CDL STUDY GUIDE 2022-2023: The most complete and up-to-date explanations with questions and answers for preparing your test for the commercial driving license exam

CDL STUDY GUIDE

2022-2023

The most complete and up-to-date explanations with questions and answers for preparing your test for the commercial driving license exam

Nicolas J. Campbell

©Copyright 2022 Nicolas J. Campbell - All rights reserved

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Please note that the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. All effort has been executed to present accurate, up-to-date, and reliable, complete information. No warranties of any kind are declared or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical, or professional advice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 What is a CDL License?

Chapter 2  How to Get a License?

Chapter 3  Requirement for Registering for CDL

Chapter 4 General Tips

Chapter 5  Test-Taking Strategies

Chapter 6 DOT Inspection

Chapter 7 Staying Alert and Fit to Drive

Chapter 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Driving

Chapter 9 Pre-Trip Vehicle Test

Chapter10 7-Step Vehicle Inspection Method

Chapter 11 The Air Break

Chapter 12 Hazardous Conditions

Chapter 13 Commercial Driver Permit

Chapter 14 Commercial Vehicle Control

Chapter 15 Combination Vehicles

Chapter 16 Double/Triple Trailers

Chapter 17 Chamber Vehicles

Chapter 18 How to Safely Operate School Buses

Chapter 19 Operating Tank Vehicles

Chapter 20 Transporting Cargo Safely

Chapter 21 Transporting Passengers Safely

Chapter 22 Emergencies

Chapter 23 Road Test

Chapter 24 FAQS about CDL Examination

Chapter 25 CDL Practice Test Questions

Conclusion

Introduction

After several tests and vehicle inspections, the Commercial Driving License is awarded to those who want to become commercial drivers. The tests are based on the driver’s basic knowledge of the kind of vehicle he wishes to operate and other factors. Commercial drivers usually transport vehicles like trailers and trucks, requiring a high level of expertise.

Commercial vehicles are also subject to issues, so it is recommended that licenses are awarded with as much care as possible. Drivers are required to have basic knowledge of how to work the brakes and several other vehicle components. They are also expected to know the basic techniques to avoid crashes and fire outbreaks.

Due to the lengthy details required of these drivers, this book outlines what you need for the CDL test and the requirements you need to know for a Commercial Driving license. These licenses are peculiar to different states, so ensure you meet the your own’s stated requirements.

The Best Way to Study

If you are actually reading this book, it means you have an interest in getting your CDL permit.

For CDL Class A, you have to pass three tests: general knowledge, air brakes and combination vehicle.

For CDL Class B, we recommend passing three tests: general knowledge, air brakes and passenger endorsement. These tests will give you the broadest range of insights driving different vehicles.

However, you must first understand how the test works to pass it. The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) has over a thousand questions for these tests. For general knowledge tests, for instance, they give you 50 out of those thousand, which means the next time you go, it might be a completely different 50. Therefore, studying an app on your phone or only practice tests is not ideal because you’re not really learning the material.

In most cases, practice tests are helpful, but studying a CDL is the best way to grasp the material. After you understand it, take practice tests and see how well you do.

FMCSA’s New Entry-Level Driver Training Rule

You may have heard talk of a new entry-level driver training requirement for CDL drivers. That requirement can be traced back to a final rule published by the FMCSA in 2016. That final rule and its new requirements were originally set to take effect in February of 2020. However, the agency subsequently delayed its implementation date to February 7th, 2022.

What the Federal Regulations Previously Required

Previously, the federal rules imposed an entry-level driver training requirement on motor carriers who engage CDL drivers with less than one year’s worth of commercial driving experience at the time of their initial onboarding.

For example, suppose I’m onboarding a driver who holds a CDL and has only six months’ worth of experience operating a commercial motor vehicle. The regulations require that the motor carrier provide that driver with entry-level driver training on specific topics and document their completion with a certificate in their driver file. The topics that must be covered in this current entry-level driver training include:

driver qualification requirements 

hours of service

driver wellness and

whistleblower protections

This type of training is actually one of the few instances where regulations impose an affirmative obligation on motor carriers to train their drivers.

However, the new entry-level driver training requirements that took effect in February 2022 set up a system whereby CDL drivers themselves are required to obtain entry-level driver training from a certified training provider to be eligible to take the skills test.

The onus will be off the shoulders of the motor carriers that employ CDL drivers and on the CDL drivers themselves to obtain this training as part of the process. More specifically, the new requirement will apply to the following categories of  drivers:

those obtaining class A or class B CDL for the very first time

those upgrading an existing class B CDL to a Class A CDL and 

those seeking to obtain school bus, passenger or hazardous material endorsement to their CDL for the first time.

These three categories of drivers will be subject to the new entry-level driver training requirement; they will have to obtain the required training to complete their CDL transaction.

Note: This requirement will not be retroactive – that is, it won’t apply to drivers who already hold a valid CDL or an S, P or H endorsement issued before February 7th of, 2022. In other words, it will only apply to CDL drivers seeking to complete those CDL transactions on February 7th 2022 or after.

So, what type of new training are we talking about?

The regulation sets up a specific core and endorsement curricula that the three categories of drivers will have to undertake to complete the skills tests. The curricula will be divided into a theory and a behind-the-wheel component. Drivers must obtain this training from a training provider listed on the FMCSA’s training provider registry. These training providers will have to develop and provide instruction in all elements of the applicable theory curriculum.

For drivers falling into the category of obtaining a class A or class B CDL for the first time, they would proceed through a particular curriculum tailored to their circumstances. Drivers who fall into the category of obtaining an S, P or H endorsement would take a more limited curriculum, addressing the issues pertinent to those endorsements.

The regulation doesn’t set any minimum number of hours for the theory or the behind-the-wheel components of this training. However, each driver taking the theory component will be tested and have to achieve an overall score of at least 80 percent to pass. As for the behind-the-wheel component, drivers will have to complete range and public road segments, including discrete maneuvers that the driver must master to the satisfaction of the training provider. Again, there is no minimum hour component to the behind the wheel portion, but the driver must pass that portion to the satisfaction of the training provider.

Once a driver passes both the theory and the behind-the-wheel components, the certified training provider will issue a certificate. It will be electronically uploaded to a system that interfaces with state licensing agencies so those agencies know the driver has passed the requirements and is now eligible to take the appropriate skills test to complete their CDL transaction. 

Regarding the training providers themselves, those who wish to provide training will have to be listed on the agency’s training provider registry. To be on that registry, these providers will have to self-certify that they meet specific criteria. For example, they will have to certify that they will provide instruction in a training curriculum that meets the minimum standards outlined in the agency’s rule. They must also meet other eligibility requirements such as having the room and resources to provide the required training.

These providers can be dedicated training schools or motor carriers who wish to train their drivers or they may be state agencies. CDL drivers will be able to search the registry for providers near them.

Without further ado, let’s get started from scratch!

Chapter 1

What is a CDL License?

CDL is also known as a commercial driver's license. It is a legal permit that authorizes you to operate certain types of vehicles, such as cargo vans, various types of trucks and buses, among others. The known Commercial Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was enacted to improve safety on America's roads and highways. In other words, it was created to ensure that commercial vehicle drivers (CMV's) are qualified to do so. The federal government sets the CDL requirements that states must always respect when issuing the CDL.

Why You Should Have a CDL

Suppose you are seriously considering a career path that has seen an increase in terms of demand for labor, then you may want to consider the benefits of earning a CDL. Here are some of the benefits:

Increase in Trucking 

The truth is that the demand for trucks has increased, especially during the post-COVID-19 period. There is now a significant increase in the haulage of goods, making trucking the only sector that did not directly receive a shock from the pandemic. Also, due to the increase in the demand for trucking, the pay has gone upward to as high as $70,000 per month for a truck driver. So, regardless of your experience in trucking, you can be earning more at a very fast rate.

It Requires Minimal Training

Another reason you should obtain a CDL license is that the career path of trucking requires minimal training, unlike other career paths. Of note, you do not need a college degree to sit for and pass the exam. Earning your CDL only requires a short-term commitment as the training programs last for a few weeks rather than years, and you do not need to get in debt to complete one.

Different Career Path 

Another reason obtaining a CDL is beneficial is because you are not restricted to a specific path, unlike the banking or healthcare. There is freedom of choice: you can either be a bus or heavy truck driver, etc. Another option that most people are not aware of is that you can register to become a firefighter with your CDL, giving you several options to select from.

Job Security 

Before choosing a career path, there must be job security in case of an emergency. The good news is that with your CDL, there is job security because of the current scarcity of drivers and the increase in demand. No matter if a lockdown is in place, health products and other economic goods will still need to be delivered across the different states in the country. Therefore, truck driving is one of the few careers that can definitely ensure future job security.

Flexibility 

Another benefit of obtaining your CDL is that you have the flexibility of work hours, as this career path does not require a regimented routine and schedule. If you are among the class of people who detest the idea of a 9-5 schedule, this career affords you the ability to manage your time and still earn as much as you want. For many people, a career in CDL is an escape route from living a boring lifestyle because you can be flexible and move to different paths of the state or country.

Experience Different Parts of the Country 

Another benefit of choosing a career in truck driving is that you can see different parts of the country at any time. From the city to the countryside, you will see it all. Not many people get to experience the United States like a truck driver.

Thus, there are various benefits to gain by earning a commercial driver's license.

Type of Commercial Driver’s License

There are different types of commercial driving licenses: it depends on the vehicle and its gross weight, among other factors. The different classes of CDL licenses determine which vehicles can be handled and the endorsements that must be obtained. Here are the different types of commercial driver licenses; 

Class A CDL License 

This CDL license class describes that you can operate a vehicle with a total weight combination or GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of about 26,001 pounds or above. It is important to note that the towed vehicle must be heavier than 10,000 pounds. Some of the vehicles that belong to the class A categories are tractors, trucks, tankers, trailers, livestock carriers, and flatbeds.

Class B CDL License 

This class of CDL license allows you to operate a single vehicle not hitched to any truck or trailer that has a total weight of more than 26,000 pounds. This includes trucks that have been detached that weigh less than 10,000 pounds. Some of the vehicles that belong to the class B category include segmented buses, straight trucks, dump trucks with small trailers, and large passenger buses.

Class C CDL License 

The CDL Class C license is required in the following cases: when the vehicle you want to drive does not meet the criteria of the Class