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  • Updated for April 2025
  • Based on 2025 MT commercial driver's license manual

Free MT CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

Success as a commercial driver is not limited to knowing and obeying the rules of the road. You must also understand how to perform pre-trip inspections. Before driving through Missoula, you should be prepared to handle adverse weather conditions or road hazards that could lead to accidents or leave you stranded because your vehicle had an unexpected malfunction. Pre-trip inspections can alert you to the presence of deficiencies in your vehicle while saving lives and protecting cargo. They are also required by federal regulation 49 CFR § 396.13. It would be wise for you to learn about pre-trip inspections before applying for a Montana Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), which allows you to train for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Drivers typically use a checklist to inspect the main systems and components of their vehicles, such as the brakes, battery, tires, and windshield wipers. By verifying the safe operation of your vehicle, you will have peace of mind as you travel for short or long distances.

Although there are several other requirements to getting a CLP, you must be prepared to pass the MVD CDL General Knowledge Test, which will contain questions about pre-trip inspections. The official knowledge test requires you to answer 80% of the 20 questions correctly to get a passing grade. This required score doesn’t leave much room for error, and proficiency in pre-trip inspections can boost your overall performance. This Montana MVD CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test puts this advantage within your reach. While there are multiple on-line resources available, the practice test outperforms them in providing you with the most comprehensive preparation available.

Our CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test enhances your understanding of this process and expands your knowledge in an interactive manner. It is based on the most recent Montana MVD CDL driver’s manual (Montana CDL Handbook 2025) and up to date as of April 2025. This resource offers the most detailed and authoritative information you can find. The practice test contains 20 multiple-choice questions, similar to those on the official knowledge test, to elevate your skills for conducting pre-trip inspections. If you submit an incorrect answer, the practice test will provide a thorough explanation of the correct one. You won’t find a study guide with the same feature. Since they are designed to help you memorize the answers to the questions, study guides do not provide input to help you correct the ones you get wrong. If you desire a full understanding of how to protect yourself, the practice test offers the total package.

Great Falls claims to be an “Electric City,” and you can power your driving skills with practice tests for other U.S. states and Washington D.C. at https://driving-tests.org/academy/drivers-license.

  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements

What you need to know

5 out of 5 • 2 votes
6 min to complete
Available in EN and ES
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.

What to expect on the actual MT MVD exam

20

questions

16

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
  2. 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?
  3. What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
  4. What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
  5. ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
  6. What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
  7. What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
  8. What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
  9. What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
  10. Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
  11. Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
  12. What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
  13. Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
  14. You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
  15. What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
  16. To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
  17. _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
  18. _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
  19. If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
  20. What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled?
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