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Class A CDL Practice Test

A Class A CDL is for a combination vehicle. Under 49 CFR 383.91, that means any combination with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle being towed has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 10,000 pounds, such as a tractor pulling a loaded semi-trailer. Your state sets the exact test format; this page covers what the federal rules require everywhere.

What knowledge areas apply

Every CDL applicant, regardless of class, must have the General Knowledge listed at 49 CFR 383.111(a). Because a Class A vehicle is a combination vehicle by definition, 49 CFR 383.111(c) additionally requires knowledge of combination vehicle inspection, coupling and uncoupling, and combination-specific operating practices. If your vehicle is equipped with air brakes, 49 CFR 383.111(b) requires air brake knowledge on top of both of those. Practice all three here:General Knowledge,Air Brakes(25 questions), andCombination Vehicles(20 questions).

The skills test

Under 49 CFR 383.113, the skills test has three parts: a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control skills, and safe on-road driving, each required for the vehicle class you're testing in. Taking the skills test in a combination vehicle means the inspection portion covers the tractor-trailer's special features under 383.113(a)(1)(ix); coupling and uncoupling itself is tested as knowledge under 383.111(c)(1), not as a skills-test maneuver.

Getting there: permit, training, test

The sequence (permit, entry-level driver training if it applies to you, then the skills test) is the same one every CDL applicant follows; seehow to get your CDLfor the full steps and the regulation behind each one. Since February 7, 2022, 49 CFR 380.603 requires completing entry-level driver training (ELDT) from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, and 49 CFR 383.71(a)(10) requires finishing it before a first-time Class A or B applicant can take the skills test, with exceptions for drivers already excepted from CDL requirements, restricted-CDL and qualifying military applicants, anyone only removing a restriction, and anyone who held a CLP before February 7, 2022 and gets their CDL before that CLP expires (380.603(a) and (c)). Training is usually the largest single cost; seewhat a CDL costsfor a real example. Most drivers also need aDOT medical card.

What this doesn't tell you

Your state DMV sets the exact knowledge test's question count, time limit, and the manual it's drawn from, and decides exactly what a Class A license authorizes you to drive beyond the Group A definition above. Confirm those details with your state before test day. See ourCDL study guidefor a topic-by-topic walkthrough of each section, orClass B CDL practice testif you're not sure Class A is the right one.

Start practicing Combination Vehicles

Frequently asked questions

What vehicle qualifies for a Class A CDL?

A Class A CDL covers any combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the towed vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 10,000 pounds, under 49 CFR 383.91. A common example is a tractor pulling a loaded semi-trailer.

What knowledge tests does a Class A CDL require?

A Class A applicant needs General Knowledge under 49 CFR 383.111(a), Combination Vehicles under 383.111(c) because a Class A vehicle is a combination vehicle by definition, and Air Brakes under 383.111(b) if the vehicle has air brakes. All three are required knowledge areas, not optional add-ons.

Does a Class A skills test differ from a Class B one?

Yes. Taking the skills test in a combination vehicle adds an inspection item for the tractor-trailer's special features, under 49 CFR 383.113(a)(1)(ix), that a Class B test doesn't include. Coupling and uncoupling itself is tested as knowledge under 383.111(c)(1), not as a skills-test maneuver.