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Rhode Island CDL practice test

Getting a commercial driver's licence in Rhode Island starts with the CDL knowledge tests. The content is federal: every state, Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island driver licensing agency administers the test; the rules behind it are published by the FMCSA. Try the free Rhode Island CDL practice questions below, then pick a full test.

Free Rhode Island CDL practice questions

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

  1. Which of these would you check on the brake linings during an inspection?

    • That they are painted the same color as the drum
    • That they are not loose, soaked with oil or grease, or worn dangerously thin
    • That they are at least two inches thick
    • That they are wet for better grip
    Show answer
    Answer: B. That they are not loose, soaked with oil or grease, or worn dangerously thin

    Linings should be at least a quarter inch thick, firmly attached, and dry. Oil or grease on a lining ruins its friction, and loose linings can jam the brake.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 5.3.2 (Brake Drums or Discs, Linings)

  2. How do you test the low pressure warning signal?

    • Drive at 20 mph and hit the brakes hard
    • Start the engine and wait for the warning to go out
    • With the engine off and the key on, step on and off the brake pedal to reduce tank pressure; the warning should come on before pressure drops below 60 psi
    • Pull the parking brake knob with the engine running
    Show answer
    Answer: C. With the engine off and the key on, step on and off the brake pedal to reduce tank pressure; the warning should come on before pressure drops below 60 psi

    Fanning the pedal lowers tank pressure. If the light or buzzer does not come on before 60 psi, the warning device is faulty and you could lose air without knowing it.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 5.3.3 (Test Low Pressure Warning Signal)

  3. As you keep fanning off air pressure during the brake test, the parking brake knob should pop out when pressure falls to about:

    • 100 psi
    • 60 psi
    • 5 psi
    • 20 to 45 psi, or the manufacturer's specified range
    Show answer
    Answer: D. 20 to 45 psi, or the manufacturer's specified range

    This shows the spring brakes come on automatically when air gets too low. The knob pops out as the spring brakes apply. If it does not, the automatic emergency braking is not working.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 5.3.3 (Check That the Spring Brakes Come On Automatically)

  4. In a dual air system, pressure should build from 85 to 100 psi within:

    • 45 seconds
    • 3 minutes
    • 10 seconds
    • 5 minutes
    Show answer
    Answer: A. 45 seconds

    Run the engine at operating rpm and time the gauge. Slow build-up means a weak compressor or a leak, and you may run low on air while driving.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 5.3.3 (Check Rate of Air Pressure Build-up)

  5. In a single air system (typically an older vehicle), pressure should build from 50 to 90 psi within about:

    • 45 seconds at idle
    • 3 minutes with the engine at 600 to 900 rpm
    • 30 seconds at full throttle
    • 10 minutes at idle
    Show answer
    Answer: B. 3 minutes with the engine at 600 to 900 rpm

    Older single-system vehicles have a looser standard: 50 to 90 psi in three minutes with the engine held at 600 to 900 rpm. A dual system must go from 85 to 100 psi in 45 seconds.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 5.3.3 (Check Rate of Air Pressure Build-up)

Every CDL test for Rhode Island drivers

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

How the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.

Rhode Island CDL test questions

How many questions are on the Rhode Island CDL test?

The Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?

At the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island CDL practice questions?

Yes. Pick Rhode Island 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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