NH · GK Endorsement

New Hampshire General Knowledge CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the New Hampshire General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the New Hampshire Division 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.

Heads up: this is a study tool, not a graded exam. Cover the answer with your hand or a sheet of paper for an honest practice run, then re-read the explanations for any questions you missed. Aim for 22 out of 25 or better, three times in a row, before scheduling the real exam.

Question 1 of 25

A vehicle's "no-zone" is:

A The fuel tank area
B The area in front of the steer axle
C The area immediately next to it where other drivers are hidden in your blind spots
D A federal speed restriction

Correct answer: C

No-zones are the four blind-spot areas (front, rear, and both sides) where smaller vehicles are difficult or impossible to see in your mirrors.

Question 2 of 25

You may not drive a CMV with a blood-alcohol concentration of:

A Any detectable amount above 0.00%
B 0.04% or higher
C 0.10% or higher
D 0.08% or higher

Correct answer: B

0.04% is the regulatory limit for CMV operation. A detectable amount under that triggers an out-of-service order but is not necessarily a DUI conviction.

Question 3 of 25

A driver must report any accident involving a CMV to the carrier within:

A 7 days
B 24 hours
C A reasonable time, before going off duty
D 1 hour

Correct answer: C

FMCSA rules require notification of the motor carrier in a reasonable time — most policies treat that as before going off duty.

Question 4 of 25

Which is true about brake lining wear and adjustment?

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

Correct answer: C

Slack adjusters can fail, and pushrod travel must be within limits. Drivers check; adjustment itself is a maintenance task for qualified personnel.

Question 5 of 25

Acceleration must be smooth and gradual to avoid:

A Powertrain wear and possible loss of control on slippery surfaces
B Engine damage
C Annoying passengers
D Wasting fuel only

Correct answer: A

Quick throttle inputs on slick surfaces can spin the drive wheels and cause a tractor jackknife. Smooth acceleration avoids this and reduces wear.

Question 6 of 25

How does ABS help in an emergency stop?

A It applies the parking brake
B It always stops the vehicle in a shorter distance
C It increases brake pressure automatically
D It prevents wheel lockup so the driver can keep steering

Correct answer: D

ABS keeps the wheels rolling so steering control is preserved. It is not a shorter-distance device.

Question 7 of 25

What does it mean when a road sign says "Bridge formation may freeze before road"?

A The bridge is closed in winter
B Bridges are inspected only in winter
C Bridge surfaces freeze first because of air circulation underneath
D The pavement under the bridge is reinforced

Correct answer: C

Cold air around bridges and overpasses cools the deck more quickly than the surrounding road, which is why ice often appears there first.

Question 8 of 25

When should you do an en-route inspection?

A Only when the load is hazardous
B Only if a warning light comes on
C At the end of the trip
D Within the first 25 miles, then about every 150 miles or every 3 hours

Correct answer: D

The FMCSA model manual recommends a check within the first 25 miles to catch loose cargo or under-inflated tires that have warmed up, then about every 150 miles or 3 hours, and any time you stop.

Question 9 of 25

To recover from a front-wheel skid, you should:

A Steer sharply in the opposite direction
B Release the brake, let the wheels turn freely, and let the vehicle slow down
C Accelerate
D Brake hard immediately

Correct answer: B

A front-wheel skid is usually caused by braking too hard. Release the brake to allow the front tires to grip again so steering returns.

Question 10 of 25

A driver who refuses to take a required drug or alcohol test is treated as if they:

A Took the test and failed
B Did not take the test, with no consequence
C Need to take it again later
D Took the test and passed

Correct answer: A

Refusal is a federal CDL disqualification with the same consequences as a positive test.

Question 11 of 25

On a long downgrade, why is it dangerous to use the brakes too much?

A Brake fade can leave you with reduced or no braking power
B It wastes brake pads
C It triggers the ABS warning light
D It cools the brakes too much

Correct answer: A

Heat from continuous braking causes the friction surfaces to lose their grip. Use a low gear and brief, moderate brake applications.

Question 12 of 25

The proper following distance for a 60-foot truck traveling under 40 mph is at least:

A 1 second
B 4 seconds
C 10 seconds
D 6 seconds

Correct answer: D

Use one second per 10 feet of vehicle length below 40 mph: 60 ft / 10 = 6 seconds. Add one additional second above 40 mph.

Question 13 of 25

Which is required when stopping on the side of a level, straight, two-lane road?

A A flare burning constantly
B Three reflective triangles: 10 ft, 100 ft, and 200 ft toward approaching traffic
C A spotter walking 1,000 ft up the road
D One reflective triangle within 10 feet

Correct answer: B

On a level straight road, place triangles 10 feet behind the vehicle, 100 feet, and 200 feet to the rear in the direction of approaching traffic.

Question 14 of 25

When you double your speed, your stopping distance approximately:

A Quadruples
B Stays the same
C Doubles
D Triples

Correct answer: A

Braking distance increases roughly with the square of speed; doubling speed quadruples the braking distance. Reaction distance only doubles, but the total grows quickly.

Question 15 of 25

Which of the following is true about cargo securement?

A You must inspect cargo and securement before driving and within the first 50 miles
B Cargo is the shipper's responsibility, not yours
C Tying a load down once at the start is enough
D Federal rules do not apply to cargo securement

Correct answer: A

49 CFR Part 393 makes the driver responsible for inspecting cargo and its securement before driving and again within the first 50 miles, then every 150 miles or 3 hours.

Question 16 of 25

Stab braking is used:

A On vehicles without ABS, to keep them straight in an emergency
B On wet roads only
C To save fuel
D On vehicles with ABS

Correct answer: A

Stab braking — full application then release as soon as wheels lock, then re-apply — is for non-ABS vehicles. With ABS, do not pump.

Question 17 of 25

Which is true about the use of turn signals?

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

Correct answer: B

The federal model manual specifies signal early, continuously, and cancel after — the same three steps every state CDL test asks about.

Question 18 of 25

Which of the following is NOT part of a pre-trip inspection?

A Adjusting the trailer brakes individually
B Testing the service and parking brakes
C Walking around the vehicle and checking lights
D Checking the engine compartment

Correct answer: A

Adjusting brakes is a maintenance task done by qualified personnel, not a pre-trip step. The driver checks for proper operation, not adjustment.

Question 19 of 25

A driver convicted of a major offense (DUI, leaving the scene, etc.) in a CMV faces:

A CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
B A warning
C A fine only
D No federal consequence

Correct answer: A

Major offenses carry a one-year CDL disqualification minimum (three years if hauling hazardous materials), and lifetime for a second.

Question 20 of 25

A leaking exhaust system is dangerous because:

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

Correct answer: C

Carbon monoxide from a leaking exhaust can cause headaches, drowsiness, and unconsciousness. The illegality is real but the safety risk is the bigger answer.

Question 21 of 25

A driver should secure cargo so it:

A Looks neat from the outside
B Fills the trailer floor edge to edge
C Cannot shift on stops, starts, or turns and is within axle weight limits
D Is loaded in the order it will be delivered

Correct answer: C

The legal standard is securement against forces during normal driving conditions plus an emergency stop, and within axle and total weight limits.

Question 22 of 25

Skids are most often caused by:

A Old tires
B Driving too fast for conditions
C Properly working brakes
D Manual transmissions

Correct answer: B

The dominant cause of skids identified by the FMCSA is driving too fast for the road or weather. Sudden steering, hard braking, or hard acceleration usually triggers them.

Question 23 of 25

A driver's blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or higher while operating a commercial motor vehicle is:

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

Correct answer: C

Federal rules treat 0.04% BAC in a CMV as DUI for CDL purposes — half the typical 0.08% limit for non-commercial drivers.

Question 24 of 25

The most important hand position on the steering wheel is:

A Both hands at the bottom
B 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
C One hand at 12
D 12 and 6

Correct answer: B

A balanced grip at 10-and-2 or 9-and-3 gives the most control. One-handed and bottom-of-wheel positions reduce reaction time.

Question 25 of 25

Hydroplaning is most likely when:

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

Correct answer: C

Hydroplaning happens when tires ride on top of standing water at speed. Reduce risk by slowing down, keeping tires properly inflated and tread depth adequate.

Study tips for the New Hampshire General Knowledge exam

The General Knowledge portion of the New Hampshire CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the New Hampshire Division 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles office.

Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NH Air Brakes · NH Combination Vehicles · NH Hazardous Materials · NH Passenger · NH School Bus · NH Tank Vehicle · NH Doubles / Triples

New to the CDL process in New Hampshire? Read How to apply for a CDL in New Hampshire for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.