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Based on official Washington exam questions

Free Washington CDL Air Brakes Test 2025

  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements.

The restriction “L” on your CDL will prevent you from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with air brakes. This restriction can significantly damage your job prospects in commercial driving. You must pass the Washington DOL CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test to have this restriction removed. Failing the air brakes test in Washington will also result in a one-day waiting period and a fee should you decide to retake the test. Our Washington DOL CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests will help you pass your knowledge exam on the first attempt.

Since most semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and commercial buses are equipped with air brakes for safe navigation, removing the air brake restriction from your CDL is crucial for expanded job opportunities. Key transportation routes in the state include I-5 (the north-south highway connecting Seattle to Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia), I-90 (an east-west corridor crossing the Cascade Mountains), and US-2 (an east-west route connecting to rural and mountainous areas). From the steep grades and sharp turns in the Cascade Range (Snoqualmie Pass) to the narrow, winding (and often foggy) roads along the Olympic Peninsula, Washington’s terrain presents multiple hazards demanding air brake-qualified drivers. Western Washington’s high precipitation brings slippery roads, compounding this need.

The Evergreen State relies on air brake-qualified drivers in industries including technology (Seattle, home to Microsoft and Amazon), aerospace (Boeing in Everett), agriculture, and timber and forestry. Other companies requiring the qualification include Fred Meyer and Werner Enterprises in the grocery distribution and trucking industry and Greyhound Lines (Seattle) and Northwest Bus Sales (Tacoma) in the charter bus sector. In the timber and logging industry, Weyerhaeuser Company (Seattle) and Green Diamond Resource Company (Shelton) rely on air-brake-equipped trucks. So do Trident Seafoods Corporation and Ocean Beauty Seafoods (Seattle). Washington’s school districts use air brakes on most full-size buses, employing hundreds of drivers. The “L” restriction closes access to these jobs.

The information learned from our CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests will fully prepare you for the official DOL Air Brakes Knowledge Test and help you pass your skills test. The knowledge test features multiple-choice questions based on the state’s CDL manual (Washington CDL Handbook 2025) and has a minimum passing score of 80%.

Our practice tests mimic the official knowledge test, provide immediate feedback on all responses, and help ensure you pass the knowledge test!

9 min to complete
Available in EN and ES
WA commercial driver's license
Real exam-style pitfalls you’ll practice:
Common Traps
Distractors
Trick Wording
Double Negatives

Authored and curated by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S.

Chief Educational Researcher (ACES member)
Methodology & Editorial Policy
Last verified for accuracy: November 2025 (reviewed weekly)

What to expect on the actual WA permit test

25

questions

20

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

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