Delaware CDL General Knowledge study plan
Delaware CDL General Knowledge · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
CDL General Knowledge (minimum knowledge test required for all CDL applicants)
Read the Delaware CDL General Knowledge manual sections on vehicle inspection, basic control, and shifting in full, annotating every rule that appears in a numbered list
Write a one-page checklist of the pre-trip inspection items you must verify on the vehicle you will actually test in
Recite the seven-step pre-trip inspection sequence aloud from memory without notes by the end of the week
Define in your own words the difference between controlled braking, stab braking, and brake fading
Your checkpoint
A handwritten pre-trip inspection checklist covering at least 25 items, plus a scored self-quiz of 20 recall questions with your answers and a 70 percent or better pass mark
CDL General Knowledge (minimum knowledge test required for all CDL applicants)
Study the manual chapters on shifting, backing, and turning, then list every speed and distance figure the manual states
Practice the straight-line backing and offset backing procedures in a large empty lot or by visualizing each step and writing the sequence
Explain how to judge clearance for a right turn and why off-tracking occurs
Memorize the rules for railroad crossings, including when to stop and which vehicles must always stop
Your checkpoint
A one-page reference sheet of every numeric limit in the manual (following distance, clearance, stopping distances, weight thresholds) written from memory and then corrected against the manual
CDL General Knowledge (minimum knowledge test required for all CDL applicants)
Read the sections on seeing hazards, distracted driving, and aggressive driving, and summarize each in three sentences
Identify the six conditions that require slowing down and give a driving example for each
Describe how to handle a tire blowout, a brake failure, and a stuck accelerator without looking at the manual
List the factors that determine safe following distance and calculate following distance at 40 mph in seconds
Your checkpoint
A written emergency-response card covering five vehicle failures, each with a step-by-step driver action list, checked against the manual for accuracy
CDL General Knowledge (minimum knowledge test required for all CDL applicants)
Study the cargo, weight distribution, and securement rules, noting which loads require special permits
Explain how to check that a load is balanced and why a heavy load high on the trailer is dangerous
Review the sections on mountain driving, winter driving, and hot weather driving
Complete 60 practice questions on the first half of the manual and log every wrong answer with the correct rule
Your checkpoint
A 50-question cumulative practice test scored at 80 percent or higher, with a written error log showing the corrected rule for each miss
Milestones
Week 4: Score 80 percent or better on a 50-question cumulative test covering inspection, control, shifting, and space management, and show an error log with a corrected rule for every missed question