Penalties & Licensing

Study questions with answers

12 sample Penalties & Licensing questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. When applying for a commercial driving job, how much of your driving work history must you provide?

   Correct answer: The past 10 years

   You must give the employer information on every driving job you have held over the previous 10 years when you apply for a commercial driving position.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (Other CDL Rules)

2. 2. A passenger endorsement is required to drive a vehicle built to carry how many people?

   Correct answer: 16 or more including the driver

   The passenger endorsement is needed for any vehicle designed to seat 16 or more people, and that count includes the driver.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (Passengers Endorsement)

3. 3. A commercial driver license is required to operate a single vehicle when its gross vehicle weight rating reaches what threshold?

   Correct answer: 26,001 pounds or more

   Any single vehicle rated at 26,001 pounds or more requires a CDL. The rating set by the manufacturer, not the actual load, is what determines this.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (Introduction)

4. 4. Which knowledge test must every CDL applicant take regardless of the license class sought?

   Correct answer: The general knowledge test

   The general knowledge test is required of all applicants. Other tests, such as air brakes or passenger transport, apply only to specific vehicles or endorsements.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (Knowledge Tests)

5. 5. The doubles/triples (T) endorsement is required for a driver who wants to do what?

   Correct answer: Pull more than one trailer at a time

   The T endorsement lets a qualified Class A driver pull double or triple trailers, which demands extra knowledge and skill and a special knowledge exam.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (Double and Triple Trailers)

6. 6. Which endorsements are the only ones a Commercial Learner's Permit may carry?

   Correct answer: Passenger, school bus, and tank

   A CLP may only hold the passenger (P), school bus (S), and tank (N) endorsements. Other endorsements cannot be added until the full CDL is issued.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (Endorsements)

7. 7. What is the maximum time allowed to complete the Basic Vehicle Control skills test?

   Correct answer: Forty minutes

   The Basic Control Skills test is time-limited, with a maximum of forty minutes allowed to finish the exercises.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 12 (Basic Control Skills Test)

8. 8. Which combination of vehicles places a driver in the Class A group?

   Correct answer: A combination rated at 26,001 pounds or more where the towed unit exceeds 10,000 pounds

   A Class A combination has a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the unit or units being towed are rated above 10,000 pounds.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (CDL Classifications)

9. 9. How many kinds of endorsements can be added to a CDL depending on the vehicle or cargo?

   Correct answer: Six

   There are six kinds of endorsements, covering doubles/triples, tank, passenger, hazardous materials, the combined tank-hazmat, and school bus operations.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (CDL Endorsements)

10. 10. What describes a vehicle that falls into the Class B group?

    Correct answer: A single heavy vehicle rated at 26,001 pounds or more, optionally towing a unit under 10,000 pounds

    Class B covers a single vehicle rated at 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing another unit that is not rated above 10,000 pounds. Straight trucks and large buses are typical.

    Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (CDL Classifications)

11. 11. A vehicle rated under 26,001 pounds is only brought into the CDL program when it does what?

    Correct answer: Is designed to seat 16 or more people including the driver, or hauls placardable hazardous materials

    Small vehicles need a CDL only when they are built to seat 16 or more people including the driver, or when they haul hazardous materials in amounts that require placards.

    Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 1 (Class C Small Vehicles)

12. 12. In which language must the vehicle inspection and basic control skills tests be administered?

    Correct answer: English only

    The vehicle inspection test and the basic control skills test must be administered in English only.

    Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 11 (Vehicle Inspection Test)