Texas Tank Vehicle CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Texas Tank Vehicle CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Texas 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.
- A Has less surge than a full tank
- B Has more surge than a full or empty tank
- C Has the same surge
- D Has no surge
- A On curves, ramps, and slick surfaces
- B All of the above
- C Stopping or starting in traffic
- D The tank is partially loaded and surge is highest
- A Reduces engine noise
- B Improves fuel mileage
- C Captures vapors during loading and unloading to reduce emissions
- D Operates the brakes
- A Without signaling
- B Smooth and gradual to minimize side-to-side surge
- C Sharp and quick
- D At any speed
- A Open vents while pressure is high
- B Drive while unloading
- C Skip the venting
- D Open vents only after pressure is equalized
- A Skip the inspection
- B Drive immediately
- C Allow the shipper to drive
- D Check fittings and covers for leaks before leaving the loading site
- A Mix freely
- B Skip the safety check
- C Verify product compatibility and follow safety procedures
- D Allow the receiver to add chemicals
- A Allow another driver to load for them
- B Begin loading without checking
- C Follow site procedures and verify equipment before loading
- D Skip the site procedures
- A Be especially careful with starts and stops because surge will be severe
- B Drive normally
- C Skip the brake check
- D Use only the parking brake
- A Increase speed
- B Coast in neutral
- C Be in low gear and use steady moderate brake application
- D Use parking brake intermittently
- A Bond only after the loading is complete
- B Disconnect the bonding mid-loading
- C Bond and ground before opening the manhole
- D Skip the bonding if the load is small
- A Allow product to leak until empty
- B Drive faster to limit the spill
- C Stop, isolate the area, and notify emergency services and the carrier
- D Continue to the destination
- A Release the wheel
- B Apply the parking brake immediately
- C Hold the steering wheel firmly because the load may push you forward
- D Disengage the clutch
- A Stop in a safe location, isolate the area, and notify the carrier and authorities
- B Continue to the destination
- C Try to repair the leak yourself
- D Drive faster
- A Drive normally
- B Use only the parking brake to slow
- C Allow extra following distance and brake earlier
- D Disregard surge
- A Compartmented tanks
- B Baffled tanks
- C Smooth-bore (unbaffled) tanks
- D Empty tanks
- A Is for the driver to enter the tank
- B Is a road sign
- C Is part of the brake system
- D Provides access to the tank interior and must be sealed during transport
- A Maintain freeway speed
- B Brake within the curve
- C Use the parking brake
- D Reduce speed before the ramp and watch for tightening curves
- A Drive away with vents open
- B Skip the post-unload inspection
- C Close vents and covers, secure equipment, and inspect for leaks before leaving
- D Allow the receiver to close everything
- A Use the trailer hand valve
- B Set only the tractor parking brake
- C Leave brakes off
- D Set both tractor and trailer parking brakes and chock if necessary
- A In stopped traffic
- B On straight roads
- C On a curve or off-ramp at speeds the driver thought were safe
- D In low-speed maneuvers
- A X endorsement (combination of H and N)
- B L restriction
- C H endorsement
- D P endorsement
- A A trailer-mounted tank
- B A portable tank set on the vehicle
- C All of the above can be a cargo tank
- D Permanently mounted to the vehicle
- A Use the trailer hand valve as a parking brake
- B Drive at the posted speed regardless of conditions
- C Be ready for surge during stops, starts, and turns
- D Skip pre-trip checks of vents and covers
- A Faster acceleration
- B No change in handling
- C Easier handling
- D Higher rollover risk
Study tips for the Texas Tank Vehicle exam
The Tank Vehicle portion of the Texas CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Texas Department of Public Safety draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Tank Vehicle chapter of the Texas 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 Texas 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 Tank Vehicle.
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 Texas 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 Tank Vehicle 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 Texas General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the Tank Vehicle study guide and the matching chapter in the official Texas 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 Texas Department of Public Safety office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: TX General Knowledge · TX Air Brakes · TX Combination Vehicles · TX Hazardous Materials · TX Passenger · TX School Bus · TX Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Texas? Read How to apply for a CDL in Texas for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.