Free PA CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

Before you can take the skills test for a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you must obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) and hold it for at least 15 days. Your CLP will allow you to practice operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) while supervised by a licensed commercial driver qualified to operate that type of vehicle. One key requirement for a CLP is to pass a set of official knowledge tests for the class and the type of vehicles you plan to drive. However, regardless of the kind of vehicles you plan to drive, you must at least pass the General Knowledge test, which covers general commercial driving theory.

Vehicle inspections, including pre-trip inspections, are among the many commercial driving topics addressed by the official General Knowledge test. Your test will likely include questions on which systems or components you should check during a pre-trip inspection and how to determine whether they are performing adequately. All questions on the General Knowledge test are based on the official Pennsylvania CDL manual (Pennsylvania CDL Handbook 2025). You should study the manual. However, if the sheer volume and complexity of all the information in the manual starts to overwhelm you – don’t worry, we’re here to help!

This Pennsylvania CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test is the first of several we offer. By practicing answering questions about pre-trip inspections, you will reinforce the knowledge you’ve gained from reading the CDL manual. Like the official knowledge test, this practice test is multiple choice. For each question, you must choose the best or most complete answer choice. Our AI assistant can help you. It can supply hints and explanations and answer your own questions on commercial driving.

The information you’ll learn through our Pennsylvania CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests will also help you as you practice pre-trip inspections to pass the official skills test. And it may even prove helpful when you perform pre-trip inspections as part of your commercial driving job.

Driving conditions on a number of Pennsylvania’s roads can be hazardous at times, and your vehicle must be up to the job. For example, Interstate 78 is considered one of the state’s most dangerous highways. It’s been nicknamed “the Killing Fields” for its high number of crashes, especially those involving semi-trucks. Conditions making I-78 dangerous include stretches of winding road, one of the highest volumes of semi-truck traffic in the country, and snow, ice, and frequent heavy fog in winter. However, a thorough pre-trip inspection of your vehicle will help ensure it’s ready to tackle these difficult conditions safely.