Modernized CDL skills test vs the old one: what changed
The modernized CDL skills test is the updated national model that most states have switched to. The biggest changes are in the vehicle inspection: you may bring a blank checklist as a memory aid, you usually inspect one axle instead of the whole truck, and the air brake check has four parts instead of three. Which version you get depends on your state, and in a few states on the test site.
- 26 states confirmed on the modernized test, 6 still on the older one, 1 running both.
- 18 more not yet confirmed: check the state manual before you book.
- The air brake check is still all-or-nothing in both versions.
What changed
| Older test | Modernized test | |
|---|---|---|
| Checklist | Generally no memory aids (Washington’s old guide said so outright) | A blank checklist as a memory aid, with no extra markings or writing |
| How much of the truck | The whole vehicle, or a part the examiner picks on the day | Usually one axle, no crawling under the vehicle (Delaware, Washington) |
| Air brake check | Three parts: leakage, low air warning, spring brakes | Four parts: governor cut-out added (Delaware) |
| Basic control skills | The older set of backing maneuvers | A new set, phased in by state (Maine moves in September 2027) |
What did not change: you still point at each part, name it and say what you are checking. The checklist lists the items; it does not say the words for you. The full checklist and what to say.
Which states give which version
Modernized (26)
AlabamaArkansasDelawareGeorgiaIndianaIowaKentuckyMarylandMassachusettsMinnesotaMississippiMissouriNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTexasWashingtonWisconsin
Both, depending on the test site (1)
California converted 22 of its 25 CDL test sites to the modernized test; the rest still give the older one.
Older version (6)
Maine moves the vehicle inspection to the new standard for tests on or after November 1, 2026, and basic control skills from September 1, 2027. The remaining states are not confirmed here; their manual pages link to the licensing agency.
Practise the version your state gives
Mr. Egg's pre-trip lessons follow the modernized checklist, with your state's own air brake numbers in the script, and a timed mock inspection scored by an AI examiner.
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Questions people ask
The updated national model for the CDL skills test. In the vehicle inspection it allows a blank checklist as a memory aid, usually tests one axle, and adds governor cut-out to the air brake check.
Yes, in the states that have adopted it: a blank checklist from the manual as a memory aid, with no extra markings or writing.
Your state’s CDL manual says. Some states run both versions at different test sites, so ask when you book.