Alaska General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
25 realistic General Knowledge practice questions for Alaska CDL applicants. Required for: All CDL applicants (Class A, B, and C). Official test: 50 questions, 40 correct to pass.
Question 1 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Aggressive drivers should be:
-
A.
Confronted
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B.
Reported and given plenty of room
-
C.
Followed closely
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D.
Passed quickly without signaling
Correct answer: B.
Stay clear of aggressive drivers and report dangerous behavior to authorities.
Question 2 of 25 · Inspection
The proper way to test the service brake on a vehicle is to:
-
A.
Pump the pedal three times
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B.
Push the brake pedal firmly while moving about 5 mph
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C.
Put the parking brake on
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D.
Listen for air leaks
Correct answer: B.
Move the vehicle forward at about 5 mph and apply the brake firmly. The vehicle should not pull to either side.
Question 3 of 25 · ABS
ABS:
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A.
Allows you to drive faster
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B.
Lets you brake hard without losing steering control
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C.
Means you don't have to use safe driving techniques
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D.
Eliminates the need to inspect brakes
Correct answer: B.
ABS preserves steering during emergency braking but does not shorten stopping distance.
Question 4 of 25 · Communication
Communicating your intentions means:
-
A.
Honking before each turn
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B.
Using turn signals, brake lights, and the horn appropriately
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C.
Flashing high beams at all drivers
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D.
Hand signals only at intersections
Correct answer: B.
Use signals, brake lights, and the horn properly to communicate. Hand signals supplement them.
Question 5 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
Stab braking is used:
-
A.
Only on slippery roads
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B.
When you must stop quickly with non-ABS brakes
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C.
Whenever you stop
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D.
Only on downgrades
Correct answer: B.
Stab braking is an emergency technique used with non-ABS brakes: apply brakes fully, release when wheels lock, then reapply.
Question 6 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Which of the following affects alcohol absorption into the body?
-
A.
Drinking on a full stomach
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B.
How fast you drink
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C.
Body weight
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Stomach contents, drinking speed, and body weight all influence absorption.
Question 7 of 25 · Night Driving
When meeting an oncoming vehicle at night, you should:
-
A.
Look directly at the headlights
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B.
Look toward the right side of the road
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C.
Switch to high beams
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D.
Increase speed
Correct answer: B.
Look toward the right side of the road to avoid being blinded by oncoming headlights.
Question 8 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
What should you do when your vehicle hydroplanes?
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A.
Brake hard immediately
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B.
Release the accelerator and push in the clutch
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C.
Steer sharply
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D.
Accelerate to regain control
Correct answer: B.
Release the accelerator and push in the clutch. Don't use the brakes — let the wheels regain traction.
Question 9 of 25 · Inspection
What is the minimum tread depth for non-steering axle tires?
-
A.
1/32 inch
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B.
2/32 inch
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C.
4/32 inch
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D.
6/32 inch
Correct answer: B.
Federal regulations require at least 2/32 inch on non-steering tires.
Question 10 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
What should you do if your brakes fail on a downgrade?
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A.
Pump the brakes vigorously
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B.
Look for an escape ramp or open area to slow down
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C.
Shift into neutral
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D.
Turn off the engine
Correct answer: B.
If brakes fail, look for an escape ramp or a route that will slow your vehicle without endangering others.
Question 11 of 25 · Speed Management
Engine retarders should be turned off when:
-
A.
Driving uphill
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B.
The road is wet, icy, or snow covered
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C.
Traffic is heavy
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D.
You are loaded
Correct answer: B.
Retarders can cause drive wheels to skid on slippery surfaces. Turn them off in poor traction conditions.
Question 12 of 25 · Hazard Awareness
How can you tell if your truck or bus has a hazardous materials shipment?
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A.
It is moving slowly
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B.
Diamond-shaped placards are displayed
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C.
A flashing yellow light is on
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D.
It is following another truck
Correct answer: B.
Diamond-shaped placards on the vehicle indicate the presence of hazardous materials.
Question 13 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
When a vehicle hydroplanes, the brakes:
-
A.
Will work better than usual
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B.
May cause the vehicle to spin
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C.
Should be applied hard
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D.
Cause the engine to stall
Correct answer: B.
Braking on a hydroplaning surface can lock wheels and cause spins. Ease off the throttle instead.
Question 14 of 25 · Inspection
When checking the engine compartment, your vehicle should be:
-
A.
Idling in neutral
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B.
On a slight incline
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C.
Parked on level ground with the parking brake set and wheels chocked
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D.
Running with the parking brake off
Correct answer: C.
Always inspect the engine compartment with the vehicle parked on level ground, parking brake set, and wheels chocked.
Question 15 of 25 · Night Driving
You should use low beam headlights:
-
A.
Whenever you can
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B.
Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and 500 feet behind another vehicle
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C.
Only in fog
-
D.
On lighted city streets only
Correct answer: B.
Use low beams within 500 feet of oncoming traffic and when following within 500 feet of another vehicle.
Question 16 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
When you have to drive into the sun and visibility is reduced, what should you do?
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A.
Use sunglasses and lower the visor
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B.
Use only your high beams
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C.
Maintain your normal speed
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D.
Speed up to get past the area
Correct answer: A.
Use sunglasses and the visor and slow down. Reduced visibility increases stopping distance.
Question 17 of 25 · Cargo
Which is correct about cargo and weight balance?
-
A.
Heavy cargo should always be at the rear
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B.
Cargo should be balanced and secured to prevent shifting
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C.
Side-to-side balance does not matter
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D.
Top-heavy loads improve stability
Correct answer: B.
Cargo must be evenly balanced and well secured. Top-heavy loads increase rollover risk.
Question 18 of 25 · Backing
The most important hand signal you and a helper should agree on is:
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A.
Speed up
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B.
Stop
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C.
Turn left
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D.
Back straight
Correct answer: B.
Always agree on a clear stop signal before backing. The helper must be able to stop you instantly.
Question 19 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Driving while you are tired is dangerous because:
-
A.
It can cause you to take longer to react
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B.
You will be more attentive
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C.
You can drive longer between stops
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D.
You cannot get tickets while tired
Correct answer: A.
Fatigue significantly slows reaction time and impairs judgment.
Question 20 of 25 · ABS
What does ABS do?
-
A.
Helps you stop faster
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B.
Prevents wheels from locking up during hard braking
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C.
Replaces engine brakes
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D.
Eliminates the need for service brakes
Correct answer: B.
Antilock braking systems prevent wheel lockup, helping you maintain steering control during hard braking.
Question 21 of 25 · Inspection
What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection?
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A.
To meet DOT requirements
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B.
Safety for yourself and others
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C.
To save fuel
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D.
To avoid roadside inspections
Correct answer: B.
Safety is the most important reason. A defective vehicle puts you, your cargo, and others at risk.
Question 22 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true?
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A.
Coffee will overcome fatigue
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B.
You can rely on caffeine to stay awake
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C.
There is no substitute for sleep
-
D.
Cold air will keep you alert all night
Correct answer: C.
There is no substitute for adequate rest. Caffeine and cold air provide only temporary alertness.
Question 23 of 25 · Driver Wellness
You should not eat or drink while driving because:
-
A.
It is illegal in all states
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B.
Spills can distract you
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C.
You should not put both hands on the wheel
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D.
It might damage the vehicle
Correct answer: B.
Eating and drinking divert attention and create spill hazards.
Question 24 of 25 · Inspection
When inspecting your vehicle, the engine should be:
-
A.
Running with the hood open
-
B.
Off, with the parking brake set, before starting checks under the hood
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C.
Idling in gear
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D.
Warm but turned off only on hills
Correct answer: B.
Set the parking brake, turn off the engine, and chock the wheels before checking under the hood.
Question 25 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Which of the following is NOT a sign of fatigued driving?
-
A.
Frequent yawning
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B.
Drifting from your lane
-
C.
Rapid blinking and clear focus
-
D.
Missing exits or traffic signs
Correct answer: C.
Rapid blinking with clear focus is not a fatigue sign. Yawning, drifting, and missing exits all are.
About the General Knowledge Test
The General Knowledge test covers safe vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, shifting gears, communicating, controlling speed, controlling distance, seeing hazards, distracted driving, aggressive drivers, communicating with other drivers, night driving, driving in fog, winter driving, hot weather driving, mountain driving, driving emergencies, anti-lock braking systems, skid recovery, accident procedures, fires, alcohol and other drugs, hazardous materials awareness, and staying alert and fit to drive. Every commercial driver in the United States must pass this test before any other CDL endorsement can be added.
The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the CDL General Knowledge on your Alaska CDL, you need to score at least 40 out of 50 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Driver Wellness: 6 questions
- Inspection: 5 questions
- Adverse Conditions: 3 questions
- ABS: 2 questions
- Emergency Maneuvers: 2 questions
- Night Driving: 2 questions
- Communication: 1 question
- Speed Management: 1 question
- Hazard Awareness: 1 question
- Cargo: 1 question
- Backing: 1 question
How to use this practice test
- Read each question carefully. CDL questions are written precisely — small wording differences matter.
- Click "Show Answers & Explanations" only after answering every question. Don't peek mid-test.
- Read the explanation for every question, even ones you got right. The reasoning is more important than the answer.
- Repeat the test until you score 100%. The questions are deterministic per state, so you can track your improvement over multiple sessions.
- Move on to the other endorsement tests for Alaska until you're ready for the official exam.
Tips specific to the General Knowledge test
The General Knowledge test is the foundation of every CDL. Topics include vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, communicating, controlling speed, controlling space, hazard perception, distracted driving, night driving, fog, winter, hot weather, mountain driving, emergencies, anti-lock brakes, skid recovery, accident procedures, fires, alcohol, hazardous materials awareness, and staying alert. Most failures come from speeding through inspection-related questions; slow down and read carefully.
Other practice tests for Alaska