North Carolina General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the North Carolina General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the North Carolina 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.
- A Maintain speed
- B Honk and accelerate
- C Cover the brake and slow down
- D Move to the right lane
- A Honk loudly to warn other drivers
- B Never communicate; just drive
- C Make eye contact only when stopped
- D Tap the horn lightly or flash lights to signal your presence
- A Test the service brake then the parking brake
- B Test the low-air warning then drive
- C Test only the air-leak rate
- D Test the parking brake then the service brake
- A Old tires
- B Driving too fast for conditions
- C Manual transmissions
- D Properly working brakes
- A Brake-lag distance only
- B Perception distance + reaction distance + brake-lag distance + braking distance
- C Reaction distance only
- D Speed times weight
- A Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- B Disengage the clutch and coast
- C Use the parking brake to slow down
- D Pump the brakes hard and fast
- A 0.04% or higher
- B 0.08% or higher
- C 0.10% or higher
- D Any detectable amount above 0.00%
- A Class A combinations only
- B Any vehicle over 26,001 lbs
- C Vehicles designed to carry 16+ passengers including the driver, or that require hazmat placards
- D Tractor-trailers under 26,001 lbs GCWR
- A To rest the right leg
- B To save brake pads and reduce drag
- C So the brake lights don't mislead following drivers and so the brakes don't overheat
- D To save fuel and improve mileage
- A Setting the parking brake, releasing the service brakes, and gently trying to move the vehicle in low gear
- B Releasing the parking brake on a flat surface and tugging gently against it
- C Pumping the brakes
- D Driving over a speed bump
- A 6/32 inch
- B 4/32 inch
- C 2/32 inch
- D 1/32 inch
- A Testing the service and parking brakes
- B Checking the engine compartment
- C Walking around the vehicle and checking lights
- D Adjusting the trailer brakes individually
- A Drifting in your lane
- B Trouble remembering the last few miles
- C All of the above
- D Frequent yawning
- A A trailer brake light is out
- B A vehicle is in safe operating condition
- C A passenger door is open
- D Required emergency equipment is missing
- A The pavement under the bridge is reinforced
- B Bridge surfaces freeze first because of air circulation underneath
- C Bridges are inspected only in winter
- D The bridge is closed in winter
- A Roads in direct sunlight
- B Gravel surfaces
- C Concrete pavement only
- D Bridges and overpasses
- A Signal only when other vehicles are present
- B Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- C Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
- D Signal only at the moment you start turning
- A Make smooth steering and braking inputs
- B Slow down
- C Increase following distance
- D All of the above
- A It always stops the vehicle in a shorter distance
- B It applies the parking brake
- C It increases brake pressure automatically
- D It prevents wheel lockup so the driver can keep steering
- 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
- A Powertrain wear and possible loss of control on slippery surfaces
- B Annoying passengers
- C Wasting fuel only
- D Engine damage
- A Stay in high gear
- B Use the parking brake intermittently
- C Coast in neutral
- D Select a lower gear before starting down
- A A warning
- B A fine only
- C No federal consequence
- D CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- A Brake hard immediately
- B Release the brake, let the wheels turn freely, and let the vehicle slow down
- C Accelerate
- D Steer sharply in the opposite direction
- A A trailer hitch component
- B A type of cargo strap
- C A low-air pressure warning device that drops a flag in front of the driver
- D A fuel-saving switch
Study tips for the North Carolina General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the North Carolina CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NC Air Brakes · NC Combination Vehicles · NC Hazardous Materials · NC Passenger · NC School Bus · NC Tank Vehicle · NC Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in North Carolina? Read How to apply for a CDL in North Carolina for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.