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Alabama CDL practice test

Getting a commercial driver's licence in Alabama starts with the CDL knowledge tests. The content is federal: every state, Alabama included, writes its tests from the FMCSA CDL manual, so the general knowledge test has 50 questions, the endorsement tests have 20 to 30, and the passing score is 80% on each. The Alabama driver licensing agency administers the test; the rules behind it are published by the FMCSA. Try the free Alabama CDL practice questions below, then pick a full test.

Free Alabama CDL practice questions

Five questions from the general knowledge, air brakes and combination vehicles banks, the three tests most Alabama Class A applicants take first. Show the answer to read the explanation.

  1. Total stopping distance is made up of which three parts?

    • Perception distance, reaction distance and braking distance
    • Reaction distance, skid distance and following distance
    • Perception distance, following distance and brake lag
    • Braking distance, signal distance and stopping time
    Show answer
    Answer: A. Perception distance, reaction distance and braking distance

    Perception distance is how far you travel while your brain recognizes a hazard, reaction distance is how far you travel before your foot hits the brake, and braking distance is how far the vehicle rolls once the brakes are applied. All three add up before the truck is stopped.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.6 (Speed and Stopping Distance)

  2. You are driving a 40-foot truck at 35 mph. How much following distance should you keep?

    • 2 seconds
    • 3 seconds
    • 4 seconds
    • 6 seconds
    Show answer
    Answer: C. 4 seconds

    Below 40 mph, keep one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. A 40-foot vehicle needs 4 seconds. Above 40 mph, add one more second, so the same truck at highway speed needs 5 seconds.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.7 (Managing Space)

  3. When you double your speed, your braking distance becomes about how much longer?

    • Twice as long
    • Three times as long
    • Four times as long
    • The same, braking distance does not depend on speed
    Show answer
    Answer: C. Four times as long

    Braking distance grows with the square of speed. Doubling your speed from 20 to 40 mph roughly quadruples the distance needed to stop, and the vehicle also hits with four times the destructive force.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.6 (The Effect of Speed on Stopping Distance)

  4. Hydroplaning can begin at speeds as low as:

    • 10 mph
    • 30 mph
    • 50 mph
    • 65 mph
    Show answer
    Answer: B. 30 mph

    With water on the road, tires can ride on top of the water and lose all contact at speeds as low as 30 mph, especially with low tire pressure or worn tread. If you hydroplane, release the accelerator and do not brake.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.6 (Hydroplaning)

  5. What is the minimum tread depth for the front (steering) tires?

    • 2/32 inch
    • 4/32 inch
    • 6/32 inch
    • 8/32 inch
    Show answer
    Answer: B. 4/32 inch

    Front tires need at least 4/32 inch of tread in every major groove. All other tires need at least 2/32 inch. Also check for cuts, bulges, separation and mismatched sizes.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.1 (Vehicle Inspection: Tires)

Every CDL test for Alabama drivers

Each page has ten free sample questions, the real question count, the 80% pass mark and what the test covers.

How the Alabama CDL knowledge test works

You take the general knowledge test first; it is required for every CDL class. Class A drivers add the combination vehicles test. Almost everyone takes the air brakes test, because skipping it puts an air brake restriction on the licence. Endorsements (hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger, school bus) each have their own knowledge test. Pass the tests and you hold a commercial learner's permit; the skills test in a truck comes later.

Fees, appointment rules and test centre locations are set by Alabama and change over time, so check the state driver licensing agency before you go. What does not change is the content, and that is what PassRig drills.

Alabama CDL test questions

How many questions are on the Alabama CDL test?

The Alabama CDL general knowledge test follows the federal model: 50 questions, 40 correct to pass. Endorsement tests are shorter: air brakes 25, hazmat 30, and combination vehicles, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger and school bus 20 each.

What is the passing score on the Alabama CDL permit test?

80% on every knowledge test, the same pass mark used across the United States.

Where do I take the CDL knowledge test in Alabama?

At the Alabama state driver licensing agency (the DMV, DOT or equivalent). Check its website for locations, appointments and current fees; the test content itself comes from the FMCSA CDL manual.

Does PassRig have Alabama CDL practice questions?

Yes. Pick Alabama in the app and you get practice sets and mock exams built from the knowledge test content your state uses, with the real counts and the 80% line.

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