Instructions

Combination

All applicants who are applying for a Class A CDL should be prepared to take the Combination test. This test covers information found in Section 6 of the Commercial Driver License.. Read More

All applicants who are applying for a Class A CDL should be prepared to take the Combination test. This test covers information found in Section 6 of the Commercial Driver License Manual. Section 6 provides the information needed to safely operate tractor-trailers, doubles, triples, and straight trucks with trailers. The test is made up of 20 multiple-choice questions, and applicants will need to correctly answer a minimum of 16 questions to pass. The Combination test is not a replacement for the Double/Triple endorsement test.

Number of Question 20

Passing Score 16

8. The easiest way to recognize that your trailer has begun to skid is to:

Ask another driver.

Use your mirrors to determine if the trailer has left the lane.

Release the brake pedal and then push it down again.

Watch the jackknife warning light on the control panel.

The easiest way to spot a trailer skid is to use your mirrors. Any time you brake hard, check your mirrors to ensure that your trailer is still in its proper position.

9. If your trailer goes off course while you are backing, you should:

Continue the backing process without changing anything.

Pull the truck forward, readjust, and start backing again.

Get out of the truck and move the trailer into the right position.

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left until the trailer straightens out.

If your trailer goes off course while you are backing, you should pull your truck forward and reposition your vehicle as needed before continuing to back up.

10. If you are operating a vehicle built before 1998 and are unsure if the trailer has an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), you can:

Check for wheel speed sensors coming from the back of the brakes.

Look for a red light on the front right corner of the converter dolly.

Pump the air brakes to activate the ABS.

Assume the vehicle has ABS.

If you are operating a vehicle built before 1998 and are unsure if the trailer has an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), you can check under the trailer for wheel speed sensors coming from the back of the brakes.

11. If oil and water build up in your vehicle's air tanks, the brakes:

May not work correctly.

May feel squishy.

Will squeal loudly when used.

Will be extremely sensitive.

Air tanks should be drained daily to remove water and oil buildup. An excess of oil and water in the air tanks can interfere with proper brake function.

12. Large combination vehicles take the longest amount of time to stop:

When fully loaded.

When partially loaded.

When empty.

When mostly loaded.

Large combination vehicles take longer to stop when they are empty than when they are loaded. The decreased weight causes a vehicle's wheels to have decreased traction on the surface of the road.

13. If a trailer begins to skid, the driver should:

Lock the brakes.

Release the brakes.

Steer in the opposite direction.

Accelerate.

If your trailer starts to skid while you are braking, you should release the brakes and allow them to begin to regain traction. Once its wheels have regained their grip on the road, the trailer will begin to straighten out and follow the tractor.

14. Combination vehicles:

Are usually shorter than single commercial vehicles.

Are usually lighter than single commercial vehicles.

Require more skill to drive than single commercial vehicles.

Are easier to drive than single commercial vehicles.

Combination vehicles are usually heavier and longer than single commercial vehicles. For these reasons, they usually require more driving skill than single commercial vehicles.

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