North Dakota CDL — General Knowledge practice
North Dakota CDL — General Knowledge: Signals & Pavement Markings practice test
How to read traffic signals, lane lines, and pavement markings — including yellow and white lines, arrows, and flashing lights.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
14 questions · pass with 11 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
Study questions with answers
12 sample Signals & Pavement Markings questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
Show all 12 questions with answers
1. Your load sticks out five feet past the rear of your vehicle. In daylight, what does North Dakota require at the end of the load?
Correct answer: A red cloth 12 inches square
Any load projecting four feet or more behind the vehicle needs a square red cloth, 12 inches on a side, tied to its end during daylight hours.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — North Dakota Information, Load Requirements
2. At night you are catching up to another vehicle from behind. Within what distance should you dim your headlights?
Correct answer: 300 feet
Dim your lights once you are within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following so they do not shine in its mirrors. The 500-foot figure applies to oncoming vehicles.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — Section 2.11.5, Night Driving Procedures
3. At night, a load projecting four or more feet behind your vehicle must carry a red light on its end. From how far away must that light be visible in North Dakota?
Correct answer: 600 feet
At night or whenever visibility is poor, the end of the projecting load must show a red light that can be seen from 600 feet away.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — North Dakota Information, Load Requirements
4. Inside city limits, a North Dakota school bus may use its red flashing lights while children board or leave. At which stops does that permission not apply?
Correct answer: Stops at an intersection where a traffic signal or police officer controls traffic
Within a city the red flashing lights may be used for boarding and leaving, except where the bus has stopped at a signal-controlled or officer-controlled intersection. The operator must also confirm that no city ordinance prohibits the lights.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — North Dakota Information, Load Requirements for School Buses
5. When must the safety strobe light on a North Dakota school bus be operating?
Correct answer: Whenever the bus is on a highway carrying children to or from school or a school-sanctioned activity
The strobe must be on any time the bus is driven on a highway to take children to school, home from school, or to a school-sanctioned activity. Running it while the bus serves any other purpose is unlawful.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — North Dakota Information, Bus Equipment and Standards
6. A North Dakota school bus is equipped with amber caution lights. How far ahead of a stop to pick up or drop off school children may the operator turn them on?
Correct answer: At least 300 feet but no more than 500 feet before stopping
The operator may switch on the amber caution lights no closer than 300 feet and no farther than 500 feet ahead of the stop.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — North Dakota Information, Load Requirements for School Buses
7. Which of these is NOT part of the manual's advice for driving in fog?
Correct answer: Use high beams to see farther ahead
In fog the manual calls for low-beam headlights and fog lights, even in daytime. It also tells you to obey fog warning signs, switch on the four-way flashers, and listen for vehicles that are out of sight.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — Section 2.12, Driving in Fog
8. Under North Dakota's railroad crossing stop rules, about how far before the crossing should a bus operator with passengers aboard turn on the hazard lights?
Correct answer: About 200 feet
The operator of a passenger-carrying bus, or of any school bus, switches on the hazard lights roughly 200 feet ahead of the crossing, then stops between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — North Dakota Information, Railroad Crossing Stops
9. During the walk-around inspection, what color should the clearance and identification lights at the front of the vehicle be?
Correct answer: Amber
At the front, clearance and identification lights and reflectors should all be amber. Red belongs at the rear.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — Section 2.1.5, Seven-Step Inspection Method
10. You pull off the road and stop at night. Why does the manual say not to rely on your taillights to warn other drivers?
Correct answer: Drivers have run into parked vehicles from behind, thinking they were moving normally
A parked truck showing only taillights can look as if it is traveling down the road. Turning on the four-way emergency flashers tells approaching drivers it is stopped.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — Section 2.5.2, Communicating Your Presence
11. Which North Dakota school buses are required to have safety strobe lights?
Correct answer: Those manufactured after July 31, 1998
State standards require a safety strobe light on every school bus built after July 31, 1998.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — North Dakota Information, Bus Equipment and Standards
12. After you start the engine during a pre-trip inspection, how soon should the oil pressure come up to normal?
Correct answer: Within seconds
The oil pressure gauge should rise to normal within seconds of the engine starting. The three-minute figure in the same list is for air pressure building from 50 to 90 psi.
Source: North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual — Section 2.1.5, Seven-Step Inspection Method
More CDL — General Knowledge topics
Practice Signals & Pavement Markings in another state
Every North Dakota question is written from the official North Dakota driver handbook and checked against its current edition. DMV Test Free is a free, independent study resource — not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. About DMV Test Free