Oklahoma General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Oklahoma General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. 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 The full range of high-beam headlights when in use
- B The range of your low-beam headlights
- C Half the range of your low-beam headlights
- D Whatever speed feels safe
- A Signal only when other vehicles are present
- B Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- C Signal only at the moment you start turning
- D Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
- A Pump the brakes hard and fast
- B Use the parking brake to slow down
- C Disengage the clutch and coast
- D Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- A Safety for yourself and other road users
- B To meet your dispatcher's schedule
- C To improve fuel economy
- D To reduce tire wear
- A 2/32 inch
- B 6/32 inch
- C 1/32 inch
- D 4/32 inch
- A 15 hours of driving
- B 8 hours in any 24-hour period
- C 14 consecutive hours since coming on duty
- D 20 hours in a 24-hour period
- A A green flag
- B Nothing — federal rules do not require marking
- C Yellow tape only
- D A red flag (or red light at night) at the extreme rear
- A Only if a warning light comes on
- B Within the first 25 miles, then about every 150 miles or every 3 hours
- C Only when the load is hazardous
- D At the end of the trip
- A Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow down
- B Brake immediately and pull off the road
- C Steer sharply toward the shoulder
- D Shift to neutral and coast
- A Old tires
- B Properly working brakes
- C Driving too fast for conditions
- D Manual transmissions
- A Brake-lag distance only
- B Perception distance + reaction distance + brake-lag distance + braking distance
- C Speed times weight
- D Reaction distance only
- A 40,000 lbs or more
- B 10,001 lbs or more
- C 26,001 lbs or more
- D 20,000 lbs or more
- A Slow down before entering and accelerate gently through it
- B Downshift in the curve
- C Brake while in the curve
- D Stay at the same speed
- A Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- B Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- C Brakes self-adjust forever
- D Drum brakes never need adjustment
- A Bridges and overpasses
- B Roads in direct sunlight
- C Gravel surfaces
- D Concrete pavement only
- A All of the above
- B It would push your weight over legal limits
- C The cargo is not properly secured or placarded
- D It would make you exceed federal hours-of-service rules
- A Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop
- B Always come to a full stop regardless of traffic
- C Honk and proceed
- D Cross at maximum speed to get over quickly
- A It increases brake pressure automatically
- B It applies the parking brake
- C It prevents wheel lockup so the driver can keep steering
- D It always stops the vehicle in a shorter distance
- A Both hands at the bottom
- B One hand at 12
- C 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
- D 12 and 6
- A Coasting in neutral
- B Pumping the brakes hard and fast
- C Locking the wheels
- D Applying the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels
- 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 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 Setting the parking brake, releasing the service brakes, and gently trying to move the vehicle in low gear
- B Pumping the brakes
- C Driving over a speed bump
- D Releasing the parking brake on a flat surface and tugging gently against it
- A 6 seconds
- B 10 seconds
- C 4 seconds
- D 1 second
- A Required emergency equipment is missing
- B A passenger door is open
- C A trailer brake light is out
- D A vehicle is in safe operating condition
Study tips for the Oklahoma General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Oklahoma CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Department of Public Safety 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Department of Public Safety office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: OK Air Brakes · OK Combination Vehicles · OK Hazardous Materials · OK Passenger · OK School Bus · OK Tank Vehicle · OK Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Oklahoma? Read How to apply for a CDL in Oklahoma for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.