New Jersey Tank Vehicle CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the New Jersey Tank Vehicle CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. 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 Set both parking brakes and chock the wheels if necessary
- B Leave the truck in gear without brakes
- C Park on the shoulder without securing
- D Use the trailer hand valve
- A Its high center of gravity and large surface area increase wind effects
- B It uses air brakes
- C It is heavier
- D It is shorter
- A Maintain pressure on the brakes
- B Increase speed
- C Use the escape ramp
- D Coast in neutral
- A Permanently mounted to the vehicle
- B A portable tank set on the vehicle
- C All of the above can be a cargo tank
- D A trailer-mounted tank
- A Baffled tanks
- B Compartmented tanks
- C Smooth-bore (unbaffled) tanks
- D Empty tanks
- A All of the above
- B Cause rollover
- C Cause loss of control
- D Push the vehicle through an intersection
- A Use the inside lane only
- B Slow well below posted speed and watch for surge as you change direction
- C Maintain posted speed
- D Honk and proceed
- A At any speed
- B Sharp and quick
- C Smooth and gradual to minimize side-to-side surge
- D Without signaling
- A Is part of the brake system
- B Is for the driver to enter the tank
- C Provides access to the tank interior and must be sealed during transport
- D Is a road sign
- A 10 feet of the vehicle
- B 100 feet
- C Anywhere outside the cab
- D 25 feet of the vehicle
- A Continue to the destination
- B Try to repair the leak yourself
- C Drive faster
- D Stop in a safe location, isolate the area, and notify the carrier and authorities
- A On a curve or off-ramp at speeds the driver thought were safe
- B In stopped traffic
- C In low-speed maneuvers
- D On straight roads
- A Prevent corrosion
- B Improve fuel mileage
- C Prevent static-electricity sparks during loading and unloading
- D Reduce noise
- A Walk away to take a break
- B Stand at least 50 feet away
- C Stay within reach of the controls and maintain a clear view of the operation
- D Allow the receiver to handle everything
- A Captures vapors during loading and unloading to reduce emissions
- B Improves fuel mileage
- C Reduces engine noise
- D Operates the brakes
- A Skip the site procedures
- B Allow another driver to load for them
- C Begin loading without checking
- D Follow site procedures and verify equipment before loading
- A Check fittings and covers for leaks before leaving the loading site
- B Skip the inspection
- C Drive immediately
- D Allow the shipper to drive
- A Use stab braking on non-ABS, full pressure on ABS, and be ready for surge
- B Use only the parking brake
- C Pump rapidly
- D Coast in neutral
- A Use the trailer hand valve as a parking brake
- B Be ready for surge during stops, starts, and turns
- C Skip pre-trip checks of vents and covers
- D Drive at the posted speed regardless of conditions
- A Apply the parking brake immediately
- B Release the wheel
- C Disengage the clutch
- D Hold the steering wheel firmly because the load may push you forward
- A Use the parking brake harder
- B Look for an escape ramp
- C Coast in neutral
- D Increase speed to clear the descent
- A Verify the receiver is ready and the receiving tank has capacity
- B Skip the verification
- C Allow the receiver to handle everything
- D Begin unloading immediately
- A Disregard surge
- B Use only the parking brake to slow
- C Drive normally
- D Allow extra following distance and brake earlier
- A Faster acceleration
- B No change in handling
- C Easier handling
- D Higher rollover risk
- A Equals the posted speed limit
- B Is below the posted advisory for cars
- C Is whatever feels safe
- D Is above the posted advisory
Study tips for the New Jersey Tank Vehicle exam
The Tank Vehicle portion of the New Jersey CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Tank Vehicle chapter of the New Jersey 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 Jersey 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 Tank Vehicle.
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 Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission 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 Tank Vehicle 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 Jersey General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the Tank Vehicle study guide and the matching chapter in the official New Jersey 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 Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NJ General Knowledge · NJ Air Brakes · NJ Combination Vehicles · NJ Hazardous Materials · NJ Passenger · NJ School Bus · NJ Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in New Jersey? Read How to apply for a CDL in New Jersey for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.