Virginia Combination Vehicles CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Virginia Combination Vehicles CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Virginia 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 One second per 10 feet of vehicle length below 40 mph, plus one extra second above 40 mph
- B A vehicle length
- C No specific rule
- D Two car lengths
- A Driver fatigue
- B Air leakage in the supply line, low pressure, or a brake-balance issue
- C Cargo placement
- D Engine wear
- A Driving too fast for conditions and/or too closely
- B Worn out tires
- C Cargo movement
- D Engine failure
- A Is part of the tractor
- B Is used only when triple-towing
- C Is used to convert a semitrailer into a full trailer for towing in combination
- D Replaces the fifth wheel on the tractor
- A Too high — it can damage the kingpin or skip over the fifth wheel
- B Loaded
- C Properly chocked
- D Empty
- A Swing wide to the right first to avoid hitting the curb
- B Stop in the middle of the turn
- C Keep the cab close to the curb and swing the front out so following cars cannot squeeze beside you on the right
- D Swing left then right
- A Be closed around the shank of the kingpin (not on the head)
- B Be loose
- C Be missing
- D Be open
- A Drains the wet tank
- B Sends supply air to the trailer reservoirs and controls the trailer emergency brakes
- C Operates the parking brake only
- D Carries electrical signals
- A Disable the trailer parking brake
- B Move the tractor far away immediately without checking
- C Check that the trailer is stable on its landing gear
- D Connect the lines back to the tractor
- A Cross in a low gear without shifting
- B Shift in the middle of the track
- C Honk and accelerate
- D Stop on the tracks if traffic ahead slows
- A The fifth wheel breaks
- B The trailer brakes lock up
- C The tractor brakes lock up
- D A wheel bearing fails
- A Triangular, green, marked SERVICE
- B Square, white, marked CHARGE
- C Octagonal, red, marked TRAILER AIR SUPPLY
- D Round, blue, marked TRACTOR
- A Honk the horn
- B Look at the locking jaws only
- C Listen for a click
- D Tug the trailer with the trailer parking brakes set
- A No effect on safety
- B Stopping distances are normal
- C Stopping distances increase and the trailer can swing
- D Steering becomes easier
- A Every 3 hours
- B Only at the start of the day
- C Before, during, and after coupling
- D Only at the destination
- A Sliding sideways
- B The trailer wheels follow a tighter arc than the tractor wheels in a turn
- C Driving off the road
- D Loss of traction
- A GOAL — Get Out And Look — and walk around the trailer first
- B Back at full speed
- C Have the dispatcher in the cab
- D Use only mirrors
- A All of the above
- B Coupling with the trailer too high
- C Backing too fast
- D Failure to grease
- A Wheel damage
- B Brake fade
- C No off-tracking
- D Off-tracking — the trailer wheels follow a tighter arc than the tractor
- A Cargo placement
- B Engine oil leaks
- C Cuts, abrasions, and worn seals
- D Loose lug nuts only
- A Apply trailer brakes momentarily
- B Test the trailer brakes
- C Both for parking and to prevent jackknife
- D Hold the vehicle when parking
- A Connect electrical first, then air
- B Connect only air; electrical is optional
- C Connect air emergency line first, then service line, then electrical (or per company policy) — verify with brake check
- D Connect any line first; order doesn't matter
- A Stops faster than when loaded
- B May actually take longer to stop because brakes are designed for the loaded weight
- C Stops in the same distance
- D Stops only with parking brake
- A Only need attention every 5 years
- B Make the truck quieter
- C Are normal until the lining is gone
- D Should be replaced when worn beyond manufacturer specs
- A Leave the gear up
- B Use blocks instead
- C Raise the gear partway
- D Lower the landing gear all the way until firmly on the ground, then a few extra cranks
Study tips for the Virginia Combination Vehicles exam
The Combination Vehicles portion of the Virginia CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: VA General Knowledge · VA Air Brakes · VA Hazardous Materials · VA Passenger · VA School Bus · VA Tank Vehicle · VA Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Virginia? Read How to apply for a CDL in Virginia for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.