What and How to Study for the CDL Permit Test/Exam

What Is the CDL Permit Exam? What Does the CDL Permit Exam Consist Of?

The commercial learner's permit, also called the CLP or the CDL permit, is a requirement when you're learning to drive a commercial vehicle. To get your CDL permit, you'll have to pass exams required by your state.

The CDL permit exam consists of multiple tests, each evaluating different aspects of your knowledge and skills. For most states, you’ll take three tests.

1. General Knowledge (50 questions)
2. Air Brakes (25 questions)
3. Combination Vehicles (20 questions)

These tests usually consist of a combination of general test questions and state-specific questions.

General Knowledge

The General Knowledge test is considered the most extensive section of the exam, encompassing fundamental, commercial vehicle-related knowledge. This segment assesses your understanding of a wide array of topics, such as vehicle inspections, driving in diverse weather conditions, essential vehicle controls including braking and shifting, adherence to mileage limits, mandatory rest break regulations, cargo securing procedures, appropriate actions in the event of an accident, emergency protocols, and crucial safety measures. 

This information is outlined in your CDL manual. Some of the information in this portion of the test may be very general, relating to vehicles and weather, while other questions may be state specific. 

Air Brakes

The Air Brakes test focuses on the braking systems and their application in commercial vehicles. It assesses the test taker’s knowledge of the maintenance schedule and procedures, understanding of the system's functionality, and familiarity with the various components of the air brake system, along with their respective functions.

As a driver, you'll be expected to know when your commercial vehicle's braking system is experiencing difficulty or failure. This test will assess your knowledge of warning signals, system leaks, emergency braking, and so on.

Combination Vehicles

The Combination Vehicles exam section will test your knowledge of various procedures as they relate to combination vehicles. Combination vehicles are different from a straight truck; a combination vehicle has one or more trailers connected to the vehicle.

You'll need to have a thorough understanding of how to inspect combination vehicles, how to uncouple and couple trailers, how to turn, how to brake, procedures for backing, and what situations constitute a dangerous driving situation. Much of this test specifically focuses on safety and your knowledge of safety procedures as they relate to the combination vehicle. 

What to Study

1. Study your state’s Commercial Driver’s License Manual. All the test questions on the written exam are taken from topics covered in this manual. Standard topics you’ll encounter include vehicle inspection, communicating with other drivers, speed and space control, the dangers of distracted driving, shifting gears, railroad crossings, braking, night-time driving, accident procedures, etc.
2. Use free resources from Roehl. Use Roehl's Free CDL Practice Tests. Take the practice tests several times to become familiar with the way questions are structured and written.
   • General Knowledge Practice Test 
   • Combination Vehicle Practice Test 
   • Air Brakes Practice Test 
      
3. Test yourself with flash cards. You can make your own flash cards, or use an online source for virtual flashcards on the topics that most interest you. Keep in mind that any time you're using an online source for flashcards, they likely will not provide state-specific rules and regulations that you're likely to see on the test. For this information, you'll have to make your own flash cards.

How to Study

Vary the way you study for the test to ensure that when you take it, you're comfortable with the material and confident in your answers. Studying in different ways and under different conditions can help you develop a deeper and more thorough understanding of the material. Everyone responds to different methods of studying, so you can choose the study techniques that work best for you.

Study flash cards. Flash cards usually work best with a partner, but you can test yourself on your own, as long as you're reciting the question on the front as well as the answer in the back. Reading flash cards without saying the words aloud is a more passive way of studying and is not always as effective. 

Take Notes. Take notes on the material that you're studying. These notes are like your own personal study guide. Highlight the parts that are most important to you, or parts that you have the hardest time remembering. Write down stories and information that can help make connections between the information you're studying and the concepts you're trying to learn. 

Study with Others, Study Alone. Studying with others can be motivating and fun, and can help you feel like you're not alone with issues that you struggle to learn. When you're studying with others, it's also a good time to get clarification or answers to your questions. 

At the same time, most people also need time to study alone. Independent study sessions should focus on topics that you find especially complicated. When you're studying alone, you can control the pace and dig in deeper on topics as needed.

Mimic Test Conditions When Taking Practice Tests. Take practice tests under the same conditions as you would during your real test. Sit in a quiet room, turn off your phone or leave it in a completely different room. Set a timer. When you're done, review your performance on the practice test. Note which topics you know well, and which topics need improvement. Change your study topics based on this information, and test yourself regularly to see how you're improving.

Review information, even if you feel confident in your knowledge. Even after you've learned information and have successfully answered flash cards on a topic, engaging in periodic review is important. Don't assume that you'll continue to retain the information without doing something to solidify it in your memory. 

Set aside time for studying every day. Don't wait until the last minute. Studying takes time. Set aside study time every day. Know how long you can study before you begin to lose concentration. Study in chunks that are realistic for you. For most people, studying for 45 minutes to an hour is as long as they can handle before they lose focus. If you feel like you need to study in longer sessions, take breaks every hour. 

Engage in "Active" Studying

Simple reading - whether you're reading a book or your own notes - is considered "passive" studying. When you read, you may hope that the information sticks in your memory, but you're not taking an active role to be sure that happens. Some people can focus easily when they read, but others may struggle to concentrate, and much of the information is lost.

For many students, reading alone in a quiet room leads to fast forgetting. Take additional steps that go beyond reading notes or your manual, to help information stay in your long-term memory. Some examples:

• Read questions aloud, then answer them aloud from memory. Read questions from practice tests and recite the responses aloud to the room.
• Paraphrase information. When discussing concepts, take the time to think about what you've learned and summarize it. Being able to summarize or paraphrase complex ideas means that you've developed understanding of those concepts, and can use your information on the go.
• Pretend you are the teacher. Read a section from your study guide, thendescribe the important concepts aloud as if you were teaching a class. Write down concepts on a white board (if you have one), as a teacher would. Explain concepts in your own words using stories, anecdotes and descriptive language.
• Write thorough answers to practice questions. Use practice questions provided to you, and write long, descriptive answers. Check the answers when you're done, and if you answered incorrectly, go through the process again, this time with the correct response. 
• Tell a friend what you learned. Talking to someone in your household or a friend that you know well about the concepts you're learning can help you feel more confident in your knowledge. 

Testing Tips

As the day of the test gets closer, try to relax! You've worked hard for this moment. These CDL studying tips can help you get through the test.

• Avoid the temptation to cram the night before the test. Plan to review all the test material in the week leading up to the test. The day before the test, take some time to review the most challenging concepts. Then, give yourself a rest. 
• Eat well and sleep well. Eat a healthy, satisfying meal the night before the test, then get a full 8 hours or more of sleep to ensure you're fresh and ready to think hard on the day of the test. 
• Know what to expect. Where will you go to take the test? What will the testing conditions be? How long will the test take? Find out this information well in advance. If you're testing in a location you've never been before, map it out in advance to avoid a stressful or distressing situation like getting lost. 

Find the Right CDL Training or Truck Driving School

The CDL training program you choose can make all the difference. Not every trucking school is invested in your success, and even the ones that are may not adequately prepare you for your CDL test. Make sure the programs you consider meet the Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements (ELDT); Roehl is a registered training provider on the Training Provider Registry (TPR) and Roehl’s Get Your CDL program has a very high CDL exam pass rate.

Roehl Transport is one of the safest trucking companies in North America. We have more than 30 years of success training new truck drivers, and remember, if you’re accepted to our program, we'll pay you while you're training to get your CDL.

Tips for Choosing a CDL Training Program or Truck Driving School

• Ask about pass rates. Pass rates are an indication of how well your CDL training program prepares students for success in the trucking industry.
• Ask how much you'll get paid. Few trucking schools actually pay students to get their CDL. If you’re considering a training program that will pay you, make sure you understand how that works & choose one that's invested in your success.

Ready to get started?

Read our “6 Steps to Getting Your CDL” and apply today!

• Purchase A Study Guide. There are a number of study guides sold in bookstores and online, such as the “CDL Study Guide Book: Test Preparation and Training Manual for the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Exam” by the Commercial Driver’s License Test Prep Team.
• Download A Practice Test. There are a number of free practice test apps available through iOS and Google Play. These apps come with hundreds of practice questions, so you can test your knowledge over and over again until you feel comfortable taking the test.
• Watch Videos Online. Watch YouTube videos, such Roehl's The CDL Test | Preparation videos, which are divided into several parts so you can focus on the parts where you need the most help.
• Create a Study Schedule. Create a study schedule, setting aside a specific time each day (or, every other day) for studying. Break down all the material you plan to cover into segments, and schedule each segment for a specific day, to ensure that you're able to review all the required material. Don't wait till the last minute to begin studying. In fact, you can start studying well before you've even scheduled the exam. The more time you give yourself, the better.
• Avoid Distractions During Study Sessions. Set aside your phone when you're studying. Study in a quiet room, free of distractions, with adequate lighting.
• Show Up Ready to Test. Clear your schedule for the day to ensure that you'll show up free from distractions and ready to think about nothing but the test.
• Read Test Questions Carefully. Once you're sitting for the test, read the test questions carefully. Don't overthink your answers.