Alaska Tank Vehicle CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Alaska Tank Vehicle 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 The tank is partially loaded and surge is highest
- B All of the above
- C On curves, ramps, and slick surfaces
- D Stopping or starting in traffic
- A Captures vapors during loading and unloading to reduce emissions
- B Improves fuel mileage
- C Operates the brakes
- D Reduces engine noise
- A The tank shell for corrosion or damage
- B All of the above
- C Special pump and valve systems
- D Manhole covers and vents
- A Allow another driver to load for them
- B Skip the site procedures
- C Follow site procedures and verify equipment before loading
- D Begin loading without checking
- A Leave brakes off
- B Set both tractor and trailer parking brakes and chock if necessary
- C Set only the tractor parking brake
- D Use the trailer hand valve
- A Slow well below posted speed and watch for surge as you change direction
- B Honk and proceed
- C Maintain posted speed
- D Use the inside lane only
- A Stop in a safe location, isolate the area, and notify the carrier and authorities
- B Drive faster
- C Try to repair the leak yourself
- D Continue to the destination
- A All of the above
- B Skip outage
- C Use the trailer hand valve as a parking brake
- D Disregard surge
- A Brake harder to make up for traction loss
- B Maintain speed
- C Brake earlier and more gently than normal
- D Use the parking brake
- A It stops faster
- B There is no effect
- C The vehicle is heavy and stops slower; surge is reduced but mass is high
- D Surge is severe
- A Has internal walls with holes that slow liquid movement
- B Is illegal in the U.S.
- C Has no internal structure
- D Is divided into separate compartments
- A Push the vehicle through an intersection
- B Cause rollover
- C Cause loss of control
- D All of the above
- A All of the above
- B Skip a pre-trip inspection
- C Drive over the maximum allowable speed for the load
- D Disregard outage requirements
- A Has the same surge
- B Has more surge than a full or empty tank
- C Has less surge than a full tank
- D Has no surge
- A Allow extra following distance and brake earlier
- B Drive normally
- C Disregard surge
- D Use only the parking brake to slow
- A Lower than a flatbed
- B Eliminated by ABS
- C Always present, especially with a high center of gravity and liquid surge
- D Only an issue when empty
- A A fuel line
- B A frozen pipe
- C A pipe that contains residual liquid product
- D An air-brake line
- A 100 feet
- B Anywhere outside the cab
- C 25 feet of the vehicle
- D 10 feet of the vehicle
- A Allow product to leak until empty
- B Continue to the destination
- C Drive faster to limit the spill
- D Stop, isolate the area, and notify emergency services and the carrier
- A Increase speed
- B Maintain speed
- C Slow down before the curve, not in it
- D Brake within the curve
- A It is heavier
- B It is shorter
- C It uses air brakes
- D Its high center of gravity and large surface area increase wind effects
- A Easier handling
- B Higher rollover risk
- C Faster acceleration
- D No change in handling
- A Begin unloading immediately
- B Skip the verification
- C Allow the receiver to handle everything
- D Verify the receiver is ready and the receiving tank has capacity
- A Open vents while pressure is high
- B Open vents only after pressure is equalized
- C Skip the venting
- D Drive while unloading
- A Is below the posted advisory for cars
- B Equals the posted speed limit
- C Is above the posted advisory
- D Is whatever feels safe
Study tips for the Alaska Tank Vehicle exam
The Tank Vehicle 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 Tank Vehicle 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 Tank Vehicle.
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 Tank Vehicle 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 Tank Vehicle 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 Passenger · AK School Bus · 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.