Kansas Combination Vehicles CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Kansas Combination Vehicles CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles. 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 The trailer wheels follow a tighter arc than the tractor wheels in a turn
- B Loss of traction
- C Driving off the road
- D Sliding sideways
- A Off-tracking — the trailer wheels follow a tighter arc than the tractor
- B Brake fade
- C Wheel damage
- D No off-tracking
- A Set only the tractor parking brake
- B Set both tractor and trailer parking brakes
- C Use the trailer hand valve
- D Leave the engine running with the brakes off
- A Move the tractor far away immediately without checking
- B Check that the trailer is stable on its landing gear
- C Connect the lines back to the tractor
- D Disable the trailer parking brake
- A Brake balance is irrelevant
- B Trailer wheels lock more often than drive wheels in panic stops
- C ABS prevents jackknife in all cases
- D Drive wheels never lock
- A Tire wear only
- B The trailer to come uncoupled
- C Rust on the cab
- D Engine damage
- A Lower the trailer landing gear and chock the trailer wheels
- B Honk the horn
- C Disconnect the electrical line first
- D Drain the air tanks
- A A height where the tractor will lift the trailer slightly when backing under
- B A height that requires the tractor to drop down to fit
- C Maximum legal height
- D Whatever height it happens to be
- A Be in the low position when traveling
- B Be in the stowed (high) position when traveling
- C Be locked at half-height
- D Be removed
- A Air for the brakes
- B Hydraulic fluid
- C Fuel
- D Electrical power for trailer lights and ABS
- A Manual transmission shifters
- B Coupling devices for connecting tractor air lines to the trailer
- C Electrical connectors
- D Brake adjustment levers
- A Misalignment between tractor and trailer
- B All of the above
- C Loose or missing fifth-wheel mounting bolts
- D Cracks in the kingpin
- A Too high — it can damage the kingpin or skip over the fifth wheel
- B Empty
- C Properly chocked
- D Loaded
- A Driving too fast for conditions and/or too closely
- B Cargo movement
- C Worn out tires
- D Engine failure
- A Stop traffic by signaling left
- B Use the shoulder
- C Stay in the right lane and swing the front of the tractor wide enough to clear the curb without inviting cars to pass on the right
- D Turn from the left lane
- A Stops faster than when loaded
- B May actually take longer to stop because brakes are designed for the loaded weight
- C Stops only with parking brake
- D Stops in the same distance
- A Spin out
- B Roll over before sliding
- C Lose engine power
- D Stop suddenly
- A Back at full speed
- B GOAL — Get Out And Look — and walk around the trailer first
- C Use only mirrors
- D Have the dispatcher in the cab
- A Shift in the middle of the track
- B Honk and accelerate
- C Cross in a low gear without shifting
- D Stop on the tracks if traffic ahead slows
- A Trailer sway in crosswinds
- B All of the above
- C Reduced visibility along the trailer
- D Off-tracking on right turns
- A Only at the start of the day
- B Only at the destination
- C Before, during, and after coupling
- D Every 3 hours
- A Loss of brake pressure
- B Large trailer angle changes; small inputs are key
- C Small trailer movement
- D No effect
- A Loaded last
- B Last
- C Either position is fine
- D First (closest to the tractor)
- A Pull tractor away first, then disconnect lines
- B Release fifth wheel first, then connect lines
- C No specific order is required
- D Lower landing gear, disconnect lines, release fifth wheel, pull tractor away
- A Stopping distances are normal
- B No effect on safety
- C Stopping distances increase and the trailer can swing
- D Steering becomes easier
Study tips for the Kansas Combination Vehicles exam
The Combination Vehicles portion of the Kansas CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Combination Vehicles chapter of the Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Combination Vehicles.
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 Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles 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 Combination Vehicles 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 Kansas General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the Combination Vehicles study guide and the matching chapter in the official Kansas 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 Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: KS General Knowledge · KS Air Brakes · KS Hazardous Materials · KS Passenger · KS School Bus · KS Tank Vehicle · KS Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Kansas? Read How to apply for a CDL in Kansas for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.