south dakota
CDL Practice Test

This is a practice test site for the CDL test in South Dakota. Use this site as a resource as you prepare to take your SD CDL test. You can take these practice tests and go through these questions as many times as you like, and the site is free to use. Questions on these practice tests cover areas such as driving weight requirements and passenger restrictions as covered in the South Dakota 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

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.

2 / 40

It is good practice to_____when uncoupling.

have the glad hands coupled together

make sure the electrical cable is hanging with the plug end down

have the glad hands coupled to the dummy couplers

all answers are appropriate

3 / 40

What will happen should a driver cross the air lines when hooking up the an older trailer?

the brake pedal will activate the trailer spring brakes instead of the air brakes

if there are no spring brakes, you can drive on but there will be no trailer brakes

none of the answers listed

the hand valve will activate the tractor brakes instead of the trailer brakes

4 / 40

If hazardous material is spilling from your vehicle, do not move your vehicle:

Any more that 450 feet.

Any more than safety required.

In an upwind direction.

Any more than 500 feet.

5 / 40

The interlock system for the brake and accelerator on a transit coach may be used:

As a safety feature when the exit door is open.

All of these answers are correct.

To replace the rear door emergency buzzer.

To replace the parking brake.

6 / 40

You should check that the following makes an audible noise:

Radio system

Engine brakes

Air leaks

Electric or air horn

7 / 40

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

5 seconds

3 seconds

6 seconds

4 seconds

8 / 40

Where should you place your warning devices if you must stop on a one-way or divided highway?

10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic

50 feet, 100 feet, and 150 feet toward approaching traffic

20 feet, 50 feet, and 100 feet toward approaching traffic

100 feet, 200 feet, and 300 feet toward approaching traffic

9 / 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.

There is a traffic light showing green.

Both of these answers are correct.

None of these answers are correct.

10 / 40

You must first______to supply air to the trailer.

pull out the tractor protection valve

turn off the engine so you can hear the brakes

push in the tractor protection valve

cross the air lines to check for the presence of leaks

11 / 40

Two causes of tire fires are ______.

under-inflated tires and poor retreads

hot brakes and under-inflated tires

under-inflated tires and duals that touch

duals that touch and road debris

12 / 40

The emergency air line is used to:

provide back up air pressure

engage the tractor's front brake when there is air pressure loss

engage the trailer brakes when there is an air pressure loss

to alert emegency services when there is a problem

13 / 40

When accelerating:

"hammer down" when your wheels start to spin

do not engage the clutch before you take your foot off the brake

speed up smoothly and gradually and avoid jerking

always use the parking brake to slow down

14 / 40

To decide which placards you need, if any, what three things do you need to know?

Packing group numbers, amount being shipped, and amount of all hazardous materials of all classes on your vehicle.

Materials hazard class, location being shipped, and amount of all hazardous materials on your vehicle.

Materials hazard class, amount being shipped, and amount of all hazardous materials of all classes on your vehicle.

Materials hazard class, percentage of total volume, and amount of all hazardous materials on your vehicle.

15 / 40

A shipper’s certification is best described as _____.

a paper certification from the manufacturer given to the shipper

a paper certification given to the manufacturer from the shipper

a certification that the package has been prepared according to the rules when the shipper packages hazardous materials

a test for shippers that certifies that they are qualified to package hazardous materials

16 / 40

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

all operating vehicles with air brakes

all vehicles built after 2005

all vehicles built after 2010

they are optional

17 / 40

Do you need to stop before a railroad crossing if you are hauling 100 pounds of Division 4.3 Dangerous When Wet material?

Only in populated areas

Yes

Only if you have more than 1,001 pounds of it

18 / 40

Check to ensure that____when inspecting the coupling.

the landing gear handle is free to hang down

there is minimal slack in the air lines

there is no slack at all in the air lines

the electrical cable is unplugged

19 / 40

Where are shut-off valves located?

at the front of the trailer

at the front and back of the trailer

either at the front or the back of the trailer

at the back of the trailer

20 / 40

The two main things to look ahead for while driving are _____.

bridges and tunnels

fire and flooding

traffic and road conditions

truck stops and police

21 / 40

Do you need to stop before a railroad crossing if you are hauling 100 pounds of Division 4.3 materials?

Only if the arm is down telling vehicles to stop

Yes

Impossible to tell without more information

22 / 40

How should you know when to shift?

engine speed and the shift indicator light

every 3 to 5 seconds or engine speed

road speed and wind speed

engine speed and road speed

23 / 40

Which trailer is most likely to tip over due to the crack the whip effect?

the last trailer of a triple

the first trailer of a triples

the last trailer of a double

the heaviest trailer

24 / 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.

25 / 40

The main reason you should pull the dolly out from under a trailer before disconnecting it from the trailer in front is:

to provide additional lateral stabilization to the front trailer

removing the dolly before uncoupling is not the correct procedure

it is possible that the dolly tow bar could fly up making it difficult to re-couple

so the rear-trailer's air brake system will stay charged and keep the trailer wheels locked to prevent rolling

26 / 40

Tires should should be replaced:

when there are broken valve stems

when the tread separates

if the tread depth on your front tires is less than 4/32 deep

all of these answers are correct

27 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to handing triples and doubles

none of the answers listed

a sudden movement of the steering wheel may result in the rear trailer tipping over

due to the crack the whip effect, the rear trailer of a 100 foot triple is less likely to tip than a single trailer

due to off tracking, a triple bottom rig can come to a stop quicker than a 5 axle semi trailer

28 / 40

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

longer reaction time

none of the answers listed

the lines are hotter

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

29 / 40

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

50 to 75 feet

15 to 50 feet

100 feet exactly

10 to 35 feet

30 / 40

The compressor is connected to the engine via _____?

stag gears

lines

v-belt or gears

r-belt

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

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

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

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

32 / 40

What will happen right away should the service air line come apart but the emergency line is intact while driving a combination vehicle?

the trailer's air tank will leak through the one line

nothing will occur until you try to use the brakes

the emergency tractor brakes will activate

you will come to a complete stop

33 / 40

Make sure that_____before you back under a trailer.

the air supply knob has been pulled out

the air supply knob has been pushed it

the air brakes are in an off position

the trailer brakes have been locked

34 / 40

Which of the following about the front tires on a commercial bus is true?

Can be recapped, but never regrooved.

Can be regrooved or recapped as long as they have 4/32 tread depth.

Must not be recapped, but can be regrooved.

Must not have recapped or regrooved tires.

35 / 40

Carry-on baggage cannot be stored:

Behind the seats.

Under the seat.

In the aisles and stairwells.

On the seats.

36 / 40

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

Emergency reflectors, fire extinguisher, signal flares and tire repair kit.

Fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses (unless equipped with circuit breakers), and emergency reflectors.

Hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, signal flares.

Repair kit, spare electric fuses (unless equipped with circuit breakers), and fire extinguisher.

37 / 40

What is the minimum amount of distance you should maintain when driving at 50 mph in ideal conditions with a 100 ft twin trailer combination?

11 seconds

6 seconds

13 seconds

8 seconds

38 / 40

A bus has a GVWR of 22,000 pounds and seats 24 passengers. What CDL class is this vehicle?

Class D

Class C

Class A

Class B

39 / 40

When should you check your mirrors for a lane change?

All of these answers are correct.

Before and after signaling the change.

Right after starting the lane change.

After completing the lane change.

40 / 40

What kind of surge occurs with baffles?

Circular

Bottom to top

Back to front

Side to side

Your score is

The average score is 0%

5/5 - (1 vote)

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A south dakota Commercial Drivers License

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

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

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

(REV 2015) Medical Self-Certification Statement
(Form MCSA-5876) Medical Examiner’s Certificate (This document must be completed by an FMCSA-approved physician.)

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 Dakota. Applicants can be disqualified for having multiple licenses.

South Dakota 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 dakota CDL License Test Tips

All South Dakota CDL applicants must pass the general knowledge test prior to taking the skills test. This test consists of 50 questions. To pass the South Dakota test, applicants must score 80 percent or higher. Applicants who require additional endorsements must pass additional tests and pay the required fees. The South Dakota 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 a South Dakota resident with a valid state driver’s license.
Be currently enlisted in the military.
Operate a commercial vehicle as part of their military duties for at least 2 years prior to submitting the CDL application. If applicants are in the military reserves or a veteran of the reserves, the vehicle operation requirement is 4 years.
Have been honorably discharged from the military within the past 12 months.
Submit (Form CDL-SK TST WVR) Application for Military Skills Test Waiver. The commanding officer must sign this document.

Additional Information

Information on the South Dakota Department of Public Safety

The South Dakota Division of Public Safety administers CDL license requirements in South Dakota. To get more information contact them via:

Website: https://dps.sd.gov/driver-licensing/commercial-drivers-license

Phone: 605.773.6883

Additional South Dakota CDL Helpful Links

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

south dakota CDL Practice Test

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A south dakota Commercial Drivers License

Hit the Open Road

south dakota CDL License Test Tips

Additional Information

Information on the South Dakota Department of Public Safety

Additional South Dakota CDL Helpful Links

south dakota
CDL Practice Test