Vermont General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Vermont General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. 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 Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- B Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- C Drum brakes never need adjustment
- D Brakes self-adjust forever
- A 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
- B One hand at 12
- C Both hands at the bottom
- D 12 and 6
- A Coasting in neutral
- B Locking the wheels
- C Pumping the brakes hard and fast
- D Applying the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels
- A A vehicle is in safe operating condition
- B A trailer brake light is out
- C Required emergency equipment is missing
- D A passenger door is open
- 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 Tractor-trailers under 26,001 lbs GCWR
- B Vehicles designed to carry 16+ passengers including the driver, or that require hazmat placards
- C Any vehicle over 26,001 lbs
- D Class A combinations only
- A Tires lose contact with the road on a film of water
- B Roads are dry but hot
- C Tires are over-inflated
- D You brake hard on dry pavement
- A Steer sharply toward the shoulder
- B Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow down
- C Brake immediately and pull off the road
- D Shift to neutral and coast
- A Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
- B Disengage the clutch and coast
- C Use the parking brake to slow down
- D Pump the brakes hard and fast
- A A type of cargo strap
- B A low-air pressure warning device that drops a flag in front of the driver
- C A fuel-saving switch
- D A trailer hitch component
- A CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- B A warning
- C No federal consequence
- D A fine only
- A Frequent yawning
- B All of the above
- C Trouble remembering the last few miles
- D Drifting in your lane
- 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 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 Gravel surfaces
- B Roads in direct sunlight
- C Concrete pavement only
- D Bridges and overpasses
- A Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop
- B Honk and proceed
- C Always come to a full stop regardless of traffic
- D Cross at maximum speed to get over quickly
- A Back without using mirrors so you can watch out the window
- B Back fast to get it over with
- C Back to the right whenever possible
- D Use a helper and walk around the vehicle first
- A In residential areas only because of noise
- B Roads are wet, icy, or snow-covered
- C Driving in dry conditions
- D On any downgrade
- 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 Move to the right lane
- B Honk and accelerate
- C Cover the brake and slow down
- D Maintain speed
- A Power steering fluid is at the proper level
- B All of the above
- C Coolant level is above LOW and the cap is secure
- D Engine oil level is safe to operate
- A 6/32 inch
- B 4/32 inch
- C 2/32 inch
- D 1/32 inch
- A It increases brake pressure automatically
- B It prevents wheel lockup so the driver can keep steering
- C It applies the parking brake
- D It always stops the vehicle in a shorter distance
- A 10,001 lbs or more
- B 26,001 lbs or more
- C 20,000 lbs or more
- D 40,000 lbs or more
- A Heavy vehicles can slow down sharply on grades
- B Engine braking helps keep speed under control
- C Brakes alone are not designed to hold a heavy vehicle on a long downgrade
- D All of the above
Study tips for the Vermont General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Vermont CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: VT Air Brakes · VT Combination Vehicles · VT Hazardous Materials · VT Passenger · VT School Bus · VT Tank Vehicle · VT Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Vermont? Read How to apply for a CDL in Vermont for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.