Georgia Air Brakes CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Georgia Air Brakes CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Try to answer each question on your own before reading the answer key directly under it. The questions and answer choices are shuffled deterministically per state and endorsement, so the order will stay the same on repeat visits — that lets you genuinely measure your improvement.
- A Before reaching the top, while still on level ground
- B At the bottom only
- C Once a year
- D In the middle of the descent
- A Set both tractor and trailer parking brakes
- B Leave both released
- C Set only the tractor parking brake
- D Set only the trailer parking brake
- A The horn
- B The headlights
- C The service brakes for normal stops
- D The tail lights
- A Have small cracks
- B Be free of cracks longer than half the width of the friction area
- C Be glowing red after stops
- D Be coated with oil
- A Less than 30 seconds
- B About 3 minutes in dual systems
- C 10 minutes
- D It does not matter
- A The trailer service brakes only
- B Both tractor and trailer brakes
- C The tractor service brakes only
- D The parking brake
- A 60 psi
- B 20 psi
- C Never; only the gauge needs to read it
- D 40 psi
- A Pushrod travel within the legal limit for that brake type
- B Visible rust
- C Loose drum bolts
- D No slack adjuster
- A They affect engine performance
- B They control trailer height
- C Out-of-adjustment slack adjusters can result in brakes that do not work properly
- D They are decorative
- A The engine will not start
- B The fuel will leak
- C When pressure drops far enough, spring brakes apply suddenly and the vehicle becomes unmovable
- D It can wake the driver
- A Check the brake light visibility
- B Disable the warning lamp
- C Drain the wet tank
- D Allow the system to reach operating pressure before driving
- A Off, with brakes released for the first part
- B In gear
- C Started and stopped repeatedly
- D Running at high RPM
- A Spring brakes apply automatically
- B Nothing happens until you stop
- C The engine stops
- D The trailer hand valve releases
- A Tire blowouts
- B Steering wander
- C Wheel lockup during emergency braking
- D Engine overheating
- A Pump the service brake five times
- B Drive immediately
- C Drain the wet tank
- D Wait for full system pressure before moving
- A Pump the brake to fan down the pressure and verify the warning activates before pressure drops below 60 psi
- B Disconnect the trailer
- C Look at the dashboard light
- D Drain the wet tank only
- A Pump the brakes hard
- B Continue driving — you still have normal brakes — and have the system checked at the next opportunity
- C Disconnect the trailer
- D Immediately stop on the side of the road
- A 0 feet
- B 300 feet
- C 142 feet
- D 32 feet
- A 1 psi
- B 2-3 psi
- C 5 psi
- D 10 psi
- A 90 to 100 psi
- B 20 to 45 psi
- C 60 to 80 psi
- D 0 to 10 psi
- A 4 psi per minute
- B 2 psi per minute
- C 3 psi per minute
- D 5 psi per minute
- A You are about to begin a trip
- B There is no situation in which draining is wrong
- C The vehicle is in motion
- D It is full of moisture
- A The vehicle's motion
- B The brake pedal
- C The compressor pumping air back into the storage tanks
- D The driver inflating the tank with a portable pump
- A A clogged air filter or worn compressor
- B All of the above
- C A leak in the brake system
- D A broken governor
- A Be wrapped in tape
- B Show no signs of damage, leaks, or excessive wear
- C Be coiled tightly under the truck
- D Have at least 5 splices each
Study tips for the Georgia Air Brakes exam
The Air Brakes portion of the Georgia CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Georgia Department of Driver Services draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Air Brakes chapter of the Georgia CDL handbook, which itself is derived from the FMCSA Model Commercial Driver's License Manual. That means studying our practice tests, reading the corresponding handbook chapter, and re-reading the parts you got wrong is genuinely the most efficient route to a first-time pass.
Most successful applicants follow a simple cycle: take the practice test cold, write down every question you missed, open the matching chapter of the official Georgia handbook, re-read the section that contains the right answer, then re-take the practice test 24 to 48 hours later. The 24-hour delay matters — sleep is when your brain commits new information to long-term memory, and CDL knowledge questions reward that kind of consolidated learning rather than cramming.
Pay particular attention to questions that include qualifier words like always, never, only, primary, or most. CDL test writers love to flip the right answer with a single qualifier. When two answer choices look almost identical, pay attention to the verb (is it must, should, or may?) and to any numbers (14 days, 100 air miles, 8 hours, 70/8 split). On endorsement tests in particular, watch for trick framing where a true statement about a different endorsement is offered as the "correct" answer to a question that is actually about Air Brakes.
Test-day logistics matter too. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card or birth certificate, your medical examiner's certificate (DOT card), and proof of state residency if you haven't already submitted those documents. The Georgia Department of Driver Services will not let you sit for the knowledge exam without your documentation, and most offices charge an additional fee for re-attempts. Arrive early — the wait at most CDL testing offices runs 30 to 60 minutes — and silence your phone before the exam begins.
Finally, keep your General Knowledge fundamentals sharp even when you're focused on the Air Brakes exam. Many states administer multiple knowledge tests in a single sitting, and questions on weight definitions (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR), stopping distance, and the pre-trip inspection routine show up across endorsements. If you're unsure on the basics, sit a fresh Georgia General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the Air Brakes study guide and the matching chapter in the official Georgia CDL handbook. Then come back and re-take the test. Once you can score 22 of 25 or higher on three runs in a row, you're in good shape to schedule the real exam at your local Georgia Department of Driver Services office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: GA General Knowledge · GA Combination Vehicles · GA Hazardous Materials · GA Passenger · GA School Bus · GA Tank Vehicle · GA Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Georgia? Read How to apply for a CDL in Georgia for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.