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

What is a dual air brake system
  • Two separate air brake systems that use a single set of brake controls
  • A system which does not have spring brakes and instead, uses a second S-Cam system for its emergency brakes
  • A single air brake system that uses two sets of brake controls
  • A fail safe system where when one air brake system fails below 60 psi, the second system will keep the emergency brakes from activating
This is a review question from page 44 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 65 Of The CDL Manual:

Most newer heavy-duty vehicles use dual air brake systems for safety. A dual air brake system has two separate air brake systems that use a single set of brake controls. Each system has its own air tanks, hoses, lines, etc. One system typically operates the regular brakes on the rear axle or axles. The other system operates the regular brakes on the front axle and possibly one rear axle. Both systems supply air to the trailer if there is one. The first system is called the "primary" system. The other is called the "secondary" system.

Next
The amount of liquid to load into a tank depends on:
  • All of these should be taken into consideration when loading liquid into a tank
  • The weight of the liquid
  • Legal weight limits
  • The amount the liquid will expand in transit (outage)
This is a review question from page 61 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 85 Of The CDL Manual:

A full tank of dense liquid (such as some acids) may exceed legal weight limits. For that reason, you often may only partially fill tanks with heavy liquids. The amount of liquid to load into a tank depends on:

  • The amount the liquid will expand in transit.
  • The weight of the liquid.
  • Legal weight limits.
Prev
Next
What is Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)?
  • Total weight of a single vehicle plus its load.
  • Total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the cargo.
  • Weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles.
  • Maximum GCW specified by the manufacturer for a specific combination of vehicles plus its load.
This is a review question from page 34 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 52 Of The CDL Manual:

You are responsible for not being overloaded. Following are definitions of weights:

  • Gross vehicle weight (GVW): Total weight of a single vehicle plus its load.
  • Gross combination weight (GCW): Total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the cargo.
  • Gross combination weight rating (GCWR): Maximum GCW specified by the manufacturer for a specific combination of vehicles plus its load.
  • Axle weight: Weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles.
  • Tire load: Maximum safe weight a tire can carry at a specified pressure. This rating is stated on the side of each tire.
  • Suspension systems: Suspension systems have a manufacturer's weight capacity rating.
  • Coupling device capacity: Coupling devices are rated for the maximum weight they can pull and/or carry.
Prev
Next
What are shut-off valves
  • The yellow and red air control knobs located in the cab of a truck
  • Used in the service and supply air lines at the back of trailers used to tow other trailers
  • Designed to turn off the truck engine when a brake failure occurs
  • Placed at each trailer spring brake and are designed to engage the emergency brakes when air pressure becomes too high
This is a review question from page 50 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 74 Of The CDL Manual:

Shut-off valves (also called "cut-out cocks") are used in the service and supply air lines at the back of trailers used to tow other trailers. These valves permit closing the air lines off when another trailer is not being towed. You must check that all shut-off valves are in the open position except the ones at the back of the last trailer, which must be closed.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Only trailers designed to be pulled with another trailer behind it will have a shut off valve. If you are only pulling one trailer, make certain the valve is fully in the closed position or it will leak air out of the air system.

Prev
Next
A combination of securing devices which form an assembly that attaches cargo to, or restrains cargo on, a vehicle or trailer, and is attached to anchor point(s) is a:
  • Tiedown
  • Edge Protector
  • Working Load Limit
  • Void Filler
This is a review question from page 152 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 1 Of The CDL Manual:

  • Tiedown:

    A combination of securing devices which form an assembly that attaches cargo to, or restrains cargo on, a vehicle or trailer, and is attached to anchor point(s).

  • Prev
    Next
    Which of the following is not a reason why loads should be secured?
    • Prevent damage to the cargo
    • Avoid fines and citations
    • Prevent loss of load
    • Make it look pretty
    This is a review question from page 119 - click here to look up the answer

    Quote From Page 1 Of The CDL Manual:

    Why?
    • Loss of life
    • Loss of load
    • Damage to the cargo
    • Damage to the vehicle
    • Issuance of citations/fines to driver/carrier
    • The vehicle being placed Out-of-Service.
    • A crash
    Prev
    Next
    What is a good way to determine which gear you should be in for a downhill grade?
    • Use the same gear or lower gears than what was needed for the uphill grade
    • Use the same gear or higher gears than what was needed for the uphill grade
    • Drivers should wait until they are about 1/4 of the way down the hill before deciding which gear to use
    • Downhill grades should always use 5th gear or lower
    This is a review question from page 26 - click here to look up the answer

    Quote From Page 39 Of The CDL Manual:

    Be in Right Gear Before Starting Down Grade - Shift the transmission to a low gear before starting down the grade. Do not try to downshift after your speed has already built up. You will not be able to shift into a lower gear. You may not even be able to get back into any gear and all engine braking effect will be lost. Forcing an automatic transmission into a lower gear at high speed could damage the transmission and also lead to loss of all engine braking effect.

    A good rule for older trucks is to use the same gear going down a hill that you would need to climb the hill. However, newer trucks have low-friction parts and streamlined shapes for fuel economy. They also may have more powerful engines. This means they can go up hills in higher gears and have less friction and air drag to hold them back going down hills. For that reason, drivers of modern trucks may have to use lower gears going down a hill than would be required to go up the hill. Know what is right for your vehicle.

    Prev
    Next
    When driving through an intersection, where should your hands be?
    • One hand on the steering wheel and one hand on the gear shift
    • One hand on the steering wheel and one hand on or near the air horn
    • One hand on the steering wheel and one hand on the emergency brake
    • Keep both hands on the steering wheel
    This is a review question from page 88 - click here to look up the answer

    Quote From Page 128 Of The CDL Manual:

    When driving through an intersection:

    - Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
    - Decelerate and yield to any pedestrians and traffic in the intersection.
    - Do not change lanes or shift gears while proceeding through the Intersection.
    - Keep your hands on the wheel.

    TruckingTruth's Advice:

    The examiners actively check to see your hand placement. Whenever possible, keep both hands on the wheel. This is especially true while driving through an intersection.

    Prev
    Next
    How many CDL endorsements are there?
    • 9
    • 7
    • 5
    • 4
    This is a review question from page 2 - click here to look up the answer

    Quote From Page 4 Of The CDL Manual:

    There are seven special CDL endorsements and one restriction that require testing. In addition, drivers who do not pass the air brake portion of the exams are restricted to driving vehicles without air brakes.

    The endorsements are:

    • 1. Charter Bus (C)
    • 2. Combination Tank and Hazardous Materials (X)
    • 3. Double/Triple Trailers (T)
    • 4. Passenger Vehicles (P)
    • 5. School Bus Endorsement (S)
    • 6. Tank Vehicles (N)
    • 7. Vehicles Carrying Hazardous Materials (H)

    Restrictions:

      1. Vehicle Without Air Brakes (L-Restriction)

    TruckingTruth's Advice:

    We highly recommend that everyone get all endorsements available because:

    • You don't want to restrict your opportunities
    • The tests are fairly quick, simple, and inexpensive
    • You're already going through the process of learning the materials anyhow

    So make sure you get all of the endorsements.

    Prev
    Next
    When securing metal coils with eyes vertical, the angle between tiedown and deck, if possible, should be:
    • 60 degrees
    • Between 60 and 90 degrees
    • Less than 45 degrees
    • 180 degrees
    This is a review question from page 131 - click here to look up the answer

    Quote From Page 5 Of The CDL Manual:

    • Attach at least one tiedown against front of row of coils to restrain against forward motion. If possible, angle between tiedown and deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
    • Attach at least one tiedown against rear of row of coils to restrain against rearward motion. If possible, angle between tiedown and deck should be less than 45, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
    • Attach at least one tiedown over top of each coil or side-by-side row of coils to restrain against vertical motion. Tiedowns going over top of coil(s) must be as close as possible to eye of coil.
    • Arrange tiedowns, blocking, or bracing to prevent shifting or tipping in all directions.
    Prev
    Finish
    Please select an option
    [1,1,1,2,1,4,1,4,2,3]
    10

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    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.

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