CDL practice test.
Every topic group.
Free, with answers.
47 CDL lessons and sign sets in 8 topic groups plus a practice exam: 1,006 original questions, each with an explanation.
Original practice questions · confirm current rules with your licensing agency
What does this sign, with the arrow plaque beneath it, tell you?
The white H on a blue square is the service sign for a hospital, and the arrow plaque below it shows which direction to take to get there. Lodging is identified by a bed symbol, not by the letter H.
CDL modules.
Take them in any order. They are untimed, and each answer comes with an explanation. All practice questions with answers
General knowledge
CDL Classes, Endorsements and Rules
Which license class and endorsements you need, and what can cost you your CDL.
Inspecting Your Vehicle
Pre-trip, en-route and post-trip checks of tires, wheels, brakes, steering and more.
Steering, Shifting and Backing
Basic control of a heavy vehicle, from starting on a hill to backing up safely.
Seeing, Signaling and Spotting Hazards
Look far ahead, use your mirrors, signal clearly and spot hazards early.
Regulatory, Route and Service Signs
Signs that tell you what you must or must not do, and signs that guide you.
Warning and Work Zone Signs
Signs that warn of curves, hills, merging traffic and road work ahead.
Controlling Speed
Stopping distance, safe speeds on curves and ramps, and slowing for work zones.
Slippery Roads and Hydroplaning
Spot slick surfaces, slow down on wet or icy roads and keep control in standing water.
Managing Space Around Your Vehicle
Following distance, space to the sides and overhead, wide turns and gaps in traffic.
Night and Fog Driving
Use your headlights well and keep your speed within what you can see.
Winter, Hot Weather and Wind
Prepare for cold, protect tires and engine in the heat, and handle strong winds.
Railroad Crossings and Drawbridges
When to stop, how far from the rail, and how to cross tracks and drawbridges safely.
Mountain Grades and Brake Fade
Pick the right gear, brake correctly downhill and know when to use an escape ramp.
Emergency Maneuvers and Failures
Steer around trouble, leave the road safely and handle a brake or tire failure.
Antilock Brakes (ABS)
What ABS does and does not do, how to brake with it and what its warning lamp means.
Skids and Emergency Braking
Why skids happen, how to regain traction, and controlled or stab braking.
Crash Scenes and Vehicle Fires
Protect the scene with warning devices, help the injured and handle vehicle fires.
Alcohol, Drugs, Fatigue and Distraction
Stay fit to drive: how alcohol, medicine, fatigue and distractions affect you.
Loading and Securing Cargo
Weight limits, balancing the load, tie-downs and cargo that needs special care.
Passenger vehicles
Bus Inspection and Safety Equipment
Check a bus inside and out, its emergency exits and the equipment it must carry.
Standees, Seats and Baggage
Where riders may stand or sit, where baggage goes, and what to tell riders on a trip.
Hazardous Materials on Buses
Which hazardous materials a bus may carry, in what amounts, and what is never allowed.
On the Road with Passengers
Stops, rider conduct, fueling rules, brake-door interlocks and a disabled bus.
Air brakes
Combination vehicles
Doubles and triples
Pulling Doubles and Triples
Why multiple trailers are less stable and how to drive, space and park them.
Coupling Doubles and Converter Dollies
Use converter dollies to couple and uncouple second and third trailers safely.
Inspecting Doubles and Triples
Extra checks for multi-trailer rigs: shut-off valves, dollies and air to every trailer.
Tank vehicles
Tanks, Baffles and Bulkheads
Cargo, portable and smooth bore tanks, and what baffles and bulkheads do.
Liquid Surge and Tanker Handling
High center of gravity and surge: take curves, brake and steer with extra care.
Tank Inspection, Loading and Outage
Check for leaks, close valves and covers, and leave room for the liquid to expand.
HazMat
HazMat Rules, Roles and Classes
Why HazMat is regulated, who is responsible for what, and the hazard classes.
HazMat Shipping Papers
Read and keep shipping papers: entry order, RQ, emergency data and where they go.
The Hazardous Materials Table
Columns and symbols of the HazMat Table, its appendixes and proper names.
Labels, Markings and Placards
Diamond labels, ID numbers and the placard tables that tell you what to display.
Loading and Unloading HazMat
No smoking, safe handling, segregation rules and limits for each hazard class.
Parking and Watching a HazMat Load
How far to park from fires, roads and buildings, and who may watch the vehicle.
HazMat Routes, Crossings and Checks
Route plans and permits, railroad stops, tire checks and required equipment.
HazMat Emergencies and Reporting
Handle leaks, fires and crashes, use the ERG, and know who must be notified.
School bus
School Bus Basics and Danger Zones
Why school buses are so safe, where the danger zones are and how to watch them.
Loading and Unloading Students
Approach the stop, load and unload students, and account for every child.
School Bus Evacuation and Emergencies
When to evacuate, how to do it safely, and how to handle threats and first aid.
School Buses at Railroad Crossings
The crossing procedure, room beyond the tracks, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Student Behavior and Special Needs
Discipline, bullying, gangs and students with special needs or wheelchairs.
School Bus Pre-Trip and Post-Trip
Extra inspection items on a school bus and the post-trip check for children left aboard.
Practice exam
CDL Practice Exam
A 50-question exam that mixes general knowledge with a sample from the endorsement topics: air brakes, combination vehicles, doubles, tankers, HazMat, passengers and school buses. Take it after the lessons to check that you are ready for the knowledge tests.
Road signs
Every sign and signal with what it means, plus practice questions.
Car permit
Lessons, sign sets and a practice exam for the written permit test.
Motorcycle
Riding lessons, sign sets and a practice exam.
Pick your state.
Add its questions.
The CDL modules are national. Each state page links to them and to that state's CDL handbook and agency when we have one.
- Alabama CDLAL
- Alaska CDLAK
- Arizona CDLAZ
- Arkansas CDLAR
- California CDLCA
- Colorado CDLCO
- Connecticut CDLCT
- Delaware CDLDE
- District of Columbia CDLDC
- Florida CDLFL
- Georgia CDLGA
- Hawaii CDLHI
- Idaho CDLID
- Illinois CDLIL
- Indiana CDLIN
- Iowa CDLIA
- Kansas CDLKS
- Kentucky CDLKY
- Louisiana CDLLA
- Maine CDLME
- Maryland CDLMD
- Massachusetts CDLMA
- Michigan CDLMI
- Minnesota CDLMN
- Mississippi CDLMS
- Missouri CDLMO
- Montana CDLMT
- Nebraska CDLNE
- Nevada CDLNV
- New Hampshire CDLNH
- New Jersey CDLNJ
- New Mexico CDLNM
- New York CDLNY
- North Carolina CDLNC
- North Dakota CDLND
- Ohio CDLOH
- Oklahoma CDLOK
- Oregon CDLOR
- Pennsylvania CDLPA
- Puerto Rico CDLPR
- Rhode Island CDLRI
- South Carolina CDLSC
- South Dakota CDLSD
- Tennessee CDLTN
- Texas CDLTX
- U.S. Virgin Islands CDLVI
- Utah CDLUT
- Vermont CDLVT
- Virginia CDLVA
- Washington CDLWA
- West Virginia CDLWV
- Wisconsin CDLWI
- Wyoming CDLWY
Common
questions.
Which CDL modules do I need?
Start with general knowledge. Add passenger, air brakes, combination, doubles and triples, tank, HazMat or school bus for the endorsements and equipment you need. These modules are national, so confirm any extra rules with your state licensing agency.
Are these the real DMV questions?
No. They are original practice questions written by our team. They cover the topics the knowledge test covers, with an explanation for every answer, but they are not copied from any state test.
Is it available in Spanish?
Yes. Every question, answer and explanation is also in Spanish. Use the language link in the header to switch.