Alaska Passenger CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Alaska Passenger 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 Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application to control speed
- B Increase speed
- C Coast in neutral
- D Apply brakes heavily
- A Drive on the shoulder slowly
- B Open all doors at speed
- C Pull off as far as possible, set brakes, place triangles, evacuate if needed
- D Stop in the lane and wait
- A Speed to the destination
- B Refuse no matter what
- C Always agree immediately
- D Discharge them only at a safe location and as company policy allows
- A Use the side mirrors and add extra caution before backing or moving
- B Drive only forward
- C Tape over the mirrors
- D Don't worry about it
- A Block the crosswalk
- B Stop at the rear of the stop area
- C Allow space for passengers to board safely
- D Park in the bicycle lane
- A Walking the bus to check for sleeping or remaining passengers and items left behind
- B Removing the seats
- C Refueling
- D Cleaning the windshield
- A In areas not designed for passengers (e.g., baggage area)
- B In the front seats
- C In the aisle
- D In the rear seats
- A Talking with passengers
- B Using a hand-held mobile phone
- C Wearing prescription glasses
- D Having coffee
- A Never; just slow down
- B Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
- C Only when a train is visible
- D Within 5 feet of the rail
- A On freight trips only
- B In quantities and conditions allowed by federal regulations
- C In any quantity
- D In bulk only
- A Turn the bus around
- B Refuse boarding or, if onboard, put them off in a safe place
- C Allow them to board to avoid conflict
- D Drive faster to the destination
- A Reduces fuel use
- B Tilts the bus for cornering
- C Lowers the entry to make boarding easier for passengers
- D Engages the parking brake
- A Be in safety compliance
- B All of the above
- C Have a current medical card
- D Comply with FMCSA hours-of-service rules for passenger-carrying vehicles
- A Never
- B In bulk only
- C Only certain types and quantities, kept in a designated, ventilated area
- D In the cab only
- A Must not carry placarded hazmat
- B Can carry placarded hazmat anyway
- C Can carry only Class 9 hazmat
- D Can carry hazmat at off-peak times
- A The bus is empty
- B The dispatcher says so
- C All passengers have a seat or are properly braced behind the standee line
- D The bus is full
- A Be at a complete stop with the parking brake set or service brakes firmly applied
- B Be moving slowly
- C Be in neutral with brakes off
- D Be parked at any angle
- A Open all doors and windows
- B Honk continuously
- C Run from the bus first
- D Remain calm, give clear instructions, and supervise the evacuation
- A Behind the standee line
- B Anywhere on the bus
- C Not allowed
- D Only in the aisle near the door
- A Cargo that blocks emergency exits
- B Bicycles in approved racks
- C Wheelchair passengers
- D Luggage in the overhead racks
- A Only if a passenger asks
- B Once a week
- C Once a year
- D Daily as part of the pre-trip inspection
- A Close the door immediately
- B Start moving as the last passenger boards
- C Wait for all passengers to be safely aboard before beginning to move
- D Press the accelerator slightly
- A Carry an updated list of passengers, when required by carrier or law
- B Verify all emergency equipment functions before each trip
- C Have working emergency exit signs
- D All of the above
- A Ignored
- B Given a discount
- C Pushed off the bus immediately
- D Warned, and if interference continues, the driver may put them off in a safe location
- A Open the door, listen, and look both directions
- B Cross immediately
- C Pump the horn
- D Honk and proceed
Study tips for the Alaska Passenger exam
The Passenger 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 Passenger 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 Passenger.
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 Passenger 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 Passenger 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 General Knowledge · AK Air Brakes · AK Combination Vehicles · AK Hazardous Materials · 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.