We've broken our California CDL practice tests into 16 categories which will cover the entire CDL permit exam, all of the CDL endorsement exams, and your job duties as a driver.
Driving Rules And Regulations will cover the basics like who needs a CDL, CDL classifications, CDL reqiurements and disqualifications, and why special CDL endorsements are sometimes required.
Transporting Cargo will cover the different terms related to truck and cargo weights, driver responsibilities regarding overweight trucks, the safe loading of cargo, and cargo securement.
Safe Driving will cover the basics of a pre-trip inspection, basic control and backing, speed and lane control, managing space around your vehicle, and driving in poor weather conditions.
Transporting Passengers is required for the passenger endorsement and will cover the basics of a pre-trip inspection for a bus, loading and securing passenger cargo, and school bus safety.
The School Bus Endorsement is required in some states for driving a school bus. This section covers loading and unloading passengers safely, bus inspection, and regulations for passenger transport.
Air Brakes will cover the various parts of an air brake system, air brake inspection, proper braking techniques, the differences between air brakes and hydraulic brakes, and stopping distance.
Combination Vehicles is a requirement for driving a tractor trailer and will cover combination vehicle air brakes, coupling and uncoupling trailers, and combination vehicle air brake inspection.
Doubles And Triples is an endorsement needed to pull double trailers or triple trailers and will cover coupling and uncoupling of doubles and triples, inspection, and air brake tests.
Tankers is a required endorsement to pull tanker trailers or large totes of liquid and will cover the pre-trip inspection of tankers, tanker loading, and safe driving for tankers.
Hazardous Materials is an endorsement required to pull hazardous cargo and covers labels and placards, loading and unloading hazardous materials, parking and routing, and emergency response.
Pre-Trip Inspection will cover the inspection of the outside of the truck, the air brake system, inspection of the trailer, engine start and check, and driver responsibilities.
Driving Exam will cover the reqiurements for passing the CDL driving exam, the CDL driving exam scoring system, upgrades and downgrades, and the basics of the driving exam itself.
Logbook Rules is not a requirement for the CDL permit or endorsements but it's critical for doing your job. This is a very thorough section which covers all of the rules governing the logbook.
Weight Distribution is not a requirement for the permit or endorsements but is critical for doing your job. It will cover cargo loading, weight distribution, fuel calculations, and center of gravity.
Flatbed Cargo Securement is not required unless you're pulling a flatbed. This section covers tiedown components, securing devices, working load limits, and requirements for different types of freight.
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You must provide one form of acceptable residency when applying for an original California driver license. When using a mailing address that is a post office box or general delivery, you must provide an actual place of residence on your application. The address on the residency documents must match the residence address on your application.
Examples of Residency Proof:
Commercial Licenses are handled at the following locations:
California has many offices throughout the state. Click here to find the latest location and hours information.
To allow you sufficient time for testing, DMV will not administer knowledge tests within 30 minutes of closing. See hours of operation for the field office you are visiting.
Is valid for a maximum of 180 days from the date issued, and may be renewed for an additional 180 days, provided the CLP expiration date does not exceed a period of one year from the initial application date. (If you present limited term legal presence documents, your CLP may expire on the same date as your legal presence documents.)
Commercial drivers in interstate commerce and drivers applying for, or who hold, a certificate to drive a School Bus, School Pupil Activity Bus, Youth Bus, General Public Paratransit Vehicle, or Farm Labor Vehicle must use medical examiners listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry). The National Registry is a Federal program establishing requirements for healthcare professionals that perform physical qualification examinations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This program was developed to improve highway safety and driver health by requiring medical examiners be trained and certified so they can determine effectively whether a commercial driver's medical fitness for duty meets federal standards. Contact information for medical examiners is available online at the National Registry website. The National Registry website can be found here
After completing a commercial medical examination, applicants will need to submit the Medical Examination Report form (form 5875) and a Medical Examiner's Certificate form (form 5876) when applying for an original commercial learner’s permit. The forms must be dated within the last 2 years. School bus drivers 65 years of age and older must submit a new medical report to DMV every year.
The forms must be completed by one of the following providers who is listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners as clinically competent to perform the medical examination:
The medical examiner will complete and sign a Medical Examiner's Certificate for you to carry when you are driving commercially. You can be given a citation for driving out of class if you drive a CMV after your certification expires.
A commercial driver who does not pass the medical examination may qualify for a California intrastate restricted medical certificate (DL 51B). These drivers must submit a Medical Examination Report to DMV showing they did not pass the medical examination in order to be considered for an intrastate restricted medical certificate.
You must take 1 or more knowledge tests, depending on what class of license and what endorsements you need. If the applicant is adding an endorsement, but not upgrading to a higher classification, waive all knowledge and endorsement tests that were completed or waived on the previous application, including HazMat, if the new application is started within 12 months of the previous renewal date or original CDL issue date.
The CDL knowledge tests include:
Through the Troops to Trucks program, the DMV is making it easier for personnel trained by the military in the operation of heavy vehicles to obtain a civilian commercial driver license. A commercial driver license is required in California to operate large trucks and buses.
The Troops to Trucks program allows the DMV to waive the CDL driving test for qualified military service members who are, or were employed within the last year, in a military position requiring the operation of a military motor vehicle equivalent to a commercial motor vehicle on public roads and highways. Waiving the driving test requirement streamlines the CDL application process for service men and women and eliminates the need to provide a commercial motor vehicle. The driving test will not be waived for a school bus and/or passenger endorsement.
You can get more details on the program here
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