MN CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test 2025

Under federal regulations, to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you must pass the CDL General Knowledge Exam and the CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Test. Without a CDL, you cannot drive commercially unsupervised, thus limiting your career as an independent commercial driver. These tests ensure that commercial drivers can evaluate critical vehicle components to prevent mechanical failures while driving. Failing the knowledge exam means waiting at least one day before retesting and paying an additional fee. Our Minnesota CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests are designed to cover all necessary topics to ensure you can pass your General Knowledge exam on the first attempt. Under federal law (49 CFR § 392.7 and 49 CFR § 396.13), the pre-trip inspection is required as part of the CDL skills exam, which also includes the basic control skills test and road test.

The General Knowledge Exam must be passed for a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). Then you must pass each of the three parts of the Skills Test for a CDL within the 180-day period that your CLP is valid. According to the Minnesota Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Manual, if an applicant fails any portion of the skills test, they are required to retake only the failed section. If an applicant fails the road/skills test twice, a fee is charged for any additional attempts. The Minnesota CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Test requires you to demonstrate your knowledge and hands-on inspection skills by identifying and explaining essential vehicle parts.

The Minnesota’s required pre-trip inspection process involves thoroughly checking the vehicle’s engine compartment, cab controls, lights, tires, brakes, suspension, and cargo securement. In addition to the portion of the General Knowledge test covering these materials, you must physically point to, touch, and name each component during your Pre-Trip Inspection test and explain why it is being inspected. Your examiner must declare that you can ensure all parts are in good working condition and free of defects.

Our Minnesota CDL Pre-trip Practice Test is based on the most recent Minnesota CDL manual (Minnesota CDL Handbook 2025) and contains 20 multiple-choice questions to assess your knowledge of pre-trip inspections. It includes immediate and detailed explanations for each response, ensuring you pass the official knowledge test on your first attempt.

Check out our different practice tests to help prepare for other parts of your upcoming exams.