texas
CDL Practice Test

As you prepare to obtain your CDL in Texas, you can use this site as a guide for practicing common test questions. Rules and regulations covered on these practice tests for a CDL are based on questions from the Texas TxDPS CDL manual. You can take these practice tests as often as you like on your computer or mobile device, and all the tests on this site are 100% free. 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 this item is missing or loose, movement may occur between the fifth wheel assembly and the frame.

Lug nuts

Tandem release arm

Locking pins

Locking jaw

2 / 40

Another term for a smooth bore tank is:

A liquid tank that does not have baffles.

A tank that is made out of stainless steel.

A liquid tank that has baffles.

A tank that is easily portable.

3 / 40

Some city transit buses may have a brake-door interlock system, this system:

Works when the rear door is open.

Releases the brakes.

Should be used in emergencies.

Should be used in place of the parking brake.

4 / 40

When driving tank vehicles you should:

Maintain the posted speed limit as you enter the curve.

Decrease your speed before entering a curve and then accelerate through it.

None of the answers listed.

Come to a stop before entering a curve and then accelerate through it.

5 / 40

The baffles in a tank trailer help to control:

The overall weight of the vehicle.

The distrubition of weight.

The flow of liquid side to side.

The movement of liquid from front to back.

6 / 40

What does outage mean?

It is the movement of the liquid.

It is the weight of the liquid.

It is how quickly the tanks drain.

It is the allowance needed for the expansion of liquid.

7 / 40

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

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

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

8 / 40

It is very important that you never smoke around which hazard classes?

Corrosive, radioactive, dangerous, slippery when wet, inhalation.

All hazard classes.

It is ok to smoke anywhere.

Explosives, flammable gas, oxidizers, flammable solids, flammable liquids.

9 / 40

In the event of a tire failure you should...

disengage the clutch so you are in neutral gear

stay off the brake and hold the steering wheel firmly

pump the brakes until you come to a stop

accelerate quickly until you find a place to pull over

10 / 40

Which of the following statements about overhead space is true?

the weight of the cargo changes a truck's height

the heights posted at bridges are usually accurate

an empty van is lower than a loaded one

warning lights are always installed on low bridges and overpasses

11 / 40

Select the factor that has no effect on how much liquid you can carry:

The liquid's weight.

How much the liquid will expand in transport.

The legal amount of weight you can carry of any particular liquid.

The density of the liquid.

12 / 40

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

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

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

to provide additional lateral stabilization to the front trailer

removing the dolly before uncoupling is not the correct procedure

13 / 40

A slack adjuster is:

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

a lever that connects the brake camshaft with the brake chamber

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

14 / 40

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

all of these answers are correct

rear view cameras

your mirrors

a helper

15 / 40

Which of the following statements about bus evacuation is true?

If time allows, backup to the stop before evacuating the bus.

If time allows, notify the police.

If time allows, notify the dispatcher about evacuation location, conditions, and type of assistance needed.

If time allows, walk through the bus and close all windows.

16 / 40

Air pressure loss in a vehicle with a fully charged air system should be less than_______after the initial drop and brake applied.

4 psi a minute

none of the answers listed

1 psi a minute

3 psi a minute

17 / 40

Where can you find a shipper’s certification?

It is a separate document that all hazmat drivers must keep in their vehicles.

There is no such thing.

On all packages.

On the original shipping paper.

18 / 40

Before pulling away, make sure the landing gear of the trailer is:

Raised and that the handle is hanging free.

Raised and that the handle is secured.

Down and that the handle is secured.

Down and that the handle is hanging free.

19 / 40

The crack-the-whip effect is more likely to cause the front trailer to tip over.

true

false

there is an equal chance for trailers to tip

trailers never tip

20 / 40

The air leakage rate for a combination vehicle should not exceed ____psi a minute.

21 / 40

When backing, what is the best method to use to avoid blind spots?

back towards the driver's side, where you can see better

use a helper

look at your path

use mirrors on both sides

22 / 40

Which of the following should you do when driving the school bus in high wind?

Pull off the road to wait for the winds to die down.

Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel and try to anticipate gust.

Drive only head-in to the wind to avoid cross-wind buffeting.

Speed up to get away from the wind as quickly as possible.

23 / 40

When driving on a clear night with the vehicle lights on, your speed should be such that you can stop within _____.

the distance you can see ahead of you

the length of half a football field

2 times the length of your vehicle

the distance you will travel in 10 seconds time

24 / 40

The trailer should be lowered so that _____.

it is slightly raised when the tractor is backed under it

the tractor comes in contact with the nose of the trailer

you are able to use the landing gear to make adjustments

the trailer is high above the fifth wheel

25 / 40

This object should be clean with no obstructions, illegal stickers or damage to the glass.

The lighting indicators

The windshield

The side mirrors

The headlights

26 / 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.

27 / 40

There must not be more than_____for engine compartment belts.

3/4 inch of play at the center of the belt

1/4 inch of play at the ends of the belt

1/2 inch of play at the center of the belt

1/2 inch of play at the end of the belts

28 / 40

What is the safest way to stop unruly behavior on the bus?

have the unruly students move to the front of the bus

yell loudly for the students to sit down and behave themselves

keep checking the rear view mirror so you can see what happened and report to the principal

pull off the road in a safe location, secure the bus, stand up, and tell the students what behavior you expect of them

29 / 40

How many seats may be placed in the aisle if the bus is a charter and is carrying agricultural (farm) workers?

30 / 40

At around____the governor allows the air compressor to start pumping again:

225 psi

125 psi

175 psi

100 psi

31 / 40

Select the true statement about empty trucks:

They come to a stop faster when you use only the emergency brake.

They can take longer to stop than a truck with a full tank.

All answers listed.

They have better traction on wet roads than full tanks.

32 / 40

Is it mandatory that all vehicles with air brakes have low air pressure warning signals?

yes

for small vehicles only

for large vehicles only

33 / 40

Select the best description of a baffle tank:

They are tanks divided down into multiple smaller tanks.

It is one large tank.

None of the answers listed.

They are divided and have holes for liquid to flow through controlling surge.

34 / 40

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

none of these answers are correct

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

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

35 / 40

The act of operating a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold, or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of others is known as.

distracted driving

defensive driving

aggressive driving

road rage

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

Leave it on the entire time.

Turn if off after unhooking.

37 / 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.

brake drums

air lines

brake disc

slack adjusters

38 / 40

The manual says you should look _____ ahead while driving.

12 to 15 seconds, at highway speeds, about a quarter of a mile

15 to 20 seconds, at highway speeds, about a half of a mile

5 to 8 seconds, at highway speeds, about an eighth of a mile

9 to 12 seconds, at highway speeds, about a quarter of a mile

39 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to stopping distance and speed:

You require 4 times as much stopping distance when driving at 40 mph compared to 20 mph.

Larger / heavier vehicles generally take longer to stop.

All answers listed.

A wet road will double the stopping distance at any speed.

40 / 40

Select the answer that is controlled by the foot brake.

the shut off valves

the engine brake

the emergency brake

the service air line

Your score is

The average score is 0%

4/5 - (2 votes)

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A texas Commercial Drivers License

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

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

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

(Form CDL-4) Interstate Driver Certification
(Form CDL-5) Intrastate Driver Certification
(Form CDL-10) Certificate of Physical Exemption 49 CFR Part 391/390

Some applicants may be required to submit a Medical Examiner’s Certificate. Drivers who have had their licenses revoked, suspended, denied or canceled are not eligible for a CDL in Texas. Applicants can be disqualified for having multiple licenses.

Texas 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

texas CDL License Test Tips

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

Possess a valid Texas driver’s license.
Have at least 2 years of military truck driving experience. The military vehicle must be similar to the commercial motor vehicle.
Have been honorably discharged from the military within the past 12 months.
Submit (Form CDL-ST WVR) Application for Military Skills Test Waiver signed by your commanding officer.

Additional Information

Information on the Texas Department of Public Safety

The Texas Department of Public Safety administers CDL license requirements in Texas. To get more information contact them via:

Website: http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/CommercialLicense.htm

Phone: 512.424.2000

Additional Texas CDL Helpful Links

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

texas CDL Practice Test