- 0 Incorrect (4 allowed to pass)
- 0 Correct
- Updated for February 2025
- Based on 2025 SC commercial driver's license manual
Free SC CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025
South Carolina’s network of highways is vital to its role as a major transportation hub in the South. However, the very importance of those roads brings its own hazards in the form of heavy traffic and frequent congestion around urban areas. Some analysts consider Interstate 95 the most dangerous road in South Carolina (with an average of 30 fatalities per year) and one of the most dangerous in the entire country. Frequent speeding and heavy truck traffic make serious truck-car collisions more likely. On Interstate 26, in addition to heavy traffic and traffic congestion, steep grades, poor signage, and poor lighting have contributed to numerous accidents.
On hazardous roads, you may suddenly have to perform emergency braking or maneuvers to avert an accident. Your vehicle’s brakes, steering, lights, and tires must be in good condition for you to brake or maneuver safely. The collision avoidance system (if so equipped) must also work as advertised. Federal regulation 49 CFR § 396.13 requires you to be satisfied that your Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) is safe to drive before you drive it. To do this, you must conduct a comprehensive pre-trip inspection of the vehicle before your first trip of the day.
Your official South Carolina CDL manual (South Carolina CDL Handbook 2025) discusses pre-trip inspections in detail, including which components and systems to check, in what order you should check them, and how well they should be performing. It also describes how you should perform the pre-trip inspection part of your skills test. Remember: failure to pass the pre-trip inspection test means failure of the entire skills test.
Passing the official General Knowledge test is a requirement for all aspiring CDL holders. This test will likely contain some questions on pre-trip inspections. All questions on the General Knowledge test are based on the official South Carolina CDL manual. You should study the manual, but that’s not all you should do to ensure you pass the test on your first try.
Our practice tests can reinforce what you’ve read and help you memorize it all. This is the first of our South Carolina CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests. They will help you ace the pre-trip inspection questions on the General Knowledge test.
Our AI assistant will accompany you on this test. It can help you learn by supplying hints and answering your own questions about commercial driving theory. If you still miss a question, the AI assistant will immediately inform you and provide an explanation of the correct answer.
Be sure to try our other South Carolina CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests, too!
- Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements
- Triple-checked for accuracy
What you need to know
What to expect on the actual SC DMV exam
questions
correct answers to pass
passing score
Helpful links
List of questions (classic view)
- What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
- You pump the pedal three times and hold it down for five seconds, making sure that the pedal does not move. What are you inspecting?
- What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
- What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
- ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
- What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
- What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
- What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
- What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
- Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
- Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
- What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
- Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
- You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
- What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
- To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
- _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
- _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
- If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
- What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled?
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