virginia
CDL Practice Test

Use this site as a guide to help you prepare for the CDL test in Virginia. Questions on our CDL knowledge exams come from sections of the Virginia DMV CDL manual. You can take these practice test questions 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

Which of the following is NOT a part of the steering system?

steering knuckle

hydraulic fluid reservoir

tie rod

main spring

2 / 40

If you are required to stop at railroad crossings, you must:

All of these answers are correct.

Stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail.

Proceed only when you are sure no train is coming.

Remember to never shift gears while crossing tracks.

3 / 40

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

The written route plan.

None of these answers are correct.

A gas mask.

The carrier's insurance policy.

4 / 40

The method for testing hydraulic brakes for leaks is to _____.

pump the brake pedal 3 times and apply firm pressure for 5 seconds the pedal should not move

pump the brake pedal 5 times and apply firm pressure for 3 seconds the pedal should not move

all of these answers are correct

hold the brake down for 5 seconds and listen for leaks

5 / 40

Which of the following statements about overhead space is true?

athe heights posted at bridges are usually accurate

warning lights are always installed on low bridges and overpasses

the weight of the cargo changes a truck's height

an empty van is lower than a loaded one

6 / 40

This object should not be damaged, bent, or rusted through and be evenly centered with the tires and dual wheels evenly separated.

Tire rims

Lug bolts

Budd spacing or spacers

All answers listed

7 / 40

Select the answer that is controlled by the foot brake.

the service air line

the engine brake

the shut off valves

the emergency brake

8 / 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 3 flammable liquids

Class 6 poisons

Class 1 explosives

9 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to large combination vehicles taking longer to stop.

they take the same amount of time to stop when empty or loaded

they take longer to stop than bobtail tractors

they take longer to stop when loaded down

they take longer to stop when they are empty

10 / 40

A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is defined as:

all of these answers are correct

a vehicle transporting 16 or more passengers

a vehicle transporting hazardous materials

a vehicle with a gross weight over 26,001 lbs

11 / 40

What is the purpose of the supply pressure gauge?

to inform you if there is too little air in the tank

all of these answers are correct

to inform you of how much air is in the tank

to inform you about how hot the air in the tank is

12 / 40

You must be alert for road hazards so that:

Law enforcement personnel can be called.

Accident reports will be accurate.

You will have time to plan your escape if the hazard becomes an emergency.

You can help impaired drivers.

13 / 40

Select the statement that describes how you could damage the landing gear.

back under the trailer in a straight path

have the tractor and trailer aligned

have the trailer kingpin centered over the fifth wheel

back under the trailer at an angle

14 / 40

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

2 hours, 100 miles

3 hours, 200 miles

5 hours, 250 miles

1 hour, 50 miles

15 / 40

You should____in order to inspect the coupling.

if necessary, use a flashlight

make sure the locking lever is in the open position

have the fifth wheel jaws open

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

16 / 40

Vehicle handling can become unsafe if the weight is not properly balanced. Hard steering can be caused by:

under loaded front axles

too little weight on the driving axles

high center of gravity

too much weight on the steering axles

17 / 40

Do converter dollies have spring brakes?

none of the answers listed

yes

some do

18 / 40

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

There is a traffic light showing green.

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

Both of these answers are correct.

None of these answers are correct.

19 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to empty trucks:

they require a shorter stopping distance than a fully loaded trailer

none of the answers listed

they may have poor traction due to bouncing and wheel lockup

they are easier to stop because there isn't cargo shifting in the trailer

20 / 40

How should the pintle hook be when backing a dolly under the second trailer?

in the latched position

in the unlatched position

in a halfway open position

removed from the dolly

21 / 40

When should air tanks be drained?

they don't need to be drained

every 7 days

at every restroom break stop

at the end of each working day

22 / 40

If you have riders on board, you must never refuel:

Unless on a scenic tour bus.

In a closed building.

With any window open.

At any time.

23 / 40

Your vehicle is going down a long hill and your brakes begin to fail. What should you do?

pump the brake pedal

downshift

put the gears in neutral

look for an escape ramp or an escape route

24 / 40

You must have placards for explosives, poison gas or flammables exceeding:

10 cartons

100 pounds

10 pounds

Any amount

25 / 40

A tank vehicle:

Is a vehicle that can transport bulk fertilizer.

Is a vehicle that can transport liquid.

Is a vehicle that can transport liquified gasses.

All answers listed.

26 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to managing the space to the sides:

you should try to avoid driving next to others when possible

you should drive down the center of both lanes over the pavement markings

high wind gusts will not cause any issues for doubles or triples

you should always keep your vehicle to the right side of the lane

27 / 40

What should you hear when you test the trailer brakes by opening the service air line at rear of trailer with the hand valve on?

you should hear air escape from the open valve

the emergency air line will release air

the service brakes will move to a fully applied position

none of the answers listed

28 / 40

What is the next step after securing the bus when you have an unruly child on board?

Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender, if a change of setting is needed, have the student move to a seat near you.

Unload the student at the next stop.

Remove the student from the vehilce for the safety of the other children.

Call school administrator or the police to remove the student.

29 / 40

Secure baggage and freight in ways that avoid damage and:

Allow the driver to move freely and easily.

Protect riders from injury if carry-ons fall or shift.

All of these answers are correct.

Allow riders to exit by any window or door in an emergency.

30 / 40

How do you supply air to the trailer tanks?

by connecting the service line glad hand

by connecting the red and blue lines

by pulling out the trailer air supply valve

by pushing in the trailer air supply valve

31 / 40

Where are shut-off valves located?

at the front of the trailer

either at the front or the back of the trailer

at the back of the trailer

at the front and back of the trailer

32 / 40

What is the purpose of a baffle?

It makes it easier to clean the tanker out.

It controls the surge of liquid forward and backwards.

It allows you to haul loads that are mixed.

It stops side to side surging.

33 / 40

How can you check slack adjusters?

by using a fixed wrench

by frequently checking the pressure gauge

it is not possible to check manually

by pulling hard on each slack adjuster

34 / 40

To avoid rollover when going through a curve, the best thing to do is:

Ride the brakes through the curve.

Drive at a speed below the posted speed limit.

Pump the brakes through the curve.

Drive at a speed higher than the posted speed limit.

35 / 40

Which of the following is a key steering component?

gear box

torque rod

leaf spring

bearing plate

36 / 40

The brake pushrod should not move more than____for manual slack adjusters.

an inch when pulled by hand with the brakes released

checking is not required in vehicles built after 1994 as they have automatic slack adjusters

1-2 inches while the brakes are set

movement is not allowed

37 / 40

Some school busses are marked with the LNG placard. What does LNG stand for?

Liquified natural gas.

None of these answers are correct.

Lifted neutral graftring.

Low-range pneumatic gearbox.

38 / 40

Why should you not use the trailer hand brake to straighten out a jack knifing trailer?

the trailer wheels caused the skid in the first place once the trailer wheels grip the road again, the trailer will start to follow the tractor and straighten out

the tractor wheels caused the skid in the first place once the trailer wheels grip the road again, the trailer will start to push the tractor and straighten out

none of the answers listed

this is the only situation in which you should use the hand brake

39 / 40

Select the true statement about seeing ahead.

good drivers will shift their attention from far and near and back and forth

all answers listed

you should look up to 1/4 mile ahead when driving at highway speeds

many individuals do not look far enough ahead while driving

40 / 40

The most dangerous time during the school bus ride is:

When loading and unloading students.

On long bus journeys.

When the students become unruly on the bus.

Crossing railway crossing.

Your score is

The average score is 65%

5/5 - (1 vote)

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A virginia Commercial Drivers License

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

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

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

(Form 649-F) Medical Examiner Report
(Form DL-8) Commercial Driver’s License Self-Certification (This form must be completed by a FMCSA-approved medical examiner.

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 Virginia. Applicants can be disqualified for having multiple licenses.

Virginia 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

virginia CDL License Test Tips

All Virginia CDL applicants must pass the general knowledge test prior to taking the skills test. To pass the Virginia test, applicants must score 80 percent or higher. Applicants who require endorsements must pass additional tests and pay the required fees. The Virginia skills test can be taken 14 days after applicants pass the knowledge test if applicants have never applied for a CDL before and they pass a state-approved driver education program. 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 an active member of the military.
Possess a valid Virginia driver’s license.
Have operate a commercial vehicle as part of their military duties.
Have been recently discharged from the military.

Additional Information

Information on the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles administers CDL license testing and regulations in Virginia. To get more information contact them via:

Website: https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#whatiscdl.asp

Phone: 804.497.7100

Additional Virginia CDL Helpful Links

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

virginia CDL Practice Test

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A virginia Commercial Drivers License

Hit the Open Road

virginia CDL License Test Tips

Additional Information

Information on the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Additional Virginia CDL Helpful Links

virginia
CDL Practice Test