Arizona CDL General Knowledge study plan
Arizona CDL General Knowledge · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Driving Safely & Basic Control of Your Vehicle
Read the Driving Safely and Basic Control material once, writing a one-line summary of each major heading in your own words
List the six factors that increase stopping distance and explain each in a sentence
Practice the pre-trip brake and steering checks on a real or simulated vehicle until you can narrate each step from memory
Define following distance rules at speeds under and over 40 mph and state the rule for being tailgated
Your checkpoint
A one-page handwritten summary sheet covering stopping distance factors, following distance rules, and the basic control sequence, written without notes.
Driving Safely & Sharing the Road and Space Management
Describe how to manage space ahead, behind, and to the sides in six written scenarios you invent yourself
Explain the hazards of driving in rain, fog, snow, and high wind, and state the correct response for each
Identify the blind spots of trucks and buses and write how you would position a commercial vehicle to avoid a collision
Recite the rules for railroad crossings, work zones, and sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians
Your checkpoint
A scored self-quiz of 25 scenario questions you write and answer, with a written explanation for every wrong answer.
Driving Safely & Sharing the Road and Space Management
Review every missed item from week 2 and restate the correct rule in your own words
Explain how fatigue, alcohol, and illness affect driving and list the required response for each
Describe the procedure for a breakdown, a fire, and a crash, including warning device placement
Practice placing warning devices and state the distances required for different road types
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-question practice set on Driving Safely and Sharing the Road, scored and corrected, with all missed rules rewritten.
Driving Safely & Air Brakes
Read the Air Brakes material and label a diagram of the air brake system from memory
Explain the low air pressure warning and the spring brake emergency procedure step by step
Describe the air brake leak test and the sequence of the pre-trip air brake check
State the difference between controlled braking and stab braking and when each applies
Your checkpoint
A spoken air brake inspection walkthrough, recorded or performed for a study partner, covering warning devices, leak test, and emergency stopping.
Transporting Cargo Safely & Combination Vehicles
Explain cargo securement requirements, weight distribution, and the consequences of overloading an axle
Describe how to calculate whether a load fits within legal weight limits and state the rule for redistributing weight
Identify the parts of a combination vehicle and explain the coupling and uncoupling sequence in order
Explain off-tracking, rearward amplification, and the pivot point for a tractor-trailer
Your checkpoint
A numbered coupling and uncoupling checklist written from memory, plus a worked weight distribution example.
Doubles and Triples & Tank Vehicles & School Buses & Passenger Vehicles
State the key handling differences for doubles and triples and the rules for converter dollies
Explain tank vehicle surge, baffles, and the special turning and stopping rules for liquid loads
Describe the loading and unloading rules for school buses and the procedure for students crossing the road
List passenger vehicle rules on standing passengers, baggage, and emergency exits
Your checkpoint
A comparison table of four vehicle types listing at least three handling hazards and one control technique for each.
Hazardous Materials & Vehicle Inspection
Classify hazardous materials by hazard class and identify the placarding requirements for each
Explain shipping paper retention, emergency response information, and the rules for parking and routing
Describe the inspection sequence for the engine compartment, walk-around, and in-cab checks
State the out-of-service criteria for brakes, tires, lights, and coupling devices
Your checkpoint
A full pre-trip inspection checklist written from memory and a placarding decision exercise scored against the rules.
Driving Safely & Air Brakes & Combination Vehicles & Hazardous Materials & Vehicle Inspection & Sharing the Road and Space Management
Complete two full-length timed practice exams and score each one
Review every missed question and write the governing rule for each in a single sentence
Rehearse the air brake and pre-trip inspection walkthroughs until each is fluent
Identify your three weakest domains and drill them until your practice scores exceed 90 percent
Your checkpoint
Two scored full-length practice exams with a written error log showing the corrected rule for every miss.
Milestones
Week 2: You can state stopping distance factors and following distance rules from memory and score at least 80 percent on your own 25-question scenario quiz.
Week 4: You can perform the air brake inspection walkthrough and explain the leak test and emergency procedure without notes.
Week 6: You can write the coupling checklist from memory and correctly describe handling hazards for doubles, tankers, buses, and passenger vehicles.
Week 8: You score at least 90 percent on two full-length timed practice exams and have a written error log covering every missed question.