GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CDL TEST – 05

This general knowledge CDL test will examine your knowledge of general trucking, safe transportation of cargo, safe driving, and the correct way to perform a pre-trip vehicle inspection. In order to receive your CDL, it is required that you pass the state’s official CDL General Knowledge exam.

General Knowledges Test 05

1 / 30

As soon as you start to feel sleepy, you should...?

Pull over and sleep

Drink a caffeinated beverage

D. Open all your windows

Turn up your radio or CD player

2 / 30

Which of these is the only thing which can sober a person who has been drinking up?

Time

A cold shower

A large meal

Black coffee

3 / 30

In which of these circumstances may the legal weight of cargo for your vehicle be unsafe to carry?

On high-speed highways

In bad weather conditions

On cross continental trips

If you are planning a lot of urban driving

4 / 30

You see in your mirrors that part of your trailer is on fire. The best place to stop and fight it is...?

The nearest service station

The nearest township

An open space

The middle of the road

5 / 30

Which of these driving errors is likely from a driver who has been drinking?

Weaving

All of them

Driving over the curb

Driving too fast

6 / 30

Your liver processes alcohol at a rate of how many standard drinks per hour?

7 / 30

When you are carrying hazardous materials, a placard warning of this must be placed on...?

The front and rear of your vehicle

The front and sides of your vehicle

The rear and sides of your vehicle

All four sides of your vehicle

8 / 30

Cargo loaded on a flatbed must have at least one tiedown for every...?

10 feet of cargo

15 feet of cargo

5 feet of cargo

20 feet of cargo

9 / 30

Which of these will lessen the effect of alcohol on your driving?

Drinking lots of water while drinking alcohol

Eating a large meal with your alcohol

Getting plenty of fresh air after drinking alcohol

None of them

10 / 30

The aggregate working load limit of any securement system used on cargo must exceed the weight of the article or articles it is securing by...?

30%

20%

40%

50%

11 / 30

A fire extinguisher jet should be aimed...?

Any of these depending on the type of fire

At the top of the fire

Half way up the fire

At the base of the fire

12 / 30

The heaviest elements of your cargo should go...?

In the middle of your load

It makes no difference

At the bottom of your load

At the top of your load

13 / 30

Which of these drinks contains the most alcohol?

They are all the same

A 12 ounce glass of 5% beer

A 5 ounce glass of 12% wine

A 1 1/2 ounce shot of 80 proof liquor

14 / 30

Who is responsible for making sure that your cargo is well-balanced and safe on the road?

The company which owns the cargo

You

The loaders of the vehicle

The owner of the vehicle

15 / 30

Which of these is most dangerous in terms of driving impairment?

Remedies prescribed by a medical doctor

Over-the-counter remedies from a pharmacist

They can all be equally dangerous

Illegal 'street' narcotics

16 / 30

Many heavy vehicle crashes occur between what hours?

12 PM - 6 PM

6 PM - midnight

6 AM - 12 PM

Midnight - 6 AM

17 / 30

Overloading a truck will have negative effects on...?

Speed control

Steering

Braking

All of these things

18 / 30

Why is it vital to have all hazardous materials properly labeled?

To allow you priority at tollbooths

So that other drivers can avoid you

So emergency services know what they're dealing with

To remind you what you're carrying

19 / 30

To avoid fires, you should check all components of your truck for excessive heat...?

Every 24 hours

Before you set off

At the end of every trip

Every time you stop

20 / 30

How many deaths in the USA per year are caused by traffic accidents involving persons who have been drinking alcohol?

20,000+

15,000+

25,000+

10,000+

21 / 30

The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is...?

The total weight of the single vehicle empty

The total weight of a single vehicle plus load

The total weight of a single vehicle fully fueled

The total weight of a single vehicle plus trailer

22 / 30

You are hauling a hazardous material cargo and you stop to eat. What should you do with the shipping papers relating to your cargo?

Hide them carefully in the vehicle

Leave them on your driver's seat

Take them with you

Tape them to the rear door of your vehicle

23 / 30

You can often drop asleep if you are tired for four seconds without realising. At 55 miles an hour, what distance will you cover whilst asleep?

80 yards

120 yards

100 yards

60 yards

24 / 30

Placards warning of hazardous materials must be diamond shaped and at least what size on each edge?

Eight and three-quarter inches

Five and three-quarter inches

Seven and three-quarter inches

Ten and three-quarter inches

25 / 30

When using a fire extinguisher, you should attempt to be...?

Downwind of the fire, as far away as possible

Upwind of the fire, as far away as possible

Downwind of the fire, as close as possible

Upwind of the fire, as close as possible

26 / 30

Which of these types of fire should not be tackled with just water?

Gasoline

Wood

Cloth

Paper

27 / 30

You can increase your energy levels for driving by...?

Using caffeine

Taking “energy boosting” pills

Exercising

Eating large meals

28 / 30

Which of these people will not have their driving affected by three drinks of alcohol?

A heavy person

A regular drinker

They would all be affected

Someone who urinates regularly while drinking

29 / 30

If somebody is bleeding heavily, you should try to staunch it using...?

Direct pressure

Bandages

Tourniquets

Indirect pressure

30 / 30

No matter how small a cargo load, it must have at least how many tiedowns securing it?

Three

Two

One

Four

Your score is

Steps to Get A CDL

Fill out an application: You can obtain a CDL application at any local DMV location. Fill out the application and bring it back to the DMV. When you turn in your application, be prepared to pay any fees. These fees will vary depending on the state in which you live.
Obtain your commercial learner’s permit. Try our general knowledge CDL test here.
Take the final exam: After 14 days behind the wheel, you will be then required to take the road test. When you arrive at your local DMV, you will be given this test, and if you pass, then you will be issued your CDL license.

There are three types of CDL classes that determine the type of vehicle you may drive and how much you may tow. A Class A CDL class allows you to operate a vehicle with a GCWR of 26,001 if the vehicle you tow weighs more than 10,000 and a Class B CDL allows you to operate a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds or operate any vehicle towing another vehicle that weighs less than 10,000 GVWR. With a Class C CDL, you can operate a Class C vehicle that transports hazardous materials.