Written by the America’s Driving Force team · Reviewed by Joel Curtis, retired professional truck driver · Published October 5, 2026 · Last reviewed October 5, 2026 · Sources are listed at the end
The CDL skills test has three segments given in a fixed order: the pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control skills and the on-road driving test. Fail one segment and you cannot continue. Federal rules in 49 CFR Part 383 set the skills, the order, English-only testing, automatic failures and the license restrictions that apply depending on the vehicle you test in.
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What the CDL skills test is
The CDL skills test is the hands-on part of getting a commercial driver’s license. It is separate from the written knowledge tests, and it is given in a real truck or bus. Federal rules set what the test must cover, in what order it is given and how it is scored, while your state licensing agency runs it. According to 49 CFR 383.133, a state must develop, administer and score the skills tests based solely on the information and standards in the driver and examiner manuals.
The test has three segments: a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control skills and an on-road driving test. This guide explains each one using the federal regulations as they appeared on eCFR on October 5, 2026. It is general information. Your state may add its own details, so read your state’s CDL manual before you test.
The three segments and their order
Section 383.133(c)(6) says the skills test must be administered and successfully completed in a set order: pre-trip inspection, then basic vehicle control skills, then on-road skills. If you fail one segment, you cannot continue to the next segment of the test.
The same paragraph adds a detail worth knowing. Scores for the segments you passed are only valid during initial issuance of the commercial learner’s permit (CLP). If the CLP is renewed, all three segments of the skills test must be retaken. Retakes and waiting periods are set by your state, so check your state’s rules.
Segment 1: pre-trip vehicle inspection
Under 49 CFR 383.113(a), applicants must be able to identify each safety-related part on the vehicle and explain what needs to be inspected to ensure a safe operating condition. The regulation lists these areas:
- engine compartment
- cab and engine start
- steering
- suspension
- brakes
- wheels
- side of the vehicle
- rear of the vehicle
- special features of a tractor-trailer, school bus or coach/transit bus, if that type of vehicle is used for the test
If the test vehicle has air brakes, there is an additional set of skills. You must locate and verbally identify the air brake controls and monitoring devices, determine that the brake system is properly adjusted and that air connections between vehicles are made and secured, check that the low pressure warning devices will activate, make sure the system maintains an adequate supply of compressed air with the engine running, confirm that air pressure build-up time is within acceptable limits and that alarms and emergency devices deactivate at the proper pressure level, and operationally check the brake system.
Segment 2: basic vehicle control skills
The second segment tests how you handle the vehicle in a controlled area. Section 383.113(b) lists these skills for all applicants:
- start, warm up and shut down the engine;
- put the vehicle in motion and accelerate smoothly, forward and backward;
- bring the vehicle to a smooth stop;
- back in a straight line, checking path and clearance while backing;
- position the vehicle to make safe left and right turns;
- shift as required and select the appropriate gear for speed and highway conditions; and
- back along a curved path.
The regulation describes the abilities in general terms. The exact maneuvers, layouts and scoring are in your state’s manuals, which must be based on the federal model manuals.
Segment 3: on-road driving
The on-road segment checks whether you can drive safely in traffic. Per 383.113(c), applicants must demonstrate the ability to:
- use proper visual search methods;
- signal appropriately when changing direction in traffic;
- adjust speed to the roadway, weather, visibility, traffic, vehicle, cargo and driver conditions;
- choose a safe gap for changing lanes, passing, and crossing or entering traffic;
- position the vehicle correctly before and during a turn to prevent other vehicles from passing on the wrong side and to prevent problems caused by off-tracking;
- maintain a safe following distance depending on road conditions, visibility and vehicle weight;
- adjust operation to prevailing weather, including speed, braking, direction changes and following distance; and
- observe the road and the behavior of other vehicles, particularly before changing speed and direction.
Skills tests must be conducted in on-street conditions or a combination of on-street and off-street conditions. A state may use simulators for skills testing, but never as a substitute for the required testing in on-street conditions.
Scoring, automatic failure and test rules
To pass each segment, 49 CFR 383.135(b) says you must demonstrate all of the skills in 383.113 and attain the scores listed in the examiner manual for the vehicle type used. Some mistakes end the test immediately. The regulation says an applicant who does not obey traffic laws, causes an accident during the test, or commits any other offense listed as a reason for automatic failure in the driver and examiner manuals must automatically fail.
Other rules in 383.133(c) affect how you prepare:
- Representative vehicle. The test must be taken in a vehicle representative of the CDL group you are applying for. The vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating is used for that decision, not its actual weight.
- English only. Interpreters are prohibited during the skills test. Applicants must be able to understand and respond to verbal commands and instructions in English, and neither the applicant nor the examiner may communicate in another language during the test.
- Standard scoring. States must use the standardized scores and instructions in the examiner manual.
How your test vehicle can restrict your license
The vehicle you test in can limit the license you receive. According to 383.135(b), a restriction is added if you take the test in a vehicle that:
- has no air brake system (an air brake restriction);
- has air over hydraulic brakes (a full air brake restriction);
- has an automatic transmission (a manual transmission restriction); or
- is a combination vehicle requiring a Group A CDL with a non-fifth wheel connection (a tractor-trailer restriction).
Some restrictions can be lifted without starting over. To remove the air brake, full air brake or manual transmission restriction, the state may give a modified skills test. To remove an air brake restriction you must also do the air brake pre-trip inspection and pass the air brake knowledge test. To remove the tractor-trailer restriction, you must retake all three skills tests in a representative tractor-trailer.
The knowledge tests tie in as well. A passing score on a knowledge test is at least 80 percent correct. If you score under 80 percent on the air brake portion and are still issued a permit or license, an air brake restriction is placed on it, and failing the combination vehicle portion means you must not be issued a Group A permit or license.
How to prepare
Because the content comes from the federal manuals, the best preparation is to study your state’s CDL manual. 49 CFR 383.131 requires each state to give applicants a driver information manual that includes the substance of the knowledge and skills drivers must have and the details of the testing procedures. Practice the pre-trip inspection out loud, since the regulation says you must explain what needs to be inspected for each part, and rehearse the segments in order.
Federal rules also require entry-level driver training for many first-time applicants before the skills test. See our guide to getting a CDL without a traditional truck driving school, our Class A CDL test preparation guide, and the difference between Class A and Class B licenses. The list of required skills is on eCFR’s Subpart G page. Regulations change, so confirm current details with your state licensing agency.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three parts of the CDL skills test?
The pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control skills and on-road skills, given in that order. If you fail one segment you cannot continue to the next, per 49 CFR 383.133.
What causes an automatic fail on the CDL skills test?
The regulation says not obeying traffic laws, causing an accident during the test, or committing any other offense listed as an automatic failure in the driver and examiner manuals results in an automatic fail. The full list is in your state's manuals.
Can I take the CDL skills test in an automatic transmission truck?
Yes, but a manual transmission restriction will be put on your CDL. The state may later give a modified skills test to remove it, according to 49 CFR 383.135.
Can an interpreter help me during the skills test?
No. Interpreters are prohibited, and applicants must be able to understand and respond to verbal commands and instructions in English. Neither the applicant nor the examiner may use another language during the test.
Do I have to retake the whole skills test if I fail one part?
Passed segments are only valid during initial issuance of the CLP. If the CLP is renewed, all three segments must be retaken. Your state sets its own retest rules and waiting periods.
Related guides
- How to get a CDL without a traditional truck driving school
- Class A CDL test preparation guide
- Class A vs Class B CDL licenses
About the reviewer
Joel Curtis is a retired professional truck driver with more than 30 years of over-the-road experience in Canada and the United States. He reviews our guides for practical accuracy from a driver’s point of view. Every guide is built from the official sources listed below.
Sources
- 49 CFR 383.113: Required skills, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 383.133: Test methods, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 383.135: Passing knowledge and skills tests, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 383.131: Test manuals, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR Part 383 Subpart G: Required Knowledge and Skills, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules, fees and requirements change, so confirm current details with the agencies listed above and your state before you act.