The CDL Skills Test: What to Expect
Three parts in a fixed order: the pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control on a range, and the on-road drive. The vehicle you bring decides what your license lets you drive afterwards.
The three parts
The skills test is set out in 49 CFR 383.113 and the order does not vary. You take the pre-trip inspection first, then basic vehicle control, then the on-road drive, and failing one normally ends the test there.
- 1. Pre-trip vehicle inspection
- You identify safety-related parts and explain what you are checking and why, covering the engine compartment, cab and start-up, steering, suspension, brakes, wheels, the sides and rear, and any features specific to a tractor-trailer, school bus or coach.
- 2. Basic vehicle control
- Range maneuvers: starting and shutting down, moving off and stopping smoothly, straight line backing, backing along a curved path, turning, and selecting the right gear.
- 3. On-road driving
- A supervised drive covering visual search, communication, speed and space management, turns, intersections, railroad crossings and whatever the route includes.
The vehicle you bring decides your restrictions
This is the part that surprises people, and it is permanent until you retest. Under 49 CFR 383.95, what you test in sets what you are allowed to drive.
- Automatic transmission
- Test in an automatic and the license is restricted from manual transmission vehicles.
- Air over hydraulic brakes
- Test in a vehicle with air over hydraulic brakes and you are restricted from systems operating fully on the air brake principle.
- No air brakes at all
- Test in a vehicle without air brakes, or fail the air brake knowledge test, and you are barred from any commercial vehicle with air brakes.
- Pintle hook instead of a fifth wheel
- Test a Class A combination joined by a non-fifth-wheel connection and you are restricted from tractor-trailers.
- A smaller passenger vehicle
- Take the passenger test in a smaller bus than you intend to drive and the license is restricted to that size and below.
Before you can take it
- Pass the knowledge tests and hold a commercial learner's permit.
- Hold that permit at least 14 days. You are not eligible for the skills test in the first 14 days after it is first issued.
- Complete ELDT behind-the-wheel training with a registered provider if this is your first CDL or first Class A upgrade.
- Supply a vehicle representing the class you are applying for, legal and roadworthy on the day.
If you fail
Failing the skills test is not unusual, and the pre-trip inspection is where most people lose it, because it is the part that relies on recall rather than driving ability. States set their own retest fees and waiting periods, so what happens next is a question for your state’s CDL licensing agency.
Your learner's permit stays valid for up to a year from first issue, so a retest usually does not mean redoing the knowledge tests, provided you are still inside that window.
Study material for the skills test
Practice tests, study guides rebuilt from the state CDL manual, and narrated audio. 120 days of access, extendable to 180 or 365
CDL Skills Test Study Material
Any driver preparing for the CDL skills test.
120, 180, 365 days of access · No subscription
Class A CDL Study Material
You save $18.80
Pulling a trailer over 10,000 lbs takes a Class A. Three written tests stand between you and that license: General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles. This covers all three, plus the skills test.
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes
- Combination Vehicles
- Skills Test
- CDL Manual Audio
120, 180, 365 days of access · No subscription
Class B CDL Study Material
You save $15.85
Straight trucks, dump trucks, and buses over 26,001 lbs need a Class B. If that is the vehicle you will drive, this is the study material for its knowledge and skills tests, without the Class A combination-vehicle content you do not need.
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes
- Skills Test
- CDL Manual Audio
120, 180, 365 days of access · No subscription
No subscription. If more time is needed, it’s your choice.
Questions people ask
How long does the CDL skills test take?
Usually between 90 minutes and three hours across all three parts, with the pre-trip inspection and the road drive taking the longest. The exact length depends on the route and the vehicle class.
What is the hardest part of the skills test?
The pre-trip inspection catches most people out, because it is a recall exercise under pressure: you have to name parts and say what you are checking on each one. Backing maneuvers are the second most common failure point.
Can I use my own truck for the test?
You supply the test vehicle, and it must represent the class you are applying for and be legal and roadworthy. Remember the vehicle sets your restrictions, so testing in an automatic restricts you from manual vehicles.
Do I have to pass all three parts in one day?
States handle this differently. Many require all three in one attempt and restart the whole test after a failure, while some allow a partial retest. Ask your state’s CDL licensing agency how your state runs it before you book.
Next steps
This page explains the federal rules in 49 CFR Part 383. States may be stricter and several have their own intrastate exemptions, so the fees, the waiting periods and the edge cases are decided by your state’s CDL licensing agency. BeginCDL.com is independent and not affiliated with any state agency.