goraedu
Menu

CDL federal rules

Practice questions and study guides on the federal motor carrier safety rules in 49 CFR that apply to commercial driver's license holders: license standards, driver qualifications, hours of service, inspections, brakes, cargo securement, drug and alcohol testing, and the hazardous materials rules behind the H endorsement.

Fact-checked against official sources · Last checked

What these pages cover, and what they don't

The real test or credential

FMCSA does not issue CDLs; State governments do, and the knowledge and skills tests are given by the State. You must also pass all three parts of the skills test: vehicle inspection, basic controls and road test.

Our pages

These pages cover federal FMCSA rules only. FMCSA says the first step is to get your State's CDL manual; study it for your State's tests.

Checked against these official pages on November 6, 2026. Practice here does not replace the official training or test.

Scope and sources

CDL knowledge tests are given by each state, from that state's commercial driver manual. Much of a state test is about driving skills and vehicle systems that are not written in federal rules. These pages cover only the federal rules in 49 CFR, quoted word for word, so use them alongside your state's official CDL manual. The hazmat (H) endorsement also requires a TSA security threat assessment and a state knowledge test, which we do not handle. goraedu does not issue licenses or permits, and our questions are not a state CDL knowledge test. Not affiliated with or endorsed by FMCSA, the U.S. Department of Transportation or any state driver licensing agency.

Key rules, in the regulation's words

  • A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle may hold only one driver's license.

    “No person who operates a commercial motor vehicle shall at any time have more than one driver's license.”
    49 CFR 383.21

  • A property-carrying driver may drive a total of 11 hours within the 14-hour period that follows 10 consecutive hours off duty.

    “Driving time. A driver may drive a total of 11 hours during the period specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.”
    49 CFR 395.3(a)(3)(i)

  • Drivers may not use alcohol or be under its influence within 4 hours before going on duty or operating a commercial motor vehicle.

    “Use alcohol, as defined in § 382.107 of this subchapter, or be under the influence of alcohol, within 4 hours before going on duty or operating, or having physical control of, a commercial motor vehicle;”
    49 CFR 392.5(a)(1)

  • Drivers in safety-sensitive functions may not report for or remain on duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.

    “No driver shall report for duty or remain on duty requiring the performance of safety-sensitive functions while having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.”
    49 CFR 382.201

  • Before driving, the driver must be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition.

    “Before driving a motor vehicle, the driver shall: (a) Be satisfied that the motor vehicle is in safe operating condition;”
    49 CFR 396.13(a)

Sources

goraedu does not issue licenses or permits, and our questions are not a state CDL knowledge test. Not affiliated with or endorsed by FMCSA, the U.S. Department of Transportation or any state driver licensing agency. Found an error? See our contact page.