Colorado CDL General Knowledge study guide
Colorado CDL General Knowledge · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Colorado CDL General Knowledge test is the written knowledge exam that the Colorado DMV uses within its Commercial Driver License program. The Colorado DMV lists Commercial Driver License as a service line under Driver/ID Services, and CDL-related transactions can be started through myDMV online services or handled at a driver license office. The Colorado CDL General Knowledge study guide has 5 sections and about 2,406 words.
01General Knowledge: Inspection, Space, Speed, and Night Driving
Colorado's General Knowledge test is the broadest CDL written exam - 50 questions with 80% correct needed to pass - and it covers the core of the CDL manual: inspection, basic control, seeing and communicating, space and speed management, night and mountain driving, emergencies, and cargo. The endorsement tests assume this material, so questions are practical rather than trivia.
464 words, about 2 min02Air Brakes: Pressure, Tests, and Brake Fade
Colorado's Air Brakes test is 25 questions with an 80% passing score and is required for any vehicle with air brakes. It tests how the system builds and loses pressure, the tests you must perform, and how to brake without overheating.
499 words, about 2 min03Combination Vehicles: Coupling, Air Lines, and Handling
Colorado's Combination Vehicles test is 20 questions with 80% to pass. It covers coupling and uncoupling, air and electrical connections, and the handling differences that make a tractor-trailer less forgiving than a straight truck.
501 words, about 3 min04Hazardous Materials: Classes, Placards, Papers, and Parking
Colorado's Hazardous Materials test is 30 questions with 80% to pass, and the endorsement also requires a TSA threat assessment and background check. The test covers hazard classes, placarding, shipping papers, parking, and emergency response.
473 words, about 2 min05Tanker Vehicles: Surge, Rollover Risk, and Outage
Colorado's Tanker Vehicles test is 20 questions with 80% to pass, and it applies to vehicles carrying liquid or gaseous cargo in tanks with an individual capacity over 119 gallons and an aggregate of 1,000 gallons or more. The exam focuses on what makes a tanker different: surge, a high center of gravity, and loading limits.
469 words, about 2 min