Tennessee General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Tennessee General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. 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 Coasting in neutral
- B Locking the wheels
- C Applying the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels
- D Pumping the brakes hard and fast
- A It is illegal
- B It causes the engine to overheat
- C It can let poisonous carbon monoxide into the cab
- D It increases fuel use
- A All of the above
- B Engine oil level is safe to operate
- C Power steering fluid is at the proper level
- D Coolant level is above LOW and the cap is secure
- A Coast in neutral
- B Stay in high gear
- C Select a lower gear before starting down
- D Use the parking brake intermittently
- A Driving too fast for conditions
- B Manual transmissions
- C Old tires
- D Properly working brakes
- A On any downgrade
- B Roads are wet, icy, or snow-covered
- C Driving in dry conditions
- D In residential areas only because of noise
- A Took the test and failed
- B Need to take it again later
- C Took the test and passed
- D Did not take the test, with no consequence
- A All of the above
- B Brakes alone are not designed to hold a heavy vehicle on a long downgrade
- C Engine braking helps keep speed under control
- D Heavy vehicles can slow down sharply on grades
- A A low-air pressure warning device that drops a flag in front of the driver
- B A trailer hitch component
- C A fuel-saving switch
- D A type of cargo strap
- A It cools the brakes too much
- B It wastes brake pads
- C It triggers the ABS warning light
- D Brake fade can leave you with reduced or no braking power
- A A vehicle is in safe operating condition
- B Required emergency equipment is missing
- C A trailer brake light is out
- D A passenger door is open
- A Roads are most slippery just after rain begins, when water mixes with road oil
- B It is safe to drive at the posted speed limit
- C Tire chains are required by federal law
- D High beams improve visibility in heavy rain
- A Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow down
- B Shift to neutral and coast
- C Steer sharply toward the shoulder
- D Brake immediately and pull off the road
- A So the brake lights don't mislead following drivers and so the brakes don't overheat
- B To rest the right leg
- C To save fuel and improve mileage
- D To save brake pads and reduce drag
- A Half the range of your low-beam headlights
- B The full range of high-beam headlights when in use
- C The range of your low-beam headlights
- D Whatever speed feels safe
- A Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- B Signal only when other vehicles are present
- C Signal only at the moment you start turning
- D Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
- A Roads in direct sunlight
- B Bridges and overpasses
- C Concrete pavement only
- D Gravel surfaces
- A Engine damage
- B Powertrain wear and possible loss of control on slippery surfaces
- C Wasting fuel only
- D Annoying passengers
- A Only on the highway
- B Whenever you feel like it
- C Only at night
- D When you are stopped or moving slowly enough to be a hazard
- A Checking the engine compartment
- B Adjusting the trailer brakes individually
- C Walking around the vehicle and checking lights
- D Testing the service and parking brakes
- A Honk and accelerate
- B Cover the brake and slow down
- C Move to the right lane
- D Maintain speed
- A Back fast to get it over with
- B Use a helper and walk around the vehicle first
- C Back without using mirrors so you can watch out the window
- D Back to the right whenever possible
- A 14 hours
- B 11 hours
- C 10 hours
- D 16 hours
- A All of the above
- B The cargo is not properly secured or placarded
- C It would make you exceed federal hours-of-service rules
- D It would push your weight over legal limits
- A No one
- B The dispatcher only
- C The driver, in the form of a logbook or electronic logging device
- D The carrier only
Study tips for the Tennessee General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Tennessee CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: TN Air Brakes · TN Combination Vehicles · TN Hazardous Materials · TN Passenger · TN School Bus · TN Tank Vehicle · TN Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Tennessee? Read How to apply for a CDL in Tennessee for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.