Kansas General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
25 realistic General Knowledge practice questions for Kansas CDL applicants. Required for: All CDL applicants (Class A, B, and C). Official test: 50 questions, 40 correct to pass.
Question 1 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 2 of 25 · Mountain Driving
What may happen if you don't shift gears properly when going up a hill?
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A.
You will use less fuel
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B.
The transmission will be damaged
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C.
You may lose control on a downgrade
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D.
Engine RPM will be too low
Correct answer: C.
Improper gear use can result in losing control of speed, especially on the way back down a hill.
Question 3 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Which of the following is NOT a sign of fatigued driving?
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A.
Frequent yawning
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B.
Drifting from your lane
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C.
Rapid blinking and clear focus
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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.
Question 4 of 25 · Vehicle Dynamics
Empty trucks:
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A.
Always stop more quickly than loaded trucks
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B.
Have less traction because there is less weight on the drive axles
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C.
Can take curves at higher speeds safely
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D.
Are not affected by wind
Correct answer: B.
Empty trucks have reduced traction on drive axles and require greater stopping distances than loaded trucks.
Question 5 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 6 of 25 · Backing
You should always try to park:
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A.
So that you will have to back when leaving
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B.
So that you can pull forward when leaving
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C.
On the right shoulder of any highway
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D.
Without using the parking brake
Correct answer: B.
Park so that you can pull forward to leave. Backing should always be avoided when possible.
Question 7 of 25 · CDL Rules
Driving with a BAC of 0.04 or higher in a CMV will result in:
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A.
A warning
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B.
A 30-day suspension
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C.
A CDL disqualification of at least one year
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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 8 of 25 · Emergency Equipment
When stopped on the side of a level, straight, two-lane road, where should the three reflective triangles be placed?
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A.
10, 50, and 100 feet behind the vehicle
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B.
10, 100, and 200 feet behind the vehicle
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C.
On the front, side, and rear of the vehicle
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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 9 of 25 · Testing
When taking the road test, you will be expected to:
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A.
Demonstrate the basic control skills only
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B.
Drive only on the highway
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C.
Show that you can perform safely in normal traffic
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D.
Drive only in residential areas
Correct answer: C.
The road test evaluates safe performance in actual traffic conditions.
Question 10 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Distracted driving includes:
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A.
Talking on a hand-held cell phone
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B.
Eating
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C.
Reading maps
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
All of these activities take attention from driving and are forms of distracted driving.
Question 11 of 25 · Night Driving
You should use low beam headlights:
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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
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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 12 of 25 · Inspection
Excessive heat in tires can:
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A.
Improve handling
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B.
Cause tire failure
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C.
Help fuel economy
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D.
Increase tire life
Correct answer: B.
Excessive heat causes blowouts and serious damage. Check for hot tires after driving.
Question 13 of 25 · Basic Control
Where should the wheel chocks be placed?
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A.
Behind one tire
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B.
In front of and behind tires on the same axle
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C.
Only when on a hill
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D.
Both front and rear tires of the steer axle
Correct answer: B.
Place chocks both in front of and behind the wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling either way.
Question 14 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
Which of the following is a sign of tire failure?
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A.
A loud "bang" sound
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B.
Vibration or thumping
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C.
Heavy steering or fishtailing
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
A bang, vibration, heavy steering, or fishtailing can all indicate tire failure.
Question 15 of 25 · Night Driving
When meeting an oncoming vehicle at night, you should:
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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 16 of 25 · Inspection
Pre-trip inspection of the vehicle should be done in the same order each time so that you:
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A.
Will look professional to other drivers
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B.
Will learn it well and not skip anything
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C.
Can finish faster
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D.
Pass the test more easily
Correct answer: B.
Following the same order helps prevent missed steps and builds reliable habits.
Question 17 of 25 · Speed Management
When approaching a curve, you should:
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A.
Brake while in the curve
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B.
Slow down before entering the curve
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C.
Maintain highway speed
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D.
Use the engine brake throughout
Correct answer: B.
Reduce speed before entering the curve, then accelerate slightly through the curve for stability.
Question 18 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Driving while you are tired is dangerous because:
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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 19 of 25 · Mountain Driving
What are two special conditions where you should downshift?
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A.
Before starting down a hill and before entering a curve
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B.
In the city and at intersections
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C.
On bridges and tunnels
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D.
Whenever traffic slows
Correct answer: A.
Downshift before going down a hill and before entering a curve to maintain control.
Question 20 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
Controlled braking is:
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A.
Pressing the brake to the floor and holding
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B.
Applying brakes hard enough to lock the wheels
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C.
Applying brakes to keep wheels just short of locking
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D.
Releasing brakes and coasting
Correct answer: C.
Controlled braking applies the brake firmly without locking the wheels, keeping the steering straight.
Question 21 of 25 · CDL Rules
What document must you have to drive a CMV in interstate commerce?
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A.
A valid CDL with applicable endorsements
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B.
A current DOT physical (Medical Examiner's Certificate)
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C.
Both a valid CDL and a current Medical Examiner's Certificate
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D.
Only a regular driver license
Correct answer: C.
Interstate CMV drivers must have a valid CDL and a current medical examiner's certificate.
Question 22 of 25 · Driver Wellness
Which of the following affects alcohol absorption into the body?
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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 23 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
Hydroplaning is most likely to occur when:
-
A.
Tires are properly inflated
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B.
Speed is below 30 mph
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C.
Roads are dry
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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 24 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 25 of 25 · Communication
Drivers should signal their intentions at least:
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A.
Right at the moment of turning
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B.
50 feet before the turn
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C.
100 feet before the turn
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D.
In the city, no signaling needed
Correct answer: C.
Signal at least 100 feet before turning to give following drivers time to react.
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 Kansas Department of Revenue — Division of Vehicles administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the CDL General Knowledge on your Kansas CDL, you need to score at least 40 out of 50 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Driver Wellness: 4 questions
- Inspection: 3 questions
- Mountain Driving: 2 questions
- Adverse Conditions: 2 questions
- CDL Rules: 2 questions
- Night Driving: 2 questions
- Emergency Maneuvers: 2 questions
- Vehicle Dynamics: 1 question
- Backing: 1 question
- Emergency Equipment: 1 question
- Testing: 1 question
- Basic Control: 1 question
- Speed Management: 1 question
- Hazard Awareness: 1 question
- Communication: 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 Kansas 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 Kansas