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

Which of the following statements about stopping distances is NOT true?

trucks traveling at higher speeds require greater stopping distances

brakes, tires, springs and shocks are designed to work best when the truck is empty

trucks traveling on ice or snow require greater stopping distances

empty trucks require greater stopping distances because they have less traction

2 / 40

You should check your tires every ____ or every ____ when driving in very hot weather.

3 hours, 200 miles

2 hours, 100 miles

1 hour, 50 miles

5 hours, 250 miles

3 / 40

While completing the 2nd component of the air brake check you are required to turn the electrical power on, begin fanning off the air pressure by rapidly relasing and apply the foot brake and _____.

the tractor protection valve and parking brake valve should pop out before air pressure falls below 60 psi for combination vehicles

none of the answers listed

a low air warning device should sound before the air pressure drops below 40 psi

a low air warning device should sound before the air pressure drops below 60 psi

4 / 40

Another term for a smooth bore tank is:

A liquid tank that has baffles.

A liquid tank that does not have baffles.

A tank that is easily portable.

A tank that is made out of stainless steel.

5 / 40

What is NOT one of the four skill areas that operating a commercial vehicle requires?

accelerating

safely backing

first aid certification

steering

6 / 40

When accelerating:

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

"hammer down" when your wheels start to spin

speed up smoothly and gradually and avoid jerking

always use the parking brake to slow down

7 / 40

Before transporting a sealed load, you must check:

a small sample of whatever is inside

a picture of whatever is inside

that you don't exceed gross weight and axle weight limits

all of these answers are correct

8 / 40

What school bus accidents should be reported?

No accidents.

Only accidents casusing injury.

Only accidents determined to be the fault of the bus driver.

All accidents.

9 / 40

How high should you crank the landing gear?

as high up as it will go

for it to be 6 inches above the ground

until the crank handle is loose

so that you can clear railroad tracks

10 / 40

At a railroad crossing, the bus is required to stop at the stop line. If there is no clearly marked stop line, what is the required minimum and maximum stopping distance?

No closer than 10 feet and no further than 60 feet, where you have the best view of the tracks.

No closer than 15 feet and no further than 30 feet, where you have the best view of the tracks.

No closer than 10 feet and no further than 40 feet, where you have the best view of the tracks.

No closer than 15 feet and no further than 50 feet, where you have the best view of the tracks.

11 / 40

You should_____when an emergency requires you to quickly stop your tanker.

turn off the abs and brace for impact

keep a firm pressure on the brake pedal

use stab or controlled braking

use the emergency brakes only

12 / 40

Shifting into a lower gear and removing your foot off of the accelerator to slow your vehicle is known as?

anti-lock braking

brake fade

engine braking

double clutching

13 / 40

Which of the following statements about bus evacuation is true?

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

If time allows, notify the police.

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

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

14 / 40

Surge affects the handling of a tanker by:

None of the answers listed.

Moving the truck in the direction the liquid flows in.

Increasing the wind drag.

Allowing you to take tighter turns.

15 / 40

In what position should shut off valves on the rear of the last trailer be in on a set of double trailers?

in a closed position

in an open position for the rear trailer and a closed position for the front trailer

in an open position

in a closed position for the rear trailer and an open position for the front trailers

16 / 40

Which of the following statements is true about speed management?

The posted speed limit is safe for all conditions.

You should be able to stop within the distance that you can see ahead.

Speed limits for buses are the same as cars.

All of these answers are correct.

17 / 40

What can side to side surge cause?

An increase in speed.

An engine system failure.

A spontaneous combustion.

A roll over.

18 / 40

What are some of the important parts in the steering system?

leaf spring, vehicle frame, torque rod

tie rod, spindle, pitman arm

rim, lug nuts, tire

main spring, axle, spring shackle

19 / 40

What position should the tractor protection control valve be in after coupling?

normal

lowered

mid position

raised

20 / 40

To find out if a shipment includes a hazardous material, you should:

Ask the driver.

Open and inspect every package and container.

Look at the shipping papers.

Check for a fence around the loading dock.

21 / 40

The emergency air line is _____and the service air line is____.

red, blue

yellow, white

white, blue

red, green

22 / 40

Air pressure should build___with a dual air system.

from 50 to 80 psi in 60 seconds

from 70 to 125 psi in 60 seconds

from 85 to 100 psi in 45 seconds

from 60 to 100 psi in 45 seconds

23 / 40

This object should not move more than an inch by pulled by hand with the brakes released for manual slack adjusters.

The air lines

The brake chambers

The brake pushrod

The bounce absorbers

24 / 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 drops to 120 psi.

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 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.

25 / 40

What is the benefit of ABS?

all of these answers are correct

it decreases your stopping distance

it prevents the wheels from locking up during heavy braking or slippery conditions

it provides an added layer of safety for truck drivers

26 / 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 the tire tread is sufficient for the expected driving conditions

that there are no leaks in the air brake system

27 / 40

Which of the following will confirm that you are driving with anti-lock brakes?

The bus operators manual.

The certification on the driver side door.

Red indicator lamp on the brake cylinder.

Yellow abs malfunction lamp on the instrument panel will light when you start the engine.

28 / 40

With the engine cut off and the brakes released the air loss in a straight truck or bus should not be more than:

2 psi in a minute

5 psi in a minute

3 psi in a minute

4 psi in a minute

29 / 40

Select the factor that is known to cause brakes to fail or fade. (more than one answer may be correct, but select only one)

excessive heat from extensive use

when using the engine brake more than the brakes

tire retread that is mismatched

brakes that are not aligned properly

30 / 40

The safety valve is usually set to open at:

125 psi

150 psi

225 psi

75 psi

31 / 40

The front trailer supports should be____before driving away.

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

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

raised fully and the crank handle secured in its bracket

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

32 / 40

In what position should the converter dolly air tank drain valves and pintle hook be in?

closed and open

closed and latched

open and open

open and latched

33 / 40

You should follow behind other vehicles ______when traveling under 40 mph.

at a distance of 1 second for every 15 feet of your vehicle length

at a distance of 1 seconds for every 10 feet of your vehicle length

at a distance of 1 second for every 5 feet of your vehicle length

as close as possible so other drivers won't cut in front of you

34 / 40

The most stable tanker shape is:

Elliptical

Cylindrical

Square

Round

35 / 40

Select the vehicle that off-tracks the most.

a 5-axle tractor that is towing a 52-foot long trailer

a 5-axle tractor that is towing a 32-foot long trailer

a 5-axle tractor that is towing a 40-foot long trailer

a 5-axle tractor that is towing a 45-foot long trailer

36 / 40

You are inspecting the_____when looking for broken welds, cracks, holes, or other damage to the longitudinal frame member, cross members, box, and floor.

apron

fifth wheel

frame

catwalk

37 / 40

Is it important to look into the back of the fifth wheel to see if the lockpin is locked in?

only every 7 days

yes

only at the end of the shift

38 / 40

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

removing the dolly before uncoupling is not the correct procedure

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

to provide additional lateral stabilization to the front trailer

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

39 / 40

When a substance in the materials table is written in italics it means :

It is not the proper shipping name only those in roman type above it are proper shipping names.

The substance is for international transport.

It is the proper shipping name.

It is a foreign substance.

40 / 40

You downshift automatic transmissions ______.

half way down a hill

before going down a hill

none of these answers are correct

at the bottom of a hill

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