Alaska General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Alaska General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. Try to answer each question on your own before reading the answer key directly under it. The questions and answer choices are shuffled deterministically per state and endorsement, so the order will stay the same on repeat visits — that lets you genuinely measure your improvement.
- A Make smooth steering and braking inputs
- B Slow down
- C All of the above
- D Increase following distance
- A 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
- B One hand at 12
- C Both hands at the bottom
- D 12 and 6
- A Did not take the test, with no consequence
- B Took the test and passed
- C Need to take it again later
- D Took the test and failed
- A Move to the left lane only
- B Speed up to get away
- C Brake suddenly to teach a lesson
- D Increase your following distance from the vehicle in front to give both of you more room
- A Coolant level is above LOW and the cap is secure
- B Power steering fluid is at the proper level
- C All of the above
- D Engine oil level is safe to operate
- A Trouble remembering the last few miles
- B Frequent yawning
- C All of the above
- D Drifting in your lane
- A 10 seconds
- B 6 seconds
- C 1 second
- D 4 seconds
- A 26,001 lbs or more
- B 40,000 lbs or more
- C 10,001 lbs or more
- D 20,000 lbs or more
- A Brake hard immediately
- B Steer sharply in the opposite direction
- C Release the brake, let the wheels turn freely, and let the vehicle slow down
- D Accelerate
- A Gravel surfaces
- B Bridges and overpasses
- C Roads in direct sunlight
- D Concrete pavement only
- A Old tires
- B Driving too fast for conditions
- C Properly working brakes
- D Manual transmissions
- A Triples
- B Quadruples
- C Stays the same
- D Doubles
- A The fuel tank area
- B A federal speed restriction
- C The area immediately next to it where other drivers are hidden in your blind spots
- D The area in front of the steer axle
- A To save brake pads and reduce drag
- B To rest the right leg
- C So the brake lights don't mislead following drivers and so the brakes don't overheat
- D To save fuel and improve mileage
- A Use the parking brake to slow down
- B Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- C Disengage the clutch and coast
- D Pump the brakes hard and fast
- A Annoying passengers
- B Powertrain wear and possible loss of control on slippery surfaces
- C Engine damage
- D Wasting fuel only
- A General Vehicle Weight Reading
- B Government Vehicle Weight Regulation
- C Gross Vehicle Width Rating
- D Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
- A Gross Cargo Weight Rating
- B Government Combination Weight Reading
- C General Carrier Weight Rating
- D Gross Combination Weight Rating
- A The cargo is not properly secured or placarded
- B All of the above
- C It would push your weight over legal limits
- D It would make you exceed federal hours-of-service rules
- A Yellow tape only
- B A green flag
- C Nothing — federal rules do not require marking
- D A red flag (or red light at night) at the extreme rear
- A Honk and accelerate
- B Maintain speed
- C Cover the brake and slow down
- D Move to the right lane
- A Tires lose contact with the road on a film of water
- B Roads are dry but hot
- C Tires are over-inflated
- D You brake hard on dry pavement
- A Brake immediately and pull off the road
- B Shift to neutral and coast
- C Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow down
- D Steer sharply toward the shoulder
- A Brakes self-adjust forever
- B Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- C Drum brakes never need adjustment
- D Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- A Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- B Signal only when other vehicles are present
- C Signal only at the moment you start turning
- D Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
Study tips for the Alaska General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Alaska CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Alaska CDL handbook, which itself is derived from the FMCSA Model Commercial Driver's License Manual. That means studying our practice tests, reading the corresponding handbook chapter, and re-reading the parts you got wrong is genuinely the most efficient route to a first-time pass.
Most successful applicants follow a simple cycle: take the practice test cold, write down every question you missed, open the matching chapter of the official Alaska handbook, re-read the section that contains the right answer, then re-take the practice test 24 to 48 hours later. The 24-hour delay matters — sleep is when your brain commits new information to long-term memory, and CDL knowledge questions reward that kind of consolidated learning rather than cramming.
Pay particular attention to questions that include qualifier words like always, never, only, primary, or most. CDL test writers love to flip the right answer with a single qualifier. When two answer choices look almost identical, pay attention to the verb (is it must, should, or may?) and to any numbers (14 days, 100 air miles, 8 hours, 70/8 split). On endorsement tests in particular, watch for trick framing where a true statement about a different endorsement is offered as the "correct" answer to a question that is actually about General Knowledge.
Test-day logistics matter too. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card or birth certificate, your medical examiner's certificate (DOT card), and proof of state residency if you haven't already submitted those documents. The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles will not let you sit for the knowledge exam without your documentation, and most offices charge an additional fee for re-attempts. Arrive early — the wait at most CDL testing offices runs 30 to 60 minutes — and silence your phone before the exam begins.
Finally, keep your General Knowledge fundamentals sharp even when you're focused on the General Knowledge exam. Many states administer multiple knowledge tests in a single sitting, and questions on weight definitions (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR), stopping distance, and the pre-trip inspection routine show up across endorsements. If you're unsure on the basics, sit a fresh Alaska General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the General Knowledge study guide and the matching chapter in the official Alaska CDL handbook. Then come back and re-take the test. Once you can score 22 of 25 or higher on three runs in a row, you're in good shape to schedule the real exam at your local Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: AK Air Brakes · AK Combination Vehicles · AK Hazardous Materials · AK Passenger · AK School Bus · AK Tank Vehicle · AK Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Alaska? Read How to apply for a CDL in Alaska for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.