Georgia CDL General Knowledge Practice Test

The Georgia CDL General Knowledge test is a multiple-choice knowledge test you take for your commercial learner's permit. Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) says you need 80% to pass (source).

Last updated Oct 15, 2026. FirstTry CDL is a CDL permit test prep site by Hive Asset Group, LLC.

By Scott Wilder, Editor

Last reviewed against the Georgia CDL manual on October 15, 2026

Scott Wilder on X | scottwilderhq.com

FirstTry CDL is a CDL permit test prep site by Hive Asset Group, LLC. It offers free exam-style practice tests built from the official CDL manual. FirstTry CDL is not affiliated with any DMV, FMCSA or government agency. Practice questions are exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual, not actual test questions.

Georgia CDL permit facts

What	What Georgia says	Source
General Knowledge pass mark	80%	Official page
CLP fee	$10	Official page
CLP validity	365 days (for permits issued on or after July 1, 2021)	Official page
Knowledge test retest wait	2 days after the first failure and any later failure	Official page
Test languages	You must be able to read and understand English, and all documents must be in English. The DDS manual says road signs and driving tests are in English only. Which languages the CDL knowledge tests come in is not stated on the official pages.	Official page

20 question General Knowledge practice test

1. You take the skills test in a vehicle with air over hydraulic brakes. What can you not drive?
1. A. A CMV with a braking system that operates fully on air brakes
2. B. Any CMV with hydraulic brakes
3. C. A CMV with a manual transmission
4. D. Any CMV that carries cargo
Show answer
Answer: A. A CMV with a braking system that operates fully on air brakes
Air over hydraulic skills testing gives the Z restriction against full air brake vehicles.
From the official CDL manual, section 1.
2. When should you clear ice and snow from windows and mirrors?
1. A. Before starting
2. B. Only when it stops snowing
3. C. After you start driving
4. D. Only from the windshield
Show answer
Answer: A. Before starting
Remove ice and snow from the windshield, windows, and mirrors before starting.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.13.1.
3. If you use a phone while driving a CMV, which kind may you use?
1. A. A phone you hold in one hand
2. B. A phone on the passenger seat that you reach for
3. C. A hands free phone that is located close to you
4. D. A phone you dial with several buttons
Show answer
Answer: C. A hands free phone that is located close to you
Only a hands free phone located close to you may be used.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.9.4.
4. What should you check on a front-end header board (headache rack)?
1. A. That it is painted
2. B. That it is in good condition
3. C. That it is removed
4. D. That it is loose
Show answer
Answer: B. That it is in good condition
The manual says to make sure the front-end structure is in good condition.
From the official CDL manual, section 3.3.3.
5. About how far ahead can you see with low-beam headlights at night?
1. A. About 100 feet
2. B. About 500 feet
3. C. About 1,000 feet
4. D. About 250 feet
Show answer
Answer: D. About 250 feet
Low beams show the road ahead for about 250 feet.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.11.4.
6. Which vehicles are required to stop at public railroad crossings?
1. A. Only vehicles over 26,001 pounds
2. B. Only empty trucks
3. C. Passenger vehicles and vehicles carrying hazardous materials
4. D. Only vehicles pulling a trailer
Show answer
Answer: C. Passenger vehicles and vehicles carrying hazardous materials
Passenger and hazmat carrying vehicles must stop at the crossing.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.15.2.
7. You are not sure what to use on a hazardous materials fire. What should you do?
1. A. Wait for firefighters
2. B. Use water
3. C. Use the closest extinguisher
4. D. Open the doors to check
Show answer
Answer: A. Wait for firefighters
If you are not sure what to use, especially on a hazmat fire, wait for firefighters.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.21.3.
8. Where should hazmat shipping papers be when you are out of the vehicle?
1. A. On the driver's seat
2. B. In the glove box
3. C. Under the passenger seat
4. D. Inside the trailer with the cargo
Show answer
Answer: A. On the driver's seat
Firefighters and police must be able to find the papers quickly, so keep them on the driver's seat.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.23.2.
9. At a BAC of .50, what does the manual's chart say happens?
1. A. Mellow feeling
2. B. Reduced reaction time
3. C. Many lose consciousness
4. D. Breathing stops and many die
Show answer
Answer: D. Breathing stops and many die
The chart says that at .50 breathing stops and many die.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.22.1.
10. Your brakes fail going down a long hill and you see an escape ramp. What should you do?
1. A. Keep going and hope the brakes return
2. B. Pass the ramp and look for a flat road
3. C. Use the escape ramp
4. D. Stop on the shoulder at once
Show answer
Answer: C. Use the escape ramp
Any driver who loses brakes going downhill should use an escape ramp if one is available.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.17.3.
11. Why should you not assume a posted bridge height is correct?
1. A. Posted heights are measured for cars only
2. B. Posted heights always include a safety margin
3. C. Re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance
4. D. Bridge signs show width, not height
Show answer
Answer: C. Re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance
The clearance may be lower than the sign says after re-paving or packed snow.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.7.4.
12. How much of the light you need may dirty headlights give?
1. A. Only half
2. B. All of it
3. C. Twice as much
4. D. Three quarters
Show answer
Answer: A. Only half
Dirty headlights may give only half the light they should.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.11.4.
13. What can too much weight on the steering axle cause?
1. A. Poor traction on the drive wheels
2. B. Easy steering at high speed
3. C. A lower chance of rollover
4. D. Hard steering, and damage to the steering axle and tires
Show answer
Answer: D. Hard steering, and damage to the steering axle and tires
Too much weight on the steering axle makes steering hard and can damage the axle and tires.
From the official CDL manual, section 3.2.4.
14. What can happen if alcohol is mixed with other drugs?
1. A. Alcohol makes the drug effects weaker
2. B. Alcohol cancels the drug effects
3. C. Alcohol has no effect on the drug
4. D. Alcohol makes the drug effects much worse
Show answer
Answer: D. Alcohol makes the drug effects much worse
Alcohol can make the effects of other drugs much worse.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.22.2.
15. A truck has a high center of gravity. What can happen at the posted speed limit for a curve?
1. A. It will always be safe.
2. B. The brakes will lock by themselves.
3. C. It can roll over.
Show answer
Answer: C. It can roll over.
High center of gravity trucks can roll over even at the posted speed.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.6.3.
16. Which problem can fatigue cause?
1. A. Better judgment of speed
2. B. Errors judging speed and distance
3. C. Faster reactions
4. D. Clearer decisions
Show answer
Answer: B. Errors judging speed and distance
Fatigue causes errors related to speed and distance.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.11.2.
17. Traffic is stopped just past a railroad crossing. What should you do?
1. A. Wait until you can get all the way across the tracks
2. B. Pull onto the tracks and wait
3. C. Stop with your rear wheels on the tracks
4. D. Cross and stop right after the tracks
Show answer
Answer: A. Wait until you can get all the way across the tracks
Be sure you can get all the way across before you start across.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.15.5.
18. How is blocking shaped?
1. A. To fit snugly against the cargo
2. B. To leave a gap around the cargo
3. C. To stand far from the cargo
4. D. To hang above the cargo
Show answer
Answer: A. To fit snugly against the cargo
The manual says blocking is shaped to fit snugly against cargo.
From the official CDL manual, section 3.3.1.
19. Where does bracing run?
1. A. Along the bottom edge of the cargo only
2. B. From the upper part of the cargo to the floor and/or walls of the compartment
3. C. Across the top of the cargo cover
4. D. From one tie-down to another tie-down
Show answer
Answer: B. From the upper part of the cargo to the floor and/or walls of the compartment
Bracing goes from the upper part of the cargo to the floor and/or walls.
From the official CDL manual, section 3.3.1.
20. When is a road especially slippery in the rain?
1. A. After it has rained for several hours
2. B. Just after the rain stops
3. C. Right after the rain begins
4. D. Only when the road is flooded
Show answer
Answer: C. Right after the rain begins
At the start of a rain, water mixes with oil on the road and makes it very slippery.
From the official CDL manual, section 2.6.2.

Georgia CDL General Knowledge questions

What score do you need to pass the Georgia CDL General Knowledge test?

Georgia says you need 80% to pass the General Knowledge test.

Is the Georgia CDL General Knowledge test the same as other states?

The General Knowledge test is built on the same federal knowledge standards in every state, so the topics match the CDL manual. Georgia uses its own handbook: https://dds.georgia.gov/media/12646/download

How much does a CDL permit cost in Georgia?

CLP fee: $10.

What languages is the Georgia CDL knowledge test offered in?

You must be able to read and understand English, and all documents must be in English. The DDS manual says road signs and driving tests are in English only. Which languages the CDL knowledge tests come in is not stated on the official pages.

Sources

https://dds.georgia.gov/media/12646/download
https://dds.georgia.gov/fees-and-terms
https://dds.georgia.gov/georgia-licenses-ids-and-permits/new-license-id-or-permit/how-do-i-cdl-license
Manual sections used in this test: 1; 2.11.2; 2.11.4; 2.13.1; 2.15.2; 2.15.5; 2.17.3; 2.21.3; 2.22.1; 2.22.2; 2.23.2; 2.6.2; 2.6.3; 2.7.4; 2.9.4; 3.2.4; 3.3.1; 3.3.3

General Knowledge practice test in nearby states