Kansas General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Kansas General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Kansas Department of Revenue Division of 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 Gravel surfaces
- B Concrete pavement only
- C Bridges and overpasses
- D Roads in direct sunlight
- 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 0.10% or higher
- B Any detectable amount above 0.00%
- C 0.08% or higher
- D 0.04% or higher
- A General Vehicle Weight Reading
- B Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
- C Gross Vehicle Width Rating
- D Government Vehicle Weight Regulation
- A A flare burning constantly
- B One reflective triangle within 10 feet
- C A spotter walking 1,000 ft up the road
- D Three reflective triangles: 10 ft, 100 ft, and 200 ft toward approaching traffic
- A Whenever you feel like it
- B Only on the highway
- C Only at night
- D When you are stopped or moving slowly enough to be a hazard
- A Disengage the clutch and coast
- B Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- C Use the parking brake to slow down
- D Pump the brakes hard and fast
- A It increases fuel use
- B It causes the engine to overheat
- C It can let poisonous carbon monoxide into the cab
- D It is illegal
- A 7 days
- B A reasonable time, before going off duty
- C 1 hour
- D 24 hours
- A Checking the engine compartment
- B Testing the service and parking brakes
- C Walking around the vehicle and checking lights
- D Adjusting the trailer brakes individually
- A 15 hours of driving
- B 8 hours in any 24-hour period
- C 20 hours in a 24-hour period
- D 14 consecutive hours since coming on duty
- A Need to take it again later
- B Took the test and passed
- C Took the test and failed
- D Did not take the test, with no consequence
- A Shift into reverse
- B Use the parking brake hard
- C Look for an escape ramp
- D Coast in neutral
- A Properly working brakes
- B Old tires
- C Manual transmissions
- D Driving too fast for conditions
- A Tire chains are required by federal law
- B It is safe to drive at the posted speed limit
- C High beams improve visibility in heavy rain
- D Roads are most slippery just after rain begins, when water mixes with road oil
- A A warning
- B No federal consequence
- C A fine only
- D CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- A Coast in neutral
- B Use the parking brake intermittently
- C Stay in high gear
- D Select a lower gear before starting down
- A 10 seconds
- B 6 seconds
- C 1 second
- D 4 seconds
- A Vehicles designed to carry 16+ passengers including the driver, or that require hazmat placards
- B Tractor-trailers under 26,001 lbs GCWR
- C Class A combinations only
- D Any vehicle over 26,001 lbs
- A Drum brakes never need adjustment
- B Brakes self-adjust forever
- C Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- D Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- A Steer sharply in the opposite direction
- B Release the brake, let the wheels turn freely, and let the vehicle slow down
- C Brake hard immediately
- D Accelerate
- A Use low-beam headlights and slow down
- B Use high-beam headlights for maximum visibility
- C Drive faster to get out of the fog quickly
- D Use the four-ways while in motion at highway speed
- 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 All of the above
- B Trouble remembering the last few miles
- C Drifting in your lane
- D Frequent yawning
- A Driving in dry conditions
- B On any downgrade
- C In residential areas only because of noise
- D Roads are wet, icy, or snow-covered
Study tips for the Kansas General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Kansas CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas Department of Revenue Division of 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 Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: KS Air Brakes · KS Combination Vehicles · KS Hazardous Materials · KS Passenger · KS School Bus · KS Tank Vehicle · KS Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Kansas? Read How to apply for a CDL in Kansas for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.