CDL Tank Vehicles Test

Liquid surge, baffles, outage and driving a tank vehicle.

Start practicing · Topic Study · Sample questions

What's on the Test

  1. Causes, prevention, and effects of cargo surge on motor vehicle handling (3 questions): Driving Tank Vehicles, Danger of Surge, Drive Smoothly, Controlling Surge
  2. Proper braking procedures for the motor vehicle when it is empty, full, and partially full (3 questions): Controlling Surge, Stopping Distance
  3. Differences in handling of baffled/compartmented tank interiors versus non-baffled motor vehicles (2 questions): Bulkheads, Baffled Tanks, Un-baffled Tanks
  4. Differences in tank vehicle type and construction (2 questions): Inspecting Tank Vehicles, Un-baffled Tanks
  5. Differences in cargo surge for liquids of varying product densities (2 questions): How Much to Load?
  6. Effects of road grade and curvature on motor vehicle handling with filled, half-filled, and empty tanks (2 questions): High Center of Gravity, Curves
  7. Proper use of emergency systems (2 questions): Check Special Purpose Equipment, Special Equipment
  8. For drivers of DOT specification tank vehicles, retest and marking requirements (2 questions):
  9. Operating practices and procedures not otherwise specified (2 questions): Tank endorsement requirements, Inspecting Tank Vehicles, Leaks, Check Special Purpose Equipment, High Center of Gravity, Outage, How Much to Load?, Drive Smoothly, Stopping Distance, Skids

How the Exam Works

Who takes it
Drivers adding the N endorsement.
Format
20 questions, each with three options.
To pass
16 right (80%), as on every CDL knowledge test (49 CFR 383.135).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the CDL Tank Vehicles test?

20, and you need 16 right to pass. A few states differ; your state's CDL manual says.

Can I add the tank endorsement to my permit?

Yes. N is one of three endorsements allowed on a permit, but with it you may drive only an empty tank, cleaned of any hazmat it held (49 CFR 383.25(a)(5)(iii)).

Are these the real test questions?

No. They're our own, written from the federal rules and the CDL manual's facts, in the real test's format: three options each and the same number of questions. We're not affiliated with any state, FMCSA or AAMVA.

After the Test

The tank endorsement needs only this knowledge test: no skills test. CDL Classes and Endorsements