Nevada General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Nevada General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Nevada Department 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 To meet your dispatcher's schedule
- B To reduce tire wear
- C To improve fuel economy
- D Safety for yourself and other road users
- A The dispatcher only
- B The carrier only
- C No one
- D The driver, in the form of a logbook or electronic logging device
- A Honk and proceed
- B Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop
- C Always come to a full stop regardless of traffic
- D Cross at maximum speed to get over quickly
- A It applies the parking brake
- B It always stops the vehicle in a shorter distance
- C It prevents wheel lockup so the driver can keep steering
- D It increases brake pressure automatically
- A 1 second
- B 10 seconds
- C 6 seconds
- D 4 seconds
- A Locking the wheels
- B Pumping the brakes hard and fast
- C Coasting in neutral
- D Applying the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels
- A 6/32 inch
- B 1/32 inch
- C 4/32 inch
- D 2/32 inch
- A Cannot shift on stops, starts, or turns and is within axle weight limits
- B Looks neat from the outside
- C Fills the trailer floor edge to edge
- D Is loaded in the order it will be delivered
- A A low-air pressure warning device that drops a flag in front of the driver
- B A trailer hitch component
- C A fuel-saving switch
- D A type of cargo strap
- A 14 consecutive hours since coming on duty
- B 20 hours in a 24-hour period
- C 15 hours of driving
- D 8 hours in any 24-hour period
- A Vehicles designed to carry 16+ passengers including the driver, or that require hazmat placards
- B Any vehicle over 26,001 lbs
- C Tractor-trailers under 26,001 lbs GCWR
- D Class A combinations only
- A To save fuel
- B On vehicles without ABS, to keep them straight in an emergency
- C On wet roads only
- D On vehicles with ABS
- A 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
- B Both hands at the bottom
- C 12 and 6
- D One hand at 12
- A Roads are most slippery just after rain begins, when water mixes with road oil
- B Tire chains are required by federal law
- C It is safe to drive at the posted speed limit
- D High beams improve visibility in heavy rain
- 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 Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- B Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- C Brakes self-adjust forever
- D Drum brakes never need adjustment
- 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 Frequent yawning
- B All of the above
- C Trouble remembering the last few miles
- D Drifting in your lane
- A Release the brake, let the wheels turn freely, and let the vehicle slow down
- B Brake hard immediately
- C Steer sharply in the opposite direction
- D Accelerate
- A Move to the left lane only
- B Brake suddenly to teach a lesson
- C Speed up to get away
- D Increase your following distance from the vehicle in front to give both of you more room
- A A spotter walking 1,000 ft up the road
- B Three reflective triangles: 10 ft, 100 ft, and 200 ft toward approaching traffic
- C A flare burning constantly
- D One reflective triangle within 10 feet
- A Test the parking brake then the service brake
- B Test the service brake then the parking brake
- C Test the low-air warning then drive
- D Test only the air-leak rate
- 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 All of the above
- B Slow down
- C Increase following distance
- D Make smooth steering and braking inputs
- A Signal only when other vehicles are present
- B Signal only at the moment you start turning
- C Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- D Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
Study tips for the Nevada General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Nevada CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Nevada Department 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 Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada Department 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 Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NV Air Brakes · NV Combination Vehicles · NV Hazardous Materials · NV Passenger · NV School Bus · NV Tank Vehicle · NV Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Nevada? Read How to apply for a CDL in Nevada for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.