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

To maintain alertness during the trip, drivers should:

avoid medications that cause drowsiness

get 8-9 hours of sleep

all of these answers are correct

schedule trips during the daytime hours

2 / 40

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

stop to sleep

turn up the radio

roll down the windows

drink caffeinated beverages

3 / 40

Wet brakes can cause _____.

lack of braking power

pulling to one side or the other

all of these answers are correct

brakes to apply unevenly

4 / 40

Where should you place your warning devices if you must stop on a one-way or divided highway?

100 feet, 200 feet, and 300 feet toward approaching traffic

20 feet, 50 feet, and 100 feet toward approaching traffic

10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic

50 feet, 100 feet, and 150 feet toward approaching traffic

5 / 40

Your vehicle is going down a long hill and your brakes begin to fail. What should you do?

pump the brake pedal

put the gears in neutral

downshift

look for an escape ramp or an escape route

6 / 40

The minimum tread depth for tires other than the front tires is ____.

1/32

4/32

3/32

2/32

7 / 40

Operating a motor vehicle with the intent of doing harm to others or physically assaulting a driver or their vehicle is known as?

aggressive driving

tailgating

road rage

defensive driving

8 / 40

At 55 miles-per-hour it takes about 6 seconds to stop a fully loaded truck and the braking distance is:

about two truck lengths

about two car lengths

about 1/4 mile

about the length of a football field or 100 yards

9 / 40

Which contains more alcohol: a 12-ounce glass of 5% beer, a 5-ounce glass of 12% wine or a 1 1/2-ounce shot of 80 proof liquor?

1 1/2-ounce shot of 80 proof liquor

12-ounce glass of 5% beer

5-ounce glass of 12% wine

they all contain the same amount of alcohol

10 / 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

stay off the brake and hold the steering wheel firmly

accelerate quickly until you find a place to pull over

11 / 40

What are some of the important parts in the steering system?

main spring, axle, spring shackle

leaf spring, vehicle frame, torque rod

tie rod, spindle, pitman arm

rim, lug nuts, tire

12 / 40

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

determine if there are any hills coming up

look for brake lights from slowing vehicles

look for vehicles coming into your lane

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

13 / 40

What action should you take before driving while drowsy?

drink a cup of coffee

open your vehicle windows for some fresh air

pull off the road and get some sleep

drink energy drinks

14 / 40

A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is defined as:

a vehicle with a gross weight over 26,001 lbs

all of these answers are correct

a vehicle transporting hazardous materials

a vehicle transporting 16 or more passengers

15 / 40

Which of the following are possible causes of tire fires?

improperly loaded cargo and dual tires that touch

poor cargo ventilation or short circuits

loose fuel connections or under-inflated tires

dual tires that touch and under-inflated tires

16 / 40

You should place the starter switch key into your pocket while you are performing the pre-trip inspection because:

all of these answers are correct

someone could start and move the truck

someone could steal the truck

it could damage the starting mechanism

17 / 40

When driving in very hot temperatures, you should:

check your tires every 2 hours or every 100 miles

insure that you have enough antifreeze in the system

let your tires cool down (remain stopped) if they are too hot to touch

all of these answers are correct

18 / 40

Which of the following is the most important reason for doing a pre-trip inspection?

safety for yourself and other road users

because other drivers do it

to make sure nothing has been stolen from the vehicle

to make sure the vehicle will make your destination

19 / 40

The most important hand signal you should agree on with a helper is:

“turn up the music”

“faster”

“go”

“stop”

20 / 40

How can you determine if your vehicle is equipped with ABS?

check if your vehicle was manufactured after march 1, 1998 (they are required to have the panel light)

all of these answers are correct

look for wheel speed sensor wires that are coming from the rear of your brakes

check for yellow abs malfunction lamps on the instrument panel

21 / 40

When accelerating:

"hammer down" when your wheels start to spin

do not engage the clutch before you take your foot off the brake

always use the parking brake to slow down

speed up smoothly and gradually and avoid jerking

22 / 40

When stopped on a divided highway where should your reflectors be placed?

15 feet, 75 feet, and 150 feet toward the approaching traffic

30 feet, 100 feet, and 150 feet toward the approaching traffic

10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet toward the approaching traffic

20 feet, 150 feet, and 300 feet toward the approaching traffic

23 / 40

The manual says you should look _____ ahead while driving.

5 to 8 seconds, at highway speeds, about an eighth of a mile

9 to 12 seconds, at highway speeds, about a quarter of a mile

15 to 20 seconds, at highway speeds, about a half of a mile

12 to 15 seconds, at highway speeds, about a quarter of a mile

24 / 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

25 / 40

Which of the following statements about downshifting is NOT true?

downshift before starting down a hill

downshift when you get to the bottom of a hill

downshift before climbing a hill

downshift before entering a curve

26 / 40

If you must stop on the shoulder of the road, you should place warning devices at all of the following places except...

about 100 feet behind your vehicle

on the other side of a divided highway

within ten feet of the front or rear corners

about 100 feet in front of your vehicle

27 / 40

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

safety for yourself and other road users

to save you money by preventing costly repairs

federal and state laws require you to inspect your vehicle

to insure that you will achieve the best gas mileage

28 / 40

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

bridges and tunnels

traffic and road conditions

fire and flooding

truck stops and police

29 / 40

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

too much weight on the steering axles

under loaded front axles

high center of gravity

too little weight on the driving axles

30 / 40

The average person requires how many hours of sleep per 24 hour period?

6 or 7

8 or 9

7 or 8

5 or 6

31 / 40

For what reason do you keep the starter switch key in your pocket during the pre-trip inspection?

so you don't lose it

you will need it to open the side box

you will need it to inspect the trailer

so no one moves the vehicle while you are inspecting underneath it

32 / 40

What can you do at an accident site to help avoid another accident?

leave your vehicle, do nothing, and get to higher ground

put out warning devices so people don't run into the accident site

have a drink to calm your nerves

stay in your vehicle and do nothing until help arrives

33 / 40

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

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

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

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

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

34 / 40

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

steering system defects

seating defects

tire problems

bad brake drums or shoes

35 / 40

The minimum tire tread depth for front tires is:

1/32-inch

3/8-inch

1/2-inch

4/32-inch

36 / 40

If you are transporting cargo, you should inspect the cargo and securing devices:

before the trip, within 50 miles after beginning the trip, and at least every 150 miles or 3 hours

within the first 50 miles of driving

during every driving brake on the trip

before the trip

37 / 40

What might happen if you swing wide to the left before you turn right?

someone might try to pass you on your right

all of these answers are correct

someone might try to pass you on your left

you might damage your leaf springs

38 / 40

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

tires, steering parts, suspension parts, headlights

oil, transmission, air compressor, radiator

windshield, wipers, mirrors, hood latches

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

39 / 40

Which of the following statements about overhead space is true?

warning lights are always installed on low bridges and overpasses

an empty van is lower than a loaded one

the heights posted at bridges are usually accurate

the weight of the cargo changes a truck's height

40 / 40

Signs of distracted drivers include:

individuals driving at a consistent speed above the speed limit

vehicles exiting the roadway

drivers having conversations with passengers

individuals listening to music too loudly

Your score is

The average score is 76%

4.6/5 - (10 votes)

CDL General Knowledge Test

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CDL General
Knowledge Test