GA CDL Practice Test​: GA Pre-Trip Inspection

What Is Included in the GA Pre-Trip Inspection Test?

Expect the examiner to score you on both what you look at and what you say. You’re basically giving a safety speech while you inspect. Keep it simple, but complete. Clear beats fancy.

The test usually covers the big systems that keep a commercial vehicle stable, visible, and able to stop safely. In Georgia, that means you should be ready to talk through these areas without long pauses.

• Brake systems: lines, hoses, chambers, and anything leaking, cracked, or insecure.
• Tires: tread depth, inflation look, sidewall damage, and matching where required.
• Suspension: springs, mounts, U-bolts, airbags, and anything shifted or broken.
  This one trips people up.

You’ll also be expected to check lights and reflectors, plus coupling devices if you’re in a combination vehicle. Say what you’re checking for. Every time. Use the same phrase pattern: “secure, not cracked, not leaking, and no missing parts.” Short. Repeatable.

Don’t guess. Pause and reset.

A common point loss is skipping defect language. For example, it’s not enough to say “the tire looks good.” Say what “good” means: no cuts, no bulges, proper tread, and properly mounted. Another easy miss is forgetting to mention that lug nuts should not be missing and the rim should not be bent. Small details. Big points.

DDS examiners also listen for correct terms. “Brake chamber” is better than “brake thing.” If you blank, describe it clearly and move on. Keep moving. Confidence matters.

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Step-by-Step Inspection Order

Georgia’s pre-trip is easier when you follow a consistent order. Most applicants do best with a three-part flow: engine compartment, cab check, then the external walk-around. It keeps you from bouncing around and forgetting items. And yes, order matters.

Start at the front. Always.

In the engine compartment, focus on fluid levels and belt condition, then move to steering components if visible. You’re looking for leaks, frays, cracks, and loose mounting. When you say “not leaking,” actually look under the engine and along hoses. Quick glance. Then point.

Next comes the cab check. This is where people rush because it feels repetitive. Don’t. The cab check often includes gauges, warning lights, mirrors, horn, wipers, and the parking brake and service brake checks. Say what you’re doing as you do it. If you practice with a friend, have them interrupt you once, because that’s what test day feels like.

• Build air pressure to governor cut-out, then watch for leaks and pressure drop.
• Test low air warning and spring brake pop-out at the correct ranges.
• Check steering play and that safety equipment is present and secured.
  This one trips people up.

Then do the external walk-around. Choose a direction and stick with it, like clockwise from the driver’s side front. Check lights, tires, suspension, brakes, and frame areas as you move. For trailers, continue the same pattern. Coupling devices need special attention: fifth wheel area, locking jaws, kingpin, apron, and air and electrical lines. If you’re not sure what the examiner wants you to touch, point and describe. Touch when safe.

Breathe. Slow down.

One tiny real-life tip: on practice tests, two answers can look right, but the pre-trip is not multiple choice. Your wording is your proof. If you say “looks fine,” you give the examiner nothing to score.

For formal references, the Georgia Department of Driver Services sets the standards, and DDS examiners follow a checklist. Your job is to make it easy for them to give you credit.

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Common Pre-Trip Test Mistakes

Most failures are not because someone “doesn’t know trucks.” They happen because the inspection is incomplete, the explanation is too vague, or the terminology gets sloppy under stress. That’s fixable.

The biggest mistake is missing components. People forget one light, one brake hose, or one safety item and it snowballs. Another common issue is not finishing a thought. You start describing a part, get distracted, and move on without saying what you’re checking for. The examiner can’t assume.

Say the defect. Every time.

Also watch terminology errors. If you mix up “leaf spring” and “shock absorber,” you can lose points even if you looked at the right area. When in doubt, describe function and condition: “This component is secure, not cracked, not bent, and has no leaks.” That saves you.

• Skipping the coupling check details like the release arm position or line security.
• Forgetting “Steer It, Clear It” habits in your mindset and rushing instead of being methodical.
• Letting nerves speed you up so you stop pointing and start mumbling.
  This one trips people up.

Remember, you’re training for real roads in Georgia, from tight city routes in downtown Savannah to heavy traffic patterns near Atlanta interchanges. A strong pre-trip helps you catch problems before they become breakdowns, citations, or worse. Use this ga cdl practice test to rehearse the order, your phrases, and your pace. Then repeat it until it feels automatic.

One more thing. Practice out loud.