CDL General Knowledge Questions
with Correct Answers
To prevent a load from shifting, there should be at least one tie down for every _______
feet of cargo. - ANSWERS10
You are driving a 40-foot vehicle at 35 mph. The road is dry, and visibility is good . What
is the least amount of space you should keep in front of your vehicle to be safe? -
ANSWERS4 seconds
Which of these statements about drinking alcohol is true? - ANSWERSA few beers
have the same effect on driving as a few shots of whiskey or a few glasses of wine.
While driving, ice builds up on your wipers and they no longer clean the windshield. You
should: - ANSWERSStop safely and fix the problem.
Which of these statements about driving in areas with strong winds is true? -
ANSWERSWinds are a big problem when a truck comes out of tunnels.
What is counter-steering? - ANSWERSTurning the wheel back in the other direction
after steering to avoid a traffic emergency.
To help you stay alert while driving, you should: - ANSWERSTake short breaks before
you get drowsy.
You do not have a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on your Commercial Driver's
License. You can drive a vehicle hauling hazardous materials when: - ANSWERSThe
vehicle does not require placards.
Cargo inspections: - ANSWERSShould be performed as part of your pre-trip inspection,
again within the first 50 miles of your trip, then again after you have driven 3 hours or
150 miles, and after every break you take during driving.
Retarders: - ANSWERSCan cause the drive wheels to skid when they have poor
traction.
You are driving a new truck with a manual transmission. What gear will you probably
have to use to take a long, steep downhill grade? - ANSWERSA lower gear than you
would use to climb the hill.
Which of these statements about speed management is true? - ANSWERSYou should
choose a speed that lets you stop within the distance that you can see ahead.
,Which of these best describes how you should use the brake pedal on a steep downhill
grade? - ANSWERSSnubbing
Which of these statements about double clutching and shifting is true? - ANSWERSYou
can use the tachometer to tell you when to shift.
Which if these statements about using turn signals is true? - ANSWERSWhen turning,
you should signal early.
Which of these statements about cargo loading is true? - ANSWERSState laws dictate
legal weight limits.
If your vehicle catches fire while you are driving, you should: - ANSWERSPark in an
open area.
You are checking your tires for a pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?
- ANSWERSTires of mismatched sizes should not be used on the same vehicle.
You can see a marking on a vehicle ahead of you. The marking is a red triangle with an
orange center. What does the marking mean? - ANSWERSIt may be a slow-moving
vehicle.
An en route inspection should include checking for: - ANSWERS(Both are correct) Tire
overheating and brake overheating; Cargo secured properly.
You are driving in the right lane of a four-lane, undivided road. You come over a hill and
find a car stopped ahead in your lane. You do not have room to stop. The hill blocks
your view to the rear. The shoulder is clear. Which of these is most likely the nest action
to take? - ANSWERSSteer to the right.
Where or when should you test the stopping action of your service brakes? -
ANSWERSWhen the vehicle is moving about 5 mph.
Which of these is not part of the pre-trip inspection of the engine compartment? -
ANSWERSValve clearance
Cargo covers: - ANSWERS(both are correct) Protect people from spilled cargo; May be
a safety requirement in some states.
High beams should be: - ANSWERSUsed when it is safe to do so.
Which of these is the most important thing to remember about emergency braking? -
ANSWERSIf the wheels are skidding, you cannot control the vehicle.
, You must park on the side of a level, straight, two-lane road. Where should you place
the reflective triangles? - ANSWERSOne within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one
about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 100 feet to the front of the vehicle.
The road you are driving on becomes very slippery due to glare ice. Which of these is a
good thing to do in such a situation? - ANSWERSStop driving as soon as you can
safely do so.
Which of these statements about tires and hot-weather driving is true? - ANSWERSYou
should inspect your tires every two hours or very 100 miles when driving in very hot
weather.
Your truck is in a traffic emergency and may collide with another vehicle if you do not
take action. Which of these is a good rule to remember at such a time? -
ANSWERSYou can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can
stop.
What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes? - ANSWERSRelease the
accelerator.
You are starting your vehicle from astop. As you apply power to the driver wheels, they
start to spin. You should: - ANSWERSTake your foot off the accelerator.
Stab braking: - ANSWERSInvolves releasing the brakes only after the wheels lock up.
It takes the body about _____ hours to get rid of the alcohol in four drinks. -
ANSWERS4
Cargo that can shift should have at least _____ tie-downs. - ANSWERS2
If a straight vehicle (no trailer or articulation) goes into a front-wheel skid, it will: -
ANSWERSGo straight ahead even if the steering wheel is turned.
Which of these statements about accelerating is true? - ANSWERSRough acceleration
can cause mechanical damage.
Which of these is a good thing to remember when crossing or entering traffic with a
heavy vehicle? - ANSWERSHeavy vehicles need larger gaps in traffic than cars.
Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true? - ANSWERSSleep is the
only thing that can overcome fatigue.
You are driving on a two-lane road. An oncoming driver drifts into your lane and is
headed straight for you. Which of these is most often the best action to take? -
ANSWERSSteer to the right.
with Correct Answers
To prevent a load from shifting, there should be at least one tie down for every _______
feet of cargo. - ANSWERS10
You are driving a 40-foot vehicle at 35 mph. The road is dry, and visibility is good . What
is the least amount of space you should keep in front of your vehicle to be safe? -
ANSWERS4 seconds
Which of these statements about drinking alcohol is true? - ANSWERSA few beers
have the same effect on driving as a few shots of whiskey or a few glasses of wine.
While driving, ice builds up on your wipers and they no longer clean the windshield. You
should: - ANSWERSStop safely and fix the problem.
Which of these statements about driving in areas with strong winds is true? -
ANSWERSWinds are a big problem when a truck comes out of tunnels.
What is counter-steering? - ANSWERSTurning the wheel back in the other direction
after steering to avoid a traffic emergency.
To help you stay alert while driving, you should: - ANSWERSTake short breaks before
you get drowsy.
You do not have a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on your Commercial Driver's
License. You can drive a vehicle hauling hazardous materials when: - ANSWERSThe
vehicle does not require placards.
Cargo inspections: - ANSWERSShould be performed as part of your pre-trip inspection,
again within the first 50 miles of your trip, then again after you have driven 3 hours or
150 miles, and after every break you take during driving.
Retarders: - ANSWERSCan cause the drive wheels to skid when they have poor
traction.
You are driving a new truck with a manual transmission. What gear will you probably
have to use to take a long, steep downhill grade? - ANSWERSA lower gear than you
would use to climb the hill.
Which of these statements about speed management is true? - ANSWERSYou should
choose a speed that lets you stop within the distance that you can see ahead.
,Which of these best describes how you should use the brake pedal on a steep downhill
grade? - ANSWERSSnubbing
Which of these statements about double clutching and shifting is true? - ANSWERSYou
can use the tachometer to tell you when to shift.
Which if these statements about using turn signals is true? - ANSWERSWhen turning,
you should signal early.
Which of these statements about cargo loading is true? - ANSWERSState laws dictate
legal weight limits.
If your vehicle catches fire while you are driving, you should: - ANSWERSPark in an
open area.
You are checking your tires for a pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?
- ANSWERSTires of mismatched sizes should not be used on the same vehicle.
You can see a marking on a vehicle ahead of you. The marking is a red triangle with an
orange center. What does the marking mean? - ANSWERSIt may be a slow-moving
vehicle.
An en route inspection should include checking for: - ANSWERS(Both are correct) Tire
overheating and brake overheating; Cargo secured properly.
You are driving in the right lane of a four-lane, undivided road. You come over a hill and
find a car stopped ahead in your lane. You do not have room to stop. The hill blocks
your view to the rear. The shoulder is clear. Which of these is most likely the nest action
to take? - ANSWERSSteer to the right.
Where or when should you test the stopping action of your service brakes? -
ANSWERSWhen the vehicle is moving about 5 mph.
Which of these is not part of the pre-trip inspection of the engine compartment? -
ANSWERSValve clearance
Cargo covers: - ANSWERS(both are correct) Protect people from spilled cargo; May be
a safety requirement in some states.
High beams should be: - ANSWERSUsed when it is safe to do so.
Which of these is the most important thing to remember about emergency braking? -
ANSWERSIf the wheels are skidding, you cannot control the vehicle.
, You must park on the side of a level, straight, two-lane road. Where should you place
the reflective triangles? - ANSWERSOne within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one
about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 100 feet to the front of the vehicle.
The road you are driving on becomes very slippery due to glare ice. Which of these is a
good thing to do in such a situation? - ANSWERSStop driving as soon as you can
safely do so.
Which of these statements about tires and hot-weather driving is true? - ANSWERSYou
should inspect your tires every two hours or very 100 miles when driving in very hot
weather.
Your truck is in a traffic emergency and may collide with another vehicle if you do not
take action. Which of these is a good rule to remember at such a time? -
ANSWERSYou can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can
stop.
What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes? - ANSWERSRelease the
accelerator.
You are starting your vehicle from astop. As you apply power to the driver wheels, they
start to spin. You should: - ANSWERSTake your foot off the accelerator.
Stab braking: - ANSWERSInvolves releasing the brakes only after the wheels lock up.
It takes the body about _____ hours to get rid of the alcohol in four drinks. -
ANSWERS4
Cargo that can shift should have at least _____ tie-downs. - ANSWERS2
If a straight vehicle (no trailer or articulation) goes into a front-wheel skid, it will: -
ANSWERSGo straight ahead even if the steering wheel is turned.
Which of these statements about accelerating is true? - ANSWERSRough acceleration
can cause mechanical damage.
Which of these is a good thing to remember when crossing or entering traffic with a
heavy vehicle? - ANSWERSHeavy vehicles need larger gaps in traffic than cars.
Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true? - ANSWERSSleep is the
only thing that can overcome fatigue.
You are driving on a two-lane road. An oncoming driver drifts into your lane and is
headed straight for you. Which of these is most often the best action to take? -
ANSWERSSteer to the right.
