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Texas Commercial Rules
- 20 questions · 16 to pass
Third-party and out-of-state testers send your scores to DPS electronically, so confirm they were sent before booking at DPS.
Start Texas Commercial RulesFree CDL study aid · Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers HandbookChecked
Texas CDL Practice Test
Each test is graded on its own, so you can pass one and retake another. Practice with 2,300+ questions for all 9 Texas CDL knowledge tests.
- 9knowledge tests
- 80%to pass each
- 14 daysminimum on a CLP
- ★★★★★
Build your Texas CDL plan
What will you drive?
Anything special about the vehicle or load?
Pick a class first: then the ones that fit it unlock.
See your plan ↓Your plan
Your tests appear hereIn the order Texas gives them.
- Texas Commercial RulesStart
- General KnowledgeStart
- Combination VehiclesStart
- Air BrakesStart
- Doubles and TriplesStart
- PassengerStart
- School BusStart
- Tank VehiclesStart
- Hazardous MaterialsStart
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Sample question
Texas CDL General Knowledge
Which of these should you watch for far ahead in traffic?
Every Texas CDL knowledge test
Everyone in Texas takes Texas Commercial Rules and General Knowledge; your class and loads add the rest, in the order your plan shows. Why 80% on every test
| Order | Test | Questions | To pass | Can miss | Where to study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Commercial Rules testEveryone | 20 | 16 | 4 | The front pages and Section 14 | |
| Texas CDL General Knowledge testEveryone | 50 | 40 | 10 | Sections 1, 2 and 3 | |
| Texas CDL Combination Vehicles testClass A | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 6 | |
| Texas CDL Air Brakes testAir brakes | 25 | 20 | 5 | Section 5 | |
| Texas CDL Doubles and Triples testEndorsement T | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 7 | |
| Texas CDL Passenger testEndorsement P | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 4 | |
| Texas CDL School Bus testEndorsement S | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 10 | |
| Texas CDL Tank Vehicles testEndorsement N | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 8 | |
| Texas CDL Hazardous Materials testEndorsement H | 30 | 24 | 6 | Section 9 |
Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers HandbookRevised March 2026checked
What Texas adds to the federal rules
- ELDTTraining before the skills test
- D&ADrug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
- MEDMedical card sent electronically
- 21Age 21 to cross state lines
- 90 days, 3 tries
Your application stays open for 90 days. If you haven't passed every required test within 90 days, or after three failed attempts (whichever comes first), you start again with a new application, fees and tests. p. iv
- English only
No. Since June 1, 2026, Texas DPS gives every CDL knowledge exam in English only.
- Its own rules test
Texas law for commercial drivers: who needs a CDL, classes, endorsement and restriction codes, the permit and testing rules, plus Texas equipment, size and weight limits and operating rules from the manual's Texas section. p. 14-1 to 14-16
- CLP: 180 days
180 days, or until your base driver license or lawful presence ends if that is sooner. You can renew it once, 30 days before it expires. p. iii
- Third-party testers
Yes. Companies certified by DPS in its Third Party Skills Testing program can give knowledge and skills tests to their own students or employees for Class A, B and C. Third-party and out-of-state testers send your scores to DPS electronically, so confirm they were sent before booking at DPS.
- Medical card
No. Since June 23, 2025, the medical examiner's registry sends it to DPS for you, usually within a few days.
- Limb waiver
A waiver for drivers who can't meet the federal physical standard because of a limb impairment. It lets you drive commercial vehicles only inside Texas. You need a Texas license first, return the application packet within 45 days of your physical, and pass the knowledge and skills tests within 60 days of getting the waiver.
Sources: Texas DPS: How do I apply for a Commercial Driver License? · Texas DPS: CDL Third Party Skills Testing Program · Texas DPS: Commercial Driver License (CDL) FAQ · Texas DPS: CDL Waivers and Exceptions
Changed since the Texas manual was printed
| Rule | The manual says | Now |
|---|---|---|
| A first violation of an out-of-service order | At least 180 days without your CDL | |
| Telling your employer you were suspended, revoked or disqualified | By the end of the next business day |
Our questions follow the rule as it is now. Source: eCFR: 49 CFR Part 383, Commercial Driver’s License Standards
Rules from the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook
From the Revised March 2026 edition.
Texas Commercial Rules test
- p. iWhat Types (Classes) of CDLs are there?
In Texas, Class A covers combinations with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more when the towed vehicle(s) are rated over 10,000 pounds.
- p. iiiCommercial Learner Permit (CLP)
A Texas CLP is valid for 180 days or until the base license or lawful presence expires, whichever comes first; it may be renewed one time, 30 days before it expires.
- p. viiCommercial Driver License (CDL) Fees
A Texas CDL for ages 18 to 84 expires in eight years (renewals eight years after the previous expiration); with a hazardous materials endorsement it expires in five years; for ages 85 and older, two years; a CLP expires 180 days after issue.
- p. 14-1Lighting and Reflectors.
In Texas, reflectors on pole trailers and on trucks, buses, truck tractors, trailers and semitrailers 80 inches or more wide must be mounted between 24 and 60 inches above the ground.
- p. 14-9Brakes
In Texas, a combination whose trailer and combination are 3,000 pounds or less must generally be able to stop within 40 feet from 20 mph; over 3,000 pounds, within 50 feet from 20 mph.
- p. 14-9Lighting Requirements for Farm Tractors and Implements of Husbandry
In Texas, every farm tractor and self-propelled farm equipment made after January 1, 1972 must have two headlamps, one taillight mounted as far left as practicable, two red reflectors, and hazard flashers (white or amber to the front, red or amber to the rear) turned on whenever driven on a highway.
- p. 14-1014.3 Special Requirements-Limitations
In Texas, vehicles including their loads may not exceed 102 inches in width, with listed exceptions.
- p. 14-1414.7 Special Requirements Registration of Vehicles
Out-of-state registration plates are recognized in Texas for 30 days after establishing residency or starting gainful employment.
Texas CDL questions and answers
17 questionsThe knowledge tests
What score do I need to pass a Texas CDL knowledge test?
80 percent or higher on each test. Each test is graded on its own, so you can pass one and retake another. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. iv Why 80% in every state
In what order are the Texas CDL knowledge tests given?
Texas Commercial Rules first, then General Knowledge, then the ones your license needs: Combination, Air Brakes, Doubles/Triples, Passenger, School Bus, Tanker and Hazmat. The tests are multiple choice and matching. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. iv
Which knowledge tests do I need for a Texas CDL?
Everyone takes Texas Commercial Rules and General Knowledge. Add Combination for Class A, Air Brakes if your vehicle has air brakes, and an endorsement test for each special load or passenger type.
Commercial learner permit
How long must I hold a Texas CLP before the CDL skills test?
At least 14 days. This applies to new licenses, class upgrades and endorsements that need a skills test. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. iii
Who can ride with me while I practice on a CLP?
A qualified CDL holder, 21 or older, licensed in the same class as your vehicle, sitting beside you. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. iii
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training before the CLP?
No. ELDT isn't needed for the CLP, but it is needed before the skills test for a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade to Class A or B, or a first hazmat, passenger or school bus endorsement.
What are the CDL skills tests?
Three tests in the vehicle you will drive (or one of the same class): vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and the road test. Not every office gives CDL skills tests. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. vi
How much do the Texas CDL tests and license cost?
Texas Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division lists the current fees for the commercial learner permit, the CDL tests and the license on its official fee page.
Classes and endorsements
What are the Texas CDL classes?
Class A is for combinations of 26,001 pounds or more pulling over 10,000 pounds. Class B is for single vehicles of 26,001 pounds or more, or buses for 24 or more people. Class C covers vehicles for 16 to 23 people or carrying placarded hazmat. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. i
What do the Texas CDL endorsement letters mean?
T is double/triple trailers, P passenger bus, N tank vehicle, H hazardous materials, X tank plus hazmat, and S school bus. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. ii
What else does the hazmat endorsement need?
Besides the hazmat knowledge test, a federal security background check by the TSA, for a new endorsement and for each renewal.
Who can drive a heavy vehicle in Texas without a CDL?
Drivers of exempt vehicles, who hold a non-commercial Class A or B license instead: personal RVs, farm trucks a farmer drives to move farm goods within 150 miles of the farm, firefighting and emergency vehicles, military vehicles, air carrier vehicles used only on airport property, seed cotton module haulers and some former military vehicles.
Can farm-related service workers get a Texas CDL without testing?
Who can't get a hazmat endorsement in Texas, and how long does it last?
Holders of a non-domiciled CDL, an intrastate CDL certified under Section A of form CDL-5, or a Texas Limb Waiver aren't eligible. For everyone else, the endorsement runs until the CDL expires or five years after TSA approval, whichever comes first. Start fingerprinting only after applying at a driver license office.
Keeping your CDL
How long is a Texas CDL valid?
Eight years for ages 18 to 84, five years with a hazmat endorsement and two years from age 85. Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook p. vii
How long is a medical examiner's certificate good for?
Up to 24 months. A shorter one may be issued when a medical condition needs closer checks.
Can I get my Texas CDL back after a medical downgrade without retesting?
Yes, if it was downgraded only because your medical certificate or variance lapsed, your record is eligible, your license hasn't been expired more than two years, the downgrade was within the last 12 months, and a valid certificate reaches DPS through the National Registry. Visit a driver license office to upgrade.
Sources: Texas DPS: How do I apply for a Commercial Driver License? · Texas DPS: Commercial Driver License (CDL) FAQ · Texas DPS: Driver License Fees · Texas DPS: Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) · Texas DPS: CDL Exempt Drivers · Texas DPS: CDL Waivers and Exceptions