California CDL Handbook 2024

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California is famous as a land of opportunity and home to some of the best open roads in the states. Now you can strike out on your own and pursue the opportunities on those open roads as a commercial driver. But before you can receive your California commercial driver’s license, you will need to pass the California CDL knowledge and skills test. Start preparing now with the official CA CDL manual. The California CDL manual is produced to comply with the FMCSA requirements that make every state responsible for ensuring the commercial drivers on its roads are safe and licensed.

Will the CA CDL Manual Help You Pass the Test

While the California CDL manual provides important resources to begin preparing for the exam, how well do you really think you’ve retained that information?  We’ve all heard it before, practice makes perfect so why not take advantage of the free CDL resources on this site and test your knowledge with our free California CDL practice tests.

Information Covered in the Manual

Start preparing for the California CDL test today by studying the information in the California CDL manual. This helpful handbook is prepared by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and has been designed to help you familiarize yourself with the rules of the road in California, how to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle, and how to deal with emergency situations. You get all the information necessary to pass the exam no matter what class of CDL you are pursuing.

The sections of the California CDL manual are designed to put the information you need to be a safe, responsible commercial driver at your fingertips. These sections are:

  • Driving Safely
  • Transporting Cargo Safely
  • Transporting Passengers Safely
  • Air Brakes
  • Combination Vehicles
  • Doubles and Triples
  • Tank Vehicles
  • Hazardous Materials and Waste
  • School Buses
  • Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test
  • Basic Vehicle Control Skills Test
  • On-Road Driving