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

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

2 / 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

5-ounce glass of 12% wine

they all contain the same amount of alcohol

12-ounce glass of 5% beer

3 / 40

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

to make sure the vehicle will make your destination

safety for yourself and other road users

to make sure nothing has been stolen from the vehicle

because other drivers do it

4 / 40

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

about two car lengths

about two truck lengths

about 1/4 mile

about the length of a football field or 100 yards

5 / 40

Shifting into a lower gear and removing your foot off of the accelerator to slow your vehicle is known as?

double clutching

anti-lock braking

engine braking

brake fade

6 / 40

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

6 or 7

5 or 6

8 or 9

7 or 8

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?

road rage

tailgating

defensive driving

aggressive driving

8 / 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)

check for yellow abs malfunction lamps on the instrument panel

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

all of these answers are correct

9 / 40

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

look at your path

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

use mirrors on both sides

use a helper

10 / 40

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

about 1/4 mile

about two car lengths

about two truck lengths

about the length of a football field or 100 yards

11 / 40

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

rim, lug nuts, tire

tie rod, spindle, pitman arm

leaf spring, vehicle frame, torque rod

main spring, axle, spring shackle

12 / 40

Which of the following statements about overhead space is true?

an empty van is lower than a loaded one

the weight of the cargo changes a truck's height

warning lights are always installed on low bridges and overpasses

the heights posted at bridges are usually accurate

13 / 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

about 100 feet in front of your vehicle

within ten feet of the front or rear corners

14 / 40

Before transporting a sealed load, you must check:

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

a small sample of whatever is inside

all of these answers are correct

a picture of whatever is inside

15 / 40

What is NOT one of the four skill areas that operating a commercial vehicle requires?

first aid certification

safely backing

accelerating

steering

16 / 40

Which of the following is a key steering component?

leaf spring

torque rod

bearing plate

gear box

17 / 40

Why should you cover cargo?

to protect individuals from any spilled cargo

all of these answers are correct

because many states require it

to protect your cargo from bad weather

18 / 40

Which of the following statements about stopping distances is NOT true?

empty trucks require greater stopping distances because they have less traction

trucks traveling at higher speeds require greater stopping distances

brakes, tires, springs and shocks are designed to work best when the truck is empty

trucks traveling on ice or snow require greater stopping distances

19 / 40

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

you will need it to inspect the trailer

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

you will need it to open the side box

so you don't lose it

20 / 40

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

before the trip

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

during every driving brake on the trip

within the first 50 miles of driving

21 / 40

Tires should should be replaced:

when there are broken valve stems

all of these answers are correct

when the tread separates

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

22 / 40

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

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

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

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

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

23 / 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

24 / 40

Suspension systems:

keep the axles in place

keep the brake drums from failing

keep the load secure

keep the steering wheel tight

25 / 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

high center of gravity

too little weight on the driving axles

under loaded front axles

26 / 40

You are driving a 60 foot truck at 55 MPH, how much space (in seconds) should you keep in front of you?

5 seconds

8 seconds

7 seconds

6 seconds

27 / 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

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

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

28 / 40

What is the reason that placards are used?

to prevent terrorism

it is the law

so hazmat is not mixed with food

communicate the risk

29 / 40

Which of the following factors is NOT used to determine your safe speed when going down a long steep downgrade?

time of day

weather

length and steepness of grade

total weight of the vehicle and cargo

30 / 40

If you are drowsy, you should _____ before you drive.

drink coffee

take a cold shower

get sleep

do a little exercise

31 / 40

Which of the following is NOT a basic step to be taken at a crash scene?

notify authorities

protect the area

care for the injured

gather the contact information of all the drivers involved

32 / 40

The manual says you should look _____ ahead while driving.

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

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

33 / 40

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

emergency flashers

novelty lights

low beams

high beams

34 / 40

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

federal and state laws require you to inspect your vehicle

safety for yourself and other road users

to save you money by preventing costly repairs

to insure that you will achieve the best gas mileage

35 / 40

With the controlled braking method, you _____?

repeatedly tap the brakes as fast as you can

lightly apply braking pressure

apply the brakes all the way until the wheels lock up, release the brakes and apply them again when the wheels start to roll again

apply the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels

36 / 40

To maintain alertness during the trip, drivers should:

avoid medications that cause drowsiness

all of these answers are correct

schedule trips during the daytime hours

get 8-9 hours of sleep

37 / 40

What is a common cause of tire fires?

cold tires

all of these answers are correct

underinflated tires

overinflated tires

38 / 40

For any flatbed load you must have at least ____ tie downs.

four

two

one

six

39 / 40

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

one

seven

five

three

40 / 40

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

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

all of these answers are correct

avoid eye contact

ignore rude gestures and refuse to react negatively

Your score is

The average score is 67%

4.6/5 - (10 votes)

CDL General Knowledge Test

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CDL General
Knowledge Test