Iowa is famous for its agriculture. Soybeans, corn, pork and processed grain products are the largest exports of the state, making commercial truck drivers a vital part of the state economy. There is rising demand for truck drivers across the country and especially in Iowa. If you’re interested in getting your commercial driver license and joining this growing field, you’ll first need to pass a written knowledge test, as well as exams for any possible endorsements. The first step to passing these exams is studying the 2023 Iowa Commercial Driver License Manual.
How to Prepare
To prepare for your written tests, you’ll first need to download the IA CDL Handbook. Sit down with the handbook, a pen, and some paper, and read the entire thing, taking notes as you go along. The questions on your test will be multiple-choice and can include any of hundreds of possibilities pulled directly from the CDL Handbook, but if you read carefully, and study, you can make sure you’ll pass your test. It’s important to stay focused, don’t let your mind wander off. If you need to, take a short walk and then come back to your reading. Remember, what you’re learning will not only kick start you into a new career but will also keep you, your cargo, and the other drivers on the road safe. This information is not just for your general exam, but also for any endorsement exams. Endorsements you can add onto your commercial driver license are: school bus driving, passenger transport, tanker, HazMat, multi-trailer, and combination vehicle; each can improve your job prospects and will have a separate test. Once you’ve finished reading through the CDL handbook, take a look at your notes, and go back to any sections that still seem unclear or difficult to grasp.
Final Steps
If you’re feeling ready to take your test, it’s helpful to read the manual one more time to keep it fresh in your mind and then head on over to the Iowa DOT. Remember what you’ve been studying, keep a clear head, and then you too can be one of the next commercial truckers on whom Iowa depends.