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 statements is FALSE?

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

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

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

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

2 / 40

What is the reason that placards are used?

it is the law

communicate the risk

to prevent terrorism

so hazmat is not mixed with food

3 / 40

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

tire problems

bad brake drums or shoes

steering system defects

seating defects

4 / 40

Tires should should be replaced:

when the tread separates

when there are broken valve stems

all of these answers are correct

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

5 / 40

When accelerating:

"hammer down" when your wheels start to spin

speed up smoothly and gradually and avoid jerking

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

always use the parking brake to slow down

6 / 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 the length of a football field or 100 yards

about two car lengths

about 1/4 mile

7 / 40

When driving in very hot temperatures, you should:

check your tires every 2 hours or every 100 miles

all of these answers are correct

insure that you have enough antifreeze in the system

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

8 / 40

You downshift automatic transmissions ______.

half way down a hill

none of these answers are correct

at the bottom of a hill

before going down a hill

9 / 40

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

move the victims out of the way immediately

notify authorities

protect the area

stop any bleeding and keep the victims warm

10 / 40

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

downshift

pump the brake pedal

put the gears in neutral

look for an escape ramp or an escape route

11 / 40

Which of the following are possible causes of tire fires?

dual tires that touch and under-inflated tires

poor cargo ventilation or short circuits

improperly loaded cargo and dual tires that touch

loose fuel connections or under-inflated tires

12 / 40

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

take a cold shower

do a little exercise

drink coffee

get sleep

13 / 40

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

someone might try to pass you on your left

all of these answers are correct

you might damage your leaf springs

someone might try to pass you on your right

14 / 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 the vehicle will make your destination

because other drivers do it

to make sure nothing has been stolen from the vehicle

15 / 40

In safe driving, what does communicating mean?

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

using hand signals

all of these answers are correct

16 / 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

brake fade

engine braking

17 / 40

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

2/32

1/32

4/32

3/32

18 / 40

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

hydraulic fluid reservoir

tie rod

main spring

steering knuckle

19 / 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

during every driving brake on the trip

before the trip

within the first 50 miles of driving

20 / 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

federal and state laws require you to inspect your vehicle

to save you money by preventing costly repairs

21 / 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 steal the truck

it could damage the starting mechanism

someone could start and move the truck

22 / 40

What is a common cause of tire fires?

overinflated tires

all of these answers are correct

underinflated tires

cold tires

23 / 40

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

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

you will need it to inspect the trailer

so you don't lose it

you will need it to open the side box

24 / 40

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

too little weight on the driving axles

under loaded front axles

high center of gravity

too much weight on the steering axles

25 / 40

Suspension systems:

keep the brake drums from failing

keep the load secure

keep the axles in place

keep the steering wheel tight

26 / 40

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

on the other side of a divided highway

within ten feet of the front or rear corners

about 100 feet behind your vehicle

about 100 feet in front of your vehicle

27 / 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

28 / 40

What is the best way to see the sides and rear of your vehicle?

a helper

rear view cameras

all of these answers are correct

your mirrors

29 / 40

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

“turn up the music”

“go”

“stop”

“faster”

30 / 40

Do empty trucks have the best braking?

yes

yes, but only on wet surfaces

yes, but only if the truck is newer than 1998

31 / 40

Signs of distracted drivers include:

drivers having conversations with passengers

individuals driving at a consistent speed above the speed limit

vehicles exiting the roadway

individuals listening to music too loudly

32 / 40

A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is defined as:

all of these answers are correct

a vehicle with a gross weight over 26,001 lbs

a vehicle transporting hazardous materials

a vehicle transporting 16 or more passengers

33 / 40

Always try to back toward the driver's side because

all of these answers are correct

your truck will naturally pull toward the driver's side

it's more comfortable for turning your neck

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

34 / 40

Suspension systems:

keep the steering wheel tight

keep the load secure

keep the axles in place

keep the brake drums from failing

35 / 40

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

find a service station to pull into

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

36 / 40

Which of the following statements about downshifting is NOT true?

downshift when you get to the bottom of a hill

downshift before starting down a hill

downshift before climbing a hill

downshift before entering a curve

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

protect the area

notify authorities

38 / 40

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

seven

three

one

five

39 / 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 drivers behind you when you need to slow down

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

40 / 40

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

weather

time of day

total weight of the vehicle and cargo

length and steepness of grade

Your score is

The average score is 86%

4.6/5 - (10 votes)

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CDL General
Knowledge Test