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CDL Texas Commercial Rules practice test

Texas only. Texas applicants take this state test before the others.

Examlane has 38 Texas Commercial Rules questions in 7 chapters. The usual test has 20 questions and needs 80% to pass; Texas does not publish the length, so that figure is our estimate. Some states set a different length: see the state table.

Practice Texas Commercial Rules

Chapters

Manual sectionChapterQuestions
14.1Papers, permits and equipment10
14.3Size and weight limits6
14.4Size exceptions4
14.5Operating rules2
14.6Safety practices5
14.7Registration3
14.8Federal rules and sharing the road8

Ten free questions

Open a question to see the answer and why.

  1. 1. A commercial truck on a public highway must carry its registration papers. Besides the empty weight of the vehicle, what else must the papers show?
    1. The top speed the vehicle may travel
    2. The size of its fuel tank in gallons
    3. How much it is registered to haul
    4. The number of axles it has and their spacing

    Answer: C. How much it is registered to haul

    Registration papers carried in the vehicle list its empty weight and the weight it is registered to haul.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.1. Question in our own words.

  2. 2. What is the greatest height allowed for a vehicle, measured from the ground to the top of its load?
    1. 12 feet
    2. 13 feet
    3. 14 feet
    4. 15 feet

    Answer: C. 14 feet

    A vehicle and its load may not stand taller than 14 feet above the ground.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.3. Question in our own words.

  3. 3. What is the widest a vehicle carrying round hay bales may be?
    1. 144 inches
    2. 102 inches
    3. 120 inches
    4. 156 inches

    Answer: A. 144 inches

    Vehicles hauling round hay bales may be as wide as 144 inches.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.4. Question in our own words.

  4. 4. A commercial driver is about to go down a long hill and needs a lower gear. When should the driver shift?
    1. Before starting down the hill
    2. Halfway down the hill
    3. After the truck begins to speed up
    4. Once the brakes begin to fade

    Answer: A. Before starting down the hill

    Shift to the lower gear before starting down, so the truck is already in the right gear on the grade.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.5. Question in our own words.

  5. 5. A tractor-trailer is about to turn right at a corner. About how far from the curb should the driver approach?
    1. About 8 feet
    2. About 1 foot
    3. About 12 feet
    4. About 4 feet

    Answer: D. About 4 feet

    Approaching about four feet from the curb gives the rear wheels room but is too close for a car to slip by on the right.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.6. Question in our own words.

  6. 6. How long are out-of-state plates recognized in Texas after a driver becomes a resident or starts gainful employment?
    1. 10 days
    2. 20 days
    3. 60 days
    4. 30 days

    Answer: D. 30 days

    After a person settles in Texas or takes a job here, out-of-state plates are good for only 30 days.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.7. Question in our own words.

  7. 7. How many seconds of following distance does a professional truck driver keep on the open road in good conditions?
    1. One second
    2. Four seconds
    3. Two seconds
    4. Three seconds

    Answer: B. Four seconds

    On the open road, a professional driver keeps four seconds of space ahead.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.8. Question in our own words.

  8. 8. A trucker applies for a special permit to move an oversize load. In which case will the permit be refused?
    1. The load is taller than the law allows
    2. The load can reasonably be taken apart
    3. The load is wider than the law allows
    4. The load is heavier than the law allows

    Answer: B. The load can reasonably be taken apart

    A permit is refused when the load could reasonably be broken down into smaller pieces. Permits are meant for loads that cannot be handled any other way.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.1. Question in our own words.

  9. 9. What is the greatest width allowed for a vehicle and its load, when no exception applies?
    1. 96 inches
    2. 108 inches
    3. 114 inches
    4. 102 inches

    Answer: D. 102 inches

    A vehicle and its cargo together may be no wider than 102 inches unless an exception applies.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.3. Question in our own words.

  10. 10. A motor bus has air brakes and three axles. What is the longest it may be?
    1. 35 feet
    2. 40 feet
    3. 48 feet
    4. 45 feet

    Answer: D. 45 feet

    A motor bus with air brakes and three or more axles may be up to 45 feet long.

    Based on: Texas CDL Handbook (DL-7C, March 2026), Section 14.4. Question in our own words.

This is practice for the knowledge test. It is not Entry-Level Driver Training and does not count toward any federal training requirement.