The High Road™ Online CDL Training Program

The Most Effective CDL Test Preparation Course On The Planet

This program is 100% free for everyone!
  • Intro
  • Overview
  • Features
  • Testimonials
  • Tips/Advice

The High Road™ Online CDL Training Program Is Pure Awesomeness

We're not pulling any punches. We're going to say it like it is. This is the highest quality, most comprehensive online CDL training program ever created. As if that wasn't awesome enough, it also happens to be unconditionally free for everyone to use.

Our program has a ton of incredible features, and it's really user friendly. So grab a cup of coffee and strap yourself in because you're going to be blown away when you see what we have in store for you!

The Entire CDL Manual And Beyond

Our CDL training program has the entire CDL manual built right in. That alone will prepare you for all of the required written exams including the CDL learner's permit and all of the endorsement exams. Now that's pretty fantastic in itself, but as experienced drivers, we knew that wasn't nearly enough. No way.

Because passing the CDL exam isn't the real test. The real test begins when you're sitting behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound rig, and we want to make sure you have the knowledge it takes to survive out there in the trucking industry. So we've gone beyond the CDL manual and built several sections ourselves full of critical knowledge that will prepare you for a great start to your trucking career.

Who Designed This Training Program?

This training program was designed and built with the help of professional drivers, including certified CDL instructors with decades of safe driving experience. These experienced professionals know exactly what it takes to pass the CDL exams and become safe, productive drivers out on the road.

Our CDL training program has proven to be so effective that is has gone viral in the trucking community essentially overnight! We are blown away with the positive response to this program, and you're going to be amazed at how well it's put together. Take a couple minutes to browse the features, testimonials, and tips before you sign up and get going!

Features Of The High Road Training System

Includes The Complete CDL Manual & More

We've built the entire CDL manual right into our training system. But we didn't stop there! We've added several sections of our own to this training program so you'll be prepared for all of the written exams and life on the road.

This training system was built by experienced drivers and trainers who know there's a lot more to life on the road than what the CDL manual covers. We've added our own sections covering Logbook Rules and Weight & Balance so you'll be ready to tackle some of the toughest aspects of life in the trucking industry.

Sophisticated Review System

Repetition is the key to memorizing large amounts of information. By continuously analyzing your scores on each question as you progress through the program, our review system will determine which questions you are having the most trouble with.

These high priority questions will be repeated as many times as is necessary to reinforce the correct answers. This system is capable of determining each person's strengths and weaknesses and gives you continued reinforcement where you need it most.

Intelligent Halt System

Yellow Peterbuilt on the highway

When we find that you are beginning to struggle, we temporarily stop giving you new materials and have you review the questions you're having the most trouble with.

What would be the point of feeding you new materials if you're having trouble with what we've given you so far? The point is to learn the materials, not just fly through the program as quickly as possible.

If you miss a particular question too many times or your overall average drops below 85% we will help you review the areas you're struggling with until we see you're ready to continue on to new materials.

Dynamically Built, Interactive Quizzes

tractor trailer driving down the road

The multiple choice quizzes given on each page include questions from the page being loaded and review questions from pages you've already completed. The order of the questions and answers are randomized, and the answers to review questions from previous pages can be lookup up in an instant.

The quizzes are designed to work as a tool to help reinforce the information, not simply as a way to test your knowledge. We don't want you guessing at the answers, because guessing isn't learning. In fact, guessing can inhibit learning by reinforcing an incorrect answer.

When taking a quiz, the answer to each question can be quickly found in the content of the page, or in the case of review questions, with the click of a link which reveals the answer. This allows you to quickly find the correct answer, reinforces the information, and saves tons of precious time trying when having to look something up.

Complete The Materials In Any Order At Your Own Pace

We've designed our training program to be very flexible. You can complete the course materials in any order at your own pace. Simply jump to a different section of the program when you're ready for a change of pace.

The optimal experience means being able to work on the materials you're interested in learning at the moment, and working when you feel fresh and ready to take on a challenge. Instead of forcing everyone to work on the same materials at the same pace, our program allows you the flexibility to choose the materials you're working on and set your own schedule.

Even our review system and halt mechanism have been designed to adjust to your preferences. You can take the course in any order you like and we'll send the proper review questions from sections you've already completed. If you begin to struggle, we'll halt your progress and force a review of the materials before allowing you to move on.

Insights, Tips, And Suggestions Built In

Throught the program you'll find important tips, insights, and suggestions wherever you see the purple question mark () to help you understand the materials better and gain an understanding for how that knowledge will fit into the overall picture.

Not all information is created equal. Certain bits of information may be critically important to the safe operation of the vehicle, and some information will almost certainly show up on the CDL exam. We want to go beyond just teaching the information. We want you to understand why this information is so important and how it will affect your CDL testing and your career in the trucking industry.

What People Are Saying About The High Road Training System

"My own experience with the course itself was nothing short of amazing. To come into the course with absolutely no prior knowledge of the subject, and to be able to grasp the information, understand it, and retain it, has taken quite a bit off stress off me. Now I know that when I do enroll in a school, I can focus on the driving aspects, and not have to worry about the classroom side of things.

Being able to study at my own pace and in my own time was extremely helpful to me. Being able to see what areas I was having difficulty with, and being able to spend more time on those sections was so beneficial. The way the information is broken down and presented topic by topic keeps the course from being overwhelming, and the layout of the program itself is condusive to a variety of learning styles."

- Ahmalia

tractor trailer

"My experience so far has been fantastic. It is set up in such a way that it learns and adapts to what the student needs to pay closer attention to. If the program notices you need to go over a certain subject again, it will halt you for a review so that you dont continuously get a subject wrong.

I love the way it pulls refresher questions from other parts of the course that you have already covered. It reinforces the information needed to not only pass the permit test, but engrains it so it almost becomes second nature.

After studying for a week, and taking the practice tests here for the basic info needed to obtain a CDL learners permit, I can consistantly pass the practice tests for General Knowledge, Air Brakes, Combination Vehicles, Doubles and Triples, and Passengers at my State DMV. My lowest score so far is 94%.

I feel that anyone who doesn't use this before attending a school or taking their permit test is wasting a valuable asset. Before taking the course, I was lucky if I had gotten anything above 68% by just studying the manual alone.

Thanks again Brett. I'm gonna pass this on to anyone who is looking to get their CDL."

- Skip

Hi Brett,

I just want to say thank you for putting online such a valuable resource.

I used your CDL training course to study for my CDL, and when I took my written tests the DMV administrator was amazed as I finished the test faster than anyone she had ever had in her facility, and with the highest scores she had ever seen. I took all of my endorsements (Hazmat, Doubles - Triples, Tanker, and Air Brakes) all in one sitting and without hesitation I knew all of the answers. Some were tricky and not in the Colorado Manual (which I had also read) however because of the knowledge I had gained from your course I was able to logically figure out the answers.

I can honestly say that had I simply read the CDL manual I would have struggled to pass the test at all. I am convinced your course made all the difference. I went in prepared and knew what to expect and how to answer.

Thanks again Brett. I'm gonna pass this on to anyone who is looking to get their CDL."

- Tom Cooper

I wanted to share something that just made me pat myself on the back today... I am currently attending the FFE Driving Academy (Now KLLM). Today was our final written exam for the school, tomorrow we go take the DPS written tests. Once the class tests were graded, our instructor told me that in the more than two years the school had been open and with all the hundreds of students that had gone through the program, I was the third person EVER to get a perfect score on all 5 written exams.

WOW!

Darn right I'm proud of myself, but I didn't do it alone. I can't express enough how helpful The High Road Training Program is, and can't thank Brett and TruckingTruth enough for putting it together.

- Joseph

"I think that the program is great! I love the way the halt feature works if it feels you're having a lot of trouble or just guessing, and the way the review system reinforces learning by re-introducing material in the form of review questions.

Even with the limited amount that I've completed thus far, I feel as if I was much more prepared when I began my schooling, and was amazed by the amount of material covered at school that I already knew just from having done this program here!"

- Rob "Moe Rhonic"

"My stress was easily cut in half by taking TruckingTruth's High Road online CDL course. I've taken many courses online and never have I seen a better product that can produce better results! I have fond memories spending endless hours studying. It was simple, clear, and so well thought out. I have absolutely nothing to criticize.

If I were to try and put a price tag on it, $250-450 easily! You and your Team of Truckers, which I can now say I legitimately am one, are the greatest!"

- Jay

"I have taken several courses via computer (Navy, private/instrument pilot exams, and teacher courses) and this incorporates all of the best of each. It is obvious you have spent an incredible amount of time bringing all of this information together.

Great job!"

- Larry

Understanding The Review System

The High Road Training Program™ will continuously adjust to your strengths and weaknesses as you work your way through. Each page of the program has its own set of questions. Along with those questions you'll see a mix of review questions from pages you've already completed. These review questions were not selected at random. We track your scores throughout the program and choose the questions you're struggling with the most, and those are the ones you'll be reviewing.

For instance...say you're ready to begin page 10. Before page 10 loads we calculate your scores on every question you've done so far, including all review questions, and decide which questions you need the most help with right now. Those high priority questions from the previous 9 pages will be loaded along with the questions from page 10.

So you don't have to keep track of what you're learning well and what you need help with - we're already doing that for you. Just work your way straight through the program and focus on getting every single question correct. We'll feed you the review questions you need the most help with throughout the program.

Do Not Guess At The Answers - Look Them Up!

Consider the quizzes at the end of each page to be a learning tool as opposed to a way of testing your knowledge. Repetition is the key to learning a large amount of materials, and the quizzes will help reinforce the correct information time and time again.

Keep in mind that your goal is to learn the materials, and guessing is not learning. In fact, guessing wrong will reinforce the incorrect answer, requiring extra repetitions of the correct answer to force the incorrect answer out of your mind.

So when taking the quizzes, please look up the correct answers and shoot for a perfect score on every quiz. With every review question you will see a link that will say "This is a review question. Click here to look up the answer". Please do it! Do not guess at the answers. We've put that link there so you can quickly and easily look up the answer. We want you to look it up. It's not a weakness or a failure on your part to have to look up the answer - that's a victory! Getting a question wrong is the only failure. So shoot for a perfect score on each quiz by looking up the correct answers each and every time. You'll learn the materials better and get through the program more quickly.

The High Road Online CDL Training Program

Our High Road Online CDL Training Program is a complete CDL test preparation course. It has everything you'll need to pass the CDL permit exam, the endorsement exams, and prepare for the start of CDL training:

  • The entire CDL manual is built right in and split into small sections
  • A few multiple choice questions follow each section
  • Score tracking and progress reports throughout the program
  • A review system helps you learn by reinforcing the correct answers
  • A friendly and easy to use interface makes it a breeze to use

We've found a way to teach you the entire CDL manual faster and easier than you thought possible. By breaking it down into small sections and reviewing the questions several times you'll be well prepared for your CDL exams!

Random Questions From The High Road™ CDL Training Program

Review Questions - Click On The Picture To Begin...

These Questions Are From The Illinois CDL Manual

For belt driven engine components (water pump, alternator, air compressor, etc), how much free play is allowed at the center of each belt?
  • No free play at all
  • 1.5 inches of free play
  • 1 inch of free play
  • 3/4 inch of free play
This is a review question from page 80 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 116 Of The CDL Manual:

Engine compartment belts: Check the following belts for snugness (up to 3/4-inch play at center of belt), cracks or frays:

  • Power steering belt.
  • Water pump belt.
  • Alternator belt.
  • Air compressor belt.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

When checking belts, tell the examiner:

The belt is not cracked, frayed, or broken and free play is between 1/2in and 3/4in."

Next
All of the following indicate a truck is equipped with an Anti-Lock Brake System, except:
  • Vehicles that have anti-lock brakes have a yellow light near the driver's rear side of the vehicle with the letters ABS stenciled above the light
  • If there is a malfunction in the ABS system, a yellow warning lamp will illuminate and stay on
  • Once the driver turns on the ignition, a yellow malfunction lamp on the instrument panel will light up, briefly indicating that the vehicle has anti-lock brakes
  • All trucks and trailers are required to be equipped with Anti-Lock brake systems
This is a review question from page 46 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 67 Of The CDL Manual:

Vehicles that have anti-lock brakes have a yellow light near the driver's rear side of the vehicle with the letters ABS stenciled above the light. Once the driver turns on the ignition, a yellow malfunction lamp on the instrument panel will light up, briefly indicating that the vehicle has anti-lock brakes. This lamp will remain constant if there is a malfunction in the anti-lock brake system.

Prev
Next
The following are all true about parking brakes, except:
  • When the brakes are very hot (i.e. just after coming down a steep grade) wheel chocks should be used instead of the parking brake
  • Older vehicles may have a round blue knob for the parking brake in place of the yellow diamond shaped knob currently used in modern equipment
  • All of these answers are true
  • When there are freezing temperatures and the brakes are very wet, the brake linings may freeze to the brake drums
This is a review question from page 47 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 68 Of The CDL Manual:

Any time you park, use the parking brakes, except as noted. Pull the parking brake control knob out to apply the parking brakes. Push it in to release them. The control will be a yellow, diamond-shaped knob labeled "parking brakes" on newer vehicles. On older vehicles, it may be a round blue knob or some other shape, including a lever that swings from side to side or up and down.

Do not use the parking brakes if the brakes are very hot (i.e., from just coming down a steep grade), or if the brakes are very wet in freezing temperatures. If the brakes are used when very hot, they can be damaged by the heat. If they are used in freezing temperatures when the brakes are very wet, they can freeze so the vehicle cannot move. Use wheel chocks to hold the vehicle. Let hot brakes cool before using the parking brakes. If the brakes are wet, use the brakes lightly while driving in a low gear to heat and dry them.

If your vehicle does not have automatic air tank drains, drain your air tanks at the end of each working day to remove moisture and oil. Otherwise, the brakes could fail.


Never leave your vehicle unattended without applying the parking brakes or chocking the wheels. Your vehicle might roll away and cause injury and damage

Prev
Next
Which of the following hazardous materials is a bus allowed to transport?
  • Emergency shipments of medical drugs or chemicals
  • Small-arms ammunition
  • All of these can legally be carried on a commercial bus
  • Hospital supplies
This is a review question from page 37 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 56 Of The CDL Manual:

Buses may carry small-arms ammunition, emergency shipments of drugs, chemicals and hospital supplies. You can carry small amounts of some other hazardous materials if the shipper cannot send them any other way.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Even if you don't plan to obtain a passenger endorsement for your CDL, you will still be required to have a basic understanding of some general rules and regulations for transporting passengers.

Prev
Next
The narrowest end of a boulder should be pointed:
  • Towards the front of the vehicle.
  • Towards the sky.
  • It doesn't matter.
  • Towards the rear of the vehicle.
This is a review question from page 149 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 13 Of The CDL Manual:

If a boulder is tapered, point the narrowest end towards the front of the vehicle.

Prev
Next
What accurately describes an S-Cam?
  • When you release the brake pedal, the S-cam rotates back, and a spring pulls the brake shoes away from the drum, letting the wheels roll freely again
  • All of these answers are accurate
  • It is called an S-Cam because it's in the shape of an S
  • Forces the brake shoes away from one another and presses them against the inside of the brake drum
This is a review question from page 42 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 63 Of The CDL Manual:

S-cam brakes: When you push the brake pedal, air is let into each brake chamber (see Figure 5-2). Air pressure pushes the rod out, moving the slack adjuster, thus twisting the brake cam shaft. This turns the S-cam (named because it is shaped like the letter S). The S-cam forces the brake shoes away from one another and presses them against the inside of the brake drum. When you release the brake pedal, the S-cam rotates back, and a spring pulls the brake shoes away from the drum, letting the wheels roll freely again.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

You need to study the different parts of the S-Cam air brake system. Be sure to know the major parts and understand how it works.

Prev
Next
Trailers built before what year may not be equipped with trailer spring brakes?
  • 1990
  • 1970
  • 1975
  • 1985
This is a review question from page 50 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 74 Of The CDL Manual:

Newer trailers have spring brakes just like trucks and truck tractors. However, converter dollies and trailers built before 1975 are not required to have spring brakes. Those that do not have spring brakes have emergency brakes that work from the air stored in the trailer air tank. The emergency brakes come on whenever air pressure in the emergency line is lost. These trailers have no parking brake. The emergency brakes come on whenever the air supply knob is pulled out or the trailer is disconnected. But the brakes will hold only as long as there is air pressure in the trailer air tank. Eventually, the air will leak away, and then there will be no brakes. Therefore, it is very important for safety that you use wheel chocks when you park trailers without spring brakes.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

It is extremely unlikely you will drive a trailer built before 1975, but for the written exam, you still may need to know that trailers built before 1975 were not required to have spring brakes.

Prev
Next
A securement system must be capable of resisting how much lateral (side-to-side) force, at minimum?
  • 80% of the cargo weight
  • 100% of the cargo weight
  • 50% of the cargo weight
  • 20% of the cargo weight
This is a review question from page 152 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 1 Of The CDL Manual:

  • The forward force (80% of the cargo weight) represents braking while driving straight ahead.
  • The rearward force (50% of the cargo weight) represents vehicle acceleration or braking in reverse.
  • The side-to-side or lateral force (50% of the cargo weight) represents traveling on a curve, ramp or changing lanes.
  • The vertical force (20% of the cargo weight)) represents cargo vibration during transport. This requirement is satisfied when the cargo is "Fully Contained"
Prev
Next
The term 'edge protector' refers to:
  • A device placed on the exposed edge of an article to distribute tiedown forces over a larger area of cargo than the tiedown itself, to protect the tie-down and/or cargo from damage, and to allow the tiedown to slide freely when being tensioned.
  • A vertical barrier placed directly behind the cab of a tractor to protect the cab in the event cargo should shift forward.
  • A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against an article to prevent it from tipping that may also prevent it from shifting.
  • A rail along the side of a vehicle that protects the side of the vehicle from impacts.
This is a review question from page 124 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 2 Of The CDL Manual:

Edge protector:

A device placed on the exposed edge of an article to distribute tiedown forces over a larger area of cargo than the tiedown itself, to protect the tie-down and/or cargo from damage, and to allow the tiedown to slide freely when being tensioned.

Prev
Next
Every combination vehicle has two air lines which are called:
  • Primary Line and Secondary Line
  • Service Line and Emergency Line
  • Parent Line and Child Line
  • Red Line and Blue Line
This is a review question from page 49 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 73 Of The CDL Manual:

Every combination vehicle has two air lines: the service line and the emergency line. They run between each vehicle (tractor to trailer, trailer to dolly, dolly to second trailer, etc.).

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Be sure you understand the difference between the Service Air Line and the Emergency Air Line.

  • The Service Air Line controls the service brakes when you use the brake pedal.
  • The Emergency Air Line supplies air to the trailer air tanks and the emergency brakes.
Prev
Finish
Please select an option
[4,4,3,3,1,2,3,3,1,2]
10

Join Us!

We have an awesome set of tools that will help you understand the trucking industry and prepare for a great start to your trucking career. Not only that, but everything we offer here at TruckingTruth is 100% free - no strings attached! Sign up now and get instant access to our member's section:
High Road Training Program Logo
  • The High Road Training Program
  • The High Road Article Series
  • The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
  • Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted

Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth

Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:

Apply For Paid CDL Training

About Us

TruckingTruth was founded by Brett Aquila (that's me!), a 15 year truck driving veteran, in January 2007. After 15 years on the road I wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker. We'll help you make the right choices and prepare for a great start to your trucking career.

Read More

Becoming A Truck Driver

Becoming A Truck Driver is a dream we've all pondered at some point in our lives. We've all wondered if the adventure and challenges of life on the open road would suit us better than the ordinary day to day lives we've always known. At TruckingTruth we'll help you decide if trucking is right for you and help you get your career off to a great start.

Learn More