CDL Practice Tests For Driving Rules & Regulations Page 2

Semitrailers may have an overall length of 53 feet, including the load being carried.

Height — The maximum height for all vehicles on all highways is 13 feet, 6 inches, including load from the underside of the tire to the top of the vehicle

Weight — The maximum weight limits on both designated and non-designated state and local streets and highways are:

• 20,000 pounds on a single axle
• 34,000 pounds on a tandem, and
• up to 80,000 pounds on a 5-axle combination, depending upon axle spacings

Second division or combination vehicles longer than 25 feet or wider than 80 inches (excluding mirrors, bumpers and other safety devices) must have special lighting equipment. The following lighting equipment is required on vehicles operated outside the limits of cities, towns or villages between sunset and sunrise:

• Two yellow or amber lights on the front of the vehicle. One light must be on each upper-front corner and visible for 500 feet.
• Three red lights on the rear of the vehicle in a horizontal line and visible for 500 feet.
• Two yellow or amber reflectors on the front of the vehicle. One reflector must be on each lower corner.
• Two red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle. One reflector must be not more than 12 inches from each lower corner.

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR)** of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)* of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

The exam is divided into three parts:

• 1) The pre-trip inspection

  is conducted to determine whether the applicant knows how to inspect the vehicle to see if it is safe to drive. Drivers are asked to conduct a pre-trip inspection. The driver must explain to the examiner what is being inspected and why. Section 2.1 and Section 10 of this study guide explain the pre-trip inspection.

• 2) The basic control skills exam

  evaluates a driver’s ability to use basic skills to control the vehicle. Applicants complete exercises on a course marked by lines, traffic cones or similar boundaries. The exercises test the driver’s ability to move the vehicle forward, backward and through turning movements. Drivers are scored on how well they stay within the boundaries.

• 3) The driving exam

  tests the driver’s ability to drive safely in a variety of on-road situations. The road test route may include left and right turns, intersections, railway crossings, curves, upgrades, downgrades, rural or semi-rural routes, multi-lane city streets and/or expressway driving.

Weight — The maximum weight limits on both designated and non-designated state and local streets and highways are:

• 20,000 pounds on a single axle
• 34,000 pounds on a tandem, and
• up to 80,000 pounds on a 5-axle combination, depending upon axle spacings.

Any driver operating a CMV or non-CMV who refuses to submit to chemical testing or submits to a test with results in excess of the legal limit is disqualified for a minimum 12 months.

Any driver operating a CMV or non-CMV who refuses to submit to chemical testing or submits to a test with results in excess of the legal limit is disqualified for a minimum 12 months.

Knowingly and willfully leaving the scene of an accident while operating a CMV or non-CMV results in disqualification for a minimum 12 months.

Committing a felony while operating a CMV or non-CMV results in disqualification for a minimum 12 months

*GVWR — Value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle or combination of vehicles.