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WV · GK (Class A) Endorsement

West Virginia Combination Vehicles CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the West Virginia Combination Vehicles CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the West Virginia Division 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.

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
When parking a tractor-trailer, you should:
  • A Set both tractor and trailer parking brakes
  • B Use the trailer hand valve
  • C Set only the tractor parking brake
  • D Leave the engine running with the brakes off
Correct answer: A
For full parking, both parking brakes apply.
Question 2 of 25
The fifth-wheel locking lever should be:
  • A Released and visible after coupling
  • B Tied with rope
  • C Removed before driving
  • D Locked and the safety latch in place after coupling
Correct answer: D
After backing under, the locking jaws must close around the kingpin and the safety latch must be in place.
Question 3 of 25
You should never back under a trailer that is:
  • A Loaded
  • B Empty
  • C Properly chocked
  • D Too high — it can damage the kingpin or skip over the fifth wheel
Correct answer: D
A trailer set too high can skip over the fifth-wheel jaws and not lock, or damage the coupling.
Question 4 of 25
The crank handle on the landing gear should:
  • A Be removed
  • B Be in the stowed (high) position when traveling
  • C Be locked at half-height
  • D Be in the low position when traveling
Correct answer: B
Stow the crank up so it doesn't catch on something while traveling.
Question 5 of 25
Which is true about coupling order to a trailer?
  • 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
Correct answer: C
Specific orders vary by carrier, but the principle is to charge the trailer brakes before moving and to verify with a brake check.
Question 6 of 25
Trailer air supply valves on tractors are typically:
  • A Round, blue, marked TRACTOR
  • B Triangular, green, marked SERVICE
  • C Square, white, marked CHARGE
  • D Octagonal, red, marked TRAILER AIR SUPPLY
Correct answer: D
The trailer air-supply valve is the red, octagonal knob — a federal standard.
Question 7 of 25
The trailer hand valve operates:
  • A Both tractor and trailer brakes simultaneously
  • B The tractor service brakes only
  • C The parking brake
  • D The trailer service brakes only
Correct answer: D
The hand valve applies only the trailer service brakes. It is for testing — not for parking or routine use.
Question 8 of 25
A heavy combination vehicle in a curve is most likely to:
  • A Stop suddenly
  • B Spin out
  • C Roll over before sliding
  • D Lose engine power
Correct answer: C
Loaded trailers reach the rollover threshold before they slide. Slow before the curve.
Question 9 of 25
When inspecting the air lines between tractor and trailer, look for:
  • A Loose lug nuts only
  • B Cuts, abrasions, and worn seals
  • C Cargo placement
  • D Engine oil leaks
Correct answer: B
Air-line condition is a typical roadside inspection focus on combinations.
Question 10 of 25
Most tire problems on a combination vehicle:
  • A Can be detected during pre-trip inspection by visual and pressure checks
  • B Are caused by low fuel
  • C Need a mechanic to find
  • D Show up only at high speed
Correct answer: A
Visual and pressure checks catch most problems before they become roadside failures.
Question 11 of 25
Before pulling the kingpin release lever to uncouple, you must:
  • A Honk the horn
  • B Disconnect the electrical line first
  • C Drain the air tanks
  • D Lower the trailer landing gear and chock the trailer wheels
Correct answer: D
Always lower the landing gear and chock the trailer so it cannot move once you pull out from under it.
Question 12 of 25
You should inspect a combination vehicle for:
  • A All of the above
  • B Misalignment between tractor and trailer
  • C Cracks in the kingpin
  • D Loose or missing fifth-wheel mounting bolts
Correct answer: A
All three are pre-trip combination-vehicle items.
Question 13 of 25
Trailer wheels with worn brake linings:
  • A Should be replaced when worn beyond manufacturer specs
  • B Make the truck quieter
  • C Are normal until the lining is gone
  • D Only need attention every 5 years
Correct answer: A
Worn linings are an out-of-service item; replace per manufacturer/federal limits.
Question 14 of 25
A skid is most likely to result in a jackknife if:
  • A The trailer wheels lock briefly
  • B The brakes are released gently
  • C You are driving slowly
  • D The drive wheels lock and the trailer pushes the tractor sideways
Correct answer: D
Drive-wheel lockup is the classic jackknife cause.
Question 15 of 25
When backing a trailer, small steering inputs cause:
  • A Small trailer movement
  • B Loss of brake pressure
  • C No effect
  • D Large trailer angle changes; small inputs are key
Correct answer: D
Trailer responds aggressively to small wheel inputs in reverse — back slowly and correct quickly.
Question 16 of 25
When you drive a combination vehicle, watch for:
  • A Trailer sway in crosswinds
  • B Reduced visibility along the trailer
  • C Off-tracking on right turns
  • D All of the above
Correct answer: D
All three are routine combination-vehicle considerations.
Question 17 of 25
You should test the air-brake system by:
  • A Pressing the pedal once at startup
  • B Listening to the brake light
  • C Asking a mechanic
  • D Performing the seven-step air-brake check before each trip
Correct answer: D
The seven-step check is the standard pre-trip air-brake test.
Question 18 of 25
The "service" line on a tractor-trailer:
  • A Carries electrical power
  • B Sends air pressure to apply trailer service brakes
  • C Sends supply air to the trailer reservoirs
  • D Drains the trailer reservoir
Correct answer: B
The service line carries braking-pressure changes from the foot valve to the trailer brakes.
Question 19 of 25
A "trailer skid" usually starts because:
  • A The fifth wheel breaks
  • B The trailer brakes lock up
  • C The tractor brakes lock up
  • D A wheel bearing fails
Correct answer: B
Locking the trailer brakes is the most common cause of a trailer skid (jackknife).
Question 20 of 25
Most rear-end collisions caused by combination vehicles result from:
  • A Worn out tires
  • B Driving too fast for conditions and/or too closely
  • C Engine failure
  • D Cargo movement
Correct answer: B
Speed and following distance dominate the causes. Increase cushion and slow down.
Question 21 of 25
During a brake check before moving, you should look for:
  • A Smoke from the cab
  • B Pulling, sticking, or unusual feel as you apply the brakes
  • C Engine knocking
  • D Steering wander only
Correct answer: B
Low-speed brake test identifies pulling, sticking, or weakness so you don't discover it on the highway.
Question 22 of 25
If you cross the air lines (service to emergency and vice versa) when coupling:
  • A You will notice immediately because trailer brakes will not work properly
  • B Nothing will happen
  • C The horn will sound
  • D The trailer brakes will be locked on
Correct answer: A
Crossed glad hands often produce no air flow to brake chambers and incorrect brake operation; you should notice on the brake test.
Question 23 of 25
When the trailer brakes are operating but pulling weakly, this can indicate:
  • A Cargo placement
  • B Engine wear
  • C Driver fatigue
  • D Air leakage in the supply line, low pressure, or a brake-balance issue
Correct answer: D
Weak trailer brakes are usually an air-system problem and require diagnosis before continuing.
Question 24 of 25
Glad hands are:
  • A Brake adjustment levers
  • B Electrical connectors
  • C Coupling devices for connecting tractor air lines to the trailer
  • D Manual transmission shifters
Correct answer: C
Glad hands have rubber seals and a metal coupler that joins the tractor and trailer air lines.
Question 25 of 25
Why should you not jackknife to get out of a tight spot?
  • A It is the standard procedure
  • B It is illegal in some states
  • C It can damage the cab and the trailer (cab corner crush)
  • D It is fine if you are careful
Correct answer: C
Bending the tractor too sharply against the trailer can cause body damage and disconnect the lines.

Study tips for the West Virginia Combination Vehicles exam

The Combination Vehicles portion of the West Virginia CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the West Virginia Division 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 West 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 West 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 West Virginia Division 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 West 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 West 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 West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles office.

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

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