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Alabama CDL practice

Selected knowledge practice, not a complete licensing course or practical training.

Alabama CDL Practice Test 1

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Question 1 of 20
  1. 1. A car passed your truck and may now be beside the trailer. Which habit helps you track changes like this?
  2. 2. An exit ramp has a tight curve. Why should a truck driver reduce speed before entering it?
  3. 3. Your loaded truck is entering an uphill stretch. Which expectation should guide your planning?
  4. 4. A driver is struggling to remain alert near the end of a route. Which factor should take priority over finishing on schedule?
  5. 5. A pallet is loose inside a truck even though it cannot fall onto the road. Why does it still need attention?
  6. 6. Traffic is changing lanes through a roadwork area. Which adjustment is appropriate for a truck driver?
  7. 7. Heavy rain reduces visibility and tire grip. Should the truck's normal dry-road following interval remain unchanged?
  8. 8. A truck displays a current periodic-inspection sticker. Does that remove the driver's need for a pre-trip safety check?
  9. 9. The service brakes seem to work, but the parking brake does not hold as intended. What is the appropriate response?
  10. 10. Wheel-bolt holes appear stretched out of round during inspection. What does that finding mean?
  11. 11. A driver notices that part of the truck's frame is sagging and a frame member is cracked. Which response fits the inspection guidance?
  12. 12. A service-brake check passes. What should the driver conclude about the vehicle's separate parking and emergency brake requirements?
  13. 13. The total truck weight is acceptable, but a tire would carry more than its permitted load. Is the tire requirement satisfied?
  14. 14. For a combination subject to the federal periodic-inspection requirement, does inspection of the tractor alone cover its separate trailer?
  15. 15. A web tiedown bears against a sharp crate edge that could cut it. What additional protection is needed?
  16. 16. A cylindrical article can roll across the deck despite being prevented from sliding lengthwise. What else is required?
  17. 17. Under the cited general rule, a securement system restrains a 6,000-pound ordinary article. What aggregate working load limit is required at minimum?
  18. 18. An ordinary 4-foot crate weighs 1,500 pounds and is not blocked forward. What is the general minimum tiedown count?
  19. 19. An ordinary 21-foot article is properly blocked against forward movement. Under the general count rule for that arrangement, how many tiedowns are required at minimum?
  20. 20. Bulk liquid carried in a structural tank is outside these article-securement rules. Does that statement establish that its transportation has no other safety requirements?
Review all 20 questions with answers

  1. A car passed your truck and may now be beside the trailer. Which habit helps you track changes like this?

    Correct answer: Check mirrors regularly while continuing to scan the road ahead.

    FMCSA recommends regular mirror checks, about every 8 to 10 seconds. Mirror checks complement forward observation; staring into one mirror creates another blind interval.

    Source: FMCSA Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers; 1. Check Your Blind Spots. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  2. An exit ramp has a tight curve. Why should a truck driver reduce speed before entering it?

    Correct answer: Excessive entry speed increases the risk of a rollover.

    Curves and ramps demand a speed suitable for the vehicle, its load and the conditions. The ability to stay within a posted limit does not remove rollover risk.

    Source: FMCSA Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers; 2. Be Aware of Long Stopping Distances. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  3. Your loaded truck is entering an uphill stretch. Which expectation should guide your planning?

    Correct answer: It may accelerate more slowly as it climbs.

    Large vehicles can accelerate slowly uphill. Plan around the vehicle's actual performance and surrounding traffic rather than assuming passenger-car acceleration.

    Source: FMCSA Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers; 5. Drive at a Safe Speed. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  4. A driver is struggling to remain alert near the end of a route. Which factor should take priority over finishing on schedule?

    Correct answer: The driver's ability to operate safely without fatigue.

    A timetable does not restore alertness. Do not continue driving while fatigue makes safe operation doubtful; arrange a safe stop and appropriate rest.

    Source: FMCSA Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers; 6. Stay Focused and Avoid Distracted Driving. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  5. A pallet is loose inside a truck even though it cannot fall onto the road. Why does it still need attention?

    Correct answer: A shift inside the vehicle can affect stability and control.

    Securement protects against more than cargo falling off. A load that shifts within a truck can destabilize it and contribute to loss of control.

    Source: FMCSA Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers; 8. Maintain Your Vehicle. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  6. Traffic is changing lanes through a roadwork area. Which adjustment is appropriate for a truck driver?

    Correct answer: Reduce speed and allow extra following space.

    Work zones can involve abrupt stops, lane shifts, uneven pavement and people near traffic. More space and a lower speed provide additional response time.

    Source: FMCSA Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers; 10. Practice Work Zone Safety. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  7. Heavy rain reduces visibility and tire grip. Should the truck's normal dry-road following interval remain unchanged?

    Correct answer: No; increase the interval to suit the poorer conditions.

    The cited FMCSA guidance calls for more following distance in adverse conditions. Reduced visibility and grip can increase the space needed to recognize a hazard and respond.

    Source: FMCSA CMV Driving Tips - Following Too Closely; TIP #2: Double Your Following Distance in Adverse Conditions. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  8. A truck displays a current periodic-inspection sticker. Does that remove the driver's need for a pre-trip safety check?

    Correct answer: No; periodic inspection and pre-trip responsibility are separate.

    A periodic inspection documents a separate inspection program. The driver must still establish that the vehicle is safe for the trip; a defect can develop after the periodic inspection.

    Source: FMCSA Safety Planner, section 5.2.2 Vehicle Inspections; Pre-trip Inspection and Periodic Inspection. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  9. The service brakes seem to work, but the parking brake does not hold as intended. What is the appropriate response?

    Correct answer: Resolve the parking-brake problem before operating the vehicle.

    The parking brake is a separate item on the pre-trip list. One functioning braking system does not establish that another required system is in good working order.

    Source: FMCSA Safety Planner, section 6.3.4 Equipment, Inspection, and Use; Parts and accessories: parking (hand) brake. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  10. Wheel-bolt holes appear stretched out of round during inspection. What does that finding mean?

    Correct answer: The wheel has a defect that requires attention.

    Elongated stud or bolt holes are a specified wheel defect. Do not treat abnormal hole shape as a harmless feature or compensate by ignoring it.

    Source: FMCSA Safety Planner, section 5.1.15 Wheels; Stud or bolt holes: elongated holes. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  11. A driver notices that part of the truck's frame is sagging and a frame member is cracked. Which response fits the inspection guidance?

    Correct answer: Report and resolve the unsafe frame condition before operation.

    FMCSA's frame guidance excludes cracked, loose, sagging or broken chassis components. Adding cargo or checking an unrelated component is not a repair.

    Source: FMCSA Safety Planner, section 5.1.6 Frames; Frame or chassis condition (393.201). Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  12. A service-brake check passes. What should the driver conclude about the vehicle's separate parking and emergency brake requirements?

    Correct answer: They still need to be satisfied; one check does not cover every system.

    FMCSA distinguishes service, parking and emergency brake requirements. Do not infer the condition of one required system solely from a different system's operation.

    Source: FMCSA Safety Planner, section 5.1.1 Brake Systems; Service, parking and emergency brake requirements. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  13. The total truck weight is acceptable, but a tire would carry more than its permitted load. Is the tire requirement satisfied?

    Correct answer: No; the tire's own load restriction must also be met.

    Vehicle weight and tire loading are separate checks. A legal total does not establish that each tire is suitable for the load actually placed on it.

    Source: FMCSA Safety Planner, section 5.1.14 Tires; Load restrictions and inflation pressure (393.75). Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  14. For a combination subject to the federal periodic-inspection requirement, does inspection of the tractor alone cover its separate trailer?

    Correct answer: No; each segment of the combination needs the required inspection.

    The federal periodic-inspection guidance covers each segment of a combination vehicle, at least once every 12 months. Checking one unit does not establish the inspection status of the other.

    Source: FMCSA Safety Planner, section 5.2.2 Vehicle Inspections; Periodic Inspection (396.17, 396.21). Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  15. A web tiedown bears against a sharp crate edge that could cut it. What additional protection is needed?

    Correct answer: Suitable edge protection that resists cutting, abrasion and crushing.

    Where contact could abrade or cut a tiedown, appropriate edge protection is needed. Its material must withstand the loads and contact, not merely cover the edge visually.

    Source: FMCSA Cargo Securement Rules; Proper Use of Tiedowns: edge protection. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  16. A cylindrical article can roll across the deck despite being prevented from sliding lengthwise. What else is required?

    Correct answer: Chocks, a cradle or equivalent restraint against rolling.

    Preventing one type of movement is not enough if the article can roll. Suitable rolling restraints must themselves remain secure during transportation.

    Source: FMCSA Cargo Securement Rules; Cargo Placement and Restraint: rolling articles. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  17. Under the cited general rule, a securement system restrains a 6,000-pound ordinary article. What aggregate working load limit is required at minimum?

    Correct answer: 3,000 pounds.

    The aggregate working load limit must be at least half the article's weight. Half of 6,000 pounds is 3,000 pounds; tiedown configuration and other requirements still matter.

    Source: FMCSA Cargo Securement Rules; Minimum Working Load Limit for Cargo Securement Devices and Systems. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  18. An ordinary 4-foot crate weighs 1,500 pounds and is not blocked forward. What is the general minimum tiedown count?

    Correct answer: Two.

    The crate is within five feet but exceeds 1,100 pounds, so the general rule requires at least two tiedowns. The securement must also provide adequate strength and prevent movement.

    Source: FMCSA Cargo Securement Rules; Minimum Number of Tiedowns: short heavier article. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  19. An ordinary 21-foot article is properly blocked against forward movement. Under the general count rule for that arrangement, how many tiedowns are required at minimum?

    Correct answer: Three.

    For a properly forward-blocked article, the general rule calls for at least one tiedown for each ten feet or fraction of ten feet. Twenty-one feet spans three such intervals.

    Source: FMCSA Cargo Securement Rules; Minimum Number of Tiedowns: forward-blocked article. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

  20. Bulk liquid carried in a structural tank is outside these article-securement rules. Does that statement establish that its transportation has no other safety requirements?

    Correct answer: No; that exclusion is limited to these article-securement provisions.

    The cited exception concerns shapeless bulk material in the appropriate structural containment. It does not erase other vehicle, tank, loading or hazardous-material requirements that may apply.

    Source: FMCSA Cargo Securement Rules; Applicability of the New Rules: bulk commodities. Federal CMV guidance for covered operations, not Alabama licensing procedures. ↗

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Home / Alabama / CDL practice

Alabama CDL practice

Start with 20 questions on commercial-vehicle safety. Each answer includes an explanation.

Selected practice, not a complete Alabama CDL course or an official exam.

Topics and coverage

Driving basics, air-brake, combination, tank, doubles/triples, passenger, school-bus, hazardous-materials, initial licensing, written skills preparation, selected driver responsibilities, and road conditions and emergencies are available. Additional Alabama licensing requirements, intrastate exceptions and complete endorsement and skills coverage are still needed; this is not a complete CDL course.

Focus on a basics topic

20 questions

Safe driving and space

20 questions

Vehicle inspection and defects

20 questions

Cargo and securement

Equipment, licensing and skills preparation

40 questions

Air brakes

2 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

40 questions

Combination vehicles

2 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

20 questions

Tank vehicles

1 focused test, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

20 questions

Doubles and triples

1 focused test, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

40 questions

Passenger transport

2 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

60 questions

School bus safety

3 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

80 questions

Hazardous materials basics

4 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

41 questions

Licensing and learner permits

2 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

60 questions

Inspection and skills preparation

3 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

20 questions

Driver responsibilities and disqualification

1 focused test, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

40 questions

Road conditions and emergencies

2 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

40 questions

Federal hours of service and logs

2 focused tests, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

20 questions

Cargo inspection and load planning

1 focused test, shuffled practice and mistake review. Source details distinguish general knowledge, Alabama procedures and modernized inspection checks.

Sources and coverage

The basics question set has 60 original scenarios: 20 safe-driving, 20 inspection and 20 cargo questions. The three numbered tests partition those records; topic tests and random attempts reuse the same questions. No official or competitor practice questions was extracted.

Sources checked September 21, 2026: FMCSA safety guidance and its Motor Carrier Safety Planner. The cited federal rules concern covered CMV operations, particularly interstate operations; they are not presented as Alabama-specific licensing or intrastate exceptions. Safety recommendations, such as following-time guidelines, are labeled as guidance. The official guidance is not a substitute for applicable regulations. The rub-rail scenario was corrected September 22, 2026, using current 49 CFR 393.104: the former federal inboard-routing clause was removed in 2006.

An additional 40 air-brake questions use the current ALEA-linked manual and modernized supplement, with separate source details on the air-brake page. A separate 40-question combination question set covers driving, trailer air connections and coupling checks from section 6 of the main manual. Two further 20-practice questions introduce tank vehicles and doubles/triples equipment knowledge. Another 40 passenger-safety scenarios use manual section 4 and FMCSA motorcoach/railroad guidance. A 60-question school-bus question set covers chapter 10 safety principles. An 80-question hazardous-materials question set covers federal shipping papers, training, emergency information, placarding and selected transport-safety and incident-reporting scenarios. Another 41 licensing questions introduce CDL classes, restrictions, permit rules, ELDT, selected current ALEA procedures and the in-state leg of an interstate cargo journey. The two original licensing sets keep their 40 records; one separate commerce scenario is on the licensing page and in its random/review question selection. A further 60 questions introduce modernized inspection demonstrations, all four basic-control exercise instructions and selected road-test procedures; this written preparation does not replace supervised practical training. A separate 20-question supplement adds employer notifications, disqualification consequences, Clearinghouse duties and selected ALEA self-certification procedures. A separate 40-practice questions covers road hazards, visibility, weather and emergency responses, including hydraulic versus air-brake distinctions. Another 40 questions distinguish federal interstate truck and passenger hours-of-service limits, qualifying rest, short-haul conditions, duty records and ELD responsibilities; these are not Alabama intrastate rules. A 20-question cargo-operations supplement adds en-route inspection triggers, sealed-load qualifications, equipment capacities and weight-distribution decisions without changing the basics tiedown-count questions. Additional Alabama licensing requirements, state-specific exceptions, complete endorsement coverage and the complete skills-test curriculum still need coverage. Read the applicable official manuals and requirements and obtain practical training. This is not a complete general-knowledge course or an official exam simulation.

basics random practice uses 25 questions and an editorial target of 20 correct. Those numbers are our learning settings, not verified official Alabama exam specifications. Practice is untimed, with immediate explanations.

Read the 12 basics source pages