Louisiana General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Louisiana General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Louisiana Office 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 Honk loudly to warn other drivers
- B Make eye contact only when stopped
- C Never communicate; just drive
- D Tap the horn lightly or flash lights to signal your presence
- A Select a lower gear before starting down
- B Use the parking brake intermittently
- C Coast in neutral
- D Stay in high gear
- A Use high-beam headlights for maximum visibility
- B Use the four-ways while in motion at highway speed
- C Drive faster to get out of the fog quickly
- D Use low-beam headlights and slow down
- A Gravel surfaces
- B Roads in direct sunlight
- C Concrete pavement only
- D Bridges and overpasses
- A Is loaded in the order it will be delivered
- B Looks neat from the outside
- C Fills the trailer floor edge to edge
- D Cannot shift on stops, starts, or turns and is within axle weight limits
- A Speed times weight
- B Brake-lag distance only
- C Perception distance + reaction distance + brake-lag distance + braking distance
- D Reaction distance only
- A Engine braking helps keep speed under control
- B Heavy vehicles can slow down sharply on grades
- C Brakes alone are not designed to hold a heavy vehicle on a long downgrade
- D All of the above
- A 20,000 lbs or more
- B 40,000 lbs or more
- C 26,001 lbs or more
- D 10,001 lbs or more
- A Increase following distance
- B Slow down
- C Make smooth steering and braking inputs
- D All of the above
- A Half the range of your low-beam headlights
- B The range of your low-beam headlights
- C The full range of high-beam headlights when in use
- D Whatever speed feels safe
- A Only if a warning light comes on
- B Within the first 25 miles, then about every 150 miles or every 3 hours
- C Only when the load is hazardous
- D At the end of the trip
- A Coast in neutral
- B Shift into reverse
- C Look for an escape ramp
- D Use the parking brake hard
- A Pumping the brakes hard and fast
- B Locking the wheels
- C Coasting in neutral
- D Applying the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels
- A Considered driving under the influence for CDL purposes
- B Allowed if the driver feels fine
- C A traffic violation, but not a CDL disqualification
- D Allowed off-duty only
- A No federal consequence
- B A fine only
- C CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- D A warning
- A Bridge surfaces freeze first because of air circulation underneath
- B Bridges are inspected only in winter
- C The bridge is closed in winter
- D The pavement under the bridge is reinforced
- A A green flag
- B A red flag (or red light at night) at the extreme rear
- C Yellow tape only
- D Nothing — federal rules do not require marking
- A Gross Combination Weight Rating
- B General Carrier Weight Rating
- C Government Combination Weight Reading
- D Gross Cargo Weight Rating
- A Engine damage
- B Annoying passengers
- C Wasting fuel only
- D Powertrain wear and possible loss of control on slippery surfaces
- A 10 hours
- B 14 hours
- C 16 hours
- D 11 hours
- A In residential areas only because of noise
- B On any downgrade
- C Roads are wet, icy, or snow-covered
- D Driving in dry conditions
- A No one
- B The driver, in the form of a logbook or electronic logging device
- C The dispatcher only
- D The carrier only
- A Cover the brake and slow down
- B Honk and accelerate
- C Maintain speed
- D Move to the right lane
- A Signal only at the moment you start turning
- B Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- C Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
- D Signal only when other vehicles are present
- A Whenever you feel like it
- B When you are stopped or moving slowly enough to be a hazard
- C Only at night
- D Only on the highway
Study tips for the Louisiana General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Louisiana CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana Office 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 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: LA Air Brakes · LA Combination Vehicles · LA Hazardous Materials · LA Passenger · LA School Bus · LA Tank Vehicle · LA Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Louisiana? Read How to apply for a CDL in Louisiana for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.