West Virginia General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
25 realistic General Knowledge practice questions for West Virginia CDL applicants. Required for: All CDL applicants (Class A, B, and C). Official test: 50 questions, 40 correct to pass.
Question 1 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 2 of 25 · Emergency Maneuvers
Controlled braking is:
-
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 3 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
Black ice is:
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A.
A thick layer of ice that is easily seen
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B.
A thin layer that looks wet pavement
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C.
Only found in the far north
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D.
Not a real road hazard
Correct answer: B.
Black ice is a thin, transparent layer that looks like wet pavement. It is extremely dangerous.
Question 4 of 25 · Inspection
The proper way to test the service brake on a vehicle is to:
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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 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 of 25 · Communication
When changing lanes you should:
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A.
Do it quickly so other drivers don't catch up
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B.
Signal early and check mirrors before and during the lane change
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C.
Turn off the radio
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D.
Speed up first
Correct answer: B.
Signal early, check mirrors, and look for traffic before and during the change.
Question 10 of 25 · Inspection
When inspecting your vehicle, the engine should be:
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A.
Running with the hood open
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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 11 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
Which of the following is true about driving in fog?
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A.
You should always drive with high beams
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B.
Avoid driving in fog if possible
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C.
Use the right edge of the road as a guide rather than the center line
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D.
Both b and c
Correct answer: D.
Avoid driving in fog when possible. If unavoidable, use low beams and the right edge as a guide.
Question 12 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 13 of 25 · Communication
When should you check your mirrors?
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A.
Only before changing lanes
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B.
Frequently, to know what is around your vehicle
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C.
When parking only
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D.
Only at intersections
Correct answer: B.
Check mirrors regularly to know what is happening around your vehicle.
Question 14 of 25 · Inspection
When checking the engine compartment, your vehicle should be:
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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 · Speed Management
When you double your speed, your stopping distance is multiplied by approximately:
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A.
Two
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B.
Three
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C.
Four
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D.
Six
Correct answer: C.
Stopping distance grows with the square of speed. Doubling speed roughly quadruples the distance needed to stop.
Question 16 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 17 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 18 of 25 · Night Driving
Which of these is true about driving at night?
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A.
You can see further than during the day
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B.
Your reaction time is faster at night
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C.
You should reduce your speed
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D.
High beams should always be used
Correct answer: C.
You see less and farther obstacles appear later at night. Slow down so you can stop within the area lit by your headlights.
Question 19 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 20 of 25 · Speed Management
Whenever you double your speed, the impact in a crash is:
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A.
Doubled
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B.
The same
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C.
Four times greater
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D.
Half
Correct answer: C.
Crash energy increases with the square of speed — doubling speed quadruples crash forces.
Question 21 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 22 of 25 · Mountain Driving
When driving down a long, steep downgrade, you should:
-
A.
Apply the brakes lightly to keep the speed down
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B.
Use a low gear and engine braking with intermittent braking
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C.
Coast in neutral
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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 23 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 24 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
When a vehicle hydroplanes, the brakes:
-
A.
Will work better than usual
-
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 25 of 25 · Hours of Service
How often must a driver complete a written record of duty status?
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A.
Every 8 hours
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B.
Every 12 hours
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C.
Every 24 hours
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D.
Once a week
Correct answer: C.
A daily record of duty status (logbook) must be completed each 24-hour period.
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 West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the CDL General Knowledge on your West Virginia CDL, you need to score at least 40 out of 50 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Adverse Conditions: 5 questions
- Inspection: 4 questions
- Speed Management: 3 questions
- Emergency Maneuvers: 2 questions
- Communication: 2 questions
- Mountain Driving: 2 questions
- Basic Control: 1 question
- Vehicle Dynamics: 1 question
- Hazard Awareness: 1 question
- Emergency Equipment: 1 question
- Night Driving: 1 question
- Driver Wellness: 1 question
- Hours of Service: 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia