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OK · GK (Class A) Endorsement

Oklahoma Combination Vehicles CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Oklahoma Combination Vehicles CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. 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.

Heads up: this is a study tool, not a graded exam. Cover the answer with your hand or a sheet of paper for an honest practice run, then re-read the explanations for any questions you missed. Aim for 22 out of 25 or better, three times in a row, before scheduling the real exam.
Question 1 of 25
A worn or damaged fifth wheel can cause:
  • A Tire wear only
  • B Engine damage
  • C The trailer to come uncoupled
  • D Rust on the cab
Correct answer: C
Worn locking jaws or a cracked structure can fail and release the trailer in motion.
Question 2 of 25
You should test the air-brake system by:
  • A Listening to the brake light
  • B Performing the seven-step air-brake check before each trip
  • C Asking a mechanic
  • D Pressing the pedal once at startup
Correct answer: B
The seven-step check is the standard pre-trip air-brake test.
Question 3 of 25
When inspecting the air lines between tractor and trailer, look for:
  • A Cuts, abrasions, and worn seals
  • B Cargo placement
  • C Loose lug nuts only
  • D Engine oil leaks
Correct answer: A
Air-line condition is a typical roadside inspection focus on combinations.
Question 4 of 25
When you make a wide right turn, you should:
  • A Use the shoulder
  • B 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
  • C Stop traffic by signaling left
  • D Turn from the left lane
Correct answer: B
Use only as much room as needed and keep the right side blocked to following vehicles.
Question 5 of 25
When the trailer begins to skid, you should:
  • A Accelerate
  • B Apply the trailer hand valve harder
  • C Release the brakes to allow the trailer wheels to roll again, then steer
  • D Disconnect the air supply
Correct answer: C
Releasing the brakes lets the wheels rotate again so the trailer can recover its tracking.
Question 6 of 25
You should never back under a trailer that is:
  • A Too high — it can damage the kingpin or skip over the fifth wheel
  • B Loaded
  • C Properly chocked
  • D Empty
Correct answer: A
A trailer set too high can skip over the fifth-wheel jaws and not lock, or damage the coupling.
Question 7 of 25
Which is true about combination braking?
  • A Drive wheels never lock
  • B Brake balance is irrelevant
  • C Trailer wheels lock more often than drive wheels in panic stops
  • D ABS prevents jackknife in all cases
Correct answer: C
Empty trailer wheels lock easily and contribute to jackknife and trailer-swing risks.
Question 8 of 25
Trailer parking brakes are released:
  • A By setting the red trailer-air-supply valve
  • B By pushing in the red trailer-air-supply valve
  • C By the trailer hand valve
  • D By pulling out the red trailer-air-supply valve
Correct answer: B
Pushing in the red knob charges the trailer brakes and releases the spring brakes.
Question 9 of 25
Trailer ABS uses:
  • A Sensors at each wheel that release brake pressure when wheel lockup is detected
  • B Hand valves
  • C Hydraulic brakes
  • D A separate compressor
Correct answer: A
Wheel-speed sensors trigger valves to release pressure when lockup is detected.
Question 10 of 25
A heavy combination vehicle in a curve is most likely to:
  • A Roll over before sliding
  • B Stop suddenly
  • C Spin out
  • D Lose engine power
Correct answer: A
Loaded trailers reach the rollover threshold before they slide. Slow before the curve.
Question 11 of 25
A "trailer skid" usually starts because:
  • A A wheel bearing fails
  • B The trailer brakes lock up
  • C The tractor brakes lock up
  • D The fifth wheel breaks
Correct answer: B
Locking the trailer brakes is the most common cause of a trailer skid (jackknife).
Question 12 of 25
When parking a tractor-trailer, you should:
  • A Set both tractor and trailer parking brakes
  • B Leave the engine running with the brakes off
  • C Use the trailer hand valve
  • D Set only the tractor parking brake
Correct answer: A
For full parking, both parking brakes apply.
Question 13 of 25
Most rear-end collisions caused by combination vehicles result from:
  • A Engine failure
  • B Worn out tires
  • C Driving too fast for conditions and/or too closely
  • D Cargo movement
Correct answer: C
Speed and following distance dominate the causes. Increase cushion and slow down.
Question 14 of 25
If you cross the air lines (service to emergency and vice versa) when coupling:
  • A The trailer brakes will be locked on
  • B Nothing will happen
  • C The horn will sound
  • D You will notice immediately because trailer brakes will not work properly
Correct answer: D
Crossed glad hands often produce no air flow to brake chambers and incorrect brake operation; you should notice on the brake test.
Question 15 of 25
When you cross a railroad track in a combination vehicle, the safest practice is:
  • A Cross in a low gear without shifting
  • B Stop on the tracks if traffic ahead slows
  • C Honk and accelerate
  • D Shift in the middle of the track
Correct answer: A
Cross in a low gear without shifting; never stop on the tracks; never shift in the middle.
Question 16 of 25
When uncoupling, after the tractor is clear, you should:
  • A Disable the trailer parking brake
  • B Connect the lines back to the tractor
  • C Move the tractor far away immediately without checking
  • D Check that the trailer is stable on its landing gear
Correct answer: D
Verify the trailer is sitting solidly before leaving the area.
Question 17 of 25
Which of the following can damage a fifth wheel?
  • A All of the above
  • B Coupling with the trailer too high
  • C Backing too fast
  • D Failure to grease
Correct answer: A
All three: high trailer skips the jaws, fast backing impacts hardware, and lack of lubrication accelerates wear.
Question 18 of 25
The proper test of a good fifth-wheel coupling is:
  • A Look at the locking jaws only
  • B Listen for a click
  • C Tug the trailer with the trailer parking brakes set
  • D Honk the horn
Correct answer: C
After coupling and locking, gently pull forward against the locked trailer brakes to confirm engagement.
Question 19 of 25
A safe combination-vehicle following distance is at least:
  • A A vehicle length
  • B One second per 10 feet of vehicle length below 40 mph, plus one extra second above 40 mph
  • C Two car lengths
  • D No specific rule
Correct answer: B
A 60-ft combination needs at least 6 seconds under 40 mph, 7 seconds above 40 mph.
Question 20 of 25
If you are pulling two trailers, the heavier trailer should be:
  • A Loaded last
  • B Last
  • C Either position is fine
  • D First (closest to the tractor)
Correct answer: D
Heavier trailer first reduces the rear-trailer crack-the-whip effect.
Question 21 of 25
The trailer landing gear (dolly legs) should be:
  • A Lowered to the ground while driving
  • B Disconnected before driving
  • C Fully raised before driving
  • D Always halfway extended
Correct answer: C
Landing gear must be fully raised and the crank handle secured before moving the trailer.
Question 22 of 25
Trailer air supply valves on tractors are typically:
  • A Octagonal, red, marked TRAILER AIR SUPPLY
  • B Square, white, marked CHARGE
  • C Triangular, green, marked SERVICE
  • D Round, blue, marked TRACTOR
Correct answer: A
The trailer air-supply valve is the red, octagonal knob — a federal standard.
Question 23 of 25
You should inspect a combination vehicle for:
  • A All of the above
  • B Loose or missing fifth-wheel mounting bolts
  • C Cracks in the kingpin
  • D Misalignment between tractor and trailer
Correct answer: A
All three are pre-trip combination-vehicle items.
Question 24 of 25
After coupling, the locking jaws should:
  • A Be loose
  • B Be open
  • C Be missing
  • D Be closed around the shank of the kingpin (not on the head)
Correct answer: D
Visual check: jaws around the shank, not the head. A flashlight helps.
Question 25 of 25
The "emergency" line (supply line) on a tractor-trailer:
  • A Operates the parking brake only
  • B Sends supply air to the trailer reservoirs and controls the trailer emergency brakes
  • C Drains the wet tank
  • D Carries electrical signals
Correct answer: B
Loss of pressure on the emergency line causes the trailer's emergency brake to apply automatically.

Study tips for the Oklahoma Combination Vehicles exam

The Combination Vehicles portion of the Oklahoma CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Combination Vehicles chapter of the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Department of Public Safety 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Department of Public Safety office.

Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: OK General Knowledge · OK Air Brakes · OK Hazardous Materials · OK Passenger · OK School Bus · OK Tank Vehicle · OK Doubles / Triples

New to the CDL process in Oklahoma? Read How to apply for a CDL in Oklahoma for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.