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

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

2 / 40

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

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

windshield, wipers, mirrors, hood latches

tires, steering parts, suspension parts, headlights

oil, transmission, air compressor, radiator

3 / 40

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

steering knuckle

hydraulic fluid reservoir

main spring

tie rod

4 / 40

You downshift automatic transmissions ______.

at the bottom of a hill

before going down a hill

none of these answers are correct

half way down a hill

5 / 40

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

check for yellow abs malfunction lamps on the instrument panel

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

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

all of these answers are correct

6 / 40

How often should you check your cargo?

within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip

all of these answers are correct

every 150 miles or every three hours

after every break you take during driving

7 / 40

Which of the following statements about downshifting is NOT true?

downshift before climbing a hill

downshift before entering a curve

downshift when you get to the bottom of a hill

downshift before starting down a hill

8 / 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

9 / 40

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

truck stops and police

bridges and tunnels

traffic and road conditions

fire and flooding

10 / 40

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

stay in your vehicle and do nothing until help arrives

have a drink to calm your nerves

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

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

11 / 40

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

novelty lights

high beams

low beams

emergency flashers

12 / 40

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

tire problems

seating defects

bad brake drums or shoes

steering system defects

13 / 40

Which of the following is a key steering component?

gear box

bearing plate

leaf spring

torque rod

14 / 40

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

none of these answers are correct

first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flares

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

warning devices for parked vehicles, first aid kit, flares

15 / 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

16 / 40

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

4/32

1/32

3/32

2/32

17 / 40

In safe driving, what does communicating mean?

all of these answers are correct

using hand signals

using a cb radio to let others know your intentions

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

18 / 40

Why should you cover cargo?

to protect individuals from any spilled cargo

to protect your cargo from bad weather

all of these answers are correct

because many states require it

19 / 40

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

tailgating

road rage

aggressive driving

defensive driving

20 / 40

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

3 seconds

4 seconds

5 seconds

6 seconds

21 / 40

Wet brakes can cause _____.

all of these answers are correct

lack of braking power

brakes to apply unevenly

pulling to one side or the other

22 / 40

If you are traveling at 55 mph in a 30-foot vehicle, you should leave how many seconds of following distance?

6 seconds

4 seconds

3 seconds

7 seconds

23 / 40

Do empty trucks have the best braking?

yes, but only if the truck is newer than 1998

yes, but only on wet surfaces

yes

24 / 40

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

notify authorities

protect the area

move the victims out of the way immediately

stop any bleeding and keep the victims warm

25 / 40

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

safety for yourself and other road users

to make sure nothing has been stolen from the vehicle

because other drivers do it

to make sure the vehicle will make your destination

26 / 40

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

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

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

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

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

27 / 40

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

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

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

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

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

28 / 40

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

five

seven

three

one

29 / 40

How should you know when to shift?

engine speed and the shift indicator light

road speed and wind speed

every 3 to 5 seconds or engine speed

engine speed and road speed

30 / 40

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

open the hood and let the flames die down

pull off the road and park in an open area

open the door and jump out of the vehicle

find a service station to pull into

31 / 40

When driving in very hot temperatures, you should:

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

check your tires every 2 hours or every 100 miles

insure that you have enough antifreeze in the system

all of these answers are correct

32 / 40

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

if a tire blows, you should put the brakes on hard to stop quickly

you can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can stop

stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency

antilock braking systems (ABS) only activate when wheels are about to lock

33 / 40

The method for testing hydraulic brakes for leaks is to _____.

all of these answers are correct

hold the brake down for 5 seconds and listen for leaks

pump the brake pedal three times and apply firm pressure for 5 seconds the pedal should not move

pump the brake pedal five times and apply firm pressure for 3 seconds the pedal should not move

34 / 40

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

notify authorities

gather the contact information of all the drivers involved

care for the injured

protect the area

35 / 40

The act of operating a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold, or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of others is known as.

aggressive driving

road rage

defensive driving

distracted driving

36 / 40

Which of the following statements about overhead space is true?

an empty van is lower than a loaded one

warning lights are always installed on low bridges and overpasses

the heights posted at bridges are usually accurate

the weight of the cargo changes a truck's height

37 / 40

Tires should should be replaced:

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

when there are broken valve stems

all of these answers are correct

when the tread separates

38 / 40

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

safety for yourself and other road users

to insure that you will achieve the best gas mileage

to save you money by preventing costly repairs

federal and state laws require you to inspect your vehicle

39 / 40

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

do a little exercise

get sleep

drink coffee

take a cold shower

40 / 40

It has just reached freezing. Which of the following areas is slippery?

a bridge

all of these answers are correct

a shaded area

wet-looking road

Your score is

The average score is 86%

4.6/5 - (10 votes)

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CDL General
Knowledge Test