CDL Permit Class A Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

There's no single national CDL retake policy — the permit knowledge test is administered by each state's own DMV/DPS under federal minimum standards (49 CFR Part 383), so wait periods, retake fees, and attempt limits vary by state. What's consistent everywhere: the permit knowledge test is separate from the behind-the-wheel skills test, and you must hold the permit for a minimum period (commonly 14 days, state-dependent) before the skills test can be scheduled.

The General Knowledge test is pass/fail with a passing score commonly set at 80% correct, and the Air Brakes section (required for anyone operating air-brake-equipped Class A vehicles) is scored the same way. Most states use a computer-based test modeled on the AAMVA standardized question bank, though the exact question pool and passing threshold are set at the state level.

General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles are the three sections every Class A permit applicant needs, so treat those as the baseline regardless of which state you're testing in — endorsement-specific sections (Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples) only apply if you're pursuing that endorsement. Because the permit must be held for a minimum period before the skills test, there's little cost to over-preparing on the written portion early rather than rushing it.