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Free AR CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

Part of mandatory Entry-Level Driver Training Course Based on 2025 AR commercial driver's license manualAvailable in EN, ES
20questions
4mistakes allowed
80%passing score

Scenic Arkansas State Route 7 offers some stunning views – and serious challenges for drivers of large commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). It’s a winding two-lane road known for steep grades, hairpin turns, and narrow or nonexistent shoulders. No matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving, it’s wise to check it over before driving on a road like that. That’s even more true for large CMVs. Federal regulation 49 CFR § 396.13 requires you to be satisfied that your CMV is safe to drive before you drive it on public roads. This means conducting a comprehensive pre-trip inspection before your first trip of the day in that vehicle.

Your official Arkansas CDL manual (Arkansas CDL Handbook 2025) discusses pre-trip inspections in detail, including minimum performance standards for the safe operation of various components and systems.

The official General Knowledge Test likely contains some questions on pre-trip inspections, including identifying defects or faults in the vehicle’s components and systems. All questions on the General Knowledge Test are based on the official Arkansas CDL manual. You should study the manual, but many drivers have found it hard to learn from.

Our practice tests can help you straighten out all that information in your mind and make it easier to absorb. This Arkansas CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test, the first of several we offer, will help you master the material on pre-trip inspections in the official CDL manual and ace those questions on the General Knowledge Test.

Like the official knowledge test, this practice test is multiple choice. Each question comes with several answer options. You must choose the best or most complete answer. Our AI assistant comes with each question. It can help you learn by supplying hints and answering your own questions about commercial driving theory. If you still miss a question, the AI assistant will immediately let you know and provide an explanation of the correct answer. This immediate feedback will help reinforce the correct answer in your mind.

To obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you must pass a three-part skills test: pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving. You’ll conduct a pre-trip inspection of a CMV as you explain your actions to your test examiner. Failure of the pre-trip inspection test means failure of the entire skills test.

After you get your CDL, continue thoroughly inspecting your vehicle every day that you drive it. Federal regulations prohibit driving an unsafe CMV. Besides, you may be risking your life and those of other road users if you do.

Perfect for

  • First-time AR CDL and CLP applicants
  • CDL holders adding endorsements
  • AR CDL renewal applicants
AR commercial driver's license

What to expect on the actual exam

How many questions20
How many correct answers to pass16
Passing score80%
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List of questions (classic view)

  1. What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
  2. You pump the pedal three times and hold it down for five seconds, making sure that the pedal does not move. What are you inspecting?
  3. What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
  4. What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
  5. ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
  6. What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
  7. What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
  8. What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
  9. What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
  10. Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
  11. Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
  12. What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
  13. Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
  14. You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
  15. What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
  16. To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
  17. _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
  18. _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
  19. If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
  20. What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled?

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