Obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is a significant step towards a professional driving career in the United States. The cornerstone of passing your CDL exams and ensuring safety on the road when operating commercial vehicles is diligent preparation. A comprehensive cdl commercial driver’s license study guide is indispensable for this preparation. This guide provides direct access to the essential sections of the official Commercial Driver’s Manual, meticulously designed to help you understand the requirements and confidently ace your CDL tests.
The Commercial Driver’s Manual is structured into sections that correspond to the knowledge and skills tests required to obtain a CDL with specific class and endorsements. Below is a breakdown of these sections, all available in PDF format. It is recommended to have Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 7.0 or later) installed to access these documents. The latest version is available for free from the Adobe website.
| SECTION | Prepare for TESTS | LICENSE OR ENDORSEMENT |
|---|---|---|
| Table of Contents (PDF) (3 pages) | — | — |
| Section 1 (PDF) Introduction (15 pages) | All applicants should read this section first to understand the basics of CDL requirements and the manual itself. | All |
| Section 2 (PDF) Driving Safely (57 pages) | General (Core) Knowledge test. This section is crucial for mastering safe driving practices for commercial vehicles. | Class A, B, and C licenses |
| Section 3 (PDF) Transporting Cargo Safely (5 pages) | General (Core) Knowledge test. Learn the essential principles of cargo safety and securement for commercial transportation. | Class A, B, and C licenses |
| Section 4 (PDF) Transporting Passengers (6 pages) | Passenger Endorsement test. Required for all bus driver applicants, this section covers specific rules for passenger safety. | Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements |
| Section 5 (PDF) Air Brakes (15 pages) | Air Brakes test. Essential knowledge for operating vehicles equipped with air brake systems. | You must pass this test if your vehicle has air brakes, including air over hydraulic brakes |
| Section 6 (PDF) Combination Vehicles (15 pages) | Combination Vehicle test. Focuses on the unique handling and safety aspects of driving combination vehicles like tractor-trailers. | Class A license and Double/Triple (T) endorsement |
| Section 7 (PDF) Doubles and Triples (8 pages) | Double/Triple endorsement test. Specific to operating vehicles pulling double or triple trailers, covering stability and control. | Double/Triple (T) endorsement — required to pull double or triple trailers |
| Section 8 (PDF) Tank Vehicles (4 pages) | Tank Vehicle endorsement test. Addresses the safe operation of tank vehicles, critical for hauling liquids or gases. | Tank (N) endorsement — required to haul a liquid or liquid gas in specified tank sizes |
| Section 9 (PDF) Hazardous Materials (27 pages) | Hazardous Materials (HazMat) endorsement test. Covers regulations and safety procedures for transporting hazardous materials. | HazMat (H), combination Tank-HazMat (X) and Farm-HazMat (Z) endorsements — required to haul hazardous materials or waste in regulated quantities |
| Section 10 (PDF) School Bus (14 pages) | School Bus endorsement test. In addition to the Passenger endorsement, this is required for school bus drivers, emphasizing child safety. | School Bus (S) endorsement — required in addition to the (P) endorsement to drive a school bus of a certain size |
| Sections 11, 12 & 13 (PDF) Pre-trip Inspection Test; Basic Vehicle Control Test; On-Road Test (20 pages) | Skills/Road Test. This section details what to expect during the practical skills tests for your CDL. | Class A, B, and C licenses. Skills test must be in the vehicle class and type for licensing. |
Your journey to obtaining a CDL starts with utilizing the right cdl commercial driver’s license study guide. By accessing these official manual sections and dedicating yourself to thorough study, you will be well-prepared to confidently pass your CDL tests and embark on a successful and safe commercial driving career. Download the sections relevant to the CDL class and endorsements you are pursuing and begin your preparation today.
