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The CDL general knowledge test is required to be taken by all CDL applicants. The Pennsylvania CDL test consists of 50 questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 40 questions (80%). The general knowledge test covers the contents of the Pennsylvania CDL Manual. All CDL applicants (Class A, B and C) must study the following sections: Driving Safely, Transporting Cargo Safely, Air Brakes (if you plan to operate vehicles equipped with air brakes), Vehicle Inspection Test, Basic Control Skills Test, Road Test. In addition, the Class A CDL test will include questions based on the Combination Vehicles section. Take this CDL practice test now to prepare for the actual PA general knowledge test! To get your CDL, you must pass both the knowledge and skills tests. CDL knowledge tests include: General Knowledge, Passenger Transport, Air Brakes, Combination Vehicles, Hazardous Materials, Tanker Vehicles, Doubles/Triples, School Bus, Firefighter. Depending on what class of license (A, B or C) and endorsements you need, you must take one or more knowledge tests. A special endorsement is also required to drive certain types of vehicles. The following endorsements may be used with a Class A, B or C CDL: HazMat (H), Tank Vehicles (N), Tank Vehicles Transporting Hazardous Materials (X) and Passenger Transport (P). The School Bus endorsement (S) is only available for Class A or B CDL, and the Doubles/Triples endorsement (T) is only available for Class A driver's licenses.
1. In order to protect yourself and others, you must be aware that children may do something hazardous because:
they are often found in school zones.
they tend to like trucks.
they don't have a driving license.
they tend to act quickly without checking traffic.
2. ________ is the distance your vehicle will travel, in ideal conditions, while you are braking.
Perception distance
Stopping distance
Braking distance
Reaction distance
3. Which of the following are possible causes of tire fires?
Over-inflated tires and short circuits.
Improperly loaded cargo and dual tires that touch.
Under-inflated tires and dual tires that touch.
Loose fuel connections or under-inflated tires.
4. When checking the engine compartment, which of the following should you check?
Engine oil level.
Battery fluid level.
Windshield washer fluid level.
All of the above.
5. Objects that have fallen on the road:
can be a danger to your tires and wheel rims.
can damage electrical and brake lines.
can be hazards.
All of the above.
6. In vehicles with air brakes, the air compressor governor:
controls when the air storage tanks will pump air into the air compressor.
controls when the air compressor will pump air into the air storage tanks.
controls how much air the air compressor will pump into the air storage tanks.
None of the above.
7. Before you back into an area, you should __________ overhanging hazards like trees, branches or electric wires.
ask someone else to check for
look out of the windows for
get out of the vehicle and check for
check your mirrors to be aware of
8. Gross vehicle weight (GVW) is:
the total weight of a single vehicle, except its load.
the total weight of a single vehicle including its load.
the total weight of the vehicle axle.
the total weight of the trailer or trailers.
9. Blocking is used to:
protect people from spilled cargo.
keep the cargo from sliding.
protect the cargo from weather.
All of the above.
10. In an emergency:
you should never turn to miss an obstacle.
stopping is always the best thing to do.
stopping is not always the safest thing to do.
you should keep one hand on the steering wheel.
 
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Frequently Asked Questions

You are eligible to obtain a learner's permit in Pennsylvania when you reach the age of 16. After 65 hours of supervised driving and the road test, you can apply for a junior license. An unrestricted license (class C) is issued at the age of 18, or for individuals under 18 with a junior license, provided they have maintained a clean record for one year and have completed an approved driver's education course.

Visit one of the Pennsylvania driver license centers to take your DMV written test.

You'll need to bring the following documents:

The DMV written test in Pennsylvania is available in both written and audio formats. It is provided in Arabic, Albanian, Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin), Dari, English, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandingo, Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Additionally, if you are deaf or hearing impaired, you have the option to request an interpreter at least two weeks in advance.
To prepare for the DMV written test, read the Pennsylvania Driver's Handbook or use the audio version. Verify your knowledge with the free tests at the end of chapters 2, 3, 4, and sign up for DMV Premium to access all our practice tests. Once your scores are good, you are ready for the real exam.

The DMV written test in Pennsylvania consists of 18 questions covering topics such as road signs, parallel parking, turning, passing a vehicle, yielding the right of way, etc. If you have carefully read the manual and taken various practice tests, you should be able to answer each question without any problem.
You can make up to 3 mistakes on the Pennsylvania DMV written test. To pass, you need to answer at least 15 questions correctly, achieving an 83% accuracy rate. Take your time to read each question accurately.

If you have a learner's permit and are under 18, you are permitted to drive only under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old or a parent/guardian/spouse who is at least 18 with a license. The supervisor must be seated in the front seat. Upon obtaining a junior driver's license:
  • You may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent/guardian or your spouse who is at least 18 years of age. Exceptions apply for volunteering or work activities, but you must present a certificate of authorization.
  • During the first six months, you may transport only one non-sibling passenger under 18, unless supervised by a parent/guardian/spouse who is at least 18 with a license. After six months, unless you have been convicted after a crash, you may drive with a maximum of three passengers under 18 (except for siblings), unless accompanied by a parent/guardian/spouse who is at least 18 with a license. 

A learner's permit in Pennsylvania is valid for one year. If it expires, the renewal cannot be completed online and you are required to complete the Form DL-31 at a Pennsylvania DMV Office. It's important to note that if you haven't taken or successfully completed the road test within three years of your physical examination, you must submit a new permit application and retake the DMV written test.
If you do not pass your DMV written test in Pennsylvania, you must wait until the next business day to make another attempt. Focus on the sections of the manual you have overlooked to have a deep understanding of the road rules.

PA CDL Practice Test

Number of questions: 50
Correct answers to pass:40
Passing score:80%
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