Pennsylvania CDL practice tests
Pennsylvania sets its CLP holding period at 15 days rather than the 14-day floor most states use, and that 15-day clock resets from scratch whenever a new endorsement or restriction removal is added to a permit that itself requires a skills test.
The written exams themselves are federal. Pennsylvania decides the permit rules, the fees and who runs the skills test, but the knowledge you are tested on comes from 49 CFR Part 383 and is the same in every state, which is why the 145 questions here work wherever you apply.
What changes in this state
Commercial learner permit
A commercial learner's permit must be held for a minimum of 15 days before the scheduled date of the CDL skills test, and an applicant has one year from permit issuance to pass both the knowledge and skills tests.
PennDOT, CDL Learner's Permit FAQs, checked 2026-08-28
Fees
Renewing a four-year Pennsylvania CDL costs $127.50, or $151.50 with a Class M motorcycle endorsement added, under PennDOT's July 2025 fee chart.
PennDOT, Driver Licensing Fee Chart Fact Sheet, checked 2026-08-28
Where you test
PennDOT's Modernized CDL Skills Test is given both at PennDOT branch offices statewide and through approved third-party testing programs.
PennDOT, CDL Skills Test, checked 2026-08-28
Every knowledge area
General Knowledge
Required of every applicant: inspection, control, space and speed management, hazard perception, emergencies and hours of service.
Air Brakes
Fail this and an L restriction bars you from any vehicle with air brakes, which is most of them.
Combination Vehicles
Coupling, the fifth wheel, off tracking and trailer swing. Needed for Class A.
Hazardous Materials
Placards, shipping papers, segregation and the security threat assessment.
Tank Vehicles
Liquid surge, baffles, outage and why a tanker rolls over so readily.
Doubles and Triples
Rearward amplification, converter dollies and coupling a second or third trailer.
Passenger Transport
Bus inspection, standee lines, passenger supervision and railroad crossings.
School Bus
Danger zones, loading and unloading, student crossing and evacuation.