pennsylvania
CDL Practice Test

Welcome to the Pennsylvania CDL practice test site. CDL rules and regulations covered on these practice tests come from the PA DMV CDL Manual. You can take these practice test questions as many times as you like as you attempt to obtain your PA CDL. 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.

1 / 40

To maintain alertness during the trip, drivers should:

get 8-9 hours of sleep

avoid medications that cause drowsiness

schedule trips during the daytime hours

all of these answers are correct

2 / 40

A baffled tanker has:

Bulkheads with holes that allow liquid to flow through it.

Separate compartments inside the trailer.

Balls floating in it to increase the speed of the liquid movement.

No side to side surge.

3 / 40

A slack adjuster is:

a lever that connects the brake chamber push rod with the foundation brake camshaft

a lever that connects the brake drum to the brake shoe

a lever that connects the brake camshaft with the brake chamber

a lever that connects the return spring and the brake chamber push rod

4 / 40

When you discharge an unruly passenger, you must choose a place that is:

Dark and poorly lighted.

The next stop.

Off the regular route.

As safe as possible, or the next stop.

5 / 40

In Column 1 the symbol "I" means:

International transportation.

Invalid substance.

Iodine.

International restrictions.

6 / 40

The direction of liquid movement not prevented by baffles is:

None of the answers listed.

Back to front.

Side to side.

Bottom to top.

7 / 40

To inspect the______you should pump the pedal 3 times and hold it down for 5 seconds while making sure the pedal doesn't move during those 5 seconds.

hydraulic brakes

parking brakes

engine brakes

air brakes

8 / 40

How do you know when your brakes are fading?

to control your speed on a downgrade you have to apply less pressure to the break pedal

your speed increases when pressure is removed from the brake pedal

the brake pedal flops to the cabin floor

to control your speed on a downgrade you have to push harder on the brake pedal

9 / 40

Charter drivers should not:

Mention rules at the start of the trip.

Allow riders on the bus until departure time.

Remind riders about rules once trip begins.

Explain rules at the start of the trip.

10 / 40

If you are already carrying 100 pounds of silver cyanide, what precautions must you take if you are given papers at a dock to carry 100 cartons of battery acid?

Inform someone and not load the battery acid.

Make sure there is plenty of space between the two.

Make sure the silver cyanide is loaded on top of the battery acid.

Make sure the battery acid is loaded on top of the silver cyanide.

11 / 40

Select the statement that best describes what the service line is for.

it is controlled by the foot brake and carries air

all answers listed

it is controlled by the foot brake or trailer hand brake and carries air

it is controlled by the trailer hand brake and carries air

12 / 40

The minimum tread depth for steering axle tires is:

14 mm

2/23 inch

4/32 inch

None of the answers listed

13 / 40

On a drawbridge, you do not need to stop, but must slow down and make sure it's safe, when:

The bridge has an attendant or traffic officer who controls traffic whenever the bridge opens.

None of these answers are correct.

Both of these answers are correct.

There is a traffic light showing green.

14 / 40

A placarded vehicle must have at least ___ placards?

six

four

two

three

15 / 40

____is the most common type of foundation brakes used by heavy vehicles.

Wedge drum

S-Cam drum

Rectangle brakes

None of the answers listed

16 / 40

Which of the following statements is FALSE:

Avoid fueling your bus with riders on board unless absolutely necessary. never refuel in a closed building with riders on board.

Do not talk with riders or engage in any other distracting activity while driving.

Do not tow or push a disabled bus with riders aboard either vehicle, unless getting off the bus would be unsafe.

Do not transport intoxicated passengers.

17 / 40

What is a supply pressure gauge used for?

it tells you how much pressure is in the air tanks

all of these answers are correct

it tells you how much slack is in the slack adjusters

it tells you how much pressure is in the air lines

18 / 40

What are spring brakes?

all of these answers are correct

they are powerful springs that hold back air pressure when driving

they do not function when the psi falls below 30 psi

they are brakes that automatically come on for a truck or trailer when the psi drops too low

19 / 40

Select when you should use the hand valve to park a combination vehicle.

when parking at a loading dock

when parking in a commercial lot

never

when parking on a downgrade

20 / 40

How far away are you required to park from a bridge, tunnel, or building if you are carrying Division 1.2 or 1.3 materials?

At least 500 feet

At least 400 feet

At least 600 feet

At least 300 feet

21 / 40

How do you hook a combination to a second trailer without spring brakes and without using wheel chocks?

disconnect the air supply lines after supplying air to the trailer air system via the tractor

have the trailer electric cord to a generator so it can supply braking power

go ahead and couple it

make sure the trailer won't roll when coupling

22 / 40

If you are drowsy, you should _____ before you drive.

take a cold shower

do a little exercise

drink coffee

get sleep

23 / 40

The basic description of a hazardous material includes the hazard class, the identification number, and the proper shipping name. Which one must appear first on the shipping paper?

The identification number.

The proper shipping name.

The box number.

The hazard class.

24 / 40

Water is drained from the compressed air tanks because:

to keep the oil in the air compressor clean

the water could freeze in cold weather and cause braking failure

braking power is decreased due to the low boiling point of water

the water will over cool the compressor

25 / 40

With the engine cut off and the brakes released the air loss in a straight truck or bus should not be more than:

3 psi in a minute

5 psi in a minute

4 psi in a minute

2 psi in a minute

26 / 40

Which of the following will confirm that you are driving with anti-lock brakes?

The bus operators manual.

The certification on the driver side door.

Yellow abs malfunction lamp on the instrument panel will light when you start the engine.

Red indicator lamp on the brake cylinder.

27 / 40

You should check your tires every ____ or every ____ when driving in very hot weather.

1 hour, 50 miles

5 hours, 250 miles

2 hours, 100 miles

3 hours, 200 miles

28 / 40

What kind of surge occurs with baffles?

Bottom to top

Side to side

Back to front

Circular

29 / 40

You are driving a 60 foot truck at 55 MPH, how much space (in seconds) should you keep in front of you?

7 seconds

5 seconds

6 seconds

8 seconds

30 / 40

While driving on a clear night with low beam headlights, you should be able to stop within:

2 lengths of your vehicle.

The distance you can see ahead of you.

The distance you will travel in the next 20 seconds.

Half of a football field.

31 / 40

If students must cross the street, when they get off the bus, which statement is true?

If the bus is equipped with the crossing gate, the danger of running over the child is eliminated.

The student should wait to cross the street until the bus continues on its route.

When the driver signals that it is safe to proceed, the students must run across the street to reduce the exposure to danger.

For crossing, students should make eye contact with the bus driver and wait for the driver's signal that it is safe to proceed.

32 / 40

Why should you use chocks when parking a trailer without spring brakes?

to prevent someone from stealing the vehicle

the trailer wheels are free to turn as there will be no service brakes should the air supply in the trailer air tank leak

the trailer wheels are free to turn as there will be no emergency brakes should the air supply in the trailer air tank leak

to prevent a runaway trailer

33 / 40

Class A explosives must not be transported in a combination vehicle if the vehicle includes:

A placarded cargo tank.

None of these answers are correct.

A 200 inch wheelbase trailer.

Two or more trailers.

34 / 40

Your rig should be parked on__to uncouple double trailers.

grass

a downgrade

the company's lot

level ground

35 / 40

If you are traveling at 55 mph in a 30-foot vehicle, you should leave how many seconds of following distance?

4 seconds

3 seconds

7 seconds

6 seconds

36 / 40

Which of the following types of emergency equipment must you have on your bus?

Reflectors, fire extinguisher, and accident reporting kit.

Fire extinguisher, spare electric fuses, and reflectors.

Spare electric fuses, fire extinguisher, and accident reporting kit.

Hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, and signal flares.

37 / 40

Select the answer that is not a part of the braking process when driving a tractor-trailer combination vehicle that has ABS:

you should drive at a higher speed to keep the trailer in line

you should monitor the tractor and trailer as you decrease your speed to keep control

only use the braking that is necessary to safely stay in control of the vehicle

you should brake in the same manner regardless of what you are driving

38 / 40

At what pressure is the safety valve in the air compressor tank set to open?

100 psi

225 psi

125 psi

150 psi

39 / 40

Double and triple trailers should be driven with care to avoid a rollover or jacknife.

only on downgrades

true

false

only in ideal conditions

40 / 40

After deciding the type of evacuation that is necessary, the next step you must take is:

Securing the bus.

Dangle the radio microphone out of the driver window for later use.

Notifying the dispatch office of the evacuation.

Opening the emergency exits.

Your score is

The average score is 0%

5/5 - (1 vote)

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A pennsylvania Commercial Drivers License

To be eligible for a CDL in Pennsylvania, applicants must meet the following age eligibility requirements.

Be at least 18 years old to operate a commercial vehicle intrastate (within Pennsylvania only).
Be at least 21 years old to operate a commercial vehicle interstate (outside of Pennsylvania).

Pennsylvania CDL applicants must be medically certified that they are physically fit enough to operate a commercial vehicle and pass a vision test. Pennsylvania applicants must get assistance with the forms from a qualified CDL physician and submit the following documents:

(Form MCSA-5875) Medical Examination Report Form
(Form MCSA-5876) Medical Examiner’s Certificate

Applicants who receive a CDL must keep their Medical Examiner’s Certificate with them at all times while they are operating a commercial vehicle.

Drivers who have had their licenses revoked, suspended, denied or canceled are not eligible for a CDL in Pennsylvania. Applicants can be disqualified for having multiple licenses.

Pennsylvania CDL Endorsements

H – Hazmat Vehicles
N – Tank Vehicles
P – Passenger Vehicles
S – School Bus
T – Double or Triple Trailer
X – Combination Tank Vehicles and Hazmat Vehicles

Hit the Open Road

pennsylvania CDL License Test Tips

All Pennsylvania CDL applicants must pass the general knowledge test prior to taking the skills test. To pass the Pennsylvania test, applicants must score 80 percent or higher. Applicants who require additional endorsements must pass additional tests and pay the required fees. The Pennsylvania skills test can be taken 15 days after applicants pass the knowledge test. It includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic control skills and on-road driving. Applicants must pass each section.

Military veterans and current military members can apply to have the skills exam waived if they meet the requirements.

To qualify for a waiver, applicants must:

Be active duty military personnel.
Operate a commercial vehicle as part of their military duties.
Have been discharged from the military within the past 12 months.
Submit an Application for CDL Skills Test Waiver.

Additional Information

Information on the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles

The Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles administers CDL license regulations in Pennsylvania. To get more information contact them via:

Website: https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Commercial-Driver/Pages/default.aspx

Phone: 717.412.5300

Additional Pennsylvania CDL Helpful Links

Please use the links below to access Pennsylvania CDL testing resources and to learn more about practice driving tests for the state of Pennsylvania.

pennsylvania CDL Practice Test

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A pennsylvania Commercial Drivers License

Hit the Open Road

pennsylvania CDL License Test Tips

Additional Information

Information on the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles

Additional Pennsylvania CDL Helpful Links

pennsylvania
CDL Practice Test