Oregon General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Oregon General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services. 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 green flag
- B Yellow tape only
- C Nothing — federal rules do not require marking
- D A red flag (or red light at night) at the extreme rear
- A At the end of the trip
- B Only when the load is hazardous
- C Within the first 25 miles, then about every 150 miles or every 3 hours
- D Only if a warning light comes on
- 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 Gross Combination Weight Rating
- B General Carrier Weight Rating
- C Government Combination Weight Reading
- D Gross Cargo Weight Rating
- A Cover the brake and slow down
- B Honk and accelerate
- C Move to the right lane
- D Maintain speed
- A No one
- B The carrier only
- C The driver, in the form of a logbook or electronic logging device
- D The dispatcher only
- A 11 hours
- B 16 hours
- C 10 hours
- D 14 hours
- A The fuel tank area
- B The area in front of the steer axle
- C The area immediately next to it where other drivers are hidden in your blind spots
- D A federal speed restriction
- A Tires are over-inflated
- B Tires lose contact with the road on a film of water
- C You brake hard on dry pavement
- D Roads are dry but hot
- A Accelerate
- B Brake hard immediately
- C Release the brake, let the wheels turn freely, and let the vehicle slow down
- D Steer sharply in the opposite direction
- A Both hands at the bottom
- B 12 and 6
- C One hand at 12
- D 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
- A It is illegal
- B It causes the engine to overheat
- C It increases fuel use
- D It can let poisonous carbon monoxide into the cab
- A 2/32 inch
- B 4/32 inch
- C 1/32 inch
- D 6/32 inch
- A Use the parking brake to slow down
- B Disengage the clutch and coast
- C Pump the brakes hard and fast
- D Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- A Did not take the test, with no consequence
- B Need to take it again later
- C Took the test and passed
- D Took the test and failed
- A Reaction distance only
- B Brake-lag distance only
- C Speed times weight
- D Perception distance + reaction distance + brake-lag distance + braking distance
- A Signal only when other vehicles are present
- B Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
- C Signal only at the moment you start turning
- D Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- A One reflective triangle within 10 feet
- B A flare burning constantly
- C A spotter walking 1,000 ft up the road
- D Three reflective triangles: 10 ft, 100 ft, and 200 ft toward approaching traffic
- A Engine oil level is safe to operate
- B Coolant level is above LOW and the cap is secure
- C Power steering fluid is at the proper level
- D All of the above
- A You must inspect cargo and securement before driving and within the first 50 miles
- B Cargo is the shipper's responsibility, not yours
- C Tying a load down once at the start is enough
- D Federal rules do not apply to cargo securement
- A No federal consequence
- B A warning
- C CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- D A fine only
- A Allowed if the driver feels fine
- B Considered driving under the influence for CDL purposes
- C Allowed off-duty only
- D A traffic violation, but not a CDL disqualification
- A A low-air pressure warning device that drops a flag in front of the driver
- B A type of cargo strap
- C A fuel-saving switch
- D A trailer hitch component
- 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 It is safe to drive at the posted speed limit
- B Tire chains are required by federal law
- C High beams improve visibility in heavy rain
- D Roads are most slippery just after rain begins, when water mixes with road oil
Study tips for the Oregon General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Oregon CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services 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 Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: OR Air Brakes · OR Combination Vehicles · OR Hazardous Materials · OR Passenger · OR School Bus · OR Tank Vehicle · OR Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Oregon? Read How to apply for a CDL in Oregon for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.