Georgia General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Georgia General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. 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 Adjusting the trailer brakes individually
- B Walking around the vehicle and checking lights
- C Checking the engine compartment
- D Testing the service and parking brakes
- A Brakes self-adjust forever
- B Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- C Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- D Drum brakes never need adjustment
- A Pump the brakes hard and fast
- B Use the parking brake to slow down
- C Disengage the clutch and coast
- D Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- A 16 hours
- B 14 hours
- C 10 hours
- D 11 hours
- A Gravel surfaces
- B Roads in direct sunlight
- C Bridges and overpasses
- D Concrete pavement only
- A Select a lower gear before starting down
- B Stay in high gear
- C Coast in neutral
- D Use the parking brake intermittently
- A Trouble remembering the last few miles
- B Drifting in your lane
- C All of the above
- D Frequent yawning
- A Always come to a full stop regardless of traffic
- B Honk and proceed
- C Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop
- D Cross at maximum speed to get over quickly
- A Increase your following distance from the vehicle in front to give both of you more room
- B Move to the left lane only
- C Speed up to get away
- D Brake suddenly to teach a lesson
- A Allowed if the driver feels fine
- B A traffic violation, but not a CDL disqualification
- C Allowed off-duty only
- D Considered driving under the influence for CDL purposes
- A It always stops the vehicle in a shorter distance
- B It increases brake pressure automatically
- C It prevents wheel lockup so the driver can keep steering
- D It applies the parking brake
- 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 Quadruples
- B Doubles
- C Stays the same
- D Triples
- A Pumping the brakes
- B Releasing the parking brake on a flat surface and tugging gently against it
- C Setting the parking brake, releasing the service brakes, and gently trying to move the vehicle in low gear
- D Driving over a speed bump
- A Shift to neutral and coast
- B Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow down
- C Steer sharply toward the shoulder
- D Brake immediately and pull off the road
- A Within the first 25 miles, then about every 150 miles or every 3 hours
- B Only if a warning light comes on
- C Only when the load is hazardous
- D At the end of the trip
- A Look for an escape ramp
- B Coast in neutral
- C Shift into reverse
- D Use the parking brake hard
- A 12 and 6
- B 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
- C Both hands at the bottom
- D One hand at 12
- A Safety for yourself and other road users
- B To meet your dispatcher's schedule
- C To improve fuel economy
- D To reduce tire wear
- 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 Driving too fast for conditions
- B Manual transmissions
- C Properly working brakes
- D Old tires
- A Tires lose contact with the road on a film of water
- B You brake hard on dry pavement
- C Tires are over-inflated
- D Roads are dry but hot
- A Three reflective triangles: 10 ft, 100 ft, and 200 ft toward approaching traffic
- B A flare burning constantly
- C A spotter walking 1,000 ft up the road
- D One reflective triangle within 10 feet
- A 6/32 inch
- B 2/32 inch
- C 4/32 inch
- D 1/32 inch
- A Government Combination Weight Reading
- B Gross Cargo Weight Rating
- C Gross Combination Weight Rating
- D General Carrier Weight Rating
Study tips for the Georgia General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Georgia CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Georgia Department of Driver Services draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia Department of Driver Services 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 Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia Department of Driver Services office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: GA Air Brakes · GA Combination Vehicles · GA Hazardous Materials · GA Passenger · GA School Bus · GA Tank Vehicle · GA Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Georgia? Read How to apply for a CDL in Georgia for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.