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Free Tennessee CDL Air Brakes Test 2025

Avg. pass rate on our TN tests: 62%.
Average pass rate for this test: 61%.
Moderate
9 min
73% fail this test first try • Better here than at DMV
Score distribution:
90-100=>19%
80-89=>25%
70-79=>26%
60-69=>22%
<60%=>8%
Avg. first-try score: 73%

Passing the Tennessee DMV CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test is key to avoiding restrictions on your license, waiting periods, and retest fees. Failure to pass the Tennessee DMV CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test means your CDL will include the restriction “L,” prohibiting you from operating heavy commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with air brakes. This restriction will significantly impact your marketability in commercial driving. Our Tennessee DMV CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests will prepare you for passing your knowledge exam on the first attempt.

The flat plains, rolling hills, steep inclines, winding roads, and high-altitude areas of the Appalachian Mountains present significant driving hazards in Tennessee. The stop-and-go traffic of its urban areas also demands air brakes for safe operation. The summers bring high heat and heavy thunderstorms, and the winters bring ice and snow, making air brakes essential for maintaining control. Key transportation routes include I-40 (running east-west from Arkansas to North Carolina), I-75 (running north-south, connecting Kentucky and Georgia), I-24 (linking Chattanooga to Nashville), and I-65 (connecting with Alabama and the Midwest). Because most semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and commercial buses rely on air brakes for safe navigation, removing the air brake restriction from your CDL is vital for expanded job opportunities.

Tricky exam topics covered here:
Skidding & Braking
Parking Rules
Free Tennessee CDL Air Brakes Test 2025
Commercial Driver's License
Original questions by our team Based on 2025 TN CDL Handbook

Reviewed for legal and handbook accuracy

Steven Litvintchouk

M.S., Chief Educational Researcher (ACES member)

Last verified for accuracy on

Test design and learning experience oversight

Andrei Zakhareuski

Co-founder & CEO, Driving-Tests.org

Questions are created and maintained by the Driving-Tests.org content team following our multi-layer editorial process and updated whenever the Tennessee DMV changes its handbook or website information. Official sources we check: 

About the Tennessee CDL

The Volunteer State relies on air brake-qualified drivers in key industries, including automotive manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and tourism. Major companies requiring the air brake qualification include Nissan, General Motors, and FedEx in the manufacturing sector and Tyson Foods and Cargill in the agricultural industry. FedEx Freight, XPO Logistics, and UPS have air brake-equipped fleets in the logistics and freight sector. In the tourism industry (especially Nashville, Memphis, and Gatlinburg), companies in the charter bus service industry that rely on air brake-qualified drivers include Greyhound Lines and Tennessee Motorcoach. Additionally, most full-size school buses in Tennessee’s school districts have air brakes, requiring their drivers to hold this qualification.

The written Air Brakes knowledge test features multiple-choice questions based on the state’s CDL manual (Tennessee CDL Handbook 2025) and requires a score of at least 80% to pass. Our CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests cover everything needed to pass the official DMV Air Brakes Knowledge Test.

In addition to mimicking the official knowledge test, our Practice Tests provide instant feedback on all your Practice Test responses, so you’ll learn faster and pass the knowledge test on your first attempt!

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