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 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.
1. Older trailers are not equipped with spring brakes. This means that if the air supply for a vehicle's air braking system leaks away:
Older trailers do not have spring brakes. This means that if the air supply in an older trailer's air tank has leaked away, there will be no working brakes connected to the trailer and its wheels will turn freely.
2. If your vehicle gets stuck on railroad tracks, you should:
If your vehicle gets stuck on railroad tracks for any reason, you should immediately exit the vehicle and walk away from the tracks. Contact the proper emergency authorities.
3. Before a trip, you can make sure air flows to all trailers by:
Before a trip, ensure that air in the air brake system reaches all trailers. Do this by waiting for air pressure to build, then sending air to both the emergency and service lines and opening the shut-off valves on the rear of the last trailer. If air escapes from the shut-off valves in the rear of the combination, the air is being supplied to the entire vehicle.
4. When driving a vehicle equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), brakes should be applied:
When driving a vehicle with ABS, you should brake in the same manner as you would in a vehicle without ABS.
5. When the wheels of a trailer lock up:
A trailer may swing out and strike other vehicles if its wheels lock up. This is especially likely with lightly-loaded trailers.
6. Operating combination vehicles usually requires ____ operating single vehicles.
Combination vehicles are usually heavier and longer than single combination vehicles. Operating a combination vehicle requires a higher level of driving skill than operating a single commercial vehicle.
7. If color-coded, which color is used to identify emergency, or supply, lines?
Air lines are sometimes color-coded to help drivers avoid mistakes when coupling glad hands. Typically, blue is used for service lines and red is used for emergency lines.
See the exact questions that will be on the 2025 Rhode Island DMV exam.
99.2% of people who use the cheat sheet pass the FIRST TIME
Alexa shares with us how she went in for her Class A permit and decided to get her Hazmat endorsement as a bonus!
Mark shares his feedback on his Class A CDL Cheat Sheet
