Texas CDL practice test

Real numbers

What the rules say

Sources: FMCSA (49 CFR 383, official CDL manual) + O*NET OnLine / U.S. BLS OEWS — verified 2026-09-21. State-specific numbers per the state DMV's published guidance.

Texas is one of the largest CDL markets in the country, and its written test reflects the state's heavy freight traffic. The General Knowledge portion uses 50 questions with an 80% pass mark (40 correct), per TX DPS published guidance, and the state offers the full set of endorsements from Air Brakes to School Bus. Texas also allows third-party testing at approved sites, which can make scheduling easier.

Texas publishes its written exam rules through the Texas Department of Public Safety. The General Knowledge portion uses 50 questions and requires 40 correct answers (80%) to pass, one of the clearer published standards among the large freight states.

Beyond General Knowledge, Texas offers the standard endorsement line-up — Air Brakes, Combination, Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, Passenger and School Bus — and the same endorsement tests are required on top of the base written exam.

Texas allows testing at DPS offices and approved third-party sites, which helps with scheduling in busy metro areas. Either way, the federal 20 knowledge areas are the content backbone, so a strong federal-level practice base is the right preparation.

With major freight corridors through Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and San Antonio, CDL-qualified drivers are in steady demand in Texas. Passing the written test cleanly is the first, fastest step — the practice here mirrors the published format.

If you are taking the Texas written test at a third-party site, confirm the site is on the approved list published by TX DPS before you pay — using an unapproved tester means the test does not count. The content you practice here is the same regardless of where you sit it.

Texas drivers should also note that the state's commercial driver handbook, published by TX DPS, is the authoritative study source — the practice sets here follow its topics, and the handbook fills in the details. Between practice and handbook, most applicants pass the 80% mark comfortably.

Texas is one of the biggest CDL markets in the country, and the numbers behind it are easy to see in the employment data for the state's freight corridors. The written test is administered by TX DPS, and the General Knowledge portion uses 50 questions with an 80% passing score, which means you need 40 correct answers. That published format makes preparation measurable: score 40 or better on a 50-question practice set, and you know you are in the passing band. Texas also supports third-party testing at approved sites, which gives applicants scheduling flexibility beyond the DPS office calendar. The state offers the standard endorsement line-up — Air Brakes, Combination, Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, Passenger and School Bus — and each endorsement adds its own written test on top of General Knowledge. For applicants in metro areas, the practical advice is to book early: DPS and third-party sites in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio fill quickly. The content tested is the federal core, so a strong practice base transfers directly, and the state-specific part is mostly the format and the paperwork.

FAQ

Common questions

Related tests