tennessee
CDL Practice Test

This is a practice test site for helping you earn your CDL in Tennessee. Rules and regulations covered on these practice tests are based on the Tennessee CDL Manual. You can take these practice tests as many times as you like as the site is free to use. 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 should air tanks be drained?

at the end of each working day

every 7 days

at every restroom break stop

they don't need to be drained

2 / 40

When accelerating:

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

always use the parking brake to slow down

"hammer down" when your wheels start to spin

speed up smoothly and gradually and avoid jerking

3 / 40

A slack adjuster is:

a lever that connects the brake camshaft with the brake chamber

a lever that connects the brake drum to the brake shoe

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

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

4 / 40

The Emergency Response Guide, ERG, can best be explained as _____.

a guide explaining what materials can be hauled together in the same vehicle and a guidebook for firefighters, police, and industry workers on how to protect themselves and the public from hazardous materials

a guidebook for firefighters, police, industry workers, truck drivers, dock workers, and shippers on how to protect themselves and the public from hazardous materials

a guide explaining what materials can be hauled together in the same vehicle

none of these answers are correct

5 / 40

The most dangerous time during the school bus ride is:

When the students become unruly on the bus.

Crossing railway crossing.

On long bus journeys.

When loading and unloading students.

6 / 40

It is important for driving safety to always be looking ahead. Which of the following is NOT a recommended time/distance that you should be looking ahead?

about 1 block for city driving

about 1/4 mile for open highway driving

about 12-15 seconds

about 5 car lengths on the highway

7 / 40

What is always required before loading, driving, or unloading a tanker?

Clean the vehicle

An inspection

Shift into park

Registration of driving plan

8 / 40

What is the service air line controlled by?

all answers listed

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

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

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

9 / 40

When arriving at the destination announce:

The next departure time.

All of these answers are correct.

The reason for stopping.

The location.

10 / 40

The transport index of a radioactive material:

Tells the degree of control needed during transportation.

Is another way of writing the weight of the package.

Is something that only the shipper needs to worry about.

None of these answers are correct.

11 / 40

Select the correct description for a bulkhead tank.

None of the answers listed.

It is one large tank.

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

They are divided down into smaller tanks.

12 / 40

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

coolant level

air brake system

leaks

power steering fluid

13 / 40

What are the 3 methods for securing a second trailer before coupling?

all answers listed

parking on level ground, chocking the tires, and charging the trailer air tank if it doesn't have spring brakes

chocking the tires, parking on level ground, and charging the air tank

parking against another trailer, locking the trailer door, and chocking the tires

14 / 40

The blind spot behind the bus could extend to how many feet?

200 feet

100 feet

400 feet

300 feet

15 / 40

What should you hook up before backing a tractor to a trailer for coupling?

the service and emergency air lines

the electrical service line

the safety bar

there is nothing to be hooked up

16 / 40

Your bus starts to lean toward the outside on a banked curve, you are:

Driving with bad tires.

Driving on a wet surface.

Driving in the mountains.

Driving too fast.

17 / 40

_____ create a little above 90 degree angle between the adjuster arm and push rod when the brakes are released and no less than 90 degrees when the brakes are applied.

slack adjusters

brake drums

air lines

brake disc

18 / 40

Select the statement that is true in regards to quick steering movements and triple/double trailers:

it is easier to countersteer compared to other vehicles

as you perform quick steering movements you should apply pressure to the brake pedal

there are no issues that occur from quick steering

they flip over due to quick steering movements a lot easier than other vehicles

19 / 40

If you double your speed, what will happen to your stopping distance?

it increases by four times

it increases by two times

it stays about the same

none of these answers are correct answers are correct

20 / 40

Select the true statement about tractor protection valve:

it is closed by the parking brakes

it provides the air supply to the brake system

if the air supply drops to a certain level it will automatically close itself

all of these answers are correct

21 / 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, percentage of total volume, and amount of all hazardous materials 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.

22 / 40

The baffles in a tank trailer help to control:

The flow of liquid side to side.

The movement of liquid from front to back.

The distrubition of weight.

The overall weight of the vehicle.

23 / 40

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

anti-lock braking systems (ABS) only activate when wheels are about to lock

if a tire blows, you should put the brakes on hard to stop quickly

stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency

you can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can stop

24 / 40

Your rig should be parked on__to uncouple double trailers.

grass

the company's lot

a downgrade

level ground

25 / 40

How often should you drain your air tanks?

at the end of each trip

at the end of each week

at the end of each shift

at the beginning of each month

26 / 40

Select the true statement about convex ("spot") mirrors.

they make things closer and larger than they really are

you do not need to look at them as often as flat mirrors

they make things look farther away and smaller than they actually are

they are against the law in the majority of states

27 / 40

You should____in order to inspect the coupling.

make sure to have space between the lower and upper fifth wheel

have the fifth wheel jaws open

make sure the locking lever is in the open position

if necessary, use a flashlight

28 / 40

When stopped on a divided highway where should your reflectors be placed?

20 feet, 150 feet, and 300 feet toward the approaching traffic

15 feet, 75 feet, and 150 feet toward the approaching traffic

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

30 feet, 100 feet, and 150 feet toward the approaching traffic

29 / 40

Charter drivers should not:

Allow riders on the bus until departure time.

Explain rules at the start of the trip.

Remind riders about rules once trip begins.

Mention rules at the start of the trip.

30 / 40

Select which is not a mandatory emergency equipment:

Tire changing equipment.

Extra electrical fuses.

A rated and properly charged fire extinguisher.

6 fuses, 3 red reflective triangles, or 3 liquid burning flares.

31 / 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

engine brakes

air brakes

parking brakes

32 / 40

Select the item that is not checked in the engine compartment:

The level of the oil

The coolant level

The oil pressure

The power steering fluid

33 / 40

The trailer should be lowered so that _____.

the tractor comes in contact with the nose of the trailer

you are able to use the landing gear to make adjustments

it is slightly raised when the tractor is backed under it

the trailer is high above the fifth wheel

34 / 40

How do you check the air compressor governor "cut in" and "cut out" pressures?

monitor the air pressure gauge

decrease the tank pressure by stepping on and off the brake

run the engine at a fast idle

all of these answers are correct

35 / 40

Puddles or dripping fluids from the underside of the transmission and engine may indicate:

A leaking line or hose

A leak from the engine

Problems with the water pump

All of these answers are correct

36 / 40

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

Because the cargo has a high density.

Because of the high friction point.

Because the cargo has a low center of gravity.

Because the cargo has a high center of gravity.

37 / 40

It is good practice to_____when uncoupling.

have the glad hands coupled to the dummy couplers

all answers are appropriate

have the glad hands coupled together

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

38 / 40

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

Class C

Class D

Class B

Class A

39 / 40

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

Class 7 radioactive materials

Class 6 poisons

Class 3 flammable liquids

Class 1 explosives

40 / 40

The method used to make sure the spring brakes will come on automatically is to:

Apply pressure on and off the brake pedal to decrease the air tank pressure. The parking brake knob should pop out when the air pressure meets to the manufacturer’s specification.

Apply pressure on and off the brake pedal to decrease the air tank pressure while driving at a high a speed. The parking brake knob should pop out when the air pressure meets to the manufacturer’s specification.

Apply pressure on and off the brake pedal to increase the air tank pressure. The parking brake knob should pop out when the air pressure meets to the manufacturer’s specification.

Apply pressure on and off the brake pedal to decrease the air tank pressure. The parking brake knob should pop out when the air pressure drops to 120 psi.

Your score is

The average score is 37%

5/5 - (1 vote)

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A tennessee Commercial Drivers License

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

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

Tennessee CDL applicants must be medically certified that they are physically fit 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 (This document must be completed by an FMCSA-certified physician.)
(SF-1438) Self-Certification Form

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 Tennessee. Applicants can be disqualified for having multiple licenses. Tennessee CDL applicants will conduct a driving record check of the past 10 years in all 50 states.

Tennessee CDL Endorsements

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

Hit the Open Road

tennessee CDL License Test Tips

All Tennessee CDL applicants must pass the general knowledge test prior to taking the skills test. This test consists of 50 questions. To pass the Tennessee test, applicants must score 80 percent or higher. Applicants who require additional endorsements must pass additional tests and pay the required fees. The Tennessee 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 and:

Be a Tennessee resident with a valid Tennessee driver’s license or eligible for a Tennessee license.
Possess a military operator’s permit.
Have a minimum of 2 years of experience operating the same type of vehicle as the applicant is applying to drive.
Have been discharged from the military within the past 12 months.
Submit (Form SF-1507) CDL Skills Test Waiver Application. The commanding officer must sign this document within 90 days of the CDL application.

Additional Information

Information on the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commercial Driver License Division administers CDL license regulations and testing in Tennessee. To get more information contact them via:

Website: https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/commercial-driver-license.html

Phone: 615.253.5221

Additional Tennessee CDL Helpful Links

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

tennessee CDL Practice Test