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  • Updated for June 2025
  • Based on 2025 CO commercial driver's license manual

Free Colorado CDL Permit Practice Test: General Knowledge 2025

Welcome! You’re probably here because you want to pass the official General Knowledge test on commercial driving theory, which you must do to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). We hope you’ve been reading the official Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (Colorado CDL Handbook 2025) because the official knowledge test questions are based on it. But are you also looking for some additional help to further improve your chances of passing the test?

Well, that’s what we’re here for! We’ve helped thousands of aspiring car drivers and commercial drivers pass their respective knowledge exams, and we’re going to help you too.

This free Colorado CDL permit practice test, one of several we offer, is based on the official manual, just like the official General Knowledge test. The practice test is up to date as of June, 2025. As you practice answering questions about the stuff you’ve been reading in the manual, that material will get easier to remember, increasing your chances of passing the official exam. To make your studying easier, each of the 50 practice questions comes with a helpful hint and an explanation of the correct answer. The practice questions on this test will assess your knowledge of such topics as basic vehicle maneuvers, cargo management, emergency preparedness, and pre-trip inspections. If you need help to answer a question, our automated assistant can give you a hint. If you still miss the question, the assistant can provide you with an explanation of the correct answer.

Once you obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), you can start practicing for the official skills test. Passing the skills test is a necessary step toward obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Once you hold a CDL, you can start earning real money as a licensed commercial driver. Economic sectors in Colorado’s diversified economy include agriculture (hay, corn, wheat, and beef), high-tech industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and gold mining and production. All these sectors need truck drivers to transport their products. High-tech industries also need truck drivers to deliver equipment and supplies to them. Bus drivers are employed by public transportation services, both intra-city and inter-city. The state’s tourism industry also employs bus drivers to transport visitors to ski resorts and on tours through mountain towns.

You’ll soon become familiar with Colorado’s major commercial routes. Interstate 25, heavily used by truckers, runs from Wyoming through Denver and then to New Mexico. Interstate 70 runs from Utah to Maryland. Interstate 76 and U.S. Route 285 are used by truckers to transport agricultural products.

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CO commercial driver's license
  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements
  • Triple-checked for accuracy

What you need to know

4.35 out of 5 • 186 votes
Available in EN and ES
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.
Ensuring the accuracy and quality of our program is paramount. Learn more about our rigorous standards in our Commitment to Accuracy article.

What to expect on the actual CO DMV exam

50

questions

40

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. Why should you cover cargo?
  2. Letting the air out of hot tires
  3. Always try to back toward the driver's side because
  4. According to the Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual, the minimum tread depth for front tires is
  5. Which of the following is NOT something you should check during a trip?
  6. How often must you stop to check your cargo while on the road?
  7. Before transporting a sealed load, you must check
  8. If you are drowsy, what action should you take before driving farther?
  9. Which of the following should you NOT do if you experience a tire failure?
  10. What will help a drunk sober up?
  11. How many tie-downs are required for a 20-foot load?
  12. Which of the following determine(s) the safe speed for going down a steep downgrade?
  13. What is a common cause of tire fires?
  14. Where should you place your warning devices, if you must stop on a one-way road or divided highway?
  15. The most important hand signal that you and a helper should agree on is
  16. How many seconds does it take for a normal tractor-trailer to clear a double track?
  17. How can you start moving without rolling backward?
  18. In which two special conditions should you downshift?
  19. Which of the following statements about retarders are correct?
  20. What is Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)?
  21. Which of the following is a key steering component?
  22. On wet roads, you should reduce your speed by
  23. During your pre-trip test, when examining hoses with the instructor, you need to look for
  24. How can you tell if your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)?
  25. Which of these is NOT part of the basic method for shifting up?
  26. What is the definition of a hazard?
  27. Which of the following is NOT true about an escape ramp?
  28. If you are traveling at 55 mph in a 30-foot vehicle, you should leave ___ seconds of following distance.
  29. Hazardous materials placards are
  30. To avoid becoming a distracted driver,
  31. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) will
  32. For how long will you lose your CDL driving privileges if you are convicted of a second DUI offense in either a CMV or your private vehicle?
  33. The temperature has just dropped to freezing. Which of the following areas may be slippery?
  34. To maintain alertness during the trip, drivers should
  35. If you double your speed, how much more distance will it take to stop?
  36. Total stopping distance equals
  37. In your emergency kit, you do not need to have
  38. When backing, it is important to use a helper
  39. Which of the following types of vehicles can be operated without a CDL?
  40. What is the best way to calculate how many seconds of following distance you have?
  41. How far ahead should drivers look while driving, according to the manual?
  42. On which of the following types of fires should you NOT use a B:C fire extinguisher?
  43. What might happen if you swing wide to the left before you turn right?
  44. While performing the pre-trip inspection, you should place the starter switch key into your pocket because
  45. While driving at night, which beams should you use as often as you can?
  46. To transport cargo safely, which of these are you NOT responsible for?
  47. Do empty trucks have the best braking?
  48. You should inspect wheel bearing seals for
  49. Starting the engine and inspecting the cab involves each of the following tasks, except
  50. To help you stay alert and safe while driving, you should

FAQs

What are the requirements you need to know?

To get a CDL license in Colorado, you need to obtain a commercial learner's permit (CLP) by passing knowledge tests. Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test. You also need to meet age, medical, and residency requirements. CDL training, while not mandatory, is highly recommended.

What is the associated cost?

The cost for a CDL in Colorado includes a $16.80 fee for the CLP and varying fees for the skills test, typically around $275. The CDL license fee is $35. Additional costs for medical exams and training programs vary.

What can get you disqualified from being eligible?

In Colorado, disqualifications include major traffic offenses like DUIs or reckless driving, criminal convictions involving motor vehicles, and failing the medical examination required for CDL holders.

How long does the process take?

The time to get a CDL in Colorado varies. After holding a CLP for 14 days, the duration depends on your readiness and the length of any CDL training program you choose to enroll in.

How many times are you allowed to fail?

In Colorado, you can retake the CDL test if you fail, but after two failed attempts, additional fees will be required for subsequent tests. There is no set limit on the number of retakes.

Are you in another state?

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