Pennsylvania CDL practice test
Published Updated Licensing sources checked:
How do I prepare for the Pennsylvania CDL knowledge test?
If you are preparing for your first permit, start with general knowledge and the official Pennsylvania instructions below. If your vehicle needs air brakes or combination vehicles, add those federal study sets; for hazardous materials, use the separate hazmat set. Compare the state’s published test rules with its current manual before you test. These practice sets teach federal topics and do not copy the state exam.
This page is study material. It is not the Pennsylvania state exam, and it does not copy state test questions. Check the official Pennsylvania pages below before you test.
| Your situation | Start with… |
|---|---|
| A quick first try | Take a 10-question warm-up |
| Ready for a longer attempt | Take the 50-question general knowledge exam |
| Need state rules or documents | Check the Pennsylvania application steps |
Pennsylvania commercial driver manual (PDF) — link checked . Study its rules alongside our federal-standard bank. Our 50-question exam length is a study setting; use the official counts below for Pennsylvania.
PennDOT’s commercial manual section 1.1.1 explains which knowledge tests match your vehicle and work. That section and the CDL skills-test page checked November 8, 2026 do not print knowledge-test question counts or passing scores. These figures stay unknown here. Use the commercial manual rather than the separate non-commercial driver’s test rules.
Which tests do I need in Pennsylvania?
| Your vehicle or work | Required study and tests |
|---|---|
| All permit applicants | Start with general knowledge. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Class A combination vehicle | Add combination vehicles. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Vehicle with air brakes | Add air brakes and check restriction rules. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Passenger vehicle | Add the passenger endorsement tests. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| School bus | Add school bus testing and check passenger endorsement requirements. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Tank vehicle | Add the tank vehicle knowledge test. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Hazardous materials | Add the hazmat knowledge test and check approval and training steps. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Doubles or triples | Add the doubles and triples knowledge test; check state vehicle limits. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
Pennsylvania’s non-commercial knowledge-test rules do not establish CDL question counts. Use PennDOT’s commercial manual and check separate school bus certification requirements.
Before booking the exam, check Pennsylvania CDL application steps and official fee lines.
| Test | Questions | To pass | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Combination vehicles, for Class A | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Air brakes, if applicable | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Passenger | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Tank vehicle | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| School bus | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Hazardous materials | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Doubles and triples | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
Pennsylvania language, permit and booking notes — checked 2026-11-08
The commercial manual says Pennsylvania requires a 15-day wait after receiving the learner’s permit before Class A, B or C skills testing. Permit changes or upgrades restart that wait. Official source — checked .
The commercial manual requires passenger knowledge testing for bus drivers, including school bus drivers. School bus work also requires the school bus knowledge test. Official source — checked .
PennDOT advises applicants to study its updated commercial manual for the modernized skills test. Knowledge practice alone does not complete the inspection, control and road tests. Official source — checked .
For unknown figures, check with the Pennsylvania licensing agency. A blank count is not an estimate.
Federal study sets, not the Pennsylvania exam
Use general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles, and hazmat to study the federal topics. Finishing one of those sets does not mean you passed the Pennsylvania test.