CDL General Knowledge (Texas)

First published: September 3, 2026Last verified: September 3, 2026Reviewed by the CertQuestUSA team

TL;DR

CDL General Knowledge (Texas): a 124-question practice bank for the real CDL Permit & Endorsement Exams standard, 2 full papers of 50 questions each with no repeats, every question citing the real regulation it comes from.

Where these questions come from

Every question in this bank cites a real source -- primarily FMCSA CDL Manual (77%) and 49 CFR (23%) of this exam's citations.

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2

full papers, no repeats

50

questions per paper

124

questions in the bank

What this exam covers

Accident Procedures & Fires6%
Alcohol & Other Drugs8%
Basic Control & Shifting10%
Emergency Maneuvers & Skid Control10%
Staying Alert, Fatigue & Hours of Service6%
Hazard Perception & Distracted/Aggressive Driving8%
Hazardous Materials Awareness (General Knowledge)2%
Mountain Driving4%
Night Driving & Extreme Conditions10%
Railroad-Highway Crossings4%
Seeing & Communicating8%
Speed & Space Management10%
Vehicle Inspection14%

Real Texas CDL requirements

The knowledge tested here is federal (FMCSA) and identical nationwide -- what varies by state is who administers it and under what terms. Researched directly from Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)'s own site, verified 2026-09-03.

Administering agency

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Minimum CLP hold before road test

14 days

CLP validity

180 days (6 months)

Spanish-language knowledge test

English only

Texas discontinued Spanish-language CDL knowledge testing effective June 1, 2026 -- all CDL knowledge exams are now English-only, aligning with the federal FMCSA English Language Proficiency enforcement push. Interpreters are prohibited.

Section 14 commercial rules apply to certain intrastate operations.

5 real sample questions

Why should water generally not be used on an electrical (Class C) fire?

A. Water has no effect on any type of fire

B. Water can conduct electricity, creating a shock hazard for the person fighting the fire

C. Water is too heavy to transport in a fire extinguisher

D. There is no danger in using water on an electrical fire

Source: FMCSA CDL Manual §2.21

If the service brakes fail while descending a grade, what is a recommended emergency action?

A. Shift into a higher gear to try to outrun the failure

B. Downshift, use the emergency/parking brake progressively, and look for an escape route such as a runaway ramp

C. Turn off the engine immediately while still moving at speed

D. Release the steering wheel to focus entirely on the pedals

Source: FMCSA CDL Manual §2.17

Under the federal tire tread depth standard, what is the minimum tread depth allowed in any major tread groove on a steering axle tire?

A. 1/32 inch

B. 2/32 inch

C. 4/32 inch

D. 6/32 inch

Source: 49 CFR 393.75

What is the most important reason for performing a pre-trip inspection before every trip?

A. To satisfy your dispatcher that the truck left on time

B. To find problems that could cause a crash or breakdown before they happen on the road

C. To reduce the number of miles logged for the day

D. To avoid having to fill out any paperwork later

Source: FMCSA CDL Manual §2.1.1

A roadside inspector determines that a commercial motor vehicle has a safety defect serious enough to be an immediate hazard. What is the inspector authorized to do under 49 CFR 396.9?

A. Issue a warning only, since only the motor carrier can pull a vehicle from service

B. Declare the vehicle "out of service" until the defect is corrected

C. Impound the vehicle permanently

D. Fine the driver but allow the vehicle to continue to the next scheduled stop

Source: 49 CFR 396.9

Same exam, other states

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the CertQuestUSA CDL General Knowledge (Texas) practice test?

124 questions total, split into 2 full papers of 50 each with no repeats across papers.

What topics does the CDL General Knowledge (Texas) test cover?

13 domains, with the heaviest weight on Vehicle Inspection (14%), Basic Control & Shifting (10%), and Emergency Maneuvers & Skid Control (10%).

Where do CertQuestUSA's CDL General Knowledge (Texas) questions come from?

Primarily FMCSA CDL Manual (77%) and 49 CFR (23%) of this bank's citations -- computed directly from this exam's own question sources, not a generic description.

Is there a free diagnostic for CDL General Knowledge (Texas)?

Yes -- 10 real questions across the exam's domains, no sign-up required, with a domain-by-domain breakdown at the end.

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