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View All Plans- Updated for March 2025
- Based on 2025 IA commercial driver's license manual
Free IA CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025
Before you can train for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you must hold a Iowa Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), which attests to your knowledge of pre-trip inspections and other aspects of driving theory. You should be able to identify deficiencies in the systems and components of your vehicle that could put your safety at risk. By using a checklist to thoroughly inspect the most vital parts of your vehicle, such as the tires, battery, mirrors, and engine, you can prevent an accident or mechanical malfunction. Federal regulation 49 CFR § 396.13 requires drivers to conduct a pre-trip inspection to verify the safety of their vehicle before driving on public roads. Some public roads, such as I-80 in Des Moines, can be heavily congested; a malfunctioning commercial vehicle could affect a large number of motorists.
This Iowa DOT CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test contains the most valuable and authoritative information to teach you about this safety measure. Although there are several requirements for getting a CLP, one of the most important is passing the CDL General Knowledge Test. There is no shortage of important skills you must demonstrate on the official knowledge test, including pre-trip inspections. If you are nervous about needing to display your understanding, the practice test will put you at ease with its stress-free approach to your study. The official knowledge test requires you to answer 80% of the 20 questions correctly to receive a passing score. The practice test will effectively train you to reach that target in a time-efficient manner.
The CDL Pre-Inspection Practice Test uses an innovative approach that outperforms every other on-line resource available. Since pre-trip inspections are vital to your safety, you don’t want to skimp on important details. The practice test is based on the most recent Iowa DOT CDL driver’s manual (Iowa CDL Handbook 2025) and up to date as of March 2025. It is interactive and provides additional instruction to fill any knowledge gaps. If you submit an incorrect answer, the practice test provides a detailed explanation of the correct one. This approach helps you track your readiness to take the official knowledge test while helping you overcome all the obstacles to passing it. In comparison, a study guide will not give you any information to help you understand why your answer was incorrect. It is designed to merely help you memorize the answers to the questions. You can rely on the practice test to elevate you to an expert knowledge of pre-trip inspections that will keep you on the road with safety in mind.
Clint Eastwood made Madison County bridges famous, and you can claim your driving fame with practice tests for other U.S. states and Washington D.C. at https://driving-tests.org/academy/drivers-license.
- Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements
- Triple-checked for accuracy
What you need to know
What to expect on the actual IA DOT exam
questions
correct answers to pass
passing score
List of questions (classic view)
- What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
- 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?
- What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
- What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
- ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
- What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
- What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
- What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
- What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
- Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
- Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
- What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
- Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
- You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
- What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
- To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
- _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
- _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
- If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
- What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled? (You should make sure that it is in the engage position and the safety latch is in place.)
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