From the St. Louis Arch to the Ozark Mountains, Missouri has a beautiful landscape set in the center of the Midwest. Truckers in the state have the opportunity to travel its scenic highways or enjoy the easy access to the rest of the US for longer hauls. Becoming a commercial trucker has long been a solid career choice for Missourians, and the field will continue its job growth through 2022. To join in this growing industry, you’ll need to get your commercial driver’s license by first passing a written knowledge exam. Passing the CDL written test will allow you to get a commercial driver’s permit. But the tests aren’t easy, as there are hundreds of possible questions you may be asked to determine your level of knowledge. Your first step toward achieving this goal is studying the 2023 Missouri Commercial Driver License Manual.
How to Prepare
To prep for your written tests, you’ll first need to download the Missouri CDL Manual. Sit down with the manual, pen, and paper and take notes as you read through the handbook. You’ll most likely also want to take additional exams to put endorsements on your licenses such as Hazmat, passenger transport, combination vehicle, air brakes, tanker, and multi-trailer; due to this, make a note of which sections of the manual you need to study before you start. There’s a lot of information, and any of it may be on your written test so keep your mind on task. If you start to lose attention, it’s okay to take a short break or walk to refocus your mind and then go back to the reading. The test will be multiple-choice, and because it pulls directly from the CDL manual, if you study carefully, you can know all the answers. Once you’ve finished your reading, look over your notes and check for any sections that are still unclear or are hazy in your mind and then reread those sections if needed. This test makes sure you know the laws governing commercial truckers and are not going to be a hazard on the road, so the better you study, the safer and more confident you can be.
Final Steps
Read the manual thoroughly and your notes one more time before you take your test to keep it all fresh in your mind! After you’ve passed your written exam, you’ll have your commercial learner’s permit while you prepare to take your skills test and start your new career as a licensed truck driver.