Florida General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Florida General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and 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 Move to the right lane
- B Cover the brake and slow down
- C Honk and accelerate
- D Maintain speed
- A Use the four-ways while in motion at highway speed
- B Use high-beam headlights for maximum visibility
- C Drive faster to get out of the fog quickly
- D Use low-beam headlights and slow down
- A A federal speed restriction
- B The fuel tank area
- C The area in front of the steer axle
- D The area immediately next to it where other drivers are hidden in your blind spots
- A On any downgrade
- B Driving in dry conditions
- C Roads are wet, icy, or snow-covered
- D In residential areas only because of noise
- A Properly working brakes
- B Old tires
- C Driving too fast for conditions
- D Manual transmissions
- A It increases fuel use
- B It is illegal
- C It causes the engine to overheat
- D It can let poisonous carbon monoxide into the cab
- A Coast in neutral
- B Use the parking brake intermittently
- C Stay in high gear
- D Select a lower gear before starting down
- A Look for an escape ramp
- B Coast in neutral
- C Use the parking brake hard
- D Shift into reverse
- A Driving over a speed bump
- B Releasing the parking brake on a flat surface and tugging gently against it
- C Pumping the brakes
- D Setting the parking brake, releasing the service brakes, and gently trying to move the vehicle in low gear
- A General Carrier Weight Rating
- B Gross Combination Weight Rating
- C Government Combination Weight Reading
- D Gross Cargo Weight Rating
- A 2/32 inch
- B 1/32 inch
- C 4/32 inch
- D 6/32 inch
- A All of the above
- B Increase following distance
- C Slow down
- D Make smooth steering and braking inputs
- A High beams improve visibility in heavy rain
- B Roads are most slippery just after rain begins, when water mixes with road oil
- C Tire chains are required by federal law
- D It is safe to drive at the posted speed limit
- A 20 hours in a 24-hour period
- B 8 hours in any 24-hour period
- C 15 hours of driving
- D 14 consecutive hours since coming on duty
- A Engine oil level is safe to operate
- B All of the above
- C Power steering fluid is at the proper level
- D Coolant level is above LOW and the cap is secure
- A Allowed if the driver feels fine
- B Considered driving under the influence for CDL purposes
- C A traffic violation, but not a CDL disqualification
- D Allowed off-duty only
- A 26,001 lbs or more
- B 20,000 lbs or more
- C 40,000 lbs or more
- D 10,001 lbs or more
- A 0.04% or higher
- B 0.10% or higher
- C Any detectable amount above 0.00%
- D 0.08% or higher
- A Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- B Brakes self-adjust forever
- C Drum brakes never need adjustment
- D Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- A 11 hours
- B 10 hours
- C 16 hours
- D 14 hours
- A The driver, in the form of a logbook or electronic logging device
- B No one
- C The dispatcher only
- D The carrier only
- A All of the above
- B Trouble remembering the last few miles
- C Drifting in your lane
- D Frequent yawning
- A Engine braking helps keep speed under control
- B Brakes alone are not designed to hold a heavy vehicle on a long downgrade
- C All of the above
- D Heavy vehicles can slow down sharply on grades
- A Tires lose contact with the road on a film of water
- B Roads are dry but hot
- C You brake hard on dry pavement
- D Tires are over-inflated
- A Perception distance + reaction distance + brake-lag distance + braking distance
- B Reaction distance only
- C Brake-lag distance only
- D Speed times weight
Study tips for the Florida General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Florida CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Florida 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 Florida 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 Florida Department of Highway Safety and 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 Florida 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 Florida 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 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: FL Air Brakes · FL Combination Vehicles · FL Hazardous Materials · FL Passenger · FL School Bus · FL Tank Vehicle · FL Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Florida? Read How to apply for a CDL in Florida for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.