Vermont Tank Vehicle CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Vermont Tank Vehicle CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Vermont 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 Cause loss of control
- B Push the vehicle through an intersection
- C Cause rollover
- D All of the above
- A Begin loading without checking
- B Follow site procedures and verify equipment before loading
- C Skip the site procedures
- D Allow another driver to load for them
- A Easier handling
- B No change in handling
- C Faster acceleration
- D Higher rollover risk
- A Have no effect
- B Improve traction
- C Push you forward after you stop
- D Help you stop sooner
- A Use the trailer hand valve
- B Set only the tractor parking brake
- C Set both tractor and trailer parking brakes and chock if necessary
- D Leave brakes off
- A Eliminated by ABS
- B Always present, especially with a high center of gravity and liquid surge
- C Only an issue when empty
- D Lower than a flatbed
- A Trust the loader to handle it
- B Verify the correct product, quantity, and compatibility with the tank
- C Allow the receiver to verify later
- D Skip the verification
- A Increase speed
- B Brake within the curve
- C Maintain speed
- D Slow down before the curve, not in it
- A Skip the safety check
- B Allow the receiver to add chemicals
- C Mix freely
- D Verify product compatibility and follow safety procedures
- A Allow the receiver to close everything
- B Skip the post-unload inspection
- C Drive away with vents open
- D Close vents and covers, secure equipment, and inspect for leaks before leaving
- A Drive faster to limit the spill
- B Allow product to leak until empty
- C Stop, isolate the area, and notify emergency services and the carrier
- D Continue to the destination
- A It has a tank with rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more (single tank or aggregate of portable tanks)
- B It carries any liquid
- C It is a flatbed
- D It carries dry cargo
- A Open all vents
- B Refer to the ERG and shipping papers for product-specific guidance
- C Rely on memory only
- D Wait for the carrier to instruct
- A Smooth and gradual to minimize side-to-side surge
- B At any speed
- C Without signaling
- D Sharp and quick
- A Is below the posted advisory for cars
- B Equals the posted speed limit
- C Is above the posted advisory
- D Is whatever feels safe
- A Operates the brakes
- B Reduces engine noise
- C Improves fuel mileage
- D Captures vapors during loading and unloading to reduce emissions
- A Equipment failure
- B A driver shortage
- C The empty space left in a tank for product expansion
- D A tank leak
- A Pump and unloading equipment
- B Vents and valves
- C All of the above
- D Tank shell and covers
- A It is heavier
- B It is shorter
- C Its high center of gravity and large surface area increase wind effects
- D It uses air brakes
- A Surge is severe
- B There is no effect
- C The vehicle is heavy and stops slower; surge is reduced but mass is high
- D It stops faster
- A GOAL — Get Out And Look — and use a spotter when possible
- B Use only mirrors
- C Back at full speed
- D Skip the visual check
- A 10 feet of the vehicle
- B 100 feet
- C 25 feet of the vehicle
- D Anywhere outside the cab
- A Hold the steering wheel firmly because the load may push you forward
- B Apply the parking brake immediately
- C Disengage the clutch
- D Release the wheel
- A Pull over and re-check the load and securement
- B Take a break only
- C Drive without checking
- D Speed up
- A Avoid steep grades and sharp curves where possible
- B Use the parking brake on grades
- C Avoid all freeways
- D Take the shortest route regardless of grade
Study tips for the Vermont Tank Vehicle exam
The Tank Vehicle portion of the Vermont CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Tank Vehicle chapter of the Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: VT General Knowledge · VT Air Brakes · VT Combination Vehicles · VT Hazardous Materials · VT Passenger · VT School Bus · VT Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Vermont? Read How to apply for a CDL in Vermont for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.