Basic Control Skills Test

 Basic Control Skills Test

Remember, the Vehicle Inspection test must be passed before you can proceed to the Basic Control Skills test (covered in the next section).

Class A Checklist - Tractor Semi-Trailer or Truck & Trailer or Bus & Trailer

Check each of the following

In-Vehicle and / or Engine Start

• air or hydraulic brake check (automatic failure if not performed correctly)
• parking & trailer brake check
• service brake check
• lighting indicators
• emergency equipment
• windshield & traffic monitoring devices
• wipers & washers
• heater & defroster
• horn(s)

Lights Operations Check

• all external lights

Front of Vehicle and / or Engine Area

• lenses
• fluid levels
• fluid & air leaks
• steering systems

Steering Axle

• tires
• rims
• lug nuts
• springs and / or mounts & air bags & shocks
• brake lines or hoses & leaks
• brake contaminates

Side of Vehicle

• lenses & reflectors
• traffic monitoring devices
• battery
• fuel tank(s) and / or  DEF tank
• frame(s)

Combination Vehicles Only

• air & electric lines & connectors
• fifth wheel skid plate or pintle hook or tow hitch
• kingpin & apron & gap or drawbar ring & tongue or coupler & tongue
• locking & safety devices

Trailer Only

• landing gear & clearance
• reflective tape

Rear of Trailer

• lenses & reflectors 

Passenger and School Bus Only

• passenger entry & lift
• emergency exits
• passenger seating
• passenger monitoring devices

School Bus Only

• student lights (front & back)
• stop arm(s) & safety arm
• first aid & body fluid kits

You are only required to inspect the items on the CDL Vehicle Inspection checklist. You may use this checklist for your test and check off items as you have completed them, no additional markings or writing may be placed on this list. You must name, point to and / or touch and fully explain what you are inspecting each safety critical item for. If you do not do so, you will not get credit for the item(s).

Class B or Class C - Checklist Straight Truck or Other Straight Vehicle

In-Vehicle and / or Engine Start

• air or hydraulic brake check (automatic failure if not performed correctly)
• parking & trailer brake check
• service brake check
• lighting indicators
• emergency equipment
• windshield & traffic monitoring devices
• wipers & washers
• heater & defroster
• horn(s)

Lights Operations Check

• all external lights

Front of Vehicle and / or Engine Area

• lenses
• fluid levels
• fluid & air leaks
• steering systems

Steering Axle

• tires
• rims
• lug nuts
• springs and / or mounts & air bags & shocks
• brake lines or hoses & leaks
• brake contaminates

Side of Vehicle

• lenses & reflectors
• traffic monitoring devices
• battery
• fuel tank(s) and / or DEF tank
• frame(s)

Rear of Vehicle

• lenses & reflectors

You are only required to inspect the items on the CDL Vehicle Inspection checklist. You may use this checklist for your test and check off items as you have completed them, no additional markings or writing may be placed on this list. You must name, point to and / or touch and fully explain what you are inspecting each safety critical item for. If you do not do so, you will not get credit for the item(s).

Class B or Class C - Checklist Passenger or School Bus

In-Vehicle and / or Engine Start

• air or hydraulic brake check (automatic failure if not performed correctly)
• parking & trailer brake check
• service brake check
• lighting indicators
• emergency equipment
• windshield & traffic monitoring devices
• wipers & washers
• heater & defroster
• horn(s)

Passenger and School Bus Only

• passenger entry & lift
• emergency exits
• passenger seating
• passenger monitoring devices

School Bus Only

• student lights (front & back)
• D stop arm(s) & safety arm
• first aid & body fluid kits

Lights Operations Check

• all external lights

Front of Vehicle and / or Engine Area

• lenses
• fluid levels
• fluid & air leaks
• steering systems

Steering Axle

• tires
• rims
• lug nuts
• springs and / or mounts & air bags & shocks
• brake lines or hoses & leaks
• brake contaminates

Side of Vehicle

• lenses & reflectors
• traffic monitoring devices
• battery
• fuel tank(s) and / or DEF tank
• frame(s)

Rear of Vehicle

• lenses & reflectors

You are only required to inspect the items on the CDL Vehicle Inspection checklist. You may use this checklist for your test and check off items as you have completed them, no additional markings or writing may be placed on this list. You must name, point to and / or touch and fully explain what you are inspecting each safety critical item for. If you do not do so, you will not get credit for the item(s).