North Dakota Tank Vehicle CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the North Dakota Tank Vehicle 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 Drive over the maximum allowable speed for the load
- B All of the above
- C Disregard outage requirements
- D Skip a pre-trip inspection
- A Coast in neutral
- B Maintain pressure on the brakes
- C Increase speed
- D Use the escape ramp
- A Is a road sign
- B Is part of the brake system
- C Is for the driver to enter the tank
- D Provides access to the tank interior and must be sealed during transport
- A Use stab braking on non-ABS, full pressure on ABS, and be ready for surge
- B Pump rapidly
- C Coast in neutral
- D Use only the parking brake
- A Avoid all freeways
- B Take the shortest route regardless of grade
- C Use the parking brake on grades
- D Avoid steep grades and sharp curves where possible
- A Skip the site procedures
- B Follow site procedures and verify equipment before loading
- C Begin loading without checking
- D Allow another driver to load for them
- A Eliminated by ABS
- B Only an issue when empty
- C Lower than a flatbed
- D Always present, especially with a high center of gravity and liquid surge
- A Skip the brake check
- B Drive normally
- C Use only the parking brake
- D Be especially careful with starts and stops because surge will be severe
- A Pump and unloading equipment
- B Vents and valves
- C Tank shell and covers
- D All of the above
- A Skip the verification
- B Begin unloading immediately
- C Allow the receiver to handle everything
- D Verify the receiver is ready and the receiving tank has capacity
- A Continue to the destination
- B Allow product to leak until empty
- C Stop, isolate the area, and notify emergency services and the carrier
- D Drive faster to limit the spill
- A Increase speed
- B Coast in neutral
- C Be in low gear and use steady moderate brake application
- D Use parking brake intermittently
- A Is divided into separate compartments
- B Is illegal in the U.S.
- C Has internal walls with holes that slow liquid movement
- D Has no internal structure
- A Speed up
- B Pull over and re-check the load and securement
- C Drive without checking
- D Take a break only
- A Drive faster
- B Try to repair the leak yourself
- C Stop in a safe location, isolate the area, and notify the carrier and authorities
- D Continue to the destination
- A A tank leak
- B A driver shortage
- C The empty space left in a tank for product expansion
- D Equipment failure
- A Maintain speed
- B Increase speed
- C Brake within the curve
- D Slow down before the curve, not in it
- A Permanently mounted to the vehicle
- B A trailer-mounted tank
- C A portable tank set on the vehicle
- D All of the above can be a cargo tank
- A Close vents and covers, secure equipment, and inspect for leaks before leaving
- B Allow the receiver to close everything
- C Drive away with vents open
- D Skip the post-unload inspection
- A Cut between cars
- B Drive at posted speed
- C Tailgate to keep position
- D Maintain extra following distance to allow gentle braking
- A P endorsement
- B X endorsement (combination of H and N)
- C L restriction
- D H endorsement
- A Verify product compatibility and follow safety procedures
- B Skip the safety check
- C Allow the receiver to add chemicals
- D Mix freely
- A The vehicle is heavy and stops slower; surge is reduced but mass is high
- B It stops faster
- C Surge is severe
- D There is no effect
- A Brake harder to make up for traction loss
- B Maintain speed
- C Use the parking brake
- D Brake earlier and more gently than normal
- A Smooth-bore (unbaffled) tanks
- B Compartmented tanks
- C Baffled tanks
- D Empty tanks
Study tips for the North Dakota Tank Vehicle exam
The Tank Vehicle 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 Tank Vehicle 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 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 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 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 North Dakota 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 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 General Knowledge · ND Air Brakes · ND Combination Vehicles · ND Hazardous Materials · ND Passenger · ND School Bus · 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.