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Texas Motor Carrier Authority Exam ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Texas Motor Carrier Authority Exam, followed by 250 randomized, scenario-based MCQs with answers
and summarized rationales. Questions are based on Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643, Texas
Administrative Code Title 43 (TxDOT Motor Carrier Division) , Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSR) , and Texas Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (point form)
• Texas Motor Carrier Registration & Authority: TxDMV Number (Texas Department of Motor
Vehicles), certificate of registration required for intrastate commercial motor vehicles (CMV)
over 26,000 lbs GVWR, 3+ axles regardless of weight, transporting passengers for compensation,
or hazardous materials requiring placards. Application forms: Appointment of a Process Agent
(Form 1953), Texas Motor Carrier Registration Form (Form 1890), Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR). Exemptions – farm vehicles within 150 miles, and certain government vehicles.
• Insurance Requirements: Minimum liability
(intrastate): 300,000fornon-hazardousproperty;300,000fornon-hazardousproperty;1,000,000 for
hazardous substances (oil, waste); $5,000,000 for hazardous materials/explosives in large
quantities. Form E (Liability) and Form H (Cargo) filing with TxDMV. Self-insurance option for
large fleets.
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) – Texas: Class A (combination 26,001+ lbs), Class B (heavy
straight 26,001+ lbs), Class C (smaller passenger/hazmat). Non-CDL Class D driver’s license for
CMV under 26,001 lbs. Endorsements: Hazardous Materials (H), Tank (N), Double/Triple Trailers
(T), Passenger (P), School Bus (S). Air Brake Restriction (L) removal requires skills test on
air-brake vehicle. Intrastate-only operating in Texas – drivers 18+; interstate (crossing state
lines) requires 21+ with valid medical card.
• Hours of Service (HOS): 14-hour on-duty limit (maximum 14 hours from start of shift, cannot
drive after 14th hour). 11-hour driving limit (maximum driving within the 14-hour window).
60/70-hour rule (7/8 consecutive days). 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Split sleeper
berth rule (8/2 split). Exceptions – short-haul (100 air-mile radius, 12-hour shift). Electronic
Logging Device (ELD) mandate for most carriers.
• Vehicle Markings & Identification: Name of carrier, TxDOT number (visible from 50 feet), US
DOT number (if interstate). GVWR or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) placard.
• Safety & Compliance: TxDOT Motor Carrier Safety Division (MCSD) inspections, out-of-service
criteria, maintenance records, driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR), annual inspection. Drug
and alcohol testing (pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion,
return-to-duty). FMCSA registration (interstate).
• Size & Weight Limits: Legal maximum 80,000 lbs gross weight on interstate; length 65′ for
tractor-semitrailer; width 8’6″; height 14′. Permits for oversize/overweight – TxDMV (super
heavy). Overweight tolerance 5% on state highways (not interstate).
• Hazardous Materials: Shippers and carriers – training, placarding, shipping papers (hazmat),
emergency response information; registration with PHMSA.
• Cargo Securement: 18 rules for different cargo types (logs, metal coils, crushed vehicles, etc.).
Aggregate working load limit (WLL) of tiedowns must be at least 50% of cargo weight.
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• Brokerage & Freight Forwarder Authority: Household goods brokers require bond/trust
(minimum 75,000),propertybrokers(suretybond75,000),propertybrokers(suretybond75,000).
Registration with TxDMV (DEC).
• Enforcement & Penalties: TxDOT civil penalties, out-of-service orders, suspension/revocation of
registration, criminal penalties.
QUESTION 1: A Texas-based trucking company operates only within the state of Texas with a single
vehicle of 28,000 lbs GVWR. How many axles must the vehicle have to require motor carrier
registration?
A) 1 axle
B) 2 axles
C) 3 axles
D) 4 axles
Answer: C – A vehicle with three or more axles is required to register as a motor carrier regardless of
weight .
QUESTION 2: An intrastate motor carrier operating a vehicle with a GVWR of 27,000 lbs and only 2 axles.
Does the carrier need a TxDMV registration?
A) Yes, because weight exceeds 26,000 lbs
B) No, because weight is under 26,001 lbs
C) Yes, because any CMV must register
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D) No, because the threshold is 3 axles for weight under 26,001 lbs – 27,000 lbs exceeds 26,000.
Correction: 27,000 > 26,000, so registration required regardless of axles? Texas law: any vehicle with
GVWR >26,000 lbs OR 3+ axles OR transporting hazmat placard OR passenger for compensation must
register. So 27,000 lbs exceeds 26,000, so registration is required.
Answer: A – Weight over 26,000 GVWR requires registration.
QUESTION 3: A driver operating intrastate in Texas with a 30,000 lb truck wants to know the minimum
age for a CDL. What is the correct age?
A) 18 years
B) 19 years
C) 21 years
D) No minimum age for intrastate.
Answer: A – The minimum age for intrastate CDL (Texas only) is 18 years. Interstate CDL requires age 21.
QUESTION 4: A Texas motor carrier transports only non-hazardous property intrastate with a 26,001 lb
vehicle. What is the minimum liability insurance Bodily Injury and Property Damage (BI/PD) required?
A) 100,000B)100,000B)300,000
C) 750,000D)750,000D)1,000,000
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Answer:
B – 300,000minimumfornon-hazardouspropertyintrastate.Hazardoussubstancesrequire300,000minimu
mfornon-hazardouspropertyintrastate.Hazardoussubstancesrequire1,000,000.
QUESTION 5: Regarding the Texas 30-minute break rule for intrastate drivers, when must the break be
taken?
A) After 8 hours of driving
B) After 8 hours of on-duty time (including driving)
C) After 10 hours of driving
D) No break required for intrastate drivers
Answer: A – Within the first 8 hours of driving, a 30-minute break is required (42 CFR 393.3 adapted for
Texas intrastate).
QUESTION 6: A motor carrier wants to file proof of liability insurance with TxDMV. Which form is used?
A) Form E (Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Insurance)
B) Form H (Cargo Insurance)
C) Form MCS-90
Texas Motor Carrier Authority Exam ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Texas Motor Carrier Authority Exam, followed by 250 randomized, scenario-based MCQs with answers
and summarized rationales. Questions are based on Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643, Texas
Administrative Code Title 43 (TxDOT Motor Carrier Division) , Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSR) , and Texas Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (point form)
• Texas Motor Carrier Registration & Authority: TxDMV Number (Texas Department of Motor
Vehicles), certificate of registration required for intrastate commercial motor vehicles (CMV)
over 26,000 lbs GVWR, 3+ axles regardless of weight, transporting passengers for compensation,
or hazardous materials requiring placards. Application forms: Appointment of a Process Agent
(Form 1953), Texas Motor Carrier Registration Form (Form 1890), Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR). Exemptions – farm vehicles within 150 miles, and certain government vehicles.
• Insurance Requirements: Minimum liability
(intrastate): 300,000fornon-hazardousproperty;300,000fornon-hazardousproperty;1,000,000 for
hazardous substances (oil, waste); $5,000,000 for hazardous materials/explosives in large
quantities. Form E (Liability) and Form H (Cargo) filing with TxDMV. Self-insurance option for
large fleets.
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) – Texas: Class A (combination 26,001+ lbs), Class B (heavy
straight 26,001+ lbs), Class C (smaller passenger/hazmat). Non-CDL Class D driver’s license for
CMV under 26,001 lbs. Endorsements: Hazardous Materials (H), Tank (N), Double/Triple Trailers
(T), Passenger (P), School Bus (S). Air Brake Restriction (L) removal requires skills test on
air-brake vehicle. Intrastate-only operating in Texas – drivers 18+; interstate (crossing state
lines) requires 21+ with valid medical card.
• Hours of Service (HOS): 14-hour on-duty limit (maximum 14 hours from start of shift, cannot
drive after 14th hour). 11-hour driving limit (maximum driving within the 14-hour window).
60/70-hour rule (7/8 consecutive days). 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Split sleeper
berth rule (8/2 split). Exceptions – short-haul (100 air-mile radius, 12-hour shift). Electronic
Logging Device (ELD) mandate for most carriers.
• Vehicle Markings & Identification: Name of carrier, TxDOT number (visible from 50 feet), US
DOT number (if interstate). GVWR or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) placard.
• Safety & Compliance: TxDOT Motor Carrier Safety Division (MCSD) inspections, out-of-service
criteria, maintenance records, driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR), annual inspection. Drug
and alcohol testing (pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion,
return-to-duty). FMCSA registration (interstate).
• Size & Weight Limits: Legal maximum 80,000 lbs gross weight on interstate; length 65′ for
tractor-semitrailer; width 8’6″; height 14′. Permits for oversize/overweight – TxDMV (super
heavy). Overweight tolerance 5% on state highways (not interstate).
• Hazardous Materials: Shippers and carriers – training, placarding, shipping papers (hazmat),
emergency response information; registration with PHMSA.
• Cargo Securement: 18 rules for different cargo types (logs, metal coils, crushed vehicles, etc.).
Aggregate working load limit (WLL) of tiedowns must be at least 50% of cargo weight.
, Page 2 of 109
• Brokerage & Freight Forwarder Authority: Household goods brokers require bond/trust
(minimum 75,000),propertybrokers(suretybond75,000),propertybrokers(suretybond75,000).
Registration with TxDMV (DEC).
• Enforcement & Penalties: TxDOT civil penalties, out-of-service orders, suspension/revocation of
registration, criminal penalties.
QUESTION 1: A Texas-based trucking company operates only within the state of Texas with a single
vehicle of 28,000 lbs GVWR. How many axles must the vehicle have to require motor carrier
registration?
A) 1 axle
B) 2 axles
C) 3 axles
D) 4 axles
Answer: C – A vehicle with three or more axles is required to register as a motor carrier regardless of
weight .
QUESTION 2: An intrastate motor carrier operating a vehicle with a GVWR of 27,000 lbs and only 2 axles.
Does the carrier need a TxDMV registration?
A) Yes, because weight exceeds 26,000 lbs
B) No, because weight is under 26,001 lbs
C) Yes, because any CMV must register
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D) No, because the threshold is 3 axles for weight under 26,001 lbs – 27,000 lbs exceeds 26,000.
Correction: 27,000 > 26,000, so registration required regardless of axles? Texas law: any vehicle with
GVWR >26,000 lbs OR 3+ axles OR transporting hazmat placard OR passenger for compensation must
register. So 27,000 lbs exceeds 26,000, so registration is required.
Answer: A – Weight over 26,000 GVWR requires registration.
QUESTION 3: A driver operating intrastate in Texas with a 30,000 lb truck wants to know the minimum
age for a CDL. What is the correct age?
A) 18 years
B) 19 years
C) 21 years
D) No minimum age for intrastate.
Answer: A – The minimum age for intrastate CDL (Texas only) is 18 years. Interstate CDL requires age 21.
QUESTION 4: A Texas motor carrier transports only non-hazardous property intrastate with a 26,001 lb
vehicle. What is the minimum liability insurance Bodily Injury and Property Damage (BI/PD) required?
A) 100,000B)100,000B)300,000
C) 750,000D)750,000D)1,000,000
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Answer:
B – 300,000minimumfornon-hazardouspropertyintrastate.Hazardoussubstancesrequire300,000minimu
mfornon-hazardouspropertyintrastate.Hazardoussubstancesrequire1,000,000.
QUESTION 5: Regarding the Texas 30-minute break rule for intrastate drivers, when must the break be
taken?
A) After 8 hours of driving
B) After 8 hours of on-duty time (including driving)
C) After 10 hours of driving
D) No break required for intrastate drivers
Answer: A – Within the first 8 hours of driving, a 30-minute break is required (42 CFR 393.3 adapted for
Texas intrastate).
QUESTION 6: A motor carrier wants to file proof of liability insurance with TxDMV. Which form is used?
A) Form E (Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Insurance)
B) Form H (Cargo Insurance)
C) Form MCS-90
