Montana Combination Vehicles CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Montana Combination Vehicles CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Montana Motor Vehicle Division. 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 Round, blue, marked TRACTOR
- B Square, white, marked CHARGE
- C Octagonal, red, marked TRAILER AIR SUPPLY
- D Triangular, green, marked SERVICE
- A Tug the trailer with the trailer parking brakes set
- B Honk the horn
- C Look at the locking jaws only
- D Listen for a click
- A They take more skill to back, couple, and uncouple
- B They are heavier and longer
- C All of the above
- D They have a higher rollover risk
- A Be closed around the shank of the kingpin (not on the head)
- B Be loose
- C Be missing
- D Be open
- A Tied with rope
- B Locked and the safety latch in place after coupling
- C Released and visible after coupling
- D Removed before driving
- A Operates the parking brake only
- B Drains the wet tank
- C Carries electrical signals
- D Sends supply air to the trailer reservoirs and controls the trailer emergency brakes
- A The fuel mileage
- B The trailer following the same path as the tractor in a straight line
- C Cargo placement
- D Lane positioning at intersections
- A You will notice immediately because trailer brakes will not work properly
- B Nothing will happen
- C The trailer brakes will be locked on
- D The horn will sound
- A A vehicle length
- B Two car lengths
- C One second per 10 feet of vehicle length below 40 mph, plus one extra second above 40 mph
- D No specific rule
- A Check that the trailer is stable on its landing gear
- B Disable the trailer parking brake
- C Connect the lines back to the tractor
- D Move the tractor far away immediately without checking
- A Coupling with the trailer too high
- B All of the above
- C Failure to grease
- D Backing too fast
- A Stop in the middle of the turn
- B Swing left then right
- C Swing wide to the right first to avoid hitting the curb
- D Keep the cab close to the curb and swing the front out so following cars cannot squeeze beside you on the right
- A A height where the tractor will lift the trailer slightly when backing under
- B Whatever height it happens to be
- C Maximum legal height
- D A height that requires the tractor to drop down to fit
- A It is illegal in some states
- B It is the standard procedure
- C It is fine if you are careful
- D It can damage the cab and the trailer (cab corner crush)
- A Trailer sway in crosswinds
- B Off-tracking on right turns
- C Reduced visibility along the trailer
- D All of the above
- A The trailer service brakes only
- B Both tractor and trailer brakes simultaneously
- C The tractor service brakes only
- D The parking brake
- A Coupling devices for connecting tractor air lines to the trailer
- B Brake adjustment levers
- C Electrical connectors
- D Manual transmission shifters
- A The drive wheels lock and the trailer pushes the tractor sideways
- B The trailer wheels lock briefly
- C You are driving slowly
- D The brakes are released gently
- A Honk the horn
- B Lower the trailer landing gear and chock the trailer wheels
- C Disconnect the electrical line first
- D Drain the air tanks
- A Stops in the same distance
- B May actually take longer to stop because brakes are designed for the loaded weight
- C Stops only with parking brake
- D Stops faster than when loaded
- A Only need attention every 5 years
- B Are normal until the lining is gone
- C Should be replaced when worn beyond manufacturer specs
- D Make the truck quieter
- A Stop on the tracks if traffic ahead slows
- B Shift in the middle of the track
- C Cross in a low gear without shifting
- D Honk and accelerate
- A Drain the wet tank
- B Drive away immediately
- C Charge the trailer brakes by setting the trailer air supply control
- D Pump the brakes 10 times
- A Rust on the cab
- B The trailer to come uncoupled
- C Tire wear only
- D Engine damage
- A Test the trailer brakes
- B Apply trailer brakes momentarily
- C Both for parking and to prevent jackknife
- D Hold the vehicle when parking
Study tips for the Montana Combination Vehicles exam
The Combination Vehicles portion of the Montana CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Montana Motor Vehicle Division draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Combination Vehicles chapter of the Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana Motor Vehicle Division 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 Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana Motor Vehicle Division office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: MT General Knowledge · MT Air Brakes · MT Hazardous Materials · MT Passenger · MT School Bus · MT Tank Vehicle · MT Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Montana? Read How to apply for a CDL in Montana for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.