New York CDL — General Knowledge Exam Simulation
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New York CDL — General Knowledge questions with answers
20 sample questions from the New York CDL — General Knowledge question bank — each with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the section of the official handbook it comes from.
1. Turning on your headlights during the day, in rain, in fog, or at dawn and dusk mainly helps by:
Correct answer: Making your vehicle easier for others to see
Using your lights in low-visibility conditions makes your vehicle easier for others to see. Seeing and being seen is a core part of communicating your presence on the road.
2. When your vehicle has ABS and you must brake hard in an emergency, you should:
Correct answer: Apply firm, steady pressure and keep steering
With ABS, brake normally — apply firm, steady pressure and hold it while you steer. The system keeps the wheels from locking. Do not pump the brakes on a vehicle equipped with ABS.
3. The rule of thumb for a safe following distance below 40 mph is to allow:
Correct answer: 1 second for every 10 feet of vehicle length
Allow at least 1 second of following distance for every 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 mph. A 60-foot rig needs at least 6 seconds. Above 40 mph, add 1 more second.
4. Convex ('spot' or 'fish-eye') mirrors on a commercial vehicle:
Correct answer: Show a wider view but make objects look smaller and farther away than they are
Convex mirrors show a wider area than flat mirrors, but they make objects look smaller and farther away than they really are. Keep this in mind so you do not misjudge how close a vehicle beside you actually is.
5. You are approaching a railroad crossing in heavy, stop-and-go traffic. You should:
Correct answer: Wait until there is room for your entire vehicle on the far side before crossing
Do not start onto the tracks until there is room on the other side for your whole vehicle. Moving onto the tracks because traffic is backed up ahead of you can leave you trapped in the path of a train.
Source: New York State CDL Manual — Railroad-Highway Crossings
6. Committing two 'serious traffic violations' in a CMV within three years can lead to:
Correct answer: A disqualification of at least 60 days
A second serious traffic violation within three years leads to at least a 60-day disqualification; a third within three years leads to at least 120 days. Serious violations include speeding 15+ mph over the limit, reckless driving, and texting while driving.
Source: New York CDL Manual — Disqualifications and Penalties
7. Wearing your seat belt while driving a commercial vehicle is:
Correct answer: Required, and important for keeping control in a crash
Seat belts are required and save lives. A belted driver is far more likely to stay in the seat and keep control during a crash or an emergency maneuver, so buckle up on every trip.
8. When you park a commercial vehicle and leave the cab, you should always:
Correct answer: Set the parking brake, and chock the wheels on a grade
Apply the parking brake whenever you leave the vehicle, and chock the wheels on a grade if needed, so the vehicle cannot roll. A heavy vehicle that rolls away can cause serious damage or injury.
Source: New York CDL Manual — Parking
9. Under 'implied consent' laws, by driving a commercial vehicle you have agreed to:
Correct answer: Submit to testing for alcohol or drugs when lawfully required
Implied consent means that by driving you have agreed to be tested for alcohol or drugs when lawfully requested. Refusing the test carries its own penalties, including disqualification of your CDL.
Source: New York CDL Manual — Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving
10. A sign reading 'LOW CLEARANCE 12 FT 6 IN' above an underpass is most important to a driver because:
Correct answer: It tells you the maximum height that can safely pass under the structure
A low-clearance sign warns of limited overhead room. If your loaded vehicle is taller than the posted clearance, you must find another route — striking a bridge or overpass can be catastrophic. Don't assume you'll fit.
11. When you plan to turn, you should signal:
Correct answer: Early and well before the turn, and keep signaling through it
Signal early and continuously — well before you turn — and keep signaling through the turn. Because trucks move and stop slowly, other drivers need extra warning of what you intend to do.
12. When you use a fire extinguisher on a vehicle fire, you should aim:
Correct answer: At the base or source of the fire
Aim at the base or source of the fire, not at the flames, and stay upwind. Get as close as is safe, and use the right type of extinguisher — water can spread an electrical or grease fire.
13. Because a loaded commercial vehicle accelerates slowly, when crossing or entering traffic you need:
Correct answer: A much larger gap than a car needs
A heavy vehicle needs a much larger gap than a car to cross or pull into traffic. It takes far longer to reach traffic speed, so be sure you have plenty of room before you commit.
14. During your pre-trip inspection you find a puddle of fresh fluid forming on the ground under the engine. You should:
Correct answer: Find the source of the leak and get it fixed before driving
A puddle under the vehicle is a sign of a leak of oil, coolant, fuel, or hydraulic fluid. Find the source and have it repaired before you drive, because a leak can lead to a breakdown, a fire, or a loss of brakes or steering.
15. Before you start across railroad tracks in a long commercial vehicle, you must be sure that:
Correct answer: You can clear the tracks completely without having to stop
Never start across the tracks unless you are certain you can get all the way across without stopping. Know the length of your vehicle and the space on the far side, because a long or low rig that stops on the tracks can be struck by a train.
Source: New York State CDL Manual — Railroad-Highway Crossings
16. An inspector places your vehicle 'out of service' for a serious defect. This means you:
Correct answer: May not drive it until the problem is corrected
An out-of-service order means the vehicle (or driver) may not be driven until the problem is fixed. Driving a vehicle that has been placed out of service is a serious violation with heavy penalties.
Source: New York CDL Manual — Disqualifications and Penalties
17. Even when you are driving below the posted speed limit, you can still be driving too fast when:
Correct answer: Conditions such as rain, snow, or fog make the posted speed unsafe
Basic speed laws require a speed that is safe for conditions. In rain, snow, fog, heavy traffic, or on a steep grade, the posted limit may be too fast, and you must slow to a safe speed.
18. Parking or stopping on the shoulder of a highway is:
Correct answer: Something to avoid except in an emergency
Avoid stopping on the shoulder except in a true emergency. Traffic passes fast and a parked truck is a hazard. If you must stop there, get as far off the road as possible, use your flashers, and set out warning triangles.
Source: New York CDL Manual — Parking
19. It is illegal to operate a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of:
Correct answer: 0.04% or higher
For commercial drivers, the legal limit is 0.04% BAC — half the 0.08% limit that applies to most car drivers. You can be convicted of driving under the influence at 0.04% or higher in a CMV.
Source: New York CDL Manual — Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving
20. You must drive much slower than the traffic around you because of a steep hill or a heavy load. You should:
Correct answer: Turn on your four-way emergency flashers to warn traffic behind you
When you must travel well below the speed of other traffic, warn the drivers behind you by turning on your emergency four-way flashers where legal, so they have more time to notice you and slow down.