CDL Air Brakes Practice Test 2026
You must pass the air brakes knowledge test to drive a commercial vehicle with air brakes. These questions cover how the system works, the pressures and leakage limits you must know, the air brake inspection, and how to brake safely.
Kort svar
Det officiella provet har 25 frågor. Godkänt: Varies by state; usually 25 questions, with 20 correct needed (80%). Ansvarig: Your state driver licensing agency, under federal rules set by FMCSA (49 CFR Part 383). Öva gratis här med 80 frågor, alla med svar och förklaring. Kontrollerad mot officiella källor den 10 oktober 2026.
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Fråga 1 av 25
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Svar: B. Service brakes, parking brakes and emergency brakes
Air brake vehicles have a service brake system, a parking brake system and an emergency brake system.
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Svar: B. By the engine, through gears or a V-belt
The compressor is connected to the engine through gears or a V-belt.
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Svar: A. Check the compressor's oil level
If the compressor has its own oil supply, check its oil level before driving.
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Svar: C. The governor
The governor tells the compressor when to stop and start pumping air.
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Svar: B. About 125 psi
The governor's cut-out level is about 125 psi. Check your manufacturer's figure.
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Svar: B. About 100 psi
The compressor starts pumping again when pressure drops to about 100 psi.
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Fråga 7 av 25
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Svar: B. Water and oil collect and can freeze, causing brake failure
Water and oil build up in the tanks. In cold weather, water can freeze and make the brakes fail.
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Fråga 8 av 25
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Svar: D. At the end of each driving day
Manual tank drains must be drained at the end of each driving day.
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Fråga 9 av 25
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Svar: A. Adds alcohol to the air to cut ice in valves in cold weather
An alcohol evaporator helps prevent ice in the valves and other parts during cold weather. Check and fill it daily in cold weather.
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Svar: C. Yes
Daily draining is still needed unless the system has automatic drains.
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Fråga 11 av 25
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Svar: B. In the first tank the compressor fills
The safety valve sits in the first tank the air compressor pumps air to.
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Svar: C. 150 psi
The safety valve protects the tanks from too much pressure. It usually opens at 150 psi.
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Svar: B. Something is wrong; have a mechanic fix it
If the safety valve lets air out, there is a problem that a mechanic should repair.
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Svar: C. The foot valve or treadle valve
The brake pedal is also called the foot valve or treadle valve.
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Svar: A. It can let out air faster than the compressor refills it
Each time you release the pedal, air is let out. Pumping can lower the pressure until the brakes won't work.
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Svar: B. The S-cam drum brake
S-cam drum brakes are the most common. Wedge and disc brakes are less common.
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Svar: D. The S-shaped cam, turned by the camshaft
Air pushes the brake chamber rod, which turns the slack adjuster and camshaft. The S-cam pushes the shoes against the drum.
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Svar: A. A return spring
When the brakes are released, a spring pulls the shoes away from the drum.
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Svar: A. A push rod drives a wedge between two brake shoes
In a wedge brake, the brake chamber push rod pushes a wedge between the shoes, forcing them against the drum.
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Svar: A. Air turns a power screw that clamps the rotor between pads
In air disc brakes, air turns a power screw that clamps the disc (rotor) between the caliper pads.
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Svar: C. How much air pressure is in the tanks
Supply pressure gauges show the air pressure in the tanks. Dual systems have a gauge for each half or one gauge with two needles.
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Svar: B. How much air pressure is going to the brakes
The application gauge shows how much pressure goes to the brakes. Not all vehicles have one.
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Svar: D. The brakes are starting to fade
Needing more and more pressure to hold your speed means the brakes are fading. Slow down and shift to a lower gear.
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Fråga 24 av 25
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Svar: D. 60 psi
The low air warning must come on before pressure drops below 60 psi (or half the governor cut-out on older vehicles).
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Svar: D. 80 to 85 psi
Large buses commonly have low pressure warnings that come on at 80 to 85 psi.
Tangentbord: 1–4 för att svara, Enter för nästa fråga.
Det riktiga provet: Varies by state; usually 25 questions, with 20 correct needed (80%)
Bra att veta före provet
- Federal rules set the passing score for every CDL knowledge test: you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly.
- The air brakes test has 25 questions in states such as Washington and Utah, so you need 20 correct answers.
- If you fail the air brakes knowledge test or take your skills test in a vehicle without air brakes, your CDL is restricted from any commercial vehicle with air brakes.
- If you take your skills test in a vehicle with air-over-hydraulic brakes, you are restricted from vehicles with full air brakes.
- The low air pressure warning must come on before pressure drops below 60 psi, and the governor usually cuts out at about 125 psi and cuts in at about 100 psi.
Vanliga frågor
Do I need the air brakes test?
Yes, if you will drive a commercial vehicle with air brakes. Without it, your CDL will have an air brake restriction.
How many questions are on the CDL air brakes test?
Each state sets the number. Washington and Utah both use 25 questions, so you need 20 correct to reach the 80% pass mark.
What is the allowed air leakage rate?
With the engine off and brakes released, a single vehicle should lose less than 2 psi per minute and a combination less than 3 psi. With the brakes applied, the limits are 3 psi and 4 psi per minute.
At what pressure do the spring brakes come on?
Spring brakes come on fully when air pressure drops to about 20 to 45 psi, typically 20 to 30 psi. Stop safely as soon as the low air warning comes on.
Källor
- Commercial Driver License Manual, Section 5: Air Brakes (Rhode Island DMV)
- 49 CFR Part 383 Subpart F: Vehicle groups and endorsements (eCFR)
- 49 CFR Part 383 Subpart H: Tests and passing scores (eCFR)
- Washington State Department of Licensing: CDL knowledge test
- Utah Driver License Division: CDL written knowledge tests