NC CDL General Knowledge study guide
NC CDL General Knowledge · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The North Carolina CDL General Knowledge test is the core written exam every commercial driver license applicant in the state must pass before adding any endorsement or taking a skills test. It is aimed at people who intend to drive Class A, Class B, or Class C commercial vehicles - tractor-trailers, straight trucks, tank vehicles, buses, and other combinations - for pay or in support of a business. The NC CDL General Knowledge study guide has 12 sections and about 3,835 words.
01Vehicle Inspection: The Three-Part Walk-Around
The Vehicle Inspection domain tests the three-part inspection cycle - pre-trip, en route, and after-trip - and the exact defect limits an examiner expects you to state from memory rather than gesture at. Engine compartment: oil and coolant level, power steering fluid, belts, hoses, and any leaks.
351 words, about 2 min02Basic Control: Backing, Turning, and Stopping Distance
Basic Control of Your Vehicle covers low-speed maneuvering - backing, turning a long wheelbase, and knowing how much room you need to stop. Back slowly and in a straight line, using both mirrors, not one.
351 words, about 2 min03Shifting Gears: Upshifting, Downshifting, and When Not to Shift
Shifting Gears tests clutch control, gear selection for grade and load, and the specific situations where shifting is prohibited. Progressive shifting: shift at the lowest rpm that still pulls the load.
325 words, about 2 min04Seeing and Communicating: Mirrors, Blind Spots, Signals
Seeing and Communicating covers what you can see from the cab and what you tell other drivers with lights and signals. Scan your mirrors every five to eight seconds and before every lane change, turn, and stop.
327 words, about 2 min05Controlling Speed: Limits, Curves, and Energy
Controlling Speed tests whether you treat the posted limit as a ceiling for ideal conditions in a passenger car, or as a target for a loaded truck. Never drive faster than is safe for your weight, the road surface, curve banking, visibility, and traffic.
309 words, about 2 min06Space Management: Cushions Ahead, Behind, and Beside
Space Management tests the following-distance formula, side and rear cushions, and what to do when another driver takes your space. One second for every ten feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 mph, plus one extra second above 40 mph.
295 words, about 1 min07Hazardous Conditions: Rain, Ice, Fog, and Heat
Hazardous Conditions covers how weather changes traction, visibility, and braking, and the specific responses the exam expects for each. Hydroplaning can begin around 30 mph on wet pavement, and bald or underinflated tires plane sooner.
294 words, about 1 min08Emergency Maneuvers: Brake Failure, Blowouts, Skids, Fire
Emergency Maneuvers tests the responses you should already have rehearsed: braking failure, tire failure, skids, and fire. Pump the pedal, which may rebuild pressure, and downshift progressively to use engine braking.
314 words, about 2 min09Mountain Driving: Grades, Brake Heat, and Escape Ramps
Mountain Driving tests descent strategy, because on a long grade brake heat, not horsepower, decides whether you arrive. Check the brakes and air pressure at the top and test the brakes at low speed.
316 words, about 2 min10Night Driving: Headlight Reach, Glare, and Fatigue
Night Driving tests visibility limits, headlight etiquette, and fatigue - the hazard that no headlight adjustment fixes. Low beams light roughly 150 to 200 feet ahead; high beams reach about 350 to 500 feet.
297 words, about 1 min11Hazardous Materials and Cargo: Paperwork, Placards, Securement
Hazardous Materials and Cargo tests shipping papers, placarding, parking rules, and the tiedown arithmetic that keeps a load on the deck. Keep shipping papers within reach and the Emergency Response Guidebook available.
322 words, about 2 min12Transporting Passengers and Air Brakes
This domain pairs passenger-carrying rules with the air brake system and the pressure checks that prove it works. No standees forward of the standee line, and doors closed before the bus moves.
334 words, about 2 min