Michigan (MI) CDL manual 2026

Practice the manual, chapter by chapter

State manuals are built on the same national model, chapter for chapter. One thing to know from each chapter, then real questions from it to answer — tap an option to check yourself.

1. 1

   Introduction

   Everyone

   You must notify your employer within 30 days of conviction for any traffic violations, except parking, no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.

   What is the penalty for a second alcohol or felony offense of the kind that costs a year for the first?

   1. ALoss of the CDL for ten years
   2. BLoss of the CDL for three years
   3. CLoss of the CDL for five years
   4. DLoss of the CDL for life

   How long do you lose your CDL for three or more serious traffic violations in three years?

   1. AAt least 90 days
   2. BAt least three years
   3. CAt least 60 days
   4. DAt least 120 days
   This chapter has 26 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
2. 2

   Driving Safely

   Everyone

   Use your horn when needed; however, it can startle others and could be dangerous when used unnecessarily.

   You are the first driver to stop at a crash scene on a busy highway. After parking your vehicle safely, what should you do first?

   1. APhotograph the damaged vehicles for the insurance companies
   2. BProtect the area with warning devices so another crash does not happen
   3. CCollect statements from witnesses while their memories are fresh
   4. DMove the damaged vehicles off the roadway onto the shoulder

   Which wheel components does the manual say are dangerous when missing?

   1. AHub caps and trim rings
   2. BBalance weights and stems
   3. CValve caps and dust shields
   4. DClamps, spacers, studs, or lugs
   This chapter has 290 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
3. 3

   Transporting Cargo Safely

   Everyone

   Gross combination weight means the total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the cargo.

   On a flatbed, what additional risk comes with a high center of gravity?

   1. AThe deck will flex and crack over time
   2. BThe trailer will ride nose-high when loaded
   3. CThe load may shift to the side or fall off
   4. DThe tie-downs will loosen as the trip continues

   What do suspension systems carry from the manufacturer, like tires and coupling devices?

   1. AA recommended service interval
   2. BA maximum travel specification
   3. CA weight capacity rating
   4. DA minimum operating temperature
   This chapter has 26 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
4. 4

   Transporting Passengers

   P endorsement (bus)

   Baggage must be secured so the driver can move freely, riders can exit by any window or door, and passengers are protected from falling items.

   Which sections of the manual does the knowledge test for the passenger endorsement cover?

   1. ASections 3 and 4
   2. BSections 2 and 4
   3. CSection 4 alone
   4. DSections 1 and 4

   On buses designed to allow standing, how is the standee line marked?

   1. AA painted stripe on the ceiling
   2. BA four-inch line on the floor
   3. CA row of studs across the aisle
   4. DA two-inch line on the floor
   This chapter has 98 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
5. 5

   Air Brakes

   Any vehicle with air brakes

   The application pressure gauge shows how much air pressure is being applied to the brakes.

   Besides a red warning light, what device do many air-braked vehicles use to alert the driver to low air pressure?

   1. AA flashing of the exterior headlights
   2. BAn automatic downshift of the transmission
   3. CA vibration built into the brake pedal
   4. DA buzzer that sounds in the cab

   What does the manual identify as the most common problem found in roadside inspections?

   1. AMissing or inoperative lamps
   2. BBrakes out of adjustment
   3. CCargo securement violations
   4. DTires below minimum tread depth
   This chapter has 147 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
6. 6

   Combination Vehicles

   Class A

   Pull-ups let a driver move forward and reposition the vehicle during backing whenever it drifts off course.

   While listening to the trailer brakes during coupling, what should you hear?

   1. AAir escaping continuously from both glad hand seals
   2. BA steady hiss that slowly fades as the tanks fill up
   3. CThe brakes move on application, air escapes on release
   4. DThe relay valve clicking once and then staying silent

   Your trailer is hung up on a railroad crossing and will not move. What is the first thing you do?

   1. AGet out of the vehicle and away from the tracks
   2. BStay in the cab and keep trying to rock it free
   3. CSet out warning triangles along the roadway
   4. DUncouple the tractor and pull it clear alone
   This chapter has 118 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
7. 7

   Doubles and Triples

   T endorsement

   Triples exhibit the greatest rearward amplification among common combinations.

   When hooking air lines between the first trailer and the converter dolly, how do you avoid crossing them?

   1. ATrace both lines back to the tractor before each trip segment
   2. BConnect only the emergency line, since the service line is optional
   3. CConnect whichever glad hand physically reaches its mate first
   4. DMatch service to service and emergency to emergency by color code

   What benefit does a driver get from placing the lightest trailer at the rear of a set of doubles?

   1. AA shorter overall length for the combination vehicle
   2. BBetter fuel economy when driving into strong headwinds
   3. CA lower chance of the rear trailer tipping or whipping over
   4. DFaster brake application at the rear trailer's axles
   This chapter has 98 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
8. 8

   Tank Vehicles

   N endorsement

   Do not over steer, over accelerate, or over brake; if you do, your vehicle may skid.

   You brake to a stop at a red light in a loaded tanker. What can the forward-moving wave of liquid do to your vehicle?

   1. AForce extra fuel into the engine cylinders
   2. BPush the truck forward into the intersection
   3. CCause the trailer brakes to lock automatically
   4. DLift the drive axles off the pavement

   Inside cargo tanks, what is the key structural difference between a bulkhead and a baffle?

   1. AA bulkhead is removable for cleaning, while a baffle is welded in place
   2. BA bulkhead is solid and seals off compartments; a baffle has holes that let liquid pass
   3. CA bulkhead runs lengthwise along the tank, while a baffle runs across it
   4. DA bulkhead strengthens the tank shell, while a baffle only supports the piping
   This chapter has 62 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
9. 9

   Hazardous Materials

   H endorsement

   The dangerous placard is an option, not a requirement; you can always placard for the materials.

   Which division number covers explosives with a mass explosion hazard?

   1. ADivision 1.5
   2. BDivision 1.1
   3. CDivision 1.3
   4. DDivision 1.6

   Hazardous materials rules are built around three broad goals. Which set below matches the intent of those rules?

   1. AContainment, risk communication, and safe drivers and equipment
   2. BDelivery speed, fuel efficiency, and the lowest shipping cost
   3. CRecycling, disposal, and long-term storage of hazardous waste
   4. DRoadside inspection, fuel taxation, and vehicle registration
   This chapter has 234 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
10. 10

    School Buses

    S endorsement

    The overhead inside rearview mirror may provide limited visibility directly in back of the bus if the bus is equipped with a glass-bottomed rear emergency door.

    What does a sign mounted below the cross-buck tell you?

    1. AThe speed limit for crossing the tracks
    2. BThe number of tracks at the crossing
    3. CThe name of the railroad operating the line
    4. DThe distance to the next crossing

    How far can the blind spot behind a school bus extend, depending on the bus's size?

    1. AUp to about 100 feet
    2. BUp to about 400 feet
    3. CUp to about 200 feet
    4. DUp to about 800 feet
    This chapter has 98 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
11. 11

    Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection

    Everyone (skills test)

    Landing gear must be fully raised and its handle secured before the trailer is moved.

    What is the consequence of performing the hydraulic brake check incorrectly on the inspection test?

    1. AA point deduction from the total score
    2. BA warning noted on the score sheet
    3. CAn automatic failure of the test
    4. DA required retest of that item only

    What must be true of the light lenses on the front of the vehicle?

    1. ATinted to reduce glare for oncoming drivers
    2. BSealed with silicone around every edge
    3. CProper color, clean, not broken and not missing
    4. DReplaced whenever the bulb is changed
    This chapter has 200 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.

The official Michigan CDL manual