Pennsylvania CDL General Knowledge Practice Test

The Pennsylvania CDL General Knowledge test has 50 questions. You must answer at least 40 correctly — an 80% passing score — to pass and proceed to endorsement tests.

Pennsylvania issues Class A (combination vehicles over 26,001 lbs GVWR with towed unit over 10,000 lbs GVWR), Class B (single vehicles over 26,001 lbs or towing under 10,001 lbs), and Class C (16+ passengers or HazMat placards). Each class requires the General Knowledge test plus a skills test in the appropriate vehicle class.

Yes. All Pennsylvania-registered vehicles including commercial trucks and buses must pass an annual state safety inspection. CDL operators are responsible for ensuring their vehicle has a valid inspection sticker. An expired commercial vehicle inspection can result in the vehicle being placed out of service during a roadside inspection.

A Pennsylvania CDL is valid for 4 years. Your DOT medical certificate must remain current throughout that period — typically requiring a DOT physical examination every 24 months, or annually for certain medical conditions. HazMat endorsement holders must renew their TSA security threat assessment every 5 years.

Pennsylvania CDL holders (along with all commercial drivers under FMCSA rules) must notify their employer within 30 days of any traffic conviction in any vehicle — personal or commercial — in any state. Drivers must also notify their state of CDL issuance (PennDOT) within 30 days of any conviction in another state. Failure to notify is itself a violation that can result in CDL disqualification.

A Class A CDL allows you to operate any combination of vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs or more, provided the towed unit exceeds 10,000 lbs — this includes tractor-trailers and double/triple trailer rigs. A Class B CDL covers single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, or any such vehicle towing a unit not exceeding 10,000 lbs — this includes straight trucks and large buses. A Class C CDL is required for vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or for vehicles transporting hazardous materials that require placarding, when those vehicles do not qualify for Class A or B.

CDL fees vary by state and by the class and endorsements you obtain. Most states charge separate fees for the CDL knowledge test ($10–$30 per attempt), the CDL skills test ($50–$150), and the CDL license itself ($50–$100). Additional fees apply for each endorsement (HazMat, Tanker, Passenger, etc.). The HazMat endorsement also requires a TSA security threat assessment fee of approximately $86. Check your Pennsylvania DMV website for current fee schedules.

Federal regulations (49 CFR 383.133) require that CDL applicants be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to understand highway traffic signs and signals and to respond to official inquiries. Many states offer CDL knowledge tests in Spanish and other languages for non-commercial knowledge questions, but the actual CDL test must be taken in a language that allows the driver to meet the English proficiency requirement. Check with the Pennsylvania DMV for available language options.

In most states, a CDL is valid for 4–8 years (commonly 4–5 years). To renew your Pennsylvania CDL, you typically need to visit a DMV office, pass a vision test, pay the renewal fee, and update your medical certification (DOT physical). If you hold a HazMat endorsement, your TSA background check must also be current. CDLs cannot generally be renewed online due to federal requirements for in-person verification of medical certification.

If you fail the CDL General Knowledge test in Pennsylvania, you are typically required to wait a specified period (commonly 1–7 days) before retaking it. Most states allow 2–3 attempts before requiring additional waiting periods or study requirements. There is usually a retest fee for each attempt. Focus on the areas you missed — most states provide a score sheet showing which topic areas you need to review.