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

Do not tow or push a disabled bus with riders aboard the vehicle, unless:

Bus is on a drawbridge.

Getting off the bus would be unsafe.

You are also a class a tow truck driver.

Your employer tells you to.

2 / 40

What can side to side surge cause?

An increase in speed.

A spontaneous combustion.

An engine system failure.

A roll over.

3 / 40

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

when the tractor brakes lock up

when the trailer pushes the towed vehicle sideways

when the trailer slides to the right into the shoulder

when the tractor spins around

4 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to your brake function when your ABS fails

there is a huge fire risk

the abs will need to be repaired but the brakes will function normally

you will need to pull over immediately

you will have no control over your truck as the brakes will not be functioning

5 / 40

Why should you cover cargo?

to protect individuals from any spilled cargo

because many states require it

all of these answers are correct

to protect your cargo from bad weather

6 / 40

Select whether the following statement is true or false: Front wheel brakes are good to use in all conditions.

only in bad weather

only in ideal conditions

false

true

7 / 40

You must first______to supply air to the trailer.

cross the air lines to check for the presence of leaks

pull out the tractor protection valve

push in the tractor protection valve

turn off the engine so you can hear the brakes

8 / 40

As the driver of a bus, how can you best avoid hindering other traffic on the highway?

By driving faster than the other traffic.

By passing only the slowest vehicles.

By staying in the right lane if you can.

By never passing.

9 / 40

Select the statement that describes smooth bore tanks:

They are divided down into smaller tanks.

They are 1 large tank.

None of the answers listed.

They are divided with holes from liquid to flow through controlling surge.

10 / 40

How do you release the dolly brakes when coupling twin trailers?

by charging the air line

by opening the air tank petcock

by opening the shut off valve

by flushing the brake line

11 / 40

This should have no illegal stickers, dirt, obstructions, or damage to the glass.

None of the answers listed

The headlights

Mirrors and windshield

The rearview mirror

12 / 40

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

6 seconds

8 seconds

7 seconds

5 seconds

13 / 40

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

There is a traffic light showing green.

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.

14 / 40

You are checking the_______when looking at the dipstick to see if the lubrication is at the safe operating range or above the refill line.

washer fluid level

battery fluid level

coolant level

oil level

15 / 40

Select how brakes work on long, steep downgrades:

it is the main braking mechanism

they are a supplement to the braking effect of the engine

it does not do anything

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

16 / 40

For what reason do you keep the starter switch key in your pocket during the pre-trip inspection?

you will need it to inspect the trailer

so no one moves the vehicle while you are inspecting underneath it

you will need it to open the side box

so you don't lose it

17 / 40

Which of the following statements about downshifting is NOT true?

downshift before climbing a hill

downshift before starting down a hill

downshift when you get to the bottom of a hill

downshift before entering a curve

18 / 40

The school bus driver may be the only contact person from school system some parents meet. The percentage of such parents is as high as:

0.85

0.65

0.5

0.72

19 / 40

What is the purpose of cladding in a tanker?

It protects the tanker form any corrosive cargo.

It protects the cargo from changes in temperature.

It controls the temperature of the cargo.

It eliminates liquid surge.

20 / 40

Which of the following is NOT a basic step to be taken at a crash scene?

care for the injured

protect the area

gather the contact information of all the drivers involved

notify authorities

21 / 40

Your vehicle is going down a long hill and your brakes begin to fail. What should you do?

look for an escape ramp or an escape route

pump the brake pedal

downshift

put the gears in neutral

22 / 40

What are spring brakes?

they do not function when the psi falls below 30 psi

all of these answers are correct

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

they are powerful springs that hold back air pressure when driving

23 / 40

Why should you know the outage?

Heavier liquids don't require outage.

Just in case you become a contestant in a trivia competition.

Baffles are not always permitted with certain types of liquids.

Liquids expand different amounts.

24 / 40

Select the reason as to why you should not use the trailer hand valve while driving.

it could cause the trailer to skid

it should not be used on dry roads due to road conditions

it releases too much air from the system

the trailer brakes will not be evenly applied

25 / 40

If there is rust around the nuts, what may it indicate?

They are fitted just right.

They need to be changed out.

They are loose.

There is a leak somewhere.

26 / 40

At 55 miles-per-hour it takes about 6 seconds to stop a fully loaded truck and the braking distance is:

about the length of a football field or 100 yards

about 1/4 mile

about two truck lengths

about two car lengths

27 / 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 10 feet

Minimum of 15 feet

Minimum of 2 feet

28 / 40

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

225 psi

150 psi

125 psi

100 psi

29 / 40

Air brake systems should not lose air faster than____when testing for air leakage rates in combination vehicles before applying the brake pedal.

6 psi a minute

3 psi a minute

5 psi a minute

2 psi a minute

30 / 40

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

Hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, and signal flares.

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

Fire extinguisher, spare electric fuses, and reflectors.

Reflectors, fire extinguisher, and accident reporting kit.

31 / 40

Which of the following statements about loading and unloading cargo tanks is false?

The person attending the tanker must have a clear view of it.

The person in attendance must be authorized and able to move the vehicle.

The person in attendance must be within 50 ft of the tanker.

The person in attendance must be aware of the danger.

32 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to if a glad hand on the blue air line is missing a seal.

there may be a service line air leak

it is not a big problem

there may be an emergency line air leak

you should remove one from the red air line to use as a temporary replacement

33 / 40

The best way to describe a dual air brake system is:

there is a primary and secondary system that is 2 separate air brake systems

there are 2 separate air brake systems that supply air to the trailer if there is one

all of these answers are correct

there are 2 separate air brake systems that have their own hoses, lines etc

34 / 40

What is the best way to see the sides and rear of your vehicle?

your mirrors

a helper

rear view cameras

all of these answers are correct

35 / 40

If the hazardous materials are classified as FORBIDDEN you should:

Remove the placards from the trailer.

Take special caution in transporting the material.

Refuse the load.

Place the materials in the front of the trailer.

36 / 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 hazard class.

The identification number.

The proper shipping name.

The box number.

37 / 40

Which seats must have a seat belt:

Senior citizen seats.

The driver's seat.

Women and children seats.

All of these answers are correct.

38 / 40

You do not have to stop at railroad crossings, but must slow down and carefully check for other vehicles:

At crossings marked as "exempt" or "abandoned".

Where a policeman or flagman is directing traffic.

If a traffic signal is green.

All of these answers are correct.

39 / 40

The reason a bulk liquid tanker is hard to handle is:

Because the cargo has a low center of gravity.

Because of the high friction point.

Because the cargo has a high density.

Because the cargo has a high center of gravity.

40 / 40

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

All of the answers listed.

The legal weight limits.

The amount of expansion that will occur.

The weight of it.

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