North Dakota General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the North Dakota General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. 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 A warning
- B CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- C A fine only
- D No federal consequence
- A Cross at maximum speed to get over quickly
- B Always come to a full stop regardless of traffic
- C Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop
- D Honk and proceed
- A Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- B Pump the brakes hard and fast
- C Disengage the clutch and coast
- D Use the parking brake to slow down
- A Increase following distance
- B Make smooth steering and braking inputs
- C Slow down
- D All of the above
- A A passenger door is open
- B Required emergency equipment is missing
- C A trailer brake light is out
- D A vehicle is in safe operating condition
- A Three reflective triangles: 10 ft, 100 ft, and 200 ft toward approaching traffic
- B A spotter walking 1,000 ft up the road
- C One reflective triangle within 10 feet
- D A flare burning constantly
- A 6 seconds
- B 1 second
- C 10 seconds
- D 4 seconds
- A Engine braking helps keep speed under control
- B Brakes alone are not designed to hold a heavy vehicle on a long downgrade
- C All of the above
- D Heavy vehicles can slow down sharply on grades
- A All of the above
- B It would make you exceed federal hours-of-service rules
- C The cargo is not properly secured or placarded
- D It would push your weight over legal limits
- 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 Driving in dry conditions
- B On any downgrade
- C In residential areas only because of noise
- D Roads are wet, icy, or snow-covered
- A Increase your following distance from the vehicle in front to give both of you more room
- B Speed up to get away
- C Move to the left lane only
- D Brake suddenly to teach a lesson
- A You brake hard on dry pavement
- B Tires lose contact with the road on a film of water
- C Roads are dry but hot
- D Tires are over-inflated
- A Nothing — federal rules do not require marking
- B A green flag
- C A red flag (or red light at night) at the extreme rear
- D Yellow tape only
- A A traffic violation, but not a CDL disqualification
- B Allowed if the driver feels fine
- C Allowed off-duty only
- D Considered driving under the influence for CDL purposes
- A Any detectable amount above 0.00%
- B 0.04% or higher
- C 0.10% or higher
- D 0.08% or higher
- A Stay in high gear
- B Select a lower gear before starting down
- C Use the parking brake intermittently
- D Coast in neutral
- A 40,000 lbs or more
- B 20,000 lbs or more
- C 26,001 lbs or more
- D 10,001 lbs or more
- A The bridge is closed in winter
- B The pavement under the bridge is reinforced
- C Bridge surfaces freeze first because of air circulation underneath
- D Bridges are inspected only in winter
- A Cover the brake and slow down
- B Maintain speed
- C Honk and accelerate
- D Move to the right lane
- A On wet roads only
- B On vehicles with ABS
- C To save fuel
- D On vehicles without ABS, to keep them straight in an emergency
- A Tire chains are required by federal law
- B Roads are most slippery just after rain begins, when water mixes with road oil
- C High beams improve visibility in heavy rain
- D It is safe to drive at the posted speed limit
- A Federal rules do not apply to cargo securement
- B Tying a load down once at the start is enough
- C You must inspect cargo and securement before driving and within the first 50 miles
- D Cargo is the shipper's responsibility, not yours
- A A federal speed restriction
- B The fuel tank area
- C The area immediately next to it where other drivers are hidden in your blind spots
- D The area in front of the steer axle
- A Honk loudly to warn other drivers
- B Tap the horn lightly or flash lights to signal your presence
- C Never communicate; just drive
- D Make eye contact only when stopped
Study tips for the North Dakota General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the North Dakota CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the North Dakota Department of Transportation draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the North Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota Department of Transportation 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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota Department of Transportation office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: ND Air Brakes · ND Combination Vehicles · ND Hazardous Materials · ND Passenger · ND School Bus · ND Tank Vehicle · ND Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in North Dakota? Read How to apply for a CDL in North Dakota for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.