Step #1
Determine Which Tests You Need to Take
I’m here at the CDL Practice Test Center which you can access from the main menu. You can access all the main testing areas here as well as learn more about the whole process. Read through this page at least once before you begin. This will help you get the most out of our testing system.
To help you determine which tests to take for your situation, hover over CDL Training in the top menu, then click “How to get a CDL.” Once there, go down the page a bit, and there’s a chart that clarifies which tests you need to take.
Some tests you must take, and pass, just to get a CDL, while passing other tests enable you to drive certain types of commercial vehicles or haul special types of products.
If you’re going to drive any type of commercial vehicle, you have to pass the General Knowledge test. To drive any commercial vehicle with air brakes, pass the Air Brakes test. And to drive a commercial vehicle with combination vehicles, which is all tractor-trailers, you must pass the Combination Vehicles test.
The rest of the chart shows you the types of tests you must pass to be able to drive other types of commercial vehicles.
Step #2
Download or Open Your State CDL Manual
So you go up here, State CDL Manuals, Instant Downloads. You find your state, and open up the link in a new window or tab. If you’re on a bigger screen, open up the manual in full screen. On a smartphone I recommend either getting a copy of the manual from the DMV/DPS, or you can go to your downloaded manual and print out the sections you need. I’ll talk about this more in a minute.
Step #3
Read the section of the CDL manual.that you want to prepare for first.
You just want to take the tests, I understand. But the CDL manual is the source of all information you’re tested on. Yes, the manual can be boring to read and can be difficult to learn from.
This is why we’ve created Trucker Country’s 3 mode testing system. Your goal will be to just get an overview when you read the CDL manual. But you’ll remember the information more from practicing.
Look at the table of contents in your manual from the first state on the list, Alabama. I recommend you focus on one testing area at a time. So for example if you’re going to start with General Knowledge, read the first three sections of the CDL manual. Just breeze through this information, don’t try to memorize anything or stress out. Read it quickly and move on to the General Knowledge tests, which is where you’re really gonna learn the material. More on how to take these tests in a second.
Then later, when you’re done with all the General Knowledge tests, move on to Air Brakes. For this read section 5. Then Combination Vehicles, read section 6. Then if you need any additional endorsem*nts; Doubles and Triples, Tank Vehicles or Tankers, Hazardous Materials or Hazmat, Passenger Vehicles… read those sections of your CDL manual before moving on to the tests.
Step #4
Start Testing In Classic Mode
First off, to access any test, there are a few ways to go about it. From the CDL Practice Test Center, or from the top navigation menu, you can go to any main CDL testing area. So if you want, for example, to take a General Knowledge test, click here to go to the main General Knowledge Practice Test page.
Open up test #1, in full screen if you’re on desktop, laptop or any bigger screen. Take the test, and at the end of the test, calculate your grade and if you want, take note of the correct answers and look over the ones you missed. But don’t take too long here. The Classic Mode will just give you a good idea about how much you know, and how much time you’ll need to prepare. Then, continue on through the rest of the General Knowledge Classic Mode tests this way.
At this point, there are a few ways you could proceed. But I recommend continuing in General Knowledge, proceeding to Practice Mode and then Exam Mode.
Step #5
Start Testing In Practice Mode
Now this is where things get more interesting. In Practice Mode, after each question you get the immediate result (correct answer) as well as the CDL Manual reference, given here. At this point you could look up and read that section of the manual if you wish. It’s up to you how you prepare here, depending on the size of the screen you’re on, and your personal preferences.
But this is what I would recommend.
If you’re on a bigger screen, open up 2 windows side-by-side, like this. One, the test you’re practicing on, the other, your state CDL Manual you either downloaded to your computer, or previously opened in a new tab or window.
But what if you’re on a smaller device, like a smartphone. It can be difficult to go back and forth between the CDL practice tests, and trying to find the right section of the manual. Scrolling up and down for each question is not the most efficient way to learn. You also could end up getting frustrated and not even want to continue.
If you really want to follow along with your CDL Manual, you could get yourself an actual copy of the manual from your local DMV office. You could also just go to the downloaded manual and just print out the sections you need. Either way, you’d then keep the printed material open while you kept your phone or tablet on the practice tests.
For example, in Practice Mode, start with General Knowledge test #1, and answer each question. If you get the answer right, and you feel confident you know that one, move on to the next question. But if you either got it wrong, or just need a little more reinforcement, go to the CDL Manual location you were given and give it a quick read.
Step #6
Start Testing In Exam Mode
Ok, when you’ve finished all 15 General Knowledge practice tests in practice mode, move on to Exam Mode. Open up the first test in full screen (if you’re on a big screen). You won’t need to go side-by-side with the CDL Manual here, because you’re going to prepare, and take the test like it’s the actual DMV exam. Exam Mode tests are similar to state DMV/DPS exams in that each test is timed, and results aren’t known until you’ve completed the test.
80% is the passing grade for the state exams. But when practicing, shoot for 100%. If you’re having trouble getting 80% or better, go back to whatever test or testing area you’re having a hard time with, like General Knowledge test #4 in Exam Mode, and spend some more time on that exact test in Practice Mode before coming back to Exam Mode.
Or, just repeat them all in Practice Mode, all of General Knowledge, before coming back and taking the General Knowledge Exam Mode test again. A little repetition will help you remember the information. Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine how much work you’ll need.
Step #7
Repeat Steps For Each Testing Area
Now, if you’re done with General Knowledge, it’s time to move on to the next testing area. Air Brakes in this case. Go back to step #3 and do the whole process again with Air Brakes. Then, when you have Air Brakes down, do the same with Combination Vehicles. After that, work on any other endorsem*nt testing area you want.
What if you’re already a trucker and you only want to add an endorsem*nt?
For example, you only need your Hazmat Endorsem*nt. You’re already a truck driver, and you just want to add your Hazardous Materials Endorsem*nt so you can legally haul hazardous materials.
Simply start at step #3, and read the Hazmat section of your manual. Then go through the rest of the steps, focusing on just Hazardous Materials. Follow this same process if you need any other endorsem*nt: tankers, doubles/triples, or passenger vehicles.
Step #8
Go and Pass Your State CDL Exams
This is your final step. Congratulations, you’re ready to go and pass your state CDL exams. Thanks for coming to Trucker Country and Good luck.
To further help you prepare for your state CDL exams, we’re recently added our Premium membership site, Trucker Country University. This will simplify and speed up your entire learning process.
It also eliminates the need to use the CDL manual and having to go back and forth between the manual and the practice tests.
For each training module there’s an instructional video where you can watch as I go through each question, look at the correct answer, and show where in the CDL manual the answer comes from (and why it’s the correct answer), as well as explain information wherever necessary.
There are many other benefits to a Premium Membership including, simulated DMV exams, no ads, and a 100% No Pass, No Pay Guarantee. Click the upgrade button in the menu above to learn more.
