CDL General Knowledge Full Mock Exam
Technical review pending. No reviewer on our panel covers this topic yet. Every fact links its official source. Our Reviewers
Sit a complete timed exam under test-centre conditions. You see no answers until you submit, then you get a score report by section and a full review with explanations.
Exam Format · Practice Format
Before You Begin
Your state gives the real CDL knowledge tests using FMCSA's question pool, and sets how many questions there are. The 80% pass mark is federal (49 CFR 383.135). The 50-question, 60-minute format here is for practice only. Source: 49 CFR 383.135 (eCFR).
- The timer starts when you begin and the exam submits itself when time runs out.
- Move freely with Previous, Next or the numbered navigator, and flag any question to come back to.
- No feedback is shown until you submit. Unanswered questions count as wrong.
- Nothing is sent anywhere; the exam runs entirely in your browser.
Exam Format · Practice Format
Before You Begin
Your state gives the real CDL knowledge tests using FMCSA's question pool, and sets how many questions there are. The 80% pass mark is federal (49 CFR 383.135). The 50-question, 60-minute format here is for practice only. Source: 49 CFR 383.135 (eCFR).
- The timer starts when you begin and the exam submits itself when time runs out.
- Move freely with Previous, Next or the numbered navigator, and flag any question to come back to.
- No feedback is shown until you submit. Unanswered questions count as wrong.
- Nothing is sent anywhere; the exam runs entirely in your browser.
CDL General Knowledge Practice Test
These are original questions written by the Trade Exam Hub editorial team from the cited official sources. They are not real exam questions, and no exam body endorses this site. Full Mock Exams.
What the CDL General Knowledge Mock Exam Covers
Each attempt draws 50 questions at random from a pool of 161. The pool covers these topics. Your score report breaks your result down the same way, so you can see which areas need more study.
| Topic | Questions in Pool | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Classes, Endorsements and Restrictions | 29 | 18% |
| Testing, CLP and Training | 76 | 47% |
| Disqualifications and Notifications | 26 | 16% |
| Driver Qualification and Hours of Service | 14 | 9% |
| Driving Rules (Part 392) | 16 | 10% |
About 73% of the pool is recall and core-concept questions. The other 27% are harder applied questions, such as scenarios, calculations or details that are easy to confuse.
Editor's Note on the CDL General Knowledge Exam
Two partial fails catch people out. Fail the air brakes section and your CDL can still be issued, but with an L restriction (no air brakes). Fail the combination vehicles section and no Class A CLP or CDL can be issued at all. Take both seriously even if the general test feels easy. Source: 49 CFR 383.95 Restrictions.
CDL General Knowledge Mock Exam Pacing Plan
You have 60 minutes for 50 questions, which is about 1.2 minutes per question. Use these checkpoints to stay on pace:
| Checkpoint | Be at or past question | Elapsed time |
|---|---|---|
| First quarter | 13 | 15 min |
| Halfway | 25 | 30 min |
| Three quarters | 38 | 45 min |
If you are behind, flag any question that is taking too long and move on. Leave a few minutes at the end to go back to your flagged questions. Unanswered questions count as wrong, so give an answer to every question before time runs out.
What Score Do You Need?
To pass, you need 40 of 50 correct (80%), so you can miss up to 10 questions. This pass mark comes from the official source cited above. We suggest scoring 10 points above the pass mark on two attempts in a row before you book the real exam, because the pool here is smaller than the official bank.
Sample CDL General Knowledge Mock Exam Questions
Here are three questions from the pool, with their answers and sources.
Q1. A Group A (combination) CMV has a GCWR of at least:
- 26,001 pounds, with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds GVWR (correct)
- 10,001 pounds
- 26,000 pounds with any trailer
- 33,000 pounds
Source text: “Combination vehicle (Group A)—Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds)…” Reference: 49 CFR 383.91(a)(1).
Q2. What decides whether a skills-test vehicle is representative of a CDL group?
- Its GVWR or GCWR, not its actual weight (correct)
- Its actual scale weight that day
- Its number of axles
- Its engine size
Source text: “the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating must be used, not the vehicle's actual gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight…” Reference: 49 CFR 383.133(c)(3).
Q3. A first DUI conviction while driving a CMV leads to a CMV disqualification of:
- 1 year (correct)
- 60 days
- 3 years
- Life
Source text: “(1) Being under the influence of alcohol as prescribed by State law * * * 1 year…” Reference: 49 CFR 383.51 Table 1.
How to Use Your Score Report
- Sort by topic. Start your next study session with any topic where you scored below 80%.
- Read the source. Each answer cites a section or quotes its source text. Read the surrounding passage, not just the answer line.
- Drill, then retest. Use the adaptive practice test on your weak topics. It gives you more of the kinds of questions you miss. Then take this mock again for a new random set.
- Return to the guide. The CDL General Knowledge guide covers exam fees, scheduling, retake rules and what to bring on test day.
Sources Behind These Questions
Questions in this pool cite these references: 49 CFR 383.91(a)(1); 49 CFR 383.91(a)(2); 49 CFR 383.91(a)(3); 49 CFR 383.91(c)(1); 49 CFR 383.91(c)(2); 49 CFR 383.133(c)(3). Each question shows its exact reference when you review your answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the CDL General Knowledge mock exam?
This mock has 50 questions, drawn at random from a pool of 161, so each attempt is different. The count is a practice format, because the official length is not published or our bank covers only part of the exam.
How long do I get, and how fast should I work?
The timer is set to 60 minutes, or about 1.2 minutes per question. Aim to be past question 25 by minute 30.
What score do I need to pass the CDL General Knowledge mock?
80%, which is 40 of 50 correct. That pass mark comes from the cited official source.
Are these real CDL General Knowledge exam questions?
No. They are original questions written from the official sources cited in each answer, and no exam body endorses them. Use them to find weak topics, then confirm the details in the source.
Is the CDL General Knowledge mock exam free?
Yes. There is no login and no sign-up, and the exam runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to us.