Nevada Combination Vehicles CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Nevada Combination Vehicles CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Nevada Department of Motor 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 Be removed
- B Be in the stowed (high) position when traveling
- C Be in the low position when traveling
- D Be locked at half-height
- A Sends air pressure to apply trailer service brakes
- B Carries electrical power
- C Drains the trailer reservoir
- D Sends supply air to the trailer reservoirs
- A Have the dispatcher in the cab
- B GOAL — Get Out And Look — and walk around the trailer first
- C Use only mirrors
- D Back at full speed
- A All of the above
- B Loose or missing fifth-wheel mounting bolts
- C Misalignment between tractor and trailer
- D Cracks in the kingpin
- A Use the shoulder
- B Stop traffic by signaling left
- C Turn from the left lane
- D 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
- A All of the above
- B They are heavier and longer
- C They take more skill to back, couple, and uncouple
- D They have a higher rollover risk
- A Roll over before sliding
- B Lose engine power
- C Spin out
- D Stop suddenly
- A Hand valves
- B A separate compressor
- C Sensors at each wheel that release brake pressure when wheel lockup is detected
- D Hydraulic brakes
- A Pressing the pedal once at startup
- B Asking a mechanic
- C Performing the seven-step air-brake check before each trip
- D Listening to the brake light
- A Loose lug nuts only
- B Cargo placement
- C Cuts, abrasions, and worn seals
- D Engine oil leaks
- A Backing too fast
- B Failure to grease
- C All of the above
- D Coupling with the trailer too high
- 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 Engine damage
- B Rust on the cab
- C Tire wear only
- D The trailer to come uncoupled
- A Connect electrical first, then air
- B Connect air emergency line first, then service line, then electrical (or per company policy) — verify with brake check
- C Connect any line first; order doesn't matter
- D Connect only air; electrical is optional
- A Cross in a low gear without shifting
- B Honk and accelerate
- C Shift in the middle of the track
- D Stop on the tracks if traffic ahead slows
- A Stopping distances are normal
- B Steering becomes easier
- C Stopping distances increase and the trailer can swing
- D No effect on safety
- A Its center of gravity is high
- B It is shorter than a straight truck
- C It uses air brakes
- D Its tires are wider
- A First (closest to the tractor)
- B Either position is fine
- C Last
- D Loaded last
- A The trailer brakes will be locked on
- B You will notice immediately because trailer brakes will not work properly
- C The horn will sound
- D Nothing will happen
- A The tractor service brakes only
- B Both tractor and trailer brakes simultaneously
- C The trailer service brakes only
- D The parking brake
- A The trailer brakes lock up
- B A wheel bearing fails
- C The fifth wheel breaks
- D The tractor brakes lock up
- A Stop in the middle of the turn
- B Swing wide to the right first to avoid hitting the curb
- C Swing left then right
- D Keep the cab close to the curb and swing the front out so following cars cannot squeeze beside you on the right
- A The tractor parking brake fails
- B The fifth wheel disengages
- C The trailer is too heavy
- D The drive wheels lose traction and the tractor begins to slide
- A Lower the trailer landing gear and chock the trailer wheels
- B Honk the horn
- C Drain the air tanks
- D Disconnect the electrical line first
- A Move the tractor far away immediately without checking
- B Disable the trailer parking brake
- C Check that the trailer is stable on its landing gear
- D Connect the lines back to the tractor
Study tips for the Nevada Combination Vehicles exam
The Combination Vehicles portion of the Nevada CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Combination Vehicles chapter of the Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada Department of Motor 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 Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NV General Knowledge · NV Air Brakes · NV Hazardous Materials · NV Passenger · NV School Bus · NV Tank Vehicle · NV Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Nevada? Read How to apply for a CDL in Nevada for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.