The state of Texas has 3,240 miles of highway crisscrossing the state filled with cars, motorcyclists, farm vehicles, and commercial trucks carrying everything from livestock to the state’s major exports of petroleum and coal products. The number of jobs for commercial truckers is continuing to grow both in Texas and across the country, and if you’re attracted to beginning a new career as a truck driver, you’ll first need to get a commercial driver license. To start your journey and get your CDL, you’ll need to pass a written knowledge test and any additional tests you choose to add endorsements on topics such as air brakes, Hazmat, tanker, combination vehicle, multi-trailer, passenger vehicle, or school bus driving on your license. The more endorsements you have, the more job opportunities can be opened to you. Your initial written exam and the endorsement tests will have questions all based on the 2024 Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook.
How to Prepare
Your first step should be to read the handbook cover to cover and take a lot of notes! The handbook is chock full of information, so don’t be daunted, but keep yourself focused. If your mind starts to drift, take a break or a short walk and then come back to the reading. There are hundreds of possible questions you could be asked on your CDL written test, and you’ll need an 80% to pass, but if you study carefully, you can know the answers to all the questions with ease. Once you’ve read through the manual, look at your notes and if you see any areas that are still hazy or unclear go back and reread those sections of the handbook. It’s important to have all of the information committed to memory, not just to pass the test, but also to ensure that you will be a safe driver on the road, for the protection of everyone who will be sharing the road with you.
Final Steps
Before you head off to take your CDL written test, it’s helpful to read the handbook and your notes one more time to keep it all fresh in your mind. You can stay calm and confident knowing you’re on your way to a new job as a commercial trucker.