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  • Updated for March 2025
  • Based on 2025 RI commercial driver's license manual

Free RI CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

Aspiring commercial drivers should learn about pre-trip inspections before applying for a Rhode Island Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). Before obtaining a Rhode Island Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), commercial drivers must train with a CLP, and responsibly conducting pre-trip inspections is a vital part of the training. This safety measure is often conducted using a checklist of the important systems and components of the vehicle, such as the tires, brakes, taillights, and mirrors, to make sure they are safely operating. Pre-trip inspections are required by federal regulation 49 CFR § 396.13 before they may be driven on public roads. If you neglect to thoroughly perform the process, the chances of an accident or mechanical malfunction increase as you travel around Little Rhody.

If you’d like a little help to thoroughly learn the process, our Rhode Island DMV CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test provides expert instruction. Although you need to meet several requirements for a CLP, your ability to pass the DMV CDL General Knowledge Test will be key to your success. You must answer 80% of the 20 questions correctly to satisfy this requirement. The practice test offers comprehensive instruction to make sure you learn the crucial items to inspect and how to identify any deficiencies. By taking the time to study pre-trip inspections closely, you will be prepared to confidently answer any questions pertaining to them to increase your official knowledge test score.

The CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test uses the most reliable and authoritative information available to increase your proficiency in inspecting your vehicle. Its teaching method is interactive and caters to your current knowledge level. While you may find various on-line resources to teach you about pre-trip inspections, they fail to measure up to the details you’ll find using the practice test. The practice test is based on the most recent Rhode Island DMV CDL driver’s manual (Rhode Island CDL Handbook 2025} and up to date as of March 2025. Each of its 20 multiple-choice questions is designed to assess your current understanding of pre-trip inspections and fill your knowledge gaps. If you submit an incorrect answer, the practice test will respond with a detailed explanation of the correct one. Study guides will not go this far in teaching you. They train you to memorize the answers to the questions but fail to help you correct wrong answers with the applicable information. The practice test is the best way to thoroughly learn the information necessary for staying safe on the open road.

Fill your glass with coffee milk and load up on safe driving skills 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

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 RI 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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