El examen CDL usa vocabulario muy específico. No es el inglés que aprendes en una aplicación general — son términos técnicos del transporte que no aparecen en conversaciones cotidianas. La buena noticia: son predecibles. Las mismas palabras aparecen una y otra vez en los exámenes de todos los estados.
Esta guía cubre las palabras y frases de mayor frecuencia, organizadas por las secciones principales del examen CDL. Estúdialas, practícalas en voz alta, y llegarás al examen con confianza.
General Knowledge / Conocimiento General| English Term | Español | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-trip inspection | Inspección pre-viaje | Required check before every drive |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | Peso bruto máximo del vehículo | Max weight vehicle is rated to carry |
| Right-of-way | Derecho de paso | Legal priority at intersections |
| Blind spot | Punto ciego / Ángulo muerto | Area driver cannot see in mirrors |
| Hours of service (HOS) | Horas de servicio | Federal driving time rules |
| Logbook / ELD | Libro de registro / Registro electrónico | Record of driving hours |
| Bill of lading | Conocimiento de embarque / Guía de carga | Shipping document for cargo |
| Hazard perception | Percepción de riesgos | Ability to anticipate road dangers |
| Following distance | Distancia de seguimiento | Space between your truck and vehicle ahead |
| Stopping distance | Distancia de frenado | Total distance to stop from speed |
| English Term | Español | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressor | Compresor de aire | Builds air pressure in brake system |
| Air reservoir / Air tank | Depósito de aire / Tanque de aire | Stores compressed air for brakes |
| Governor | Regulador / Gobernador | Controls when compressor cuts in/out |
| Cut-in pressure / Cut-out pressure | Presión de corte inferior / superior | PSI thresholds for compressor operation |
| Slack adjuster | Ajustador de holgura | Adjusts brake shoe distance from drum |
| Brake fade | Pérdida de eficacia de frenos / Fade | Loss of braking due to heat |
| Low air warning | Advertencia de baja presión de aire | Alarm at 60 PSI or below |
| Spring brakes | Frenos de resorte / Frenos de emergencia | Emergency brakes that apply without air |
| Drain valve | Válvula de drenaje | Drains moisture from air tanks |
| Stab braking | Frenado de estocada / Frenado por impulsos | Emergency braking technique |
| English Term | Español | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth wheel | Quinta rueda / King pin plate | Coupling device connecting tractor to trailer |
| Kingpin | Pivote rey / Pin de acoplamiento | Pin on trailer that locks into fifth wheel |
| Glad hands | Manos de acoplamiento / Conectores de aire | Air hose connectors between tractor and trailer |
| Landing gear | Patas de apoyo / Soporte de remolque | |
| Jackknife | Navaja / Doblez peligroso | When trailer swings out past 45° angle |
| Trailer swing | Balanceo del remolque | Side movement of trailer in turns |
| Coupling / Uncoupling | Acoplamiento / Desacoplamiento | Connecting or disconnecting tractor-trailer |
| English Term | Español | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Placard | Etiqueta de peligro / Placa de identificación | Required sign on vehicle carrying HazMat |
| Shipping papers | Documentos de embarque | Documents listing hazardous materials |
| Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) | Guía de Respuesta a Emergencias | Reference for HazMat emergencies |
| UN/NA number | Número UN/NA | Four-digit ID number for hazardous materials |
| Containment rule | Regla de contención | Rule about keeping HazMat in packaging |
This is a sample of the most high-frequency CDL vocabulary. CDL English Pro's complete program covers 500+ terms organized by section, with audio pronunciation guides, bilingual flashcards, and practice questions formatted exactly like your state CDL exam.
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