Start with the official Ohio manual
The linked manual is marked HSY 7605 7/26. Sections 11–12 are dated March 2025. The driving, cargo and other specialist chapters retain July 2017 footers; the publication date does not mean every rule or chapter was rewritten in 2026. Our regulatory questions use the applicable federal source when a handbook summary is simplified. Check current BMV requirements separately.
- Vehicle inspection and basic controlPrinted page 2-1 · PDF page 19
- Mirrors, observation and signalsPrinted page 2-10 · PDF page 28
- Stopping, traction and following spacePrinted page 2-13 · PDF page 31
- Hazards, distractions and fatiguePrinted page 2-17 · PDF page 35
- Weather, railroad crossings and gradesPrinted page 2-25 · PDF page 43
- Emergency control, ABS, skids and firesPrinted page 2-31 · PDF page 49
- Cargo inspection, balance and securementPrinted page 3-1 · PDF page 61
- Air brakesPrinted page 5-1 · PDF page 69
- Passenger vehiclesPrinted page 4-1 · PDF page 65
- Combination vehiclesPrinted page 6-1 · PDF page 79
- Tank vehiclesPrinted page 8-1 · PDF page 95
- Doubles and triplesPrinted page 7-1 · PDF page 91
- Hazardous materialsPrinted page 9-1 · PDF page 97
- School busesPrinted page 10-1 · PDF page 117
- Vehicle inspection testPrinted page 11-1 · PDF page 129
- Basic-control skills testPrinted page 12-1 · PDF page 143
- On-road driving testPrinted page 13-1 · PDF page 149
Vehicle control and safe driving
64 questions on inspection, backing, gears, mirrors, speed, stopping and space.
Road conditions and emergencies
64 questions on hazards, distraction, weather, crossings, grades, ABS and emergency decisions.
Cargo safety and securement
48 questions on cargo checks, balance, restraints, working load limits and tiedown counts.
Combination vehicles
48 questions on trailer control, air connections, fifth wheels, coupling, uncoupling and breakaway protection.
Passenger vehicles
40 questions on bus inspection, passenger loading, standee limits, safe stops, baggage and restricted articles.
Tank vehicles
24 questions on tank classification, leaks, valves, vents, surge, baffles, outage and load distribution.
Doubles and triples
24 questions on converter dollies, multiple-trailer control, coupling, inspections and federal safety equipment.
School bus
64 questions on danger zones, Ohio loading rules, railroad stops, evacuation, pupil safety and school-bus operation.
Hazardous materials
80 questions on training, shipping papers, labels, placards, handling precautions, parking and incident response.
Inspection and skills preparation
80 written preparation questions: 48 vehicle inspection, 16 basic control and 16 on-road testing scenarios.
Ohio inspection and skills guide
Study the March 2025 Sections 11 and 12 with your instructor. The manual allows up to 30 minutes for inspection and 40 minutes for basic control. These are practical-test limits, not timers for our written quizzes. Begin in the cab and successfully perform the brake check before exiting.
Use only the provided checklist, without extra notes written before the test. Name and identify each required item and explain what you inspect it for. Follow the manufacturer’s procedure for the actual brake system. This limited inspection test does not replace your full operating inspection duties.
| Exercise | Position to demonstrate | Specific instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Forward stop | Frontmost reference point in the stop box. | One stop; follow the examiner’s reference point. |
| Straight-line backing | Back until the front clears the far-end cones. | One free pull-up; one safe outside look. |
| Forward offset tracking | Rightmost rear tire between cone and line; finish parallel. | No stopping, backing up or exiting during the maneuver. |
| Reverse offset backing | Finish straight, rear reference point inside the three-foot box. | Two free pull-ups; at most two safe outside looks. |
Opening the door counts as a look even if you remain seated. Secure the vehicle before a permitted look; stop immediately if the examiner signals. At the instructed finish, set the parking brake, select neutral or park and sound the horn. Written practice cannot pass these hands-on stages or replace required training.
Use the right kind of distance
Looking 12–15 seconds ahead is a scanning habit, not the following-gap rule. The handbook's good-condition following guideline uses at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length below 40 mph, with another second above 40 mph. Thus a 40-foot truck at 35 mph starts with four seconds, while a 60-foot rig at 50 mph starts with seven. Poor conditions require more space.
Stopping distance includes travel before the brake pedal is applied. In turns, rear wheels follow an inside path: a clear front bumper does not prove rear clearance. Know your vehicle's current height and load, and stop to check uncertain backing clearance.
Independent knowledge practice. The cited paragraphs and their scope control each rule question; the handbook's diagrams are linked at their official source, not reproduced here.
Cargo: check count and capacity separately
The handbook gives a simplified tiedown recommendation. Federal questions here use the actual rule, including its short-and-light and forward-blocked cases. These examples assume the general count rule applies, with no special-purpose exception; they do not approve a complete securement plan.
| Article | Forward blocking | Tiedowns |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft · 1,000 lb | Not blocked | At least 1 |
| 4 ft · 1,400 lb | Not blocked | At least 2 |
| Exactly 10 ft | Not blocked | At least 2 |
| 21 ft | Not blocked | At least 4 |
| 21 ft | Adequately blocked | At least 3 |
Count is only one check. Aggregate working load limit must also reach at least half the article's weight. A direct vehicle-to-cargo tiedown or a tiedown returning to the same side contributes half its WLL; an over-the-cargo tiedown between opposite sides contributes its full WLL. The weakest relevant component or anchor limits the assembly's rating. Commodity-specific rules can add requirements.
Independent knowledge practice. The cited paragraphs and their scope control each rule question; the handbook's diagrams are linked at their official source, not reproduced here.
How we built this practice
The 660 CDL questions include 216 general knowledge, 64 air brakes, 48 combination vehicles, 40 passenger, 24 tank, 24 doubles, 64 school bus, 80 hazmat, 80 skills and 20 licensing. The specialist question sets stay separate from general practice. Short tests reuse those question sets. Our 50-question mixed session and 40-correct target are study settings, not a verified official test specification. Endorsement and skills questions are separate knowledge-preparation question sets, not an exhaustive substitute for the official manual. These quizzes do not replace hands-on inspection and skills training.