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  • Updated for December 2024
  • Based on 2024 PA commercial driver's license manual

Free Pennsylvania CDL Permit Practice Test: General Knowledge 2024

For commercial driving in the great state of Pennsylvania, major interstate routes include Interstate 76, Interstate 80, Interstate 81, and Interstate 95. I-76 connects Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. I-80 runs from San Francisco, California through central Pennsylvania and from there to Teaneck, New Jersey. I-81 begins at Wellesley Island, New York at the Canadian border and forms the northern section of Harrisburg’s Capital Beltway. The highway ends at Dandridge, Tennessee. I-95 runs from Houlton, Maine (at the Canadian border) through Philadelphia (where it connects with I-76) and ends at Miami, Florida. Unfortunately, the section of I-95 in Pennsylvania is not up to modern interstate standards; some interchanges lack merge lanes, and there is an actual gap where you must leave the highway and drive a few blocks before reentering the highway. This highway is often heavily congested too.

Before you can start your career as a new commercial driver, you may have a long road ahead of you (pun intended). There are some requirements you must meet first. One of your first technical milestones is to pass the official General Knowledge test for a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). This test will assess your grasp of commercial driving theory. You must have a CLP to practice supervised commercial driving. Only then will you be sufficiently proficient to pass the official skills test, in which you will show a driving examiner that you can operate a commercial vehicle competently and safely. That is required for you to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

This free Pennsylvania CDL permit practice test is based on the official Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s Manual (Pennsylvania CDL Handbook 2024), just like the official knowledge test. It’s up to date as of December, 2024. And it’s formatted like the official test, too. There are 50 multiple-choice questions on such topics as cargo management, driving on downgrades, stopping distance, and vehicle components. Unlike the official knowledge test, each question on this practice test comes with an available hint, courtesy of our automated assistant; use it if you get stuck. Each question also comes with an explanation of the correct answer. Read it carefully if you missed the question so you won’t make the same mistake again. What this practice test doesn’t have is a time limit. Take your time and learn as much as you can. If you miss a question, study the relevant sections of the CDL manual again.

Note: You may also need to pass other official commercial knowledge tests and skills tests, depending on the class of CDL you’re applying for and the types of vehicles you plan to operate in your career. We offer practice tests to help you pass any or all of these official knowledge tests. Check them out!

[faq]

FAQs

How do you obtain a CDL in Pennsylvania?

To get a CDL in Pennsylvania, begin by obtaining a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) after passing the required knowledge tests. Hold the CLP for at least 14 days, then complete CDL training (optional but recommended) and pass the skills test. Make sure to meet all medical and legal requirements.

What is the cost of getting a CDL?

The cost for a CDL in Pennsylvania includes a $35 fee for the knowledge test, a $30 permit fee, and a $91.50 fee for the CDL skills test. Additional costs for CDL training programs vary by school.

How long does CDL training last?

CDL training duration in Pennsylvania varies by program. It typically ranges from a few weeks to several months, depending on whether the training is full-time or part-time and the specific requirements of the CDL class being pursued.

What disqualifies you from getting a CDL?

In Pennsylvania, disqualifications from obtaining a CDL include serious traffic violations, certain criminal convictions, especially related to motor vehicles, and alcohol or controlled substance violations while operating a motor vehicle.

How long is the CDL test?

The Pennsylvania CDL skills test duration varies based on the individual’s performance. It includes a pre-trip inspection, basic control skills test, and an on-road driving test.

Is CDL school required in Pennsylvania?

CDL school is not mandatory in Pennsylvania, but it is highly recommended for adequate training and preparation for the CDL skills test. Employers may also prefer or require CDL training program completion.

[/faq]

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What to expect on the actual PA DOT exam

50

questions

40

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. What's the best way to take a curve?
  2. To transport cargo safely, which of the following are you NOT responsible for?
  3. Which of the following is NOT a key steering system component?
  4. If you must stop on a road or the shoulder of a road, you must set out your warning devices within
  5. For what time should you schedule your trip?
  6. During your pre-trip inspection, you should do which of the following inside the cab?
  7. The minimum tire tread depth for front tires is
  8. Which is NOT one of the four basic skills that operating a commercial motor vehicle requires?
  9. Total stopping distance equals
  10. How many tie-downs are required for a 20-foot load?
  11. Why should you use a helper when you are backing?
  12. What is the Gross Combination Weight (GCW)?
  13. Which of the following types of fires should you NOT attempt to extinguish with water?
  14. Do empty trucks have shorter stopping distances than loaded trucks?
  15. If you are convicted of knowingly using a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to transport illegal drugs, you will be disqualified from commercial driving for
  16. You should put the starter switch key into your pocket while you perform the pre-trip inspection because
  17. In Pennsylvania, the maximum height of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is
  18. In the dark, what is the maximum distance that you can see with high beams?
  19. If the engine is not overheated, is it completely safe to remove the radiator cap?
  20. During your pre-trip test, when examining hoses with the instructor, you need to look for
  21. How often must you stop to check your cargo while on the road?
  22. The most important hand signal that you and a helper should agree on is
  23. When parking your vehicle, you should look for a parking space
  24. Be especially cautious about crossing a double railroad track because
  25. When you proceed through an underpass, your vertical clearance may be affected by
  26. What is the axle weight?
  27. Why should you complete a post-trip inspection report?
  28. What's the maximum amount of play that your steering wheel should have?
  29. What can you do at an accident scene to help avoid another accident?
  30. How far ahead should you look while driving?
  31. Which of these is NOT part of the basic method for shifting up?
  32. Which of the following is most likely to cause a tire fire?
  33. If ________ or more of the leaves in any leaf spring are broken or missing, the vehicle will be put out of service.
  34. The heaviest items in your load should be placed
  35. If you spot a hazard ahead, what should you do first?
  36. It has just reached freezing. Which of the following areas may be slippery?
  37. If your brakes get wet, they may
  38. If you are confronted by an aggressive driver, what should you do?
  39. What's the definition of a hazard?
  40. When you start to drive down a steep downgrade, which of the following should influence your choice of speed?
  41. You should inspect wheel bearing seals for
  42. Which of the following wheel or rim problems can be hazardous?
  43. While driving a vehicle with dual tires, you hear a noise that sounds like a tire blowout. However, your vehicle's handling seems unaffected. What should you do?
  44. If you are being tailgated, you should do all of the following EXCEPT
  45. Which of the following statements about retarders are correct?
  46. An antilock braking system (ABS) will
  47. When you're driving at 55 mph under good driving conditions, your total stopping distance will be
  48. What will help a drunk sober up?
  49. Your emergency kit does NOT need to include
  50. You don't want to be a distracted driver, so you
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