire can carry at a specified pressure

2. Specified pressure an air tire can carry

3. Both above

4. No answers are correct

41 / 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

42 / 50

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

1. 4

2. 3

3. 2

4. 1

43 / 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

44 / 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

45 / 50

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

1. True

2. False

46 / 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

47 / 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

48 / 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

49 / 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

50 / 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

The average score is 67%

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