Passing commercial vehicles — Michigan Permit Test

Passing commercial vehicles on the Michigan permit test — 5 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.

The rules

Pass commercial vehicles on the left side and keep a consistent speed while passing.

The driver can see the left side best, and a steady speed gets you past quickly.

Pass commercial vehicles on the left side and maintain a consistent speed when passing.
What Every Driver Must Know, p.54

Keep both hands on the steering wheel near trucks, because commercial vehicles create strong air flow and draft at high speed.

The wind blast from a passing truck can push a car out of its lane.

Keep both hands on the steering wheel.
What Every Driver Must Know, p.54

Never cut off a commercial vehicle or force it to slow down or stop suddenly.

A heavy truck cannot stop quickly, and cutting in front of it can cause a crash.

Never cut off a commercial vehicle, force it to slow down or stop suddenly.
What Every Driver Must Know, p.54

Slow down if a truck or bus is passing you, especially in bad weather, and start your wipers before it passes, since spray from its tires can reduce visibility.

A wall of spray can blind you for a moment if your wipers are not already running.

Start your wipers before the vehicle passes.
What Every Driver Must Know, p.54

When following a commercial vehicle, watch its turn signals before trying to pass, and take special care with trucks pulling trailers, which may swing out before turning.

A truck that swings left before turning right can push a passing car off the road.

When following a commercial vehicle, observe its turn signals before attempting to pass it.
What Every Driver Must Know, p.54

On the test

On which side should you pass a commercial vehicle?

On the left side. The driver can see the left side best, and a steady speed gets you past quickly. What Every Driver Must Know, p.54: “Pass commercial vehicles on the left side and maintain a consistent speed when passing.”

How this works

Most practice tests hand you a bank of questions and leave the manual somewhere else. This one puts them together.

You read one law and the reason behind it, then answer a question on that law while it is still fresh. Get it right and you move on; get it wrong and you have found the gap while it is cheap to fix, not on the morning of the exam.

Learning one rule at a time, and proving it immediately, is what turns a manual you skimmed into something you actually know — and it makes studying feel like getting somewhere rather than like waiting to find out.

What it costs

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Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against What Every Driver Must Know, published by the Michigan Department of State, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-10-03.