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Wyoming General Knowledge CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Wyoming General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Wyoming 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.

Heads up: this is a study tool, not a graded exam. Cover the answer with your hand or a sheet of paper for an honest practice run, then re-read the explanations for any questions you missed. Aim for 22 out of 25 or better, three times in a row, before scheduling the real exam.
Question 1 of 25
The proper following distance for a 60-foot truck traveling under 40 mph is at least:
  • A 1 second
  • B 6 seconds
  • C 10 seconds
  • D 4 seconds
Correct answer: B
Use one second per 10 feet of vehicle length below 40 mph: 60 ft / 10 = 6 seconds. Add one additional second above 40 mph.
Question 2 of 25
A "wig-wag" is:
  • A A trailer hitch component
  • B A type of cargo strap
  • C A low-air pressure warning device that drops a flag in front of the driver
  • D A fuel-saving switch
Correct answer: C
On older trucks, a wig-wag is a mechanical low-air warning that lowers a flag into the driver's field of view when air pressure drops below safe limits.
Question 3 of 25
The maximum allowable on-duty driving time after 8 consecutive hours off duty is:
  • A 16 hours
  • B 14 hours
  • C 11 hours
  • D 10 hours
Correct answer: C
After 10 hours off duty, a property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours, within a 14-hour on-duty window.
Question 4 of 25
A controlled braking technique means:
  • A Applying the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels
  • B Coasting in neutral
  • C Pumping the brakes hard and fast
  • D Locking the wheels
Correct answer: A
Controlled braking applies brakes hard but stops short of wheel lock-up. With ABS, you can simply press and hold full pressure.
Question 5 of 25
Which is true about driving in fog?
  • A Use low-beam headlights and slow down
  • B Use the four-ways while in motion at highway speed
  • C Drive faster to get out of the fog quickly
  • D Use high-beam headlights for maximum visibility
Correct answer: A
High beams reflect off fog and reduce visibility. Slow down and use low beams or fog lamps if equipped.
Question 6 of 25
You are driving a heavy vehicle and have to stop on a long downgrade. Which is the safest way?
  • A Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application
  • B Disengage the clutch and coast
  • C Pump the brakes hard and fast
  • D Use the parking brake to slow down
Correct answer: A
On a long downgrade, select a low gear before the descent and use steady, light to moderate braking. Hard pumping or coasting in neutral leads to brake fade and loss of control.
Question 7 of 25
A driver may keep moving when:
  • A A passenger door is open
  • B A trailer brake light is out
  • C Required emergency equipment is missing
  • D A vehicle is in safe operating condition
Correct answer: D
Federal rules forbid driving any CMV that is not in safe operating condition. Continue only after the defect is fixed.
Question 8 of 25
A driver convicted of a major offense (DUI, leaving the scene, etc.) in a CMV faces:
  • A CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
  • B A warning
  • C No federal consequence
  • D A fine only
Correct answer: A
Major offenses carry a one-year CDL disqualification minimum (three years if hauling hazardous materials), and lifetime for a second.
Question 9 of 25
Hours-of-service records are required to be kept by:
  • A The driver, in the form of a logbook or electronic logging device
  • B The dispatcher only
  • C No one
  • D The carrier only
Correct answer: A
Drivers are responsible for accurate hours-of-service records, kept either on paper logs or, for most carriers, on an ELD.
Question 10 of 25
The two main reasons why a driver's feet are kept off the brakes when not actively braking are:
  • A To rest the right leg
  • B To save fuel and improve mileage
  • C To save brake pads and reduce drag
  • D So the brake lights don't mislead following drivers and so the brakes don't overheat
Correct answer: D
Riding the brake lights confuses drivers behind you and gradually heats the friction surfaces, both of which are safety problems.
Question 11 of 25
When the road is slippery, you should:
  • A All of the above
  • B Increase following distance
  • C Slow down
  • D Make smooth steering and braking inputs
Correct answer: A
Slippery roads require all three: more cushion, smoother inputs, and lower speed.
Question 12 of 25
When should you do an en-route inspection?
  • A Within the first 25 miles, then about every 150 miles or every 3 hours
  • B Only when the load is hazardous
  • C Only if a warning light comes on
  • D At the end of the trip
Correct answer: A
The FMCSA model manual recommends a check within the first 25 miles to catch loose cargo or under-inflated tires that have warmed up, then about every 150 miles or 3 hours, and any time you stop.
Question 13 of 25
Stab braking is used:
  • A On vehicles with ABS
  • B On wet roads only
  • C To save fuel
  • D On vehicles without ABS, to keep them straight in an emergency
Correct answer: D
Stab braking — full application then release as soon as wheels lock, then re-apply — is for non-ABS vehicles. With ABS, do not pump.
Question 14 of 25
A driver who refuses to take a required drug or alcohol test is treated as if they:
  • A Took the test and passed
  • B Need to take it again later
  • C Did not take the test, with no consequence
  • D Took the test and failed
Correct answer: D
Refusal is a federal CDL disqualification with the same consequences as a positive test.
Question 15 of 25
Which is required when stopping on the side of a level, straight, two-lane road?
  • A A flare burning constantly
  • B One reflective triangle within 10 feet
  • C A spotter walking 1,000 ft up the road
  • D Three reflective triangles: 10 ft, 100 ft, and 200 ft toward approaching traffic
Correct answer: D
On a level straight road, place triangles 10 feet behind the vehicle, 100 feet, and 200 feet to the rear in the direction of approaching traffic.
Question 16 of 25
Acceleration must be smooth and gradual to avoid:
  • A Annoying passengers
  • B Engine damage
  • C Powertrain wear and possible loss of control on slippery surfaces
  • D Wasting fuel only
Correct answer: C
Quick throttle inputs on slick surfaces can spin the drive wheels and cause a tractor jackknife. Smooth acceleration avoids this and reduces wear.
Question 17 of 25
To recover from a front-wheel skid, you should:
  • A Release the brake, let the wheels turn freely, and let the vehicle slow down
  • B Accelerate
  • C Brake hard immediately
  • D Steer sharply in the opposite direction
Correct answer: A
A front-wheel skid is usually caused by braking too hard. Release the brake to allow the front tires to grip again so steering returns.
Question 18 of 25
When should you use four-way flashers?
  • A When you are stopped or moving slowly enough to be a hazard
  • B Only at night
  • C Only on the highway
  • D Whenever you feel like it
Correct answer: A
Four-ways are for vehicles stopped on or near the road or moving so slowly that they are a hazard.
Question 19 of 25
The most important hand position on the steering wheel is:
  • A 12 and 6
  • B Both hands at the bottom
  • C 10 and 2 (or 9 and 3)
  • D One hand at 12
Correct answer: C
A balanced grip at 10-and-2 or 9-and-3 gives the most control. One-handed and bottom-of-wheel positions reduce reaction time.
Question 20 of 25
Engine retarders (Jake brakes) should be turned off when:
  • A Roads are wet, icy, or snow-covered
  • B On any downgrade
  • C Driving in dry conditions
  • D In residential areas only because of noise
Correct answer: A
Retarders can cause drive-wheel skids on slippery surfaces. Turn them off when traction is reduced.
Question 21 of 25
You may not drive a CMV with a blood-alcohol concentration of:
  • A Any detectable amount above 0.00%
  • B 0.10% or higher
  • C 0.04% or higher
  • D 0.08% or higher
Correct answer: C
0.04% is the regulatory limit for CMV operation. A detectable amount under that triggers an out-of-service order but is not necessarily a DUI conviction.
Question 22 of 25
On a long downgrade, why is it dangerous to use the brakes too much?
  • A It wastes brake pads
  • B It cools the brakes too much
  • C It triggers the ABS warning light
  • D Brake fade can leave you with reduced or no braking power
Correct answer: D
Heat from continuous braking causes the friction surfaces to lose their grip. Use a low gear and brief, moderate brake applications.
Question 23 of 25
Which is true about driving in rain?
  • A Tire chains are required by federal law
  • B It is safe to drive at the posted speed limit
  • C High beams improve visibility in heavy rain
  • D Roads are most slippery just after rain begins, when water mixes with road oil
Correct answer: D
The first few minutes of rain mix with oil and grime on the road and create the slipperiest conditions. Slow down and increase following distance.
Question 24 of 25
Which is true about brake lining wear and adjustment?
  • A Brakes self-adjust forever
  • B Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
  • C Drum brakes never need adjustment
  • D Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
Correct answer: D
Slack adjusters can fail, and pushrod travel must be within limits. Drivers check; adjustment itself is a maintenance task for qualified personnel.
Question 25 of 25
A driver should secure cargo so it:
  • A Fills the trailer floor edge to edge
  • B Looks neat from the outside
  • C Is loaded in the order it will be delivered
  • D Cannot shift on stops, starts, or turns and is within axle weight limits
Correct answer: D
The legal standard is securement against forces during normal driving conditions plus an emergency stop, and within axle and total weight limits.

Study tips for the Wyoming General Knowledge exam

The General Knowledge portion of the Wyoming CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Wyoming Department of Transportation draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming Department of Transportation office.

Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: WY Air Brakes · WY Combination Vehicles · WY Hazardous Materials · WY Passenger · WY School Bus · WY Tank Vehicle · WY Doubles / Triples

New to the CDL process in Wyoming? Read How to apply for a CDL in Wyoming for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.