Mississippi General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Mississippi General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. 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 Brakes self-adjust forever
- B Drum brakes never need adjustment
- C Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- D Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- A Government Combination Weight Reading
- B Gross Combination Weight Rating
- C Gross Cargo Weight Rating
- D General Carrier Weight Rating
- 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 0.10% or higher
- B 0.08% or higher
- C Any detectable amount above 0.00%
- D 0.04% or higher
- A Engine damage
- B Wasting fuel only
- C Annoying passengers
- D Powertrain wear and possible loss of control on slippery surfaces
- A Use low-beam headlights and slow down
- B Drive faster to get out of the fog quickly
- C Use the four-ways while in motion at highway speed
- D Use high-beam headlights for maximum visibility
- A Signal only when other vehicles are present
- B Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
- C Signal only at the moment you start turning
- D Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- A You brake hard on dry pavement
- B Tires are over-inflated
- C Tires lose contact with the road on a film of water
- D Roads are dry but hot
- A It would make you exceed federal hours-of-service rules
- B The cargo is not properly secured or placarded
- C All of the above
- D It would push your weight over legal limits
- A 16 hours
- B 14 hours
- C 10 hours
- D 11 hours
- A It can let poisonous carbon monoxide into the cab
- B It is illegal
- C It increases fuel use
- D It causes the engine to overheat
- A The pavement under the bridge is reinforced
- B The bridge is closed in winter
- C Bridges are inspected only in winter
- D Bridge surfaces freeze first because of air circulation underneath
- A The full range of high-beam headlights when in use
- B Half the range of your low-beam headlights
- C The range of your low-beam headlights
- D Whatever speed feels safe
- A When you are stopped or moving slowly enough to be a hazard
- B Whenever you feel like it
- C Only on the highway
- D Only at night
- A Allowed if the driver feels fine
- B A traffic violation, but not a CDL disqualification
- C Considered driving under the influence for CDL purposes
- D Allowed off-duty only
- A Gross Vehicle Width Rating
- B Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
- C Government Vehicle Weight Regulation
- D General Vehicle Weight Reading
- A Test the service brake then the parking brake
- B Test only the air-leak rate
- C Test the low-air warning then drive
- D Test the parking brake then the service brake
- A Tap the horn lightly or flash lights to signal your presence
- B Never communicate; just drive
- C Honk loudly to warn other drivers
- D Make eye contact only when stopped
- A Driving too fast for conditions
- B Old tires
- C Manual transmissions
- D Properly working brakes
- A A fine only
- B No federal consequence
- C A warning
- D CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- A It triggers the ABS warning light
- B It cools the brakes too much
- C Brake fade can leave you with reduced or no braking power
- D It wastes brake pads
- A Heavy vehicles can slow down sharply on grades
- B Engine braking helps keep speed under control
- C Brakes alone are not designed to hold a heavy vehicle on a long downgrade
- D All of the above
- A Testing the service and parking brakes
- B Walking around the vehicle and checking lights
- C Checking the engine compartment
- D Adjusting the trailer brakes individually
- A Reaction distance only
- B Perception distance + reaction distance + brake-lag distance + braking distance
- C Brake-lag distance only
- D Speed times weight
- A Federal rules do not apply to cargo securement
- B Cargo is the shipper's responsibility, not yours
- C You must inspect cargo and securement before driving and within the first 50 miles
- D Tying a load down once at the start is enough
Study tips for the Mississippi General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Mississippi CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Mississippi Department of Public Safety draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi Department of Public Safety 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi Department of Public Safety office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: MS Air Brakes · MS Combination Vehicles · MS Hazardous Materials · MS Passenger · MS School Bus · MS Tank Vehicle · MS Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Mississippi? Read How to apply for a CDL in Mississippi for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.