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  • Updated for February 2025
  • Based on 2025 TX commercial driver's license manual

Free TX CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

If you’re applying for a commercial driver’s license (CDL), upgrading one, or obtaining a Passenger or School Bus endorsement, you must first obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) and hold it for at least 14 days. Your CLP will enable you to practice operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) under supervision. One key requirement for a CLP is to pass a set of official knowledge tests for the class and the type of CMVs you plan to drive. However, regardless of the vehicles, you must pass the General Knowledge test, which covers general commercial driving theory.

The official General Knowledge test covers many topics, including pre-trip inspections. Your test will likely include questions on which systems or components you should check during a pre-trip inspection and what you should look for. All questions on the General Knowledge test are based on the official Texas CDL manual (Texas CDL Handbook 2025). You should study the manual. However, it’s not easy to memorize all that complex information just by reading it. We’ve developed other tools that can supplement the official manual to help you learn more effectively.

This is the first of our Texas CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests. By taking tests on pre-trip inspections, your mind will start organizing and memorizing the material. Like the official General Knowledge test, this practice test is multiple choice. You must choose the best or most complete answer for each question. If you need help, call on our AI Assistant. It can supply hints and explanations and answer your own questions about commercial driving theory.

Some vital commercial driving routes can be hazardous, and you and your CMV must be up to the job. For example, Interstate 45 connects Houston to Dallas for commuters and commercial drivers. But with an average of 0.913 road fatalities per mile in 2016–2019, I-45 is widely considered the most dangerous highway in Texas – and one of the most dangerous in the entire nation. Factors contributing to accidents on I-45 include poor exit signage, poor lighting, changeable weather (including sudden thunderstorms), and high speeds combined with heavy commuter and truck traffic and urban congestion. You must stay alert for developing hazards. And by performing a comprehensive pre-trip inspection of your CMV’s safety-critical systems before driving the vehicle on hazardous roads, you’ll help ensure it’s ready to tackle these worrisome conditions safely.

Check out our other Texas CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests too!

  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements

What you need to know

6 min to complete
Available in EN and ES
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.

What to expect on the actual TX DMV exam

20

questions

16

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
  2. You pump the pedal three times and hold it down for five seconds, making sure that the pedal does not move. What are you inspecting?
  3. What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
  4. What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
  5. ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
  6. What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
  7. What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
  8. What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
  9. What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
  10. Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
  11. Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
  12. What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
  13. Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
  14. You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
  15. What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
  16. To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
  17. _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
  18. _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
  19. If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
  20. What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled?
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