Vermont CDL General Knowledge: Mountain Driving Test 2026

Mountain driving earns its own dedicated section on the Vermont CDL general knowledge test for one simple reason: Vermont has real grades, and I-89 and I-91 both send loaded trucks down long descents every single day. This Vermont CDL practice test covers selecting the right gear before a descent begins, controlling speed with the engine instead of riding the brakes, and recognizing the warning signs of overheated brakes before they fail completely on a Green Mountain grade.

Expect questions about choosing a lower gear before starting downhill rather than after speed builds, how snub braking differs from constant light braking, and what a runaway ramp is for and when a driver should use one. The Vermont CDL Manual specifically calls out mountain grade technique because it directly affects safety on routes many Vermont-based drivers run regularly hauling timber, granite, or dairy products across the state's steepest corridors.

A driver who treats mountain grades casually risks brake fade, jackknifing, or worse, so this practice test does not soften the material. Study every scenario here, then reread the mountain driving chapter of the state manual before you consider yourself ready for the real Vermont CDL exam.

Keep going:

• Vermont CDL Practice Test
• Vermont CDL Practice Test 2
• Vermont CDL Practice Test 3
• Vermont CDL Practice Test 4
• Vermont Air Brakes Practice Test
• Vermont CDL Combination Practice Test
• Vermont CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test
• Vermont Hazmat Practice Test
• Vermont Class A CDL Practice Test
• Vermont CDL Practice Test

Every question traces back to the Vermont CDL Manual - skim the right-of-way and signs chapters before your retake.