Free MN CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

Many experts say that U.S. Highway 169 is the most dangerous road in Minnesota. As in the rest of the state, winter weather on this road can be difficult. However, the leading cause of serious accidents on U.S. 169 is increasingly heavy traffic congestion as southern Minnesota experiences strong population growth. Snowstorms, blizzards, and even mudslides add to the hazards on this road.

U.S. 169 isn’t the only dangerous road that you may encounter. Interstate 94 has experienced numerous multi-vehicle pile-ups and fatal semi-truck accidents. The main culprits here are high traffic volume and urban traffic congestion, made worse by severe winter weather.

As a commercial driver, you must be able to handle adverse weather and perform emergency maneuvers if necessary to avoid an accident. And so must your Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV). Federal regulation 49 CFR § 392.7 requires you to be satisfied that all these vehicle components and systems are in good working order before you drive the vehicle: brakes, coupling devices (if so equipped), emergency equipment, horn, lights and reflectors, mirrors, steering gear, tires, wheels and rims, and windshield wipers. To be sure they’re all working properly, you must conduct a comprehensive pre-trip inspection before your first trip of the day in that vehicle.

Your official Minnesota CDL manual (Minnesota CDL Handbook 2025) discusses how to perform a pre-trip inspection: the systems and components you should check for defects and a suggested order in which you should perform these checks.

The official General Knowledge test, which you must pass to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), will likely have some questions on pre-trip inspections. All questions on the General Knowledge test are based on the official Minnesota CDL manual. To prepare for this test, you should study the manual. But to be sure you pass, you should do even more.

This Minnesota CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test will help you learn how to correctly answer the questions on pre-trip inspections 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. You can also get help from our AI assistant on any question. At your request, the AI assistant can rephrase the question, supply a hint, or answer your own questions about commercial driving theory. If you still miss the question, the AI assistant will immediately let you know and provide an explanation of the correct answer.

Be sure to try our other Minnesota CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests, too!