Washington Pre Trip Inspection Test
You'll inspect trucks that haul timber down from the Cascades and deliver freight through Seattle's tunnels — this test covers the real Washington roads.
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25 questions, 30 minutes. This test covers the walk-around inspection Washington examiners actually grade on. Pass it before your skills test.
Key Topics
- •Engine and brake checks
- •Coupling and trailer lights
- •Tires and in-cab air brake tests
About the Washington Pre Trip Inspection Test
Topics Covered
- ✓Engine compartment checks — Washington's mountain passes (Snoqualmie, Blewett) make overheating a real risk. You'll need to check coolant and oil levels properly.
- ✓Brake system inspection — With logging trucks on steep grades near Aberdeen, you must know pushrod stroke limits and air pressure build-up time.
- ✓Coupling system — Washington examiners focus here because fifth wheel wear causes rollovers on tight curves like the Spokane Street viaduct.
- + 3 more topics
📘 Study Tips & State Info
Washington examiners don't just listen for the right words — they watch your hands. Point at every item you name. If you say 'check the lug nuts,' actually gesture to them. They want to see you'd physically inspect it on the road.
Memorize the order from the Washington CDL manual. Start at the front, go driver's side, front again, passenger side, then rear, and end back at the driver's door. Don't bounce around. Examiners in Tukwila and Spokane dock points for skipping around.
Practice your air brake test out loud. Many Washington instructors say that's the make-or-break section. You need to say the exact sequence: visual check, cut-in at 100 psi, cut-out at 120-130 psi, then fan down to 60 psi checking warning devices. Say it like you mean it.
Washington's Department of Licensing (DOL) handles CDL testing. You can take the Pre Trip Inspection test at any DOL office that offers skills testing. Major locations include Tukwila, Spokane, Vancouver, and Yakima. Appointment availability varies — book early, especially in summer.
You'll need your valid Washington CDL permit before you can schedule the skills test. The Pre Trip Inspection is part of that skills exam. It costs $70 for the Class A skills test, $60 for Class B. You pay when you schedule.
Bring your own vehicle for the skills test. It must pass a basic safety check before the examiner starts. If your vehicle has any obvious defects — cracked windshield, burnt-out light — they won't even begin. Check everything yourself first.
About the Washington Pre Trip Inspection Test
The Pre Trip Inspection test is your first hurdle for a Washington CDL. You'll demonstrate you can check a commercial vehicle before it hits roads like I-5 through Tacoma or US-2 over Stevens Pass. Washington examiners want to see you know the system — not just memorize a list.
This is a verbal test. You point and explain. You'll cover everything from the engine compartment to the rear of the trailer. Washington's wet climate means you better check your wipers and defroster. Mountain grades mean brake checks aren't optional.
The test follows the Washington CDL manual's inspection method. You'll start at the front, go driver's side, then front, passenger side, rear, and back around. Don't skip the coupling system — that's where many drivers lose points in this state.
You need 80% to pass. That's 20 out of 25. The examiner will interrupt you sometimes to ask follow-ups. Stay calm. They're testing your knowledge, not your speed.
Topics Covered
Study Tips
Washington examiners don't just listen for the right words — they watch your hands. Point at every item you name. If you say 'check the lug nuts,' actually gesture to them. They want to see you'd physically inspect it on the road.
Memorize the order from the Washington CDL manual. Start at the front, go driver's side, front again, passenger side, then rear, and end back at the driver's door. Don't bounce around. Examiners in Tukwila and Spokane dock points for skipping around.
Practice your air brake test out loud. Many Washington instructors say that's the make-or-break section. You need to say the exact sequence: visual check, cut-in at 100 psi, cut-out at 120-130 psi, then fan down to 60 psi checking warning devices. Say it like you mean it.
Washington Specific Information
Washington's Department of Licensing (DOL) handles CDL testing. You can take the Pre Trip Inspection test at any DOL office that offers skills testing. Major locations include Tukwila, Spokane, Vancouver, and Yakima. Appointment availability varies — book early, especially in summer.
You'll need your valid Washington CDL permit before you can schedule the skills test. The Pre Trip Inspection is part of that skills exam. It costs $70 for the Class A skills test, $60 for Class B. You pay when you schedule.
Bring your own vehicle for the skills test. It must pass a basic safety check before the examiner starts. If your vehicle has any obvious defects — cracked windshield, burnt-out light — they won't even begin. Check everything yourself first.