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  • Updated for April 2025
  • Based on 2025 DE commercial driver's license manual

Free DE CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

Every aspiring commercial driver must learn the proper method for conducting a pre-trip inspection of their vehicle. This practice is required by federal regulation 49 CFR § 396.13 for drivers to verify the safety of the vehicle for use on public roads. Checklists are commonly used to make sure all of the vehicle systems and components, such as the tires, brakes, lights, and mirrors, are included in the inspection. Breakdowns in Dover or accidents in Wilmington can be prevented by closely examining these items. You should spend some time learning about pre-trip inspections before applying for a Delaware Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), which will allow you to train for a state Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). By becoming thoroughly familiar with the pre-trip inspection process, you’ll be able to perform safety measures that can save lives, protect cargo, and prevent untimely mechanical malfunctions.

While there are several requirements to meet when applying for a CLP, one of the main ones is passing the DMV CDL General Knowledge Test, which includes questions about pre-trip inspections. The official knowledge test requires you to answer 80% of the 20 questions to earn a passing grade. A firm grasp of the pre-trip inspection process will give you a great advantage in meeting this requirement. Our Delaware DMV Pre-Trip Inspection Test is an excellent resource for you to develop an intrinsic knowledge of the process. Although there are multiple on-line resources you may choose from, the practice test is designed differently to provide an optimal learning experience.

Even though study guides have been popular in preparing for tests, our Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test offers a more effective and comprehensive method of training. The practice test is based on the most recent Delaware DMV CDL manual (Delaware CDL Handbook 2025) and is up to date as of April 2025. It includes 20 multiple-choice questions, just like the ones on the official knowledge test, to provide expert instruction on pre-trip inspections. If you get a question wrong, the practice test will provide a detailed and authoritative explanation of the correct answer. Study guides offer no additional instruction because they are designed to help you memorize the answers to the questions. This approach deprives you of complete information for conducting pre-trip inspections responsibly. The practice test equips you with the knowledge and confidence necessary to pass the official knowledge test and protect you from unexpected road hazards.

Blue hens are a different breed of chicken, and you can be a different class of driver with practice tests for other U.S. states and Washington D.C. at https://driving-tests.org/academy/drivers-license.

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  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements

What you need to know

5 out of 5 • 1 votes
6 min to complete
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.

What to expect on the actual DE DMV exam

20

questions

16

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
  2. You pump the pedal three times and hold it down for five seconds, making sure that the pedal does not move. What are you inspecting?
  3. What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
  4. What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
  5. ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
  6. What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
  7. What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
  8. What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
  9. What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
  10. Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
  11. Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
  12. What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
  13. Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
  14. You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
  15. What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
  16. To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
  17. _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
  18. _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
  19. If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
  20. What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled?
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