.04%
BAC Disqual. Limit
4 sec
Following Gap / 40ft
$5,000
Max Fine, No CDL
40+
Test Questions
1.1
CDL Classes & EndorsementsWhat requires a CDL, and which test covers what
- You need a CDL for: any single vehicle 26,001+ lbs GVWR; a combination 26,001+ lbs GCWR where the towed unit is over 10,000 lbs GVWR; any vehicle designed for 16+ passengers (including the driver); or any vehicle requiring hazmat placards.
- Class A: combination 26,001+ lbs GCWR, towed unit over 10,000 lbs. Class B: single vehicle 26,001+ lbs GVWR (or towing 10,000 lbs or less) — this covers straight trucks and large buses. Class C: smaller vehicles that still need a CDL because they carry 16+ passengers or placarded hazmat.
- Six endorsement types: Doubles/Triples (T), Tank Vehicle (N), Passenger (P), Hazardous Materials (H), Combination Tank+Hazmat (X), School Bus (S). Only P, S, and N can be added to a Learner's Permit (CLP).
- The CDL Skills Test has three segments, taken in order: vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, on-road driving. You must pass each before moving to the next.
1.2–4
Medical, Disqualifications & RulesThe numbers DPS likes to test
Alcohol & Felonies
It's illegal to operate a CMV with a BAC of .04% or higher. First offense (DUI, refusing a BAC test, or driving under the influence of a controlled substance) = lose your CDL for at least 1 year (3 years if hauling placarded hazmat). Second offense = lose it for life. Using a CMV to commit a felony involving controlled substances = lifetime disqualification. Any detectable alcohol under .04% = 24-hour out-of-service.
- Serious traffic violations (speeding 15+ mph over the limit, reckless driving, improper lane changes, following too closely, driving without a CDL in possession): 60 days out for 2 violations in 3 years, 120 days for 3+.
- Railroad crossing violations: 60 days (1st), 120 days (2nd within 3 years), 1 year (3rd within 3 years).
- Out-of-service order violations: 90 days (1st), 1 year (2nd within 10 years), 3 years (3rd+ within 10 years).
- No texting or holding a phone while driving a CMV — dialing is limited to a single button press.
- Seatbelt: required at all times — unbelted drivers are about 4 times more likely to die if thrown from the vehicle.
- Driving without a CDL, or letting an employee drive without one, can draw a fine up to $5,000 (or jail).
- You must notify your employer within 30 days of any traffic conviction (except parking), and within 2 business days if your license is suspended/revoked/disqualified.
SECTION 2 — DRIVING SAFELY
2.1
Vehicle Inspection & Basic ControlThe 7-step method, shifting, backing
- The point of inspecting is to catch a problem before it becomes a breakdown or crash — review the previous driver's report, then walk your own 7-step inspection.
- Back toward the driver's side whenever possible — you can see better that direction. Use a helper when you can, and agree on signals beforehand — especially the "stop" signal.
- Starting on a hill: use light brake pressure (or a trailer hand valve, if equipped) to keep from rolling back while you get moving.
- Accelerate smoothly, especially when pulling a trailer — rough acceleration can damage the coupling. In rain or snow, ease into the throttle; if the drive wheels start spinning, ease off.
2.4–7
Seeing, Communicating & Speed ManagementWhere most of the test lives
- Look well ahead — far enough to spot a hazard with time to react, not just the few car-lengths in front of you. Check mirrors regularly for traffic, merges, and how your own vehicle is tracking, especially through turns.
- Communicating: signal early and use your lights deliberately so other drivers can predict what you're about to do.
Stopping Distance Math
Total Stopping Distance = Perception + Reaction + Braking Distance. Double your speed (20→40 mph) and braking distance is 4x longer; triple it (20→60) and it's 9x; at 80 mph it's 16x longer than at 20 mph. At 60 mph your stopping distance is longer than a football field.
- Hydroplaning can start as low as 30 mph in significant standing water, and is worse with low tire pressure or worn tread.
- Following distance rule: 1 second per 10 ft of vehicle length under 40 mph; add 1 extra second above 40 mph. A 40-ft vehicle needs 4 seconds under 40 mph, 5 seconds over 40 mph. A 60-ft rig needs 6 seconds under 40 mph, 7 seconds over.
- If you're being tailgated, don't speed up — instead increase your own following gap to give everyone more room to react.
2.8–13
Hazards, Distraction & Driving ConditionsImpaired, distracted, and aggressive drivers; night, fog, cold weather
- Signs of an impaired driver: weaving or drifting across lanes, dropping wheels off the shoulder, stopping at the wrong time (a green light, or sitting too long at a stop), or an open window in cold weather.
- Distracted driving includes anything pulling your eyes, hands, or mind off the task — texting and handheld phone use are illegal in a CMV outright.
- Aggressive driving vs. road rage: aggressive driving is a pattern of unsafe choices (tailgating, weaving); road rage adds intentional, often violent confrontation. If confronted, avoid eye contact, don't engage, and get away safely.
- Night driving: use low beams whenever you can to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. Glare can blind you for several seconds — at 55 mph that's more than half a football field traveled essentially blind.
- Fatigue impairs judgment and reaction time similarly to alcohol or drugs — don't drive drowsy.
- Hot engine systems: never remove a radiator cap (or any pressurized part) until the system has cooled — escaping steam/boiling coolant can cause severe burns. Don't release air from hot tires to "normalize" pressure; let them cool instead.
2.16–19
Downgrades, Railroad Crossings & EmergenciesSkids, brake failure, tire blowouts, escape ramps
- Long/steep downgrades: select the proper low gear before starting down — brakes only supplement engine braking, they don't replace it.
- Railroad crossings: low-clearance and long vehicles are most likely to get stuck — know your vehicle's clearance and the size of the crossing's "container" space before committing.
- Skids happen four ways: over-braking (locking wheels), over-steering (turning sharper than the vehicle can handle), over-acceleration (spinning the drive wheels), and driving too fast for conditions.
- Stopping is not always the safest emergency response — sometimes steering around a hazard is safer than trying to stop in time.
- Steering around an obstacle: going right is generally preferred over left — it keeps you out of oncoming traffic.
- Escape ramps are built for runaway vehicles on steep grades — use one if your brakes fail rather than trying to ride it out.
- Tire blowout: don't slam on the brakes — hold the wheel firmly, stay off the brake until you've got the vehicle under control, then slow gradually.
2.20–23
Accidents, Fires & Hazmat AwarenessWhat to do, fire classes, placard basics
- At an accident scene: protect the area first (get your vehicle to the side if you're involved; park well clear if you're stopping to help) before anything else, to prevent a second collision.
- If a qualified person is already helping the injured, stay out of the way unless asked. Otherwise, don't move a severely injured person unless fire or oncoming traffic makes it necessary.
Fire Extinguisher Classes
Class A — wood, paper, ordinary combustibles; put out by cooling/quenching with water or dry chemical. Class B — gasoline, oil, grease, other flammable liquids; smother/cool with CO2 or dry chemical. (A B:C extinguisher isn't effective on Class A combustible materials.)
- Common cold/allergy medicines can cause drowsiness behind the wheel — treat them like any other driving impairment.
- Coffee and fresh air do not sober up a driver who's been drinking — only time does.
- Hazmat placards are diamond-shaped warning labels required on vehicles carrying hazardous materials above certain thresholds, so responders and other drivers can identify the risk at a glance.
SECTION 3 — TRANSPORTING CARGO SAFELY
3.1–4
Cargo Inspection, Weight & SecurementTie-downs, balance, and special loads
- Recheck your cargo: within the first 50 miles of a trip, then every 3 hours or 150 miles after that, and after every break.
- You're responsible for inspecting cargo, recognizing overloads/poor balance, confirming it doesn't block your view or your access to emergency equipment — whether or not you loaded it yourself.
- Key weight terms: GVWR (manufacturer's max loaded weight for one vehicle) vs. GCWR (max for the whole combination). A bridge formula limits axle weight further when axles sit closer together, to protect bridges and roads.
- Keep the load low and centered — a high center of gravity (heavy cargo piled up top) makes rollover far more likely, especially in curves or sudden swerves.
- Tie-downs: at least one for every 10 feet of cargo, minimum 2 tie-downs no matter how small the load. Working load limit of the securement system must total at least half the cargo's weight.
- Special loads: dry bulk and hanging meat both have a high center of gravity — take curves slow. Livestock can shift and lean into turns, also raising rollover risk. Oversized loads need special permits, timing restrictions, and sometimes an escort.
Highest-Yield Facts
The numbers most likely to be tested
01
CDL required: single vehicle 26,001+ lbs GVWR, or 16+ passenger vehicle.
02
Illegal BAC: .04% or higher.
03
Double speed = 4x braking distance; triple speed = 9x.
04
Following distance: 1 sec / 10 ft of length, +1 sec over 40 mph.
05
Hydroplaning possible at speeds as low as 30 mph.
06
Unbelted drivers: 4x more likely to die if thrown from the vehicle.
07
Re-check cargo within first 50 miles, then every 3 hrs / 150 mi.
08
Tie-downs: 1 per 10 ft of cargo, minimum 2 per load.
09
Securement strength: at least half the cargo's weight.
10
Skids come from over-braking, over-steering, over-acceleration, or too much speed.
Test Prep — Questions & Answers
The manual's own end-of-subsection questions across Section 2 and Section 3, answered in full.
2.1 — Vehicle Inspection
2.2–2.3 — Backing & Basic Control
2.6–2.7 — Speed & Following Distance
2.8–2.10 — Hazards, Distraction & Aggressive Driving
2.11–2.13 — Night, Cold Weather & Vehicle Systems
2.16–2.17 — Downgrades & Railroad Crossings
2.17–2.18 — Emergencies & ABS
2.20–2.21 — Accidents & Fires
2.22–2.23 — Alcohol/Drugs & Hazmat Placards
Section 3 — Cargo