south carolina
CDL Practice Test

This is a site to help you prepare to take the CDL permit test in South Carolina. You can take these practice test questions as many times as you like, and the site is free to use. The questions on this practice test cover rules from the SC CDL manual. 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

When conducting a pre-trip inspection, the most important item to verify is _____.

that the radio transmits a signal

that the registration is in the cup holder

that there are no leaks in the air brake system

that the tire tread is sufficient for the expected driving conditions

2 / 40

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

The distance you will travel in the next 20 seconds.

2 lengths of your vehicle.

Half of a football field.

The distance you can see ahead of you.

3 / 40

A hazard class that uses transport indexes to determine the amount that can be loaded in a single vehicle is _____.

Class 1 explosives

Class 6 poisons

Class 3 flammable liquids

Class 7 radioactive materials

4 / 40

How far before a railroad crossing should you stop your bus?

50 to 75 feet

10 to 35 feet

15 to 50 feet

100 feet exactly

5 / 40

Check to ensure that____when inspecting the coupling.

there is no slack at all in the air lines

the electrical cable is unplugged

there is minimal slack in the air lines

the landing gear handle is free to hang down

6 / 40

What can side to side surge cause?

A spontaneous combustion.

An increase in speed.

An engine system failure.

A roll over.

7 / 40

Select the definition for outage:

It is how much power is lost to the hydraulics.

It is the process of liquid expansion as it becomes warm.

It is loss of power to the headlights.

It is the liquid that must be drained off to meet legal carry limit.

8 / 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 parkng brake valve pops out on tractor-trailer vehicles

all of these answers are correct

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

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

9 / 40

What is most likely to occur when the front wheels begin to skid?

The power of the surge will disconnect the tank from the truck.

A roll over will occur.

All answers listed.

You will continue heading in a straight line and moving forward no matter what direction you turn the steering wheel.

10 / 40

Select the purpose of fanning air brakes:

it decreases the braking power

lower air pressure

it cools them down

it increases the air pressure

11 / 40

When not towing a trailer, why should the tractor glad hands be locked?

this should never be done

it keeps water and dirt out of the lines

the connected brake circuit will become a back up air tank

the system pressure will not build up

12 / 40

You are driving a 40 foot truck at 35 MPH, how much space (in seconds) should you keep in front of you?

6 seconds

5 seconds

3 seconds

4 seconds

13 / 40

What is a technical name?

The name for a hazardous material used in scientific journals and texts, recognized as its chemical and microbiological name.

The name for a hazardous material most commonly used in the trucking community, accepted as standard.

The medical term for hazardous materials used by medical personnel.

The name for a hazardous material most commonly used on the street.

14 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to when a bulk tank vehicle stops at an intersection on a slippery surface:

The liquid may leak out of the tank.

The movement of the liquid may push the truck into the intersection.

The trailer may slide to the side due to the rocking motion.

The trailer may slide into the oncoming traffic.

15 / 40

______is a device that connects the service and emergency air lines between the tractor and trailer.

Service lines

Glad hands

Relay knife

Top off valves

16 / 40

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

None of these answers are correct.

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

Both of these answers are correct.

There is a traffic light showing green.

17 / 40

What action should you take if there is no phone available and you discover your hazardous materials shipment leaking at a rest stop?

Send someone for help with all the necessary information.

Leave your truck parked with emergency lights on and walk for help.

Keep driving, slowly and cautiously, until you reach a phone.

Keep driving for help as quickly as possible.

18 / 40

Which of the following must be closed while the bus is in motion?

Both hatches

Emergency windows

Windows

Roof vents

19 / 40

What is the best way to figure out how many seconds of following distance you have?

get 1/4 closer to the car in front of you, then back off again multiply how long this took you by 4 for following distance

wait until a vehicle passes a shadow or landmark, then count the seconds until you pass it

use the stopwatch on your phone to try to determine how long before you reach a mile marker after the car in front of you appeared to reach it

text a friend and tell them to text you back in ten seconds and see how long that seemed to take compared to how far you traveled

20 / 40

Which of the following is not a prohibited practice on the bus:

Fueling your bus with riders on board if about to run out of fuel.

Talking with riders while driving.

Towing a disabled bus with riders aboard when getting off would be a safe option.

Refueling in a closed building with riders on board.

21 / 40

Signs of distracted drivers include:

individuals driving at a consistent speed above the speed limit

drivers having conversations with passengers

individuals listening to music too loudly

vehicles exiting the roadway

22 / 40

Which of the following must drivers have in their possession while transporting class A or B explosives?

None of these answers are correct.

A gas mask.

The written route plan.

The carrier's insurance policy.

23 / 40

You should check that the following makes an audible noise:

Air leaks

Radio system

Engine brakes

Electric or air horn

24 / 40

What is the service air line controlled by?

the pressure applied to the trailer hand brake or by the foot brake

all answers listed

the relay valve that connects the trailer air tanks to the trailer air brakes

the relay vavle by sending air pressure from the trailer air tank to the trailer brake chambers

25 / 40

Tankers used to transport hazardous materials on vehicles must be marked with:

The chemtrec phone number.

The date of manufacture.

The owner's puco or icc number.

The un or na id number of the product.

26 / 40

This item should not be rusted, bent, or damaged and centered over evenly spaced tires and dual wheels.

Frame

Lug bolts

Spacers

Fifth wheel

27 / 40

How do you determine if slack adjusters need to be adjusted?

release the parking brakes and activate the service brakes

activiate the parking brake and service brake

release the parking brakes and service brakes

pull out the automatic slack adjustment control knob

28 / 40

Under which two special conditions should you downshift?

before starting down a hill and before entering a curve

before entering a curve and before going up a hill

if there is an accident and in sudden heavy rain

before starting down a hill and before going up a hill

29 / 40

Your engine runs a pump when you are delivering compressed gas. Should you turn off your engine before or after you unhook the hoses after finishing that delivery?

Turn it off before unhooking.

Turn if off after unhooking.

Turn it off on arrival—use other power to run the pump.

Leave it on the entire time.

30 / 40

The baffles in a tank trailer help to control:

The overall weight of the vehicle.

The movement of liquid from front to back.

The distrubition of weight.

The flow of liquid side to side.

31 / 40

Select the statement that tells you how you can check the low pressure warning signal.

Turn the electrical power on and apply pressure on and off the brake pedal to increase air tank pressure. The low air pressure warning signal must come on before the pressure increases to more than 60 psi in the air tank.

Turn the electrical power on and apply pressure on and off the brake pedal to decrease the air tank pressure. The low air pressure warning signal must come on before the pressure drops to less than 60 psi in the air tank.

Turn the electrical power off and apply pressure on and off the brake pedal to decrease air tank pressure. The low air pressure warning signal must come on before the pressure drops to less than 30 psi in the air tank.

The low pressure warning signal is only testable by the factory.

32 / 40

In the event of an accident you should remember to do the following EXCEPT:

notify authorities

protect the area

move the victims out of the way immediately

stop any bleeding and keep the victims warm

33 / 40

Select the statement that best explains the "crack-the-whip" effect.

it is when the trailer is half full with the cargo loaded in the rear half of the trailer. When you make a sudden movement of your steering wheel the cargo will forcefully slide towards the back of the trailer which will force the trailer to roll over.

it is when you make a sudden movement of the steering wheel or a quick lane change and the tractor tends to rock and sway. The velocity of the rearmost trailer forces the tractor to roll over before the trailer.

it is when the trailer is half full with the cargo loaded in the front half of the trailer. When you make a sudden movement of your steering wheel the cargo will forcefully slide towards the back of the trailer which will force the trailer to roll over.

it is when you make a sudden movement of the steering wheel or a quick lane change and the rear trailer tends to swing out. The force of the rear trailer becomes amplified, which will cause it to roll over (rearward amplification).

34 / 40

You should look into the back of the fifth wheel on a dolly to see if it is locked onto the kingpin.

true

only at the end of a shift

false

only in a level loading dock

35 / 40

How much space should you see between the lower and upper fifth wheel when checking the coupling of a converter dolly?

1/2 to 1 inch

none

it depends on how heavy the load is

1 to 1 1/2 inches

36 / 40

At what "cut out" level does the governor stop pumping air?

100 psi

75 psi

150 psi

125 psi

37 / 40

The front trailer supports should be____before driving away.

raised 1/2 way with the crank handle secured in its bracket

raised 1/3 of the way with the crank handle secured in its bracket

3 turns down from the top and the crank handle secured in its bracket

raised fully and the crank handle secured in its bracket

38 / 40

In what location must you keep your shipping papers which describe any hazardous materials?

In a fire-safe pouch under the driver's seat that you can reach while you are driving.

In a locked glove compartment anytime you are outside of the vehicle.

On the driver's seat anytime you are outside of the vehicle.

In a fire-safe pouch under the passenger seat while you are driving.

39 / 40

Select which is not an engine compartement belt:

An air compressor belt

A power steering belt

A safety belt

A water pump belt

40 / 40

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

225 psi

150 psi

125 psi

100 psi

Your score is

The average score is 0%

5/5 - (1 vote)

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A south carolina Commercial Drivers License

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

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

South Carolina CDL applicants must be certified that they are medically fit enough to operate a commercial vehicle and pass a vision test. Applicants are required to submit the following documents.

(Form MCSA-5876) Medical Examiner’s Certificate
(Form DL-405A) Medical Certification Requirements

Interstate non-excepted (drivers who do not work for the state or federal governments) must meet federal DOT requirements. Intrastate non-excepted drivers must meet the state requirements. Drivers who have had their licenses revoked, suspended, denied or canceled are not eligible for a CDL in South Carolina. Applicants can be disqualified for having multiple licenses.

South Carolina 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

south carolina CDL License Test Tips

All South Carolina CDL applicants must pass the general knowledge test prior to taking the skills test. To pass the South Carolina test, applicants must score 80 percent or higher. Applicants who require additional endorsements must pass additional tests and pay the required fees. The South Carolina skills test can be taken 14 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 currently enlisted in the military.
Possess a valid South Carolina driver’s license.
Have operated a commercial vehicle as part of their military duties.
Have been discharged from the military within the past 12 months.
Submit (Form DL-408A) CDL Skills Test Waiver Application for Military Personnel. The commanding officer must sign this document within 90 days of the CDL application.

Additional Information

Information on the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles

The South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles administers CDL license requirements in South Carolina. To get more information contact them via:

Website: http://www.scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services/Commercial-Licenses

Phone: 803.896.5000

Additional South Carolina CDL Helpful Links

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

south carolina CDL Practice Test