District of Columbia
CDL Practice Test

Simply because the District of Columbia is the only place in the country that has legal taxation without representation doesn't mean there are no laws at all! Every commercial driver in Washington DC must have a valid commercial driver's license. Typically those licenses will be issued in other jurisdictions but Washington DC can and does issue its own. This online exam will help you practice for the District of Columbia CDL Test. You will be presented with 40 questions and you must answer 34 questions correctly to pass. There is a 50 minute time limit. You may not go back once you answer a question. Click the "Start Test" button below to begin. Good luck!

1 / 40

The best way to go into a curve is to decrease your speed going into the curve and then ____going through it.

slightly accelerate

none of the answers listed

shift down 2 gears

ride the brake

2 / 40

While completing the 1st component of the air brake check you are required to fully push down on the foot brake and _____.

none of the answers listed

both of the answers listed

see if the air pressure drops more than 4 lbs in a minute while holding it down for a full minute in a combination vehicle

see if the air pressure drops more than 3 lbs in a minute while holding it down for that full minute in a single vehicle

3 / 40

The locking jaws of the kingpin should close around:

the apex

the tip

the base

the shank

4 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to as why you should make sure the fifth wheel plate is greased as recommended:

To make sure that uncoupling easier.

To decease heat and noise.

To make sure the electrical connections are good.

To prevent any steering problems.

5 / 40

A portable tank differs from a cargo tank in that ______.

portable tanks are bulk containers, which are not permanently attached to a vehicle

none of these answers are correct

portable tanks are bulk containers, which are permanently attached to a vehicle

cargo tanks are bulk containers, which are not permanently attached to a vehicle

6 / 40

Upon what does the amount of liquid you can carry in a load depend?

The legal weight limits.

The amount of expansion that will occur.

The weight of it.

All of the answers listed.

7 / 40

This object is not checked at the rear of the trailer.

The header board

The bumper

The mud flaps

The back doors

8 / 40

How many different hazard classes are there?

9 / 40

You should make sure the_____before backing under a trailer.

tractor shut off valve is normal

landing gear is fully raised

air brakes have been shut off

trailer brakes are locked down

10 / 40

The bus driver must accept responsibility for supervising and controlling students while on the bus route. Who is the person in charge?

Bus driver.

Parents of the students on the bus.

The school district superintendent.

Students on the bus.

11 / 40

Charter drivers should not:

Explain rules at the start of the trip.

Allow riders on the bus until departure time.

Mention rules at the start of the trip.

Remind riders about rules once trip begins.

12 / 40

These tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inches.

Donut tires

Non-steering axle tires

Drive axle tires

Steering axle tires

13 / 40

Select how brakes work on long, steep downgrades:

they are a supplement to the braking effect of the engine

it is the main braking mechanism

it's the main braking mechanism with the engine braking system available for emergency situations

it does not do anything

14 / 40

You should turn off your engine when loading flammable liquid unless:

The material does not need a placard.

You need the engine to run the pump.

You are a non-smoker.

You are loading at night and need the headlights.

15 / 40

Which of the following should you do when driving the school bus in high wind?

Speed up to get away from the wind as quickly as possible.

Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel and try to anticipate gust.

Pull off the road to wait for the winds to die down.

Drive only head-in to the wind to avoid cross-wind buffeting.

16 / 40

After the initial drop, the maximum leakage rates per minute is:

3 psi for combination vehicle and 1 psi for single vehicle

4 psi for a combination vehicle and 3 psi for a single vehicle

10 psi for combination vehicle and 5 psi for single vehicle

6 psi for a combination vehicle and 5 psi for single vehicle

17 / 40

Which of the following types of cargo can never be carrier on a bus with riders?

Emergency tear gas.

Emergency drug shipments.

Emergency hospital supplies.

Small arms ammunition (orm-d).

18 / 40

You should follow behind other vehicles ______when traveling under 40 mph.

as close as possible so other drivers won't cut in front of you

at a distance of 1 seconds for every 10 feet of your vehicle length

at a distance of 1 second for every 5 feet of your vehicle length

at a distance of 1 second for every 15 feet of your vehicle length

19 / 40

Remember to_____to prevent rollovers.

have the load centered

have the load as low to the ground as possible

all answers listed

drive slowly around turns

20 / 40

Which of these statements about signaling is correct?

Signal to others that it is safe to pass your bus.

Signaling is a warning, not a request.

Signal your intentions early and continuously.

Leave your signal on long after you've changed lanes.

21 / 40

You must control how far packages labeled "Radioactive II" or "Radioactive III" are located from people and cargo space walls by referring to:

The segregation and separation chart.

The transport index and the separation distances table.

The table of hazardous materials.

The list of hazardous materials and reportable quantities.

22 / 40

The best way to test if the spring brakes come on automatically is to:

apply pressure on and off the brake pedal until the parking valve pops out on single vehicles

apply pressure on and off the brake pedal until the manufacturer's low psi specification has been met for the spring brakes to deploy

all of these answers are correct

apply pressure on and off the brake pedal until the parkng brake valve pops out on tractor-trailer vehicles

23 / 40

Which of the following statements about downshifting is NOT true?

downshift before entering a curve

downshift before climbing a hill

downshift when you get to the bottom of a hill

downshift before starting down a hill

24 / 40

What should you hear when you have the hand valve on and are testing the trailer brakes by opening the service air line at the back of the trailer?

air leaving the open valve

the emergency line valve to release air

the engine brake to kick on

the service brakes more to a fully applied position

25 / 40

A trailer is at the right height to have the tractor backed up to it when:

it'll raise slightly when the tractor is backed up under it

the top of the kingpin is even with the bottom of the fifth wheel

the kingpin is about 1 1/5 inches above the fifth wheel

the fifth wheel will not come in contact with the kingpin

26 / 40

With Division 1.2 or 1.3 Explosive B, how close to the travelled part of the roadway can you park?

Minimum of 5 feet

Minimum of 15 feet

Minimum of 2 feet

Minimum of 10 feet

27 / 40

What position should the tractor protection control valve be in after coupling?

raised

normal

mid position

lowered

28 / 40

Overhead inside mirror is used to:

monitor traffic that approaches and enters the blind spot area

see all of the students

see the blind spot immediately behind the bus

see the area where students exit the bus

29 / 40

Select which vehicles are required to have a low air pressure warning signal:

they are optional

all vehicles built after 2010

all operating vehicles with air brakes

all vehicles built after 2005

30 / 40

How do you test your service brakes?

apply pressure to the brake pedal when moving at highway speeds

after releasing the parking brake, move forward slowly and apply pressure to the brake pedal

release the air pressure and activate the parking brake

pull over and activate the parking brake

31 / 40

A safe haven is:

A place that has been approved to park unattended vehicles carrying explosives.

A place to stay once you have reported your company for illegal activity.

A place where it is safe to dump any kind of hazardous materials.

The slang term for the last stop at the end of your driving day when carrying hazardous materials.

32 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to converter dollies:

they typically require a hand converter

they typically have small braking power because of their size

they typically have a lot of stopping power because of their size

they typically do not have spring brakes

33 / 40

Remember to_____when steering to avoid a crash while driving doubles.

all answers listed

have both hands on the steering wheel

keep your foot off the brake while turning

be prepared to counter-steer

34 / 40

When checking for_____you are looking for dripping fluids or puddles on the ground below the transmission or engine.

air brake system

coolant level

leaks

power steering fluid

35 / 40

Who is responsible for certifying on the bills of lading that the hazardous materials are prepared properly?

The dock workers

The shipper

The carrier

The driver

36 / 40

Why do air brakes take longer to stop than hydraulic brakes?

it takes more time for the air to flow through the lines

longer reaction time

none of the answers listed

the lines are hotter

37 / 40

What is the safest way to stop unruly behavior on the bus?

pull off the road in a safe location, secure the bus, stand up, and tell the students what behavior you expect of them

yell loudly for the students to sit down and behave themselves

have the unruly students move to the front of the bus

keep checking the rear view mirror so you can see what happened and report to the principal

38 / 40

Which of the following statements about downshifting is NOT true?

downshift before entering a curve

downshift before starting down a hill

downshift before climbing a hill

downshift when you get to the bottom of a hill

39 / 40

When driving in very hot temperatures, you should:

check your tires every 2 hours or every 100 miles

insure that you have enough antifreeze in the system

all of these answers are correct

let your tires cool down (remain stopped) if they are too hot to touch

40 / 40

When would a drive-wheel skid result in a jackknife when pulling doubles?

when the trailer slides to the right into the shoulder

when the tractor brakes lock up

when the trailer pushes the towed vehicle sideways

when the tractor spins around

Your score is

The average score is 0%

5/5 - (1 vote)

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How To Get A District of Columbia Commercial Drivers License

In the District of Columbia, there are classifications of motor vehicles that may only be driven by those with a current commercial drivers license. Additionally, there are four classes of endorsements, including school bus, passenger and tanker. Any vehicle with a gross weight rating over 26,000 pounds is considered commercial in the District of Columbia.

Additional endorsements also include:

Hazardous Materials
Double/Triple Trailer
Tanker
Passenger
School Bus

Requirements to Obtain a District of Columbia CDL:

Have a valid non-commercial driver license
Meet identity, residency, and good driving history eligibility qualifications
Take the applicable CDL knowledge tests
Get a CDL learner permit
Pass the CDL road skills test

A Commercial Driver in Washington DC is held to a higher standard than drivers of typical passenger or other non-commerical vehicles. CDL holders must pass both written tests as well as a practical / skills test. You may practice for the written test using our online CDL test tool above. Upon successful completion, of the official Washington DC CDL skills test, you will be a fully licensed driver and ready to take to the open road!

Hit the Open Road

District of Columbia CDL License Test Tips

You think you're ready? Hold on there, Turbo! Check out these CDL Test Tips before you go zipping to the DMV for your exam!

You must have your CDL learner permit for at least 30 days prior to scheduling your road skills test.
Make an appointment on the DC Online Road Test Appointment Scheduler. Make sure to have your driver license number handy...you'll need it.
On your test day, arrive 15 minutes early. You will need to bring a CDL licensed driver aged 21 or older and this person must hold the CDL class and endorsements you are testing for.

You'll need to bring a few other things with you as well.

valid CDL learner permit
valid NCDL
DOT medical certification card
an appropriate vehicle in which to complete your CDL test
current registration and insurance for the vehicle

If you fail the CDL test you must wait three calendar days before attempting it again. If you fail a second time, you cannot re-test for ninety days!

Additional Information

Information on the Washington DC Department of Motor Vehicles

The District of Columbia CDL certifying agency is responsible for testing and certifying all commercial drivers. To get more information contact them via:

Website: https://dmv.dc.gov/service/obtain-commercial-driver-license
Phone: 202.673.6813
Email: [email protected]

Additional Washington DC CDL Helpful Links

Please use the links below to learn more about helpful topics related to the District of Columbia CDL testing program or other CDL-related topics.

District of Columbia CDL Practice Test

District of Columbia Drivers Test

District of Columbia Motorcycle Test

District of Columbia CDL Test

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A District of Columbia Commercial Drivers License

Hit the Open Road

District of Columbia CDL License Test Tips

Additional Information

Information on the Washington DC Department of Motor Vehicles

Additional Washington DC CDL Helpful Links

District of Columbia
CDL Practice Test