Florida CDL General Knowledge Practice Test 2026

Every Florida CDL applicant takes the General Knowledge test, whatever class of license or endorsement they want. It comes from Sections 1 to 3 of the Florida CDL Handbook: vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, seeing and communicating, managing speed and space, hazards, emergencies, and securing cargo.

These 20 questions are a sample of that material. Pick an answer to see whether you got it right and why, with the handbook section to read next. In the app, the General Knowledge mock exam is 50 questions with an 80% pass mark, the same standard you need on test day.

Question 1 of 20

Double clutching is the technique most commonly used when:
Non-synchronized transmissions don't automatically match gear speeds for you, so you use the clutch twice per shift. Once to disengage the current gear and once to engage the next. This lets the engine and transmission RPMs line up before you slide into the new gear smoothly.
Handbook: 2.2 - Basic Control: Shifting
Question 2 of 20

The horn on a CMV should be used to:
The horn is a safety tool, not a way to express frustration or rush other drivers. Use it when alerting someone to your presence could prevent a collision, for example, when a vehicle is drifting into your lane.
Handbook: 2.5 - Communicating Your Presence
Question 3 of 20

During a pre-trip inspection, a wheel or rim must be marked out of service if you find:
A cracked rim can fail suddenly under load, and rust trails streaking away from the lug nuts mean the nuts have been loose and working against the wheel, which is how wheels come off in traffic. The other findings are common and do not by themselves take a vehicle out of service: light surface rust and brake dust are normal wear, and mixing steel and aluminum wheels on different axles is legal.
Handbook: 2.1.3 - Vehicle Inspection: What to Look For
Question 4 of 20

When holding the steering wheel, your hands should be placed:
Keeping both hands on opposite sides of the wheel (left side and right side) gives you balanced control and lets you turn quickly in either direction. Gripping firmly with both hands helps you maintain a steady path and react to road hazards or sudden vehicle movement.
Handbook: 2.2 - Steering
Question 5 of 20

When driving in heavy traffic, the space ahead of your vehicle should be:
In heavy traffic, vehicles stop suddenly and often. Extra space in front gives you more time to react and more distance to brake safely without rear-ending the vehicle ahead.
Handbook: 2.7 - Managing Space
Question 6 of 20

Tire chains should be:
Chains need to fit your specific tires correctly, and putting them on for the first time in a snowstorm is the wrong moment to figure that out. Inspect them before winter so you catch broken links or missing fasteners while there's still time to replace them.
Handbook: 2.13 - Driving in Winter
Question 7 of 20

Under Florida's point system, accumulating 18 points within how many months triggers a 3-month license suspension?
Reaching 18 points within an 18-month period results in a 3-month suspension under Florida's point system. The time window matches the point total, both are 18, which can help you remember this rule.
Handbook: Florida Statute 322.27 - Point System and Suspensions
Question 8 of 20

A Florida CDL driver operating only within Florida who is NOT exempt from medical requirements must self-certify as:
Driving within a single state without any exemption means you are subject to medical requirements and operating intrastate (within Florida only). The "Non-Excepted Intrastate" category applies to drivers who must meet medical standards but stay within state lines.
Handbook: 1.4 - Other CDL Rules
Question 9 of 20

On a steep downgrade, an escape ramp is built to:
Escape ramps are designed for trucks that have lost braking ability on a steep descent. They use materials like deep gravel or sand, plus an uphill slope, to bring a runaway vehicle to a stop without a crash.
Handbook: 2.16 - Mountain Driving
Question 10 of 20

The best way to recover from drowsiness while driving is to:
Caffeine and fresh air only mask drowsiness temporarily. They do not eliminate it. The only real cure for drowsiness is sleep. Pulling off and resting is the only safe option.
Handbook: 2.23 - Staying Alert
Question 11 of 20

If your driver's license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, you must notify your employer within:
Federal rules require you to tell your employer within two business days of losing your driving privileges. Waiting longer is a violation, even if you think the suspension might be temporary or under appeal.
Handbook: FMCSA 49 CFR 383.33 - Notification of License Suspension
Question 12 of 20

When checking overhead clearance before passing under a bridge, you should know that:
The weight of a loaded trailer compresses the suspension, lowering the vehicle's overall height. An empty trailer rides higher because there is no load pushing the suspension down, which means it can be taller than the posted height you previously cleared when loaded.
Handbook: 2.7 - Space Overhead
Question 13 of 20

Under Florida's Move Over Law, when a driver cannot safely change lanes on a two-lane road with a posted limit of 20 mph or less, the required speed is:
On very low-speed roads where changing lanes isn't possible, Florida law requires slowing to 5 mph to give emergency or stopped vehicles a safe buffer. This applies specifically when the posted limit is 20 mph or less.
Handbook: Florida Statute 316.126 - Move Over Law
Question 14 of 20

Operating a CMV in interstate commerce generally requires the driver to carry:
Federal law requires interstate CMV drivers to meet specific physical and medical standards. A medical examiner's certificate proves you passed a DOT physical exam and are medically fit to drive.
Handbook: FMCSA 49 CFR 391.41 - Physical Qualifications
Question 15 of 20

Seeing a hazard early lets you:
Spotting a hazard early gives you time to slow down, change lanes, or take other action before the situation turns dangerous. When you react with time to spare, you stay in control instead of making a panic decision.
Handbook: 2.8 - Importance of Seeing Hazards
Question 16 of 20

Hydroplaning can begin to occur at speeds as low as:
Tires can lose contact with the road and ride on a thin film of water starting around 30 mph. You don't need to be going highway speeds for hydroplaning to be a danger.
Handbook: 2.6 - Wet Roads
Question 17 of 20

When using convex (wide-angle) mirrors, you should keep in mind that:
Convex mirrors curve outward to give you a wider field of view, but that shape distorts distance. Objects appear smaller and farther away than they actually are, so you cannot judge distances accurately using these mirrors alone.
Handbook: 2.4 - Seeing to the Sides and Rear
Question 18 of 20

When driving at night, you should switch from high beams to low beams within how many feet of an approaching vehicle?
Switching to low beams at 500 feet gives the oncoming driver enough time to adjust without being blinded. High beams can temporarily impair another driver's vision, which can cause a crash.
Handbook: 2.12 - Night Driving
Question 19 of 20

After starting a trip, federal rules require you to inspect your cargo and its securement within the first:
Federal rules require a cargo inspection within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip. This gives you a chance to catch any shifting or loosening that happened during the initial miles of driving.
Handbook: 3.1 - Inspecting Cargo
Question 20 of 20

While driving a CMV, sending a text message is:
Texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle is banned under federal law, not just discouraged. This applies to all CMV drivers on public roads, and violations can result in heavy fines and disqualification from driving commercially.
Handbook: 2.9 - Texting

Your score:

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555 questions from the Florida CDL Handbook, timed mock exams for every test, and every answer explained. Study in English or Spanish. No ads, no account needed.

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Florida CDL Exam is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the FLHSMV, the FMCSA, or any Department of Transportation. Questions are original, written from the public Florida CDL Handbook, and are not actual exam questions. Read the official Florida CDL Handbook (PDF).

Florida CDL General Knowledge Practice Test 2026

Double clutching is the technique most commonly used when:

The horn on a CMV should be used to:

During a pre-trip inspection, a wheel or rim must be marked out of service if you find:

When holding the steering wheel, your hands should be placed:

When driving in heavy traffic, the space ahead of your vehicle should be:

Tire chains should be:

Under Florida's point system, accumulating 18 points within how many months triggers a 3-month license suspension?

A Florida CDL driver operating only within Florida who is NOT exempt from medical requirements must self-certify as:

On a steep downgrade, an escape ramp is built to:

The best way to recover from drowsiness while driving is to:

If your driver's license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, you must notify your employer within:

When checking overhead clearance before passing under a bridge, you should know that:

Under Florida's Move Over Law, when a driver cannot safely change lanes on a two-lane road with a posted limit of 20 mph or less, the required speed is:

Operating a CMV in interstate commerce generally requires the driver to carry:

Seeing a hazard early lets you:

Hydroplaning can begin to occur at speeds as low as:

When using convex (wide-angle) mirrors, you should keep in mind that:

When driving at night, you should switch from high beams to low beams within how many feet of an approaching vehicle?

After starting a trip, federal rules require you to inspect your cargo and its securement within the first:

While driving a CMV, sending a text message is:

Your score:

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