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  • Updated for February 2025
  • Based on 2025 TN commercial driver's license manual

Free TN CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

Tennessee could not be one of America’s most vital logistics, multimodal, and transportation hubs without its extensive network of highways and other roads. These roads connect key transportation facilities such as the Port of Memphis, FedEx’s global headquarters and largest distribution hub, and Memphis International Airport (home to FedEx’s global air hub). However, this dependence on roads has led to heavy traffic (especially truck traffic) and frequent urban congestion on such roads as Interstates 24, 40, 65, and 75, which increase the likelihood of accidents. I-24 poses additional accident risks due to having some of the steepest grades in the entire Interstate Highway System. Meanwhile, winding sections, sharp curves, and steep grades add to the accident risk on I-40. To assure yourself that your vehicle can handle such challenging conditions safely, conduct a comprehensive pre-trip inspection of your vehicle before your first trip of the day.

Before you can apply for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) to practice operating CMVs under supervision. A key requirement for a CLP is to pass the official General Knowledge test on general driving theory. Your test will likely contain questions on pre-trip inspections, including identifying problems with your vehicle’s systems and components. All questions on the General Knowledge test are based on the official Tennessee CDL manual (Tennessee CDL Handbook 2025). It discusses pre-trip inspections in detail, including the systems and components you must inspect and the minimum performance criteria for their safe operation. You should study the manual. However, you may not find it easy to absorb and memorize all that information just by reading about it.

Our practice tests can help you absorb and memorize all that information through explanations and intensive repetition. This Tennessee CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test, the first of several we offer, will help you master the material on pre-trip inspections in the official CDL manual and correctly answer all the pre-trip inspection questions on the General Knowledge test.

Like the official knowledge test, this practice test is multiple choice. Each question comes with several answer options. You must choose the best or most complete answer. Each question comes with our AI assistant. It can help you learn by supplying hints and answering your own questions about commercial driving theory. If you still miss a question, the AI assistant will immediately let you know and provide an explanation of the correct answer.

After you get your CDL, thoroughly inspect your vehicle every day that you drive it. It’s an essential part of keeping you and other road users safe.

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

What you need to know

6 min to complete
Available in EN and ES
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.

What to expect on the actual TN DMV exam

20

questions

16

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
  2. You pump the pedal three times and hold it down for five seconds, making sure that the pedal does not move. What are you inspecting?
  3. What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
  4. What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
  5. ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
  6. What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
  7. What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
  8. What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
  9. What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
  10. Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
  11. Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
  12. What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
  13. Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
  14. You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
  15. What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
  16. To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
  17. _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
  18. _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
  19. If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
  20. What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled?
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