Georgia CDL — General Knowledge Exam Simulation
50 questions · 40 correct to pass. You won't see any feedback until you finish — just like the real test.
Georgia CDL — General Knowledge questions with answers
20 sample questions from the Georgia CDL — General Knowledge question bank — each with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the section of the official handbook it comes from.
1. When your vehicle has ABS and you must brake hard in an emergency, you should:
Correct answer: Apply firm, steady pressure and steer as needed
With ABS, brake normally by applying firm, steady pressure and steer as needed. Do not pump the pedal; the system rapidly prevents lockup for you.
2. 'Black ice' is especially dangerous because it:
Correct answer: Is a thin, clear layer that makes the road look only wet
Black ice is a thin, clear layer that makes the pavement look merely wet rather than frozen. Watch for it when it is below freezing and the road looks shiny; check your mirror arm or antenna for ice.
3. Federal rules require a commercial driver to be able to read and speak English well enough to:
Correct answer: Understand traffic signs, answer officials, and complete reports and records
A driver must understand highway signs and signals, talk with the public and respond to officials, and make entries on reports and records. This is a federal driver-qualification requirement.
4. A sign posting a low clearance height, such as 12 ft 6 in, tells a truck driver to:
Correct answer: Not enter if the vehicle is taller than the height shown
A low-clearance sign warns of the height of a bridge or overpass. If your loaded vehicle is taller than the posted height, do not enter; find another route to avoid striking the structure.
5. When driving a commercial vehicle through a highway work zone, you should:
Correct answer: Slow down, obey the flaggers and signs, and watch for workers
Slow down, obey the posted signs and any flaggers, and stay alert for workers, equipment, and sudden stops. Fines for violations in work zones are often doubled.
Source: Georgia CDL Manual — Work Zones
6. Using your brakes too much on a long downgrade can lead to:
Correct answer: Brake fade, where overheated brakes lose stopping power
Overusing the brakes makes them overheat, and overheated brakes fade, meaning they lose stopping power. Using engine braking and proper technique keeps the brakes cooler.
Source: Georgia CDL Manual — Brake Fade
7. When you plan to turn, you should signal:
Correct answer: Early and continuously, so others know your intentions well ahead
Signal early and keep the signal on through the turn, so other drivers have plenty of warning of what you intend to do. A large vehicle needs even more warning because it moves slowly.
8. Under Georgia's 'Move Over' law, when you approach a stopped emergency or utility vehicle displaying flashing lights, you must:
Correct answer: Move over a lane if you safely can, or slow down if you cannot
Move over one lane away from the stopped vehicle if you can do so safely. If you cannot move over, you must slow down below the speed limit and be ready to stop.
9. When you must stop and park your commercial vehicle on the shoulder of a highway, you should:
Correct answer: Turn on your four-way flashers and put out warning triangles
Turn on your four-way flashers to alert other drivers, and set out your warning triangles so approaching traffic has time to react to your stopped vehicle.
10. By driving a commercial vehicle, under 'implied consent' laws you have agreed to:
Correct answer: Submit to testing for alcohol or drugs when lawfully requested
Holding a CDL and driving means you have consented to testing for alcohol and drugs when lawfully requested. Refusing a test carries penalties similar to those for driving impaired.
11. If a tire suddenly blows out while you are driving, you should:
Correct answer: Hold the wheel firmly, stay off the brake, and let the vehicle slow
Braking right after a blowout can cause loss of control. Hold the steering wheel firmly, stay off the brake, and let the vehicle slow down. Brake gently only after it slows, then pull off the road.
12. Which emergency equipment must a commercial vehicle carry?
Correct answer: A rated fire extinguisher, spare fuses unless it has circuit breakers, and warning triangles
You must have a charged, properly rated fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses (unless the vehicle uses circuit breakers), and warning devices such as three reflective triangles. Check that they are present before every trip.
13. For Entry-Level Driver Training to count toward a first Class A CDL, it must:
Correct answer: Come from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry and cover theory and behind-the-wheel training
The training must be given by a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, and it must include both classroom (theory) instruction and behind-the-wheel training. Only a registered provider can certify that you finished.
14. A yellow warning sign showing a truck on a downhill grade with a percentage, such as 6%, tells you that:
Correct answer: A steep downgrade is ahead; slow down and select a low gear
The sign warns of a steep downgrade ahead. Slow down, check your brakes, and shift into a lower gear before you start down so the engine helps control your speed.
15. After one train clears a crossing that has more than one track, before you go you should:
Correct answer: Watch and listen for a second train on another track
Watch and listen for a second train that may be coming on another track, possibly hidden by the first. Only proceed when you are sure all tracks are clear and you can cross completely without stopping.
16. What is the safest way to handle a curve in a large vehicle?
Correct answer: Slow down before the curve, then accelerate gently through it
Slow to a safe speed before you enter the curve, then hold that speed or accelerate gently through it. Braking hard in a curve can cause a skid or rollover.
17. You should turn on your four-way emergency flashers when you:
Correct answer: Are stopped or moving much slower than surrounding traffic
Use your four-way flashers when you are stopped or moving much slower than the traffic around you, such as climbing a steep grade, so other drivers are warned in time.
18. Federal rules on mobile phones for commercial drivers allow only:
Correct answer: Hands-free use with a single touch to start or end a call
You may use a phone only hands-free, and only if you can reach it and start or end a call with a single touch while staying seated and belted. Holding the phone, dialing, or reaching for it is not allowed while driving.
19. Before you leave your parked commercial vehicle, you should:
Correct answer: Set the parking brake and make sure the vehicle cannot roll
Always set the parking brake and make sure the vehicle cannot roll, using wheel chocks on a grade if needed. A large vehicle that rolls away can cause serious damage or injury.
20. It is illegal to operate a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of:
Correct answer: 0.04 or higher
The BAC limit for driving a commercial vehicle is 0.04 or higher, half the 0.08 limit that applies to most other drivers. Even a lower amount can lead to being placed out of service.