Free South Dakota CDL Permit Practice Test: General Knowledge 2026

By passing the official knowledge test, submitting to a medical examination, and meeting some other requirements, you’ll be eligible to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). This credential will allow you to practice commercial driving under the supervision of someone who already holds a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

By practicing commercial driving, you’ll become sufficiently good at it to pass the official skills test, a necessary step for you to obtain a CDL. The skills test will evaluate your performance in basic vehicle maneuvers, a pre-trip inspection, and a road test.

There are three classes of CDLs: Class A is typically for large combination vehicles, such as semi-trucks and tractor-trailers. Class B is typically for larger single-unit vehicles, such as full-size buses and straight trucks, including box trucks and most dump trucks. Class C is typically for smaller commercial vehicles that transport hazardous materials or at least 16 occupants (including the driver), such as shuttle buses and small trucks carrying hazardous materials. Decide which class you want, based on the types of vehicles you expect to be driving commercially in your career.

Once you obtain a CDL and all the endorsements you need, you can start working as a commercial driver. The largest economic sectors in South Dakota are agriculture, the service industry (including retail, finance, and health care), government spending (primarily for defense), and tourism. The agriculture sector employs truck drivers to transport crops and livestock to various distribution hubs, perhaps even out of the country eventually. The state is home to several famous tourist attractions, including the Black Hills, Badlands National Park, and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, creating a demand for bus drivers to transport tourists to these and other locations around the state.