General Knowledge Practice Test 1

Last updated on May 5, 2023

General Knowledge Practice Test 1 contains general knowledge and safe driving information that all commercial drivers should know to successfully pass the CDL “General Knowledge” written test.

CDL General Knowledge Practice Test 1 Methods:

Number of practice test questions with answers: 50

Number of correctly answered practice test questions needed to pass: 40

Passing score: 80%

General Knowledge Practice Test #2

This CDL General Knowledge Practice Test #1 with Answers is applicable for all 50 States.

General Knowledge Practice Test (#1) with Answers

 

Results

#1. Which of the following is a proper braking technique when driving a vehicle with antilock brakes (ABS)?

Use the brakes normally

Use the stab braking method

Use the trailer hand (“trolley”) brake

Use the engine (“Jake”) brake

#2. What is the primary way of controlling your speed on a steep downhill grade?

Using the trailer hand brake

Using the stab braking method

Using the parking brake

Using the braking effect of the engine

#3. What is the ONLY thing that will help a drinker sober up before driving?

Coffee

Time

Cold shower

Fresh air

#4. Why are hazardous materials placards used?

To warn everyone of hazardous materials

To warn the driver of hazardous materials

To warn authorities of hazardous materials

All of the answers are correct

#5. How often must you stop while on the road to check your cargo?

Within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip

After you have driven for 3 hours or 150 miles

After every break you take during driving

All of the answers are correct

#6. If you are driving a 30-foot vehicle at 55 mph, how many seconds of following distance should you allow?

3 seconds

4 seconds

5 seconds

6 seconds

#7. Common over-the-counter medicines for colds can make you drowsy.

True

False

#8. If you drive twice as fast, how much will your stopping distance increase by?

2 times

3 times

4 times

5 times

#9. What are two main things to look ahead for while driving?

Speed traps and weigh stations

Slow moving and merging or turning vehicles

Fuels stops and rest areas

Railroad-highway crossings and school zones

#10. What is the minimum number of tie-downs for any flatbed load?

At least 4 tie-downs for every 10 feet of cargo

At least 3 tie-downs for every 10 feet of cargo

At least 2 tie-downs for every 10 feet of cargo

At least 1 tie-down for every 10 feet of cargo

#11. Talking on a cell phone while driving is safer than texting while driving.

True

False

#12. What does “communicating” mean in safe driving?

Signaling your intentions to other drivers

Talking and texting while driving

Waving at other drivers

Talking to your dispatcher regularly

#13. All of the following types of loads require a special permit, EXCEPT:

Over-night loads

Over-length loads

Over-weight loads

Over-width loads

#14. What should you do if you become sleepy while driving?

Push though it

Turn up the radio

Stop to sleep

Drink more coffee

#15. If you are convicted for having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .04% or higher while driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), how long will you lose your CDL for a first offense?

6 Months

1 Year

3 Years

For Life

#16. To keep from rolling backwards when putting your vehicle in motion, all of the following methods can be safely used, EXCEPT:

Partly engage the clutch before taking your foot off the brake pedal

Quickly engage the clutch and stomp on the accelerator

Use the parking brake whenever necessary

Use the trailer hand brake (“trolley valve”)

#17. What should you do before you drive if you are drowsy?

Take medications to stay awake

Drink a lot of coffee

Get adequate sleep

Nothing, the drowsiness will wear off on its own

#18. When transporting loads with a high center of gravity, you are more likely to:

Have good traction

Have a roll over

Have a tire blow out

Have better braking

#19. All of the following are key suspension system parts, EXCEPT:

Leaf and main springs

Torque rods and arms

Tie rods and drag links

Vehicle frame

#20. How can you avoid the effects caused by wet brakes?

Slow down

Use a lower gear

Use light pressure on the brakes

All of the answers are correct

#21. When conducting an inspection of the tires during a trip, what is the minimum tread depth allowed on every major groove on the front tires?

At least 4/32-inch

At least 2/32-inch

At least 6/32-inch

At least 8/32-inch

#22. What should you do before entering a curve?

Brake aggressively into the curve

Accelerate into the curve

Slow to a safe speed before entering the curve

Drive at the posted speed limit entering a curve

#23. A driver makes emergency plans when they see a hazard, this is an example of:

Proactive driving

Offensive driving

Defensive driving

Paranoid driving

#24. What are the two ways to know when to shift?

Engine speed and road speed

Engine horsepower and cargo weight

Cargo weight and engine speed

Road speed and engine horsepower

#25. Why should you be in the proper gear before starting down a hill?

You may not be able to shift into a lower gear while going down the hill

The engine braking effect will be lost if you are unable to shift into any gear

Automatic transmissions can be damaged by forcing them into a lower gear

All of the answers are correct

#26. What’s your most important way to see the sides and rear of your vehicle?

Looking out the side windows regularly

Checking your mirrors regularly

Checking external and backup cameras regularly

Having a passenger to look out the side window regularly

#27. When using your fire extinguisher, you should get as close as possible to the fire?

True

False

#28. If a driver is following your vehicle too closely, what should you do?

Decrease your following distance

Increase your following distance

Slam on the brakes to get them to back off

Tap your brake lights to get their attention

#29. What are some things to do at an accident scene to prevent another accident?

Protect the area

Call 911

Care for the injured

All of the answers are correct

#30. How do you use in-vehicle communications equipment cautiously?

Use only hands-free communication devices

Use communication devices only in emergency situations

Use only hand-held communication devices

Use communication devices only while driving at posted speed limits

#31. What are the two special conditions where you should downshift?

Before going down a hill or entering a curve

Before going up a hill or exiting a curve

Before entering a curve or going up a hill

Before exiting a curve or going down a hill

#32. How long does it take for a typical tractor-trailer unit to clear a single-track railroad-highway crossing?

16 seconds

15 seconds

14 seconds

13 seconds

#33. If you have to stop on the road or shoulder of the road, how long do you have to put out your emergency warning devices?

5 minutes

10 minutes

15 minutes

20 minutes

#34. All of the following should be considered if you must drive in foggy conditions, EXCEPT:

Slow down

Use your low-beam headlights

Use your high-beam headlights

Avoid passing other vehicles

#35. All of the following are examples of steering system defects, EXCEPT:

Excessive steering wheel free play

Loose clamp(s) or clamp bolt(s) on tie rods or drag links

Cracked or damaged torque rod or arm

Any crack(s) in gear box or mounting brackets

#36. What is the proper braking technique when driving a vehicle with antilock brakes (ABS)?

Use only the braking control necessary to stop and maintain control

Use the brakes the same way you normally would without ABS

As you slow down, back off the brakes if it safe to do so

All of the answers are correct

#37. When you have to back a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), all of the following are safety rules that should be applied, EXCEPT:

Look at your path

Back slowly

Use a helper whenever possible

Use the driver’s side mirror only

#38. Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) is required for obtaining which of the following Classes of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time?

Class A and B

Class B and C

Class A and C

Class A, B and C

#39. Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about vehicle inspections:

A vehicle inspection is required for the safety of yourself and every other motorist you are sharing the road with

A vehicle inspection is not required because they can lead to repairs cost time and money

A vehicle defect found during an inspection can help avoid having a breakdown on the road

A vehicle defect found during an inspection can help prevent a crash caused by the defect

#40. What are some advantages of going right instead of left around an obstacle?

The oncoming driver will try to return to their lane as a response

The shoulder of the road may be clear of other vehicles

Moving right could help other drivers avoid a head-on collision

All of the answers are correct

#41. What kinds of fires is a B:C extinguisher good for?

Wood, paper, ordinary combustibles

Combustible metals

Electrical fires and burning liquids

All answers are correct

#42. Before driving in hot weather, you should pay special attention to all of the following during your vehicle inspection, EXCEPT:

Tires

Suspension

Engine oil

Engine coolant

#43. Which of the following endorsements may NOT be added to a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)?

Tank Vehicles (N)

Passenger (P)

Hazardous Materials (H)

School Bus (S)

#44. Which of the following is NOT a basic vehicle control skill required to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV)?

Accelerating

Steering

Stopping

Double clutching

#45. During a trip, all of the following are critical items that should be checked whenever you stop, EXCEPT:

Brake and electrical connections to trailer

Trailer coupling devices

Cargo securing devices

Trailer doors, hinges, and latches

#46. Which of the following is the correct way to hold the steering wheel?

With one hand firmly gripping the top of the wheel

With your hands firmly gripping opposite sides of the wheel

With one hand firmly gripping the bottom of the wheel

With both hands resting on the center of the wheel

#47. If you are convicted for having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .04% or higher while driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), how long will you lose your CDL for a second offense?

6 Months

1 Year

3 Years

For Life

#48. When driving on wet road surfaces, how much should you reduce your speed by?

1/4

1/3

1/2

2/3

#49. What is the most common type of skid?

Front-wheel skid

Trailer-wheel skid

Rear-wheel skid

Dolly-wheel skid

#50. Aggressive driving is defined as:

Operating a vehicle in a selfish manner

Operating a vehicle in a bold manner

Operating a vehicle without regard the safety of others

All of the answers are correct

Previous

Finish

General Knowledge Practice Test #2

PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWER SOURCES:

The pool of questions used to produce this practice test have been independently created by CDL Digest and come directly from Code of Federal Regulations (Title 49 – Transportation) and the information provided in AAMVA’s “2005 CDL Test System (July 2010 or newer Version) Model Commercial Driver Manual”.

These are the same sources that all 50 State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLA) are required to use by federal regulation (49 C.F.R. 383.133) to develop the pool of questions for all written tests needed for a person to obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP), commercial driver’s license (CDL), and/or any federally authorized endorsements.

Note: The above listed source information is static, meaning changes to the information used to create the pool of questions that your State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA) uses for the actual written test have been extremely rare over the decades. Due to the static nature of the source information, you may see practice test questions and answers in this practice test that are very similar, if not identical to the questions and answers on the actual written test. If this occurs, it is purely coincidental. CDL Digest is not affiliated with the AAMVA or any government agency.

PRACTICE TEST DIFFICULTY:

The source material used by CDL Digest to develop these practice test questions is very technical. Relying solely on the practice tests we have produced will not be enough to successfully pass the actual written tests. You will NEED to study in order to successfully pass these practice tests and the actual written tests.

Study Guide Links:

General Knowledge Study Guide

Class “A” Commercial Learner’s Permit Study Guide

Class “B” Commercial Learner’s Permit Study Guide

Complete CDL Study Guide

Related Video Links:

You Tube [Direct Link]

Rumble [Direct Link]