Georgia General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
25 realistic General Knowledge practice questions for Georgia CDL applicants. Required for: All CDL applicants (Class A, B, and C). Official test: 50 questions, 40 correct to pass.
Question 1 of 25 · Night Driving
When meeting an oncoming vehicle at night, you should:
-
A.
Look directly at the headlights
-
B.
Look toward the right side of the road
-
C.
Switch to high beams
-
D.
Increase speed
Correct answer: B.
Look toward the right side of the road to avoid being blinded by oncoming headlights.
Question 2 of 25 · Communication
Drivers should signal their intentions at least:
-
A.
Right at the moment of turning
-
B.
50 feet before the turn
-
C.
100 feet before the turn
-
D.
In the city, no signaling needed
Correct answer: C.
Signal at least 100 feet before turning to give following drivers time to react.
Question 3 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
Stab braking is used:
-
A.
Only on slippery roads
-
B.
When you must stop quickly with non-ABS brakes
-
C.
Whenever you stop
-
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 4 of 25 · Emergency Equipment
Most heavy vehicle fires are caused by:
-
A.
Hot tires from low pressure or under-inflated duals
-
B.
Cold weather
-
C.
Engine cooling system
-
D.
Exhaust pipes only
Correct answer: A.
Hot tires and brakes are leading causes. Inspect tires and brakes regularly to prevent fires.
Question 5 of 25 · Emergency Equipment
When stopped on the side of a level, straight, two-lane road, where should the three reflective triangles be placed?
-
A.
10, 50, and 100 feet behind the vehicle
-
B.
10, 100, and 200 feet behind the vehicle
-
C.
On the front, side, and rear of the vehicle
-
D.
50, 100, and 200 feet on the traffic side
Correct answer: B.
Triangles go 10, 100, and 200 feet behind the vehicle on a straight, level, two-lane road.
Question 6 of 25 · Basic Control
Which of these is the proper way to hold a steering wheel?
-
A.
One hand at 12 o'clock
-
B.
Both hands on opposite sides of the wheel
-
C.
Both hands on top
-
D.
One hand at 6 o'clock
Correct answer: B.
Hold the wheel firmly with both hands placed on opposite sides for full control.
Question 7 of 25 · Driver Wellness
You should not eat or drink while driving because:
-
A.
It is illegal in all states
-
B.
Spills can distract you
-
C.
You should not put both hands on the wheel
-
D.
It might damage the vehicle
Correct answer: B.
Eating and drinking divert attention and create spill hazards.
Question 8 of 25 · Testing
When taking the road test, you will be expected to:
-
A.
Demonstrate the basic control skills only
-
B.
Drive only on the highway
-
C.
Show that you can perform safely in normal traffic
-
D.
Drive only in residential areas
Correct answer: C.
The road test evaluates safe performance in actual traffic conditions.
Question 9 of 25 · Communication
When should you check your mirrors?
-
A.
Only before changing lanes
-
B.
Frequently, to know what is around your vehicle
-
C.
When parking only
-
D.
Only at intersections
Correct answer: B.
Check mirrors regularly to know what is happening around your vehicle.
Question 10 of 25 · Mountain Driving
When driving down a long, steep downgrade, you should:
-
A.
Apply the brakes lightly to keep the speed down
-
B.
Use a low gear and engine braking with intermittent braking
-
C.
Coast in neutral
-
D.
Press brakes continuously
Correct answer: B.
Use the appropriate low gear, rely on engine braking, and apply service brakes intermittently to control speed.
Question 11 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
Which of the following is a sign of tire failure?
-
A.
A loud "bang" sound
-
B.
Vibration or thumping
-
C.
Heavy steering or fishtailing
-
D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
A bang, vibration, heavy steering, or fishtailing can all indicate tire failure.
Question 12 of 25 · Hazard Awareness
How can you tell if your truck or bus has a hazardous materials shipment?
-
A.
It is moving slowly
-
B.
Diamond-shaped placards are displayed
-
C.
A flashing yellow light is on
-
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 · Inspection
What is the minimum tread depth for steering axle tires?
-
A.
2/32 inch
-
B.
4/32 inch
-
C.
6/32 inch
-
D.
8/32 inch
Correct answer: B.
Federal regulations require at least 4/32 inch tread depth on steering axle tires.
Question 14 of 25 · CDL Rules
Driving with a BAC of 0.04 or higher in a CMV will result in:
-
A.
A warning
-
B.
A 30-day suspension
-
C.
A CDL disqualification of at least one year
-
D.
No penalty if off-duty
Correct answer: C.
A first offense disqualifies you for at least one year (three years if hauling hazardous materials).
Question 15 of 25 · Cargo
How can you tell if your vehicle is overloaded?
-
A.
It rides higher than normal
-
B.
It handles differently from when properly loaded
-
C.
It uses less fuel
-
D.
It accelerates faster
Correct answer: B.
Overloaded vehicles handle poorly — they accelerate slower, take longer to stop, and are harder to steer.
Question 16 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
Hydroplaning is most likely to occur when:
-
A.
Tires are properly inflated
-
B.
Speed is below 30 mph
-
C.
Roads are dry
-
D.
Tires lose contact with the road on wet pavement
Correct answer: D.
Hydroplaning happens when water builds up between the tire and the road, causing loss of contact.
Question 17 of 25 · Communication
Communicating your intentions means:
-
A.
Honking before each turn
-
B.
Using turn signals, brake lights, and the horn appropriately
-
C.
Flashing high beams at all drivers
-
D.
Hand signals only at intersections
Correct answer: B.
Use signals, brake lights, and the horn properly to communicate. Hand signals supplement them.
Question 18 of 25 · Inspection
When checking the engine compartment, your vehicle should be:
-
A.
Idling in neutral
-
B.
On a slight incline
-
C.
Parked on level ground with the parking brake set and wheels chocked
-
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 19 of 25 · Inspection
Excessive heat in tires can:
-
A.
Improve handling
-
B.
Cause tire failure
-
C.
Help fuel economy
-
D.
Increase tire life
Correct answer: B.
Excessive heat causes blowouts and serious damage. Check for hot tires after driving.
Question 20 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true?
-
A.
Coffee will overcome fatigue
-
B.
You can rely on caffeine to stay awake
-
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 21 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
Controlled braking is:
-
A.
Pressing the brake to the floor and holding
-
B.
Applying brakes hard enough to lock the wheels
-
C.
Applying brakes to keep wheels just short of locking
-
D.
Releasing brakes and coasting
Correct answer: C.
Controlled braking applies the brake firmly without locking the wheels, keeping the steering straight.
Question 22 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
When a vehicle hydroplanes, the brakes:
-
A.
Will work better than usual
-
B.
May cause the vehicle to spin
-
C.
Should be applied hard
-
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 23 of 25 · Inspection
Mirror adjustment should be checked:
-
A.
Only at the start of the trip
-
B.
Only when something seems wrong
-
C.
Prior to the start of any trip and can only be checked accurately when the trailer(s) are straight
-
D.
Once per week
Correct answer: C.
Adjust and check mirrors before each trip while the trailers are straight.
Question 24 of 25 · Night Driving
You should use low beam headlights:
-
A.
Whenever you can
-
B.
Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and 500 feet behind another vehicle
-
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 25 of 25 · Cargo
Which is true about cargo securement?
-
A.
Drivers are responsible for inspecting cargo
-
B.
Cargo only needs to be inspected at the start of a trip
-
C.
Securement is the shipper's sole responsibility
-
D.
Once strapped, cargo never needs re-checking
Correct answer: A.
Drivers must inspect cargo and its securement at the start of the trip and re-check periodically.
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 Georgia Department of Driver Services administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the CDL General Knowledge on your Georgia CDL, you need to score at least 40 out of 50 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Inspection: 4 questions
- Communication: 3 questions
- Emergency Maneuvers: 3 questions
- Night Driving: 2 questions
- Emergency Equipment: 2 questions
- Driver Wellness: 2 questions
- Cargo: 2 questions
- Adverse Conditions: 2 questions
- Basic Control: 1 question
- Testing: 1 question
- Mountain Driving: 1 question
- Hazard Awareness: 1 question
- CDL Rules: 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 Georgia 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 Georgia