Tennessee · CDL

Tennessee CDL Practice Test

The Tennessee CDL knowledge test is administered by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division. This free practice test covers the 10 areas the Tennessee Commercial Driver License Manual teaches, from tennessee cdl classes permits testing and driver qualifications to hazardous materials and school bus safety, with 100 questions written for Tennessee and every answer explained. Pick 25, 50, or 100 questions and start; there is no sign-up.

Start freeSee what is on the test
Free practice test

Take the Tennessee CDL practice test

The Tennessee bank holds 100 questions written for the Tennessee Commercial Driver License Manual, 1 of them illustrated with a sign, signal, marking, or road scene. Choose a Quick check of 25, a Practice run of 50, or the Full challenge of 100 on the next screen, then choose coaching mode, which explains every answer as you go, or exam mode, which holds the explanations until the end and still shows your running score. It is free, there is no sign-up, and a test in progress is saved on this device.

Start the Tennessee practice test
Sample questions

Six questions from the Tennessee bank, with the rule behind each answer

Sample 1 · Tennessee Cdl Classes Permits Testing And Driver Qualifications

At a Nashville carrier's credential-planning huddle, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A truck-trailer combination is rated at 28,900 pounds, with an 11,300-pound-GVWR trailer. Which CDL class covers it? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.

  1. The Tennessee training record should say: class A because the combination reaches 26,001 pounds and the towed vehicle is above 10,000 poundsCorrect
  2. The Tennessee training record should say: class B because a single trailer can never make a Class A combination
  3. The Tennessee training record should say: class C because the trailer rating is below the combination rating
  4. The Tennessee training record should say: no CDL because neither unit alone has a 26,001-pound rating

Why: Class A covers a combination rated at least 26,001 pounds when the towed vehicle or vehicles have a gross vehicle weight rating above 10,000 pounds. The Tennessee scenario therefore supports "The Tennessee training record should say: class A because the combination reaches 26,001 pounds and the towed vehicle is above 10,000 pounds".

Sample 2 · Speed Space Hazards Weather And Railroad Crossings

In a Knoxville fleet briefing about speed and road hazards, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A delivery truck's flat mirror leaves a blind strip beside the cargo body. How should the driver use the convex mirror fitted below it? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.

  1. The Tennessee training record should say: use the convex view to monitor a wider area while remembering that vehicles appear smaller and farther awayCorrect
  2. The Tennessee training record should say: judge exact following distance from the convex view because it shows true size
  3. The Tennessee training record should say: aim the convex mirror only at the truck's own rear tire and ignore adjacent traffic
  4. The Tennessee training record should say: replace all direct observation with the convex image during lane changes

Why: Mirror checks should be brief, and convex mirrors require judgment because they make objects appear smaller and farther away than they are. The Tennessee scenario therefore supports "The Tennessee training record should say: use the convex view to monitor a wider area while remembering that vehicles appear smaller and farther away".

Sample 3 · Cargo Inspection Weight Balance And Securement

During a Jackson cargo-control review, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Warehouse employees load and tie down every pallet while the driver waits in the cab. Who remains accountable for safe cargo before departure? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.

  1. The Tennessee training record should say: the driver, who must be satisfied that the load is properly distributed and securedCorrect
  2. The Tennessee training record should say: only the forklift operator because that person touched the freight
  3. The Tennessee training record should say: the consignee, but only after the truck arrives
  4. The Tennessee training record should say: nobody aboard the vehicle when a sealed trailer is involved

Why: Even when another person loads the vehicle, the driver remains responsible for inspection, overload and balance recognition, securement, clear visibility, and access to emergency equipment. The Tennessee scenario therefore supports "The Tennessee training record should say: the driver, who must be satisfied that the load is properly distributed and secured".

Sample 4 · Passenger Vehicle Inspection Loading And Operation

At a Murfreesboro passenger-service safety meeting, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: The previous bus inspection report lists a broken seat frame. What must the next driver confirm before signing the report? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.

  1. The Tennessee training record should say: the report is more than one day old and can therefore be ignored
  2. The Tennessee training record should say: the bus completed one trip after the defect was found
  3. The Tennessee training record should say: the defect was repaired, or the carrier certified that immediate repair was unnecessaryCorrect
  4. The Tennessee training record should say: a passenger agreed not to sit in the damaged seat

Why: A bus driver signs the previous driver's inspection report only after listed defects have been certified as repaired or certified as not requiring repair. The Tennessee scenario therefore supports "The Tennessee training record should say: the defect was repaired, or the carrier certified that immediate repair was unnecessary".

Sample 5 · Combination Vehicle Control Coupling And Inspection

At a Cookeville combination-vehicle workshop, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A trailer is loaded with heavy rolls stacked high along its left wall. Which correction most directly reduces rollover risk? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.

  1. The Tennessee training record should say: leave the load in place and compensate by steering more sharply
  2. The Tennessee training record should say: add more weight high on the right wall without lowering either side
  3. The Tennessee training record should say: move the heavy cargo lower, nearer the center, and distribute its weight across the vehicleCorrect
  4. The Tennessee training record should say: concentrate the entire load at the rear doors above the floor

Why: Combination cargo should be kept low, centered, and distributed because a high or side-biased center of gravity increases rollover risk. The Tennessee scenario therefore supports "The Tennessee training record should say: move the heavy cargo lower, nearer the center, and distribute its weight across the vehicle".

Sample 6 · Hazardous Materials And School Bus Safety

At a Tennessee school-bus and hazmat safety seminar, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A shipper offers a leaking hazardous-material package with incomplete preparation. What responsibility remains with the accepting driver? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.

  1. The Tennessee training record should say: load it near the cab so the driver can ignore preparation defects
  2. The Tennessee training record should say: accept it because all package responsibility ends with the shipper
  3. The Tennessee training record should say: reject the package, then maintain proper papers and placards and transport only a compliant shipment safelyCorrect
  4. The Tennessee training record should say: cover the leak with a placard and omit the shipping papers

Why: The hazardous-material driver rejects leaking or improperly prepared packages, maintains required placards and papers, and transports the shipment safely after shipper and carrier checks. The Tennessee scenario therefore supports "The Tennessee training record should say: reject the package, then maintain proper papers and placards and transport only a compliant shipment safely".

What is on the test

The 10 topics the Tennessee CDL practice test covers

These are Tennessee's own topic areas, from tennessee cdl classes permits testing and driver qualifications to hazardous materials and school bus safety, each with 10 questions. Under each one are two questions from the bank, shown without their answers; the practice test explains every one of them.

  1. Tennessee Cdl Classes Permits Testing And Driver Qualifications10 questions
    • At a Nashville carrier's credential-planning huddle, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A 31,200-pound-GVWR straight truck tows a 6,400-pound trailer. What class describes the setup? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • At a Nashville carrier's credential-planning huddle, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A light shuttle is designed for exactly 16 people counting the driver. It does not meet Class A or B weight definitions. What applies? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  2. Vehicle Inspection Control Visibility And Communication10 questions
    • During a Memphis terminal's vehicle-readiness workshop, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Why can discovering a suspension defect before a trip be more important than meeting the delivery schedule? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • During a Memphis terminal's vehicle-readiness workshop, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: During travel, the driver hears a new scraping sound and feels steering vibration while a gauge moves outside its normal range. What should follow? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  3. Speed Space Hazards Weather And Railroad Crossings10 questions
    • In a Knoxville fleet briefing about speed and road hazards, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Traffic is close behind as a tractor approaches a left turn into a narrow terminal entrance. Which signal routine gives others the clearest warning? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • In a Knoxville fleet briefing about speed and road hazards, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Rain has just begun after a dry spell, and shallow water is collecting in the wheel tracks. What speed decision best addresses the loss of traction? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  4. Emergencies Abs Skids Crashes Fires And Driver Fitness10 questions
    • At a Chattanooga emergency-response tabletop session, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A stalled car suddenly blocks the lane and the escape shoulder is open. How should a driver steer around it without creating a second loss of control? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • At a Chattanooga emergency-response tabletop session, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: The road ahead closes unexpectedly, but the vehicle still has traction and room to stop straight. What does controlled braking call for? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  5. Cargo Inspection Weight Balance And Securement10 questions
    • During a Jackson cargo-control review, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A newly loaded truck leaves a Minneapolis terminal. When is the first en-route cargo securement inspection due? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • During a Jackson cargo-control review, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: After the initial cargo check, a driver continues without loading or route changes. Which interval governs later rechecks? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  6. Passenger Vehicle Inspection Loading And Operation10 questions
    • At a Murfreesboro passenger-service safety meeting, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A bus is ready to move, but a roof hatch is open for ventilation and a side access panel is unlatched. What should the driver do? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • At a Murfreesboro passenger-service safety meeting, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Carry-on bags are stacked in the aisle between occupied seats and the rear exit. Why must they be moved? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  7. Air Brake Components Inspection And Use10 questions
    • During a Clarksville air-brake systems clinic, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A mechanic distinguishes the three functions built into an air-braked vehicle. Which description matches them? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • During a Clarksville air-brake systems clinic, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: System pressure reaches the governor's upper setting and the compressor stops pumping. When should pumping resume? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  8. Combination Vehicle Control Coupling And Inspection10 questions
    • At a Cookeville combination-vehicle workshop, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: A sudden lane change is magnified as motion travels toward the rear of a multiple-unit combination. How should that affect steering? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • At a Cookeville combination-vehicle workshop, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Why can a bobtail tractor be less forgiving under braking than the same tractor pulling a loaded trailer? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  9. Doubles Triples And Tank Vehicle Operation10 questions
    • During a Tri-Cities specialized-equipment briefing, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: In a triple-trailer combination, which unit faces the greatest crack-the-whip rollover risk during an abrupt steering input? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • During a Tri-Cities specialized-equipment briefing, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: One semitrailer in a twin set is much heavier than the other. Which coupling order gives the better handling arrangement? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
  10. Hazardous Materials And School Bus Safety10 questions
    • At a Tennessee school-bus and hazmat safety seminar, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Where should hazardous-material shipping papers be kept while the driver is belted and the vehicle is moving? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
    • At a Tennessee school-bus and hazmat safety seminar, a trainee works through this independently worded scenario: Which sequence contains the basic hazardous-material description on a shipping paper? The conclusion will be recorded in the Volunteer State carrier's instructional log.
How to prepare

A study plan for the Tennessee CDL knowledge test

1

Find out where you stand

Take a Quick check of 25 in coaching mode. Read each explanation, including the ones you got right; it tells you the rule Tennessee tests, not just the answer.

2

Study the topics you missed

Your account's Study tab ranks the 10 topics by your results. Read that chapter of the Tennessee Commercial Driver License Manual, then take another Quick check to confirm the gap has closed.

3

Rehearse the real thing

Take the Full challenge of 100 in exam mode. Aim for 80 percent or better twice in a row; at that point you are answering from the rules, not from memory of the questions.

Questions

Tennessee CDL practice test questions

Is this the official Tennessee CDL knowledge test?

No. DMV Exam Pass is an independent study service and is not affiliated with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division. The questions are written in the style of the exam to prepare you for it; the official test is taken with the agency.

What does the Tennessee CDL practice test cover?

The 100 questions are spread evenly across 10 topics: Tennessee Cdl Classes Permits Testing And Driver Qualifications, Vehicle Inspection Control Visibility And Communication, Speed Space Hazards Weather And Railroad Crossings, Emergencies Abs Skids Crashes Fires And Driver Fitness, Cargo Inspection Weight Balance And Securement, Passenger Vehicle Inspection Loading And Operation, Air Brake Components Inspection And Use, Combination Vehicle Control Coupling And Inspection, Doubles Triples And Tank Vehicle Operation, and Hazardous Materials And School Bus Safety. Every test you take draws from all of them, so a weak area shows up quickly.

How many questions are in the practice test, and how long does it take?

The Tennessee bank holds 100 questions. A Quick check of 25 takes about ten minutes, a Practice run of 50 about twenty, and the Full challenge of 100 about forty. You can pause any time.

Are these the real questions from the Tennessee exam?

No. Nobody outside the agency has the real questions, and we do not use, claim, or advertise leaked or exact exam questions. These are independently written questions that test the same rules, so what you learn transfers to whatever the real test asks.

Which handbook should I study for the Tennessee CDL knowledge test?

The Tennessee Commercial Driver License Manual, published by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division. Every question here is written for it, and each explanation names the rule, so when you miss a question you know which chapter to read.

What is the difference between coaching mode and exam mode?

Coaching mode shows whether each answer was right, and why, before you move on; it is for learning. Exam mode holds the explanations and the correct choices until the end and still shows your running score; it is for checking readiness. Both draw from the same bank, and scoring happens on our servers, so no answer key is loaded in your browser.

Does the practice test include road signs and pictures?

Yes. 1 of the 100 questions are illustrated with a sign, signal, marking, or road scene, the way the CDL knowledge test presents them.

Is the Tennessee practice test free, and do I need an account?

It is free, with no sign-up. An optional account saves your progress across devices and shows which topics need work.

Can I pause and come back later?

Yes. A test in progress is saved on this device and offered again when you return. With an account, it is saved to your account as well, so you can continue on another device.

What score should I aim for before test day?

Aim for 80 percent or better on a Full challenge in exam mode, more than once. The official passing score is set by the agency; scoring consistently above 80 here means you are answering from the rules rather than from luck.