CDL Combination Vehicles Practice Test 2026

1. Frage 1 von 25

   What causes more than half of truck driver deaths in crashes?

   • ANight driving
   • BBrake failures
   • CTruck rollovers
   • DTire blowouts
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   Antwort: C. Truck rollovers

   More than half of truck driver deaths in crashes are the result of truck rollovers.

2. Frage 2 von 25

   Compared with an empty rig, how much more likely is a fully loaded rig to roll over in a crash?

   • AAbout 10 times more likely
   • BAbout the same
   • CLess likely, because it is heavier
   • DAbout 2 times more likely
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   Antwort: A. About 10 times more likely

   Fully loaded rigs are ten times more likely to roll over in a crash than empty rigs.

3. Frage 3 von 25

   How should you load cargo to help prevent a rollover?

   • AAs low as possible, centered and spread out
   • BStacked as high as possible in the middle
   • CHigh and toward one side
   • DAll at the very back
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   Antwort: A. As low as possible, centered and spread out

   Keep the center of gravity low, and keep cargo centered so the trailer does not lean.

4. Frage 4 von 25

   Which driving habit helps prevent rollovers?

   • AChanging lanes quickly to avoid traffic
   • BGoing slowly around corners and ramps
   • CBraking hard in the middle of curves
   • DTaking ramps at the posted highway speed
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   Antwort: B. Going slowly around corners and ramps

   Drive slowly in turns and on ramps, and avoid quick lane changes, especially when fully loaded.

5. Frage 5 von 25

   What is rearward amplification?

   • AThe extra noise made by the rear axles
   • BThe way mirrors make trailers look longer
   • CThe crack-the-whip effect that can tip over a trailer
   • DThe longer stopping distance of a heavy load
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   Antwort: C. The crack-the-whip effect that can tip over a trailer

   Rearward amplification makes the rear trailer swing more than the tractor in a sudden move. It can tip the trailer over.

6. Frage 6 von 25

   Which part of a combination is most likely to turn over in a quick lane change?

   • AThe tractor
   • BThe last trailer
   • CThe first trailer
   • DThe converter dolly
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   Antwort: B. The last trailer

   Because of rearward amplification, the rearmost trailer is the most likely to turn over.

7. Frage 7 von 25

   A combination has a rearward amplification of 2.0. What does that mean?

   • AThe rear trailer is twice as likely to tip as the tractor
   • BThe rig is twice as long as a normal tractor-trailer
   • CThe rig takes twice as long to stop as a car
   • DThe trailer needs twice as much air pressure
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   Antwort: A. The rear trailer is twice as likely to tip as the tractor

   A rearward amplification of 2.0 means the rear trailer is twice as likely to turn over as the tractor.

8. Frage 8 von 25

   How should you steer a combination vehicle?

   • AWith one hand
   • BGently and smoothly
   • CQuickly, to correct problems fast
   • DWith sharp, short turns
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   Antwort: B. Gently and smoothly

   Sudden steering can tip a trailer over. Steer gently and smoothly.

9. Frage 9 von 25

   Compared with a loaded combination, how does an empty combination behave when you brake?

   • AIt always stops in a much shorter distance
   • BIt stops in exactly the same distance
   • CIt may take longer to stop, as wheels lock easily
   • DIt cannot skid because it is so light
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   Antwort: C. It may take longer to stop, as wheels lock easily

   Empty rigs have stiff springs and strong brakes but poor traction, so wheels lock easily and stopping takes longer.

10. Frage 10 von 25

    What is a bobtail tractor?

    • AA tractor pulling three trailers
    • BA truck with a short wheelbase and a box
    • CA tractor with no sleeper
    • DA tractor driving without a semitrailer
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    Antwort: D. A tractor driving without a semitrailer

    A bobtail is a tractor without a trailer. It can be hard to stop smoothly and may take longer to stop than a loaded rig.

11. Frage 11 von 25

    Which trailers are most likely to get stuck on a raised railroad crossing?

    • AFlatbeds with high loads
    • BLow-slung units like lowboys, car carriers and moving vans
    • CEmpty dry vans
    • DShort single-axle trailers with normal clearance
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    Antwort: B. Low-slung units like lowboys, car carriers and moving vans

    Trailers with low underneath clearance can hang up on raised crossings.

12. Frage 12 von 25

    What is a trailer jackknife?

    • AWhen locked trailer wheels let the trailer swing around
    • BWhen the trailer tips over onto its side
    • CWhen the tractor's front steering wheels lock up
    • DWhen the fifth wheel comes unlocked while driving
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    Antwort: A. When locked trailer wheels let the trailer swing around

    A trailer jackknife happens when the trailer wheels lock and the trailer swings out. It is more likely with an empty or light trailer.

13. Frage 13 von 25

    How can you spot a trailer skid early?

    • AFeel for the steering wheel to shake
    • BWatch the air pressure gauge
    • CListen for squealing tires
    • DCheck your mirrors when you brake hard
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    Antwort: D. Check your mirrors when you brake hard

    Check the mirrors any time you brake hard. Once the trailer is out of your lane, a jackknife is hard to stop.

14. Frage 14 von 25

    Your trailer starts to skid sideways because its wheels are locked. What should you do?

    • AApply the trailer hand brake to straighten out
    • BRelease the brakes to get traction back
    • CBrake harder
    • DSpeed up sharply
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    Antwort: B. Release the brakes to get traction back

    Release the brakes so the trailer wheels grip again. Do not use the trailer hand brake, because the trailer brakes caused the skid.

15. Frage 15 von 25

    What is offtracking?

    • AThe trailer leaving the road on a sharp curve
    • BDriving partly in the wrong lane on a straight road
    • CThe fifth wheel sliding backward while driving
    • DRear wheels taking a shorter path than the front in a turn
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    Antwort: D. Rear wheels taking a shorter path than the front in a turn

    In turns, the rear wheels cut inside the path of the front wheels. Longer vehicles offtrack more.

16. Frage 16 von 25

    The diagram shows a right turn. Which wheels offtrack the most?

    • AAll wheels follow the same path
    • BThe tractor's front wheels
    • CThe rear wheels of the last trailer
    • DThe tractor's drive wheels
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    Antwort: C. The rear wheels of the last trailer

    The rear wheels of the rearmost trailer offtrack the most.

17. Frage 17 von 25

    The diagram shows a correct right turn. What is this "button hook" method?

    • ALet the trailer wheels roll over the curb to save space
    • BStop halfway, back up, and then finish the turn
    • CSwing into the left lane first, then turn right from there
    • DKeep the rear near the curb, then turn wide as you finish
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    Antwort: D. Keep the rear near the curb, then turn wide as you finish

    The button hook turn stops cars from passing you on the right. The jug-handle turn, swinging left first, is wrong.

18. Frage 18 von 25

    You are backing a trailer and want it to move to the right. Which way do you turn the top of the steering wheel?

    • ATo the right
    • BTo the left
    • CKeep it straight
    • DRight, then quickly back to center
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    Antwort: B. To the left

    When backing a trailer, turn the wheel the opposite way from where you want the trailer to go.

19. Frage 19 von 25

    You are backing a trailer and it starts to turn the way you want. What should you do next?

    • AStop and pull forward a long way
    • BKeep turning the wheel the same way
    • CLet go of the wheel and let it roll
    • DTurn the wheel the other way to follow it
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    Antwort: D. Turn the wheel the other way to follow it

    Once the trailer starts to turn, turn the wheel the other way so the tractor follows the trailer.

20. Frage 20 von 25

    If you must back a trailer on a curve, which way should you back?

    • AToward the right side
    • BUphill only
    • CIt does not matter
    • DToward the driver's side
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    Antwort: D. Toward the driver's side

    Backing toward the driver's side lets you see the trailer better.

21. Frage 21 von 25

    Your trailer drifts while you back up. How do you correct it?

    • ATurn the top of the wheel away from the drift
    • BSpeed up so the trailer straightens out
    • CTurn the top of the wheel toward the drift
    • DApply the trailer hand brake to stop the drift
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    Antwort: C. Turn the top of the wheel toward the drift

    Correct drift right away by turning the top of the wheel toward the drift. Back slowly so you can correct early.

22. Frage 22 von 25

    While backing a trailer, you get out of position. What should you do?

    • AKeep backing and turn the wheel harder
    • BBack faster so the trailer straightens
    • CUnhook the trailer and start again
    • DPull forward (a pull-up) to reposition
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    Antwort: D. Pull forward (a pull-up) to reposition

    Use pull-ups to get back into position when needed.

23. Frage 23 von 25

    Your combination is 70 feet long and you are driving at 55 mph. What following distance should you keep?

    • AAt least 7 seconds
    • BAt least 8 seconds
    • CAt least 4 seconds
    • DAt least 10 seconds
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    Antwort: B. At least 8 seconds

    Allow 1 second per 10 feet of length (7 seconds) and add 1 second above 40 mph.

24. Frage 24 von 25

    What is the trailer hand valve (trolley valve) for?

    • ATesting the trailer brakes
    • BReleasing the spring brakes
    • CNormal stopping while driving
    • DParking the trailer
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    Antwort: A. Testing the trailer brakes

    Use the trailer hand valve only to test the trailer brakes. Do not use it while driving or to park.

25. Frage 25 von 25

    Why should you use the foot brake rather than the trailer hand valve for normal stops?

    • AThe hand valve is too strong for normal stops
    • BThe foot brake only works on the tractor
    • CThe hand valve uses no air, so it wears out
    • DThe hand valve brakes only the trailer, so it may skid
    Antwort anzeigen

    Antwort: D. The hand valve brakes only the trailer, so it may skid

    Using the trailer brakes alone can make the trailer skid. The foot brake applies air to all wheels.

Tastatur: 1–4 zum Antworten, Eingabetaste für die nächste Frage.

Die echte Prüfung: 80% correct; the number of questions varies by state (20 in Washington, 30 in Utah)