CDL General
Knowledge Test

This is the Commercial Vehicle Driver's License Test covering General Knowledge. You will be presented with 40 questions and you must answer 34 questions correctly to pass. There is no time limit. You may not go back once you answer a question. Click the "Start Test" button below to begin. Good luck!

1 / 40

How often should you check your cargo?

every 150 miles or every three hours

after every break you take during driving

all of these answers are correct

within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip

2 / 40

A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is defined as:

a vehicle with a gross weight over 26,001 lbs

a vehicle transporting 16 or more passengers

a vehicle transporting hazardous materials

all of these answers are correct

3 / 40

Which of the following statements about downshifting is NOT true?

downshift before entering a curve

downshift when you get to the bottom of a hill

downshift before starting down a hill

downshift before climbing a hill

4 / 40

A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is defined as:

a vehicle with a gross weight over 26,001 lbs

a vehicle transporting 16 or more passengers

a vehicle transporting hazardous materials

all of these answers are correct

5 / 40

In the event of a tire failure you should...

disengage the clutch so you are in neutral gear

pump the brakes until you come to a stop

accelerate quickly until you find a place to pull over

stay off the brake and hold the steering wheel firmly

6 / 40

While driving at night, which lights should you use as often as you can?

emergency flashers

high beams

low beams

novelty lights

7 / 40

Before transporting a sealed load, you must check:

a picture of whatever is inside

all of these answers are correct

a small sample of whatever is inside

that you don't exceed gross weight and axle weight limits

8 / 40

What are the three types of emergency equipment that you must have with your vehicle?

none of these answers are correct

fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses, warning devices for parked vehicles

warning devices for parked vehicles, first aid kit, flares

first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flares

9 / 40

Which of the following should you do when confronted by an aggressive driver?

all of these answers are correct

if you can safely do it, call the police from a cell phone

avoid eye contact

ignore rude gestures and refuse to react negatively

10 / 40

Always try to back toward the driver's side because

it's more comfortable for turning your neck

your truck will naturally pull toward the driver's side

you can see better, watching the vehicle rear out the side window

all of these answers are correct

11 / 40

Which of the following is a key steering component?

leaf spring

gear box

bearing plate

torque rod

12 / 40

How should you know when to shift?

every 3 to 5 seconds or engine speed

engine speed and the shift indicator light

engine speed and road speed

road speed and wind speed

13 / 40

Which of the following should you NOT do if you experience a tire failure?

stay off the brake pedal

you need to be aware that a tire has failed

hold the steering wheel firmly

engage the brakes hard and immediately

14 / 40

You are driving a 40 foot truck at 35 MPH, how much space (in seconds) should you keep in front of you?

5 seconds

4 seconds

3 seconds

6 seconds

15 / 40

What is the best way to figure out how many seconds of following distance you have?

use the stopwatch on your phone to try to determine how long before you reach a mile marker after the car in front of you appeared to reach it

get 1/4 closer to the car in front of you, then back off again multiply how long this took you by four for following distance

text a friend and tell them to text you back in ten seconds and see how long that seemed to take compared to how far you traveled

wait until a vehicle passes a shadow or landmark, then count the seconds until you pass it

16 / 40

Which of the following are some suspension system defects?

cracked or broken spring hangers

broken leaves in leaf spring

all of these answers are correct

leaking shock absorbers

17 / 40

Tires should should be replaced:

when the tread separates

if the tread depth on your front tires is less than 4/32 deep

all of these answers are correct

when there are broken valve stems

18 / 40

Which of the following is NOT an appropriate reason to flash your braking lights?

to signal to tailgaters that they are too close to your vehicle

to alert drivers behind you that there are hazards ahead

to warn vehicles approaching you from behind that you are driving slowly

to warn drivers behind you when you need to slow down

19 / 40

What are some things you should check on the front of your vehicle when doing the walk-around inspection?

oil, transmission, air compressor, radiator

tires, steering parts, suspension parts, headlights

low beams, high beams, four way flashers, turn signals

windshield, wipers, mirrors, hood latches

20 / 40

What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection?

to insure that you will achieve the best gas mileage

safety for yourself and other road users

federal and state laws require you to inspect your vehicle

to save you money by preventing costly repairs

21 / 40

To transport cargo safely, which of these are you NOT responsible for?

making sure that cargo is properly secured

inspecting the cargo

ensuring the freshness of sealed cargo

recognizing possible overloads

22 / 40

If you do become sleepy while driving, you should _____.

stop to sleep

roll down the windows

drink caffeinated beverages

turn up the radio

23 / 40

The two main things to look ahead for while driving are _____.

fire and flooding

traffic and road conditions

bridges and tunnels

truck stops and police

24 / 40

The minimum tire tread depth for front tires is:

3/8-inch

4/32-inch

1/2-inch

1/32-inch

25 / 40

In safe driving, what does communicating mean?

letting others know you are there by using turn signals, four way flashers, and horn

using a cb radio to let others know your intentions

all of these answers are correct

using hand signals

26 / 40

You should check your tires every ____ or every ____ when driving in very hot weather.

1 hour, 50 miles

3 hours, 200 miles

2 hours, 100 miles

5 hours, 250 miles

27 / 40

Which of the following is NOT a part of the steering system?

steering knuckle

hydraulic fluid reservoir

tie rod

main spring

28 / 40

Which of the following is NOT an important reason to look far ahead when you are driving?

determine if there are any upcoming traffic lights that might require you to stop

determine if there are any hills coming up

look for vehicles coming into your lane

look for brake lights from slowing vehicles

29 / 40

When backing, what is the best method to use to avoid blind spots?

use a helper

back towards the driver's side, where you can see better

look at your path

use mirrors on both sides

30 / 40

Which of the following would NOT be part of a standard vehicle inspection?

bad brake drums or shoes

tire problems

steering system defects

seating defects

31 / 40

Wet brakes can cause _____.

lack of braking power

pulling to one side or the other

brakes to apply unevenly

all of these answers are correct

32 / 40

Which of the following statements about overhead space is true?

the weight of the cargo changes a truck's height

an empty van is lower than a loaded one

athe heights posted at bridges are usually accurate

warning lights are always installed on low bridges and overpasses

33 / 40

What is the first thing to do if your vehicle catches fire while driving?

open the door and jump out of the vehicle

pull off the road and park in an open area

find a service station to pull into

open the hood and let the flames die down

34 / 40

Vehicle handling can become unsafe if the weight is not properly balanced. Hard steering can be caused by:

under loaded front axles

too little weight on the driving axles

too much weight on the steering axles

high center of gravity

35 / 40

Tires should should be replaced:

all of these answers are correct

if the tread depth on your front tires is less than 4/32 deep

when the tread separates

when there are broken valve stems

36 / 40

Which of the following are possible causes of tire fires?

improperly loaded cargo and dual tires that touch

loose fuel connections or under-inflated tires

dual tires that touch and under-inflated tires

poor cargo ventilation or short circuits

37 / 40

In the event of an accident you should remember to do the following EXCEPT:

move the victims out of the way immediately

stop any bleeding and keep the victims warm

notify authorities

protect the area

38 / 40

If you double your speed, what will happen to your stopping distance?

it stays about the same

it increases by two times

it increases by four times

none of these answers are correct answers are correct

39 / 40

What is the correct number of red reflective triangles that you should carry?

seven

one

three

five

40 / 40

Which two special conditions indicate that you should downshift?

starting up a hill and finishing a curve

starting down a hill and entering a curve

starting up a hill and entering a curve

starting down a hill and finishing a curve

Your score is

The average score is 74%

4.6/5 - (10 votes)

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CDL General
Knowledge Test