Combination Vehicles Practice Test | California 2025 #1

Train for FREE online with our California CDL combination vehicle test. The official exam test consists of several obligatory parts, with all of them checking your knowledge of different blocks of road rules. If you need to obtain a CA combination license in 2025, practice as much as possible. Free sample tests published on our website will help you check and improve your knowledge and boost your grades. Please bear in mind that DMV requirements for issuing a combination license may vary from state to state.

Number of Question 20

Passing Score 17

Number of Tests 20

1 . To find out if a vehicle that was built before 1998 has an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), you can:

Pump the air brakes to activate the ABS.

Look into the back of the fifth wheel.

Check for wheel speed sensors coming from the back of the brakes.

If you are operating a vehicle built before 1998 and are unsure if the trailer has an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), you can check under the trailer for wheel speed sensors coming from the back of the brakes.

2 . Avoid needing to make sudden lane changes by:

Using your horn to encourage other drivers to move out of your lane.

Only driving slower than the posted speed limit.

Watching the road ahead while driving.

Making a sudden lane change can be dangerous when driving a combination vehicle. Avoid the need to make a sudden lane change by looking down the road for upcoming obstacles that will require you to change lanes.

3 . Before beginning a trip, you should:

Leave the service line valve open.

Remove the relay valves.

Close the emergency line valve.

Before a trip, you should ensure that air reaches all air brakes on all trailers by opening up the rear emergency line and service line shut-off valves and listening for escaping air. Close both shut-off valves before beginning to drive.

4 . When entering or crossing traffic while driving a combination vehicle, it is especially important that you:

Sound your horn.

Make sure there is a large enough gap for your vehicle.

Expect other drivers to make room for your vehicle.

Combination vehicles require more space on the road than other vehicles. When entering or crossing traffic while driving a combination vehicle, it is especially important that there is a large enough gap in traffic for you to safely do so.

5 . Maintain a following distance of at least ____ for every 10 feet of your vehicle if you are traveling at a speed under 40 mph.

One second

Two seconds

Three seconds

At speeds below 40 mph, you should allow at least one second of following distance for every 10 feet of your vehicle. Follow the same formula when traveling at faster speeds, then add one additional second to your following distance. Remember that larger vehicles require more space to stop than smaller vehicles.

6 . Pull out the trailer air supply control to test:

The parking brake.

The trailer emergency brakes.

The trailer service brakes.

The landing gear.

Be sure to test the trailer emergency brakes before beginning a trip. After ensuring that the trailer rolls freely, you can test the emergency brakes by pulling out the trailer air supply control, or placing it in the "emergency" position. Pull forward slightly with the tractor and make sure the trailer does not move.

7 . If you press the tractor air supply control and your trailer's spring brakes do not release, you should:

Inspect the air line connections.

Activate the Anti-Lock Braking System.

Turn the engine off and on again.

It is important that all of a vehicle's equipment is in proper working condition before beginning a trip. If a trailer's spring brakes do not release when you push in the tractor air supply control, you should make sure the air line connections are properly attached and sealed.

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2025 California | Frequently Asked Questions

A CDL Class B license in California allows drivers to operate single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or tow a vehicle not heavier than 10,000 pounds. This includes buses, farm labor vehicles, and any vehicle towing a vehicle not exceeding a GVWR of 10,000 pounds.

A Class B CDL license in California allows the operation of single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not exceeding 10,000 pounds GVWR. This includes buses, dump trucks, delivery trucks, tow trucks, garbage trucks, and other similar vehicles.

To acquire a Class B CDL license in California, you must be at least 18 years old (21 for interstate driving), possess a valid non-commercial driver's license, pass a vision test, complete a medical examination, and successfully complete written and skills tests. You must also have a clean driving record and be able to demonstrate the ability to operate a Class B vehicle.

To qualify for a Class B CDL license in California, you must be at least 18 years old. However, you must be 21 years old or older to operate commercial vehicles across state lines or to transport hazardous materials or waste.

Yes, specific endorsements may be necessary for a Class B CDL license in California depending on the type of vehicle you plan to drive or cargo you plan to carry. For example, endorsements are required for passenger vehicles, school buses, tank vehicles, double/triple trailers, and for carrying hazardous materials.

The Class B CDL skills assessment in California includes three parts: pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving. You must show you can inspect your vehicle to ensure it's safe to drive, demonstrate that you can control the vehicle in various situations, and finally, drive safely in normal traffic conditions.

Class B CDL license holders in California are restricted to driving single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or towing a vehicle not heavier than 10,000 pounds. They cannot operate a Class A combination vehicle unless they have the appropriate endorsement.

Yes, it is possible. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers the written Class B CDL test in multiple languages, including Spanish. However, federal regulations require that all CDL holders understand English to a level that allows communication with the general public, comprehension of traffic signs and signals, and responses to official inquiries.

Yes, you can request accommodations for the Class B CDL written exam in California if you have a disability. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides reasonable testing accommodations according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This can include extended time, a quiet room, or a sign language interpreter. Contact your local DMV to discuss your needs and arrange accommodations.

Yes, you can retake the Class B CDL written test if you don't pass on your first attempt. In California, you're allowed three attempts to pass the written test within 12 months of paying the application fee. If you fail all three attempts, you must start the process over and pay a new application fee.