Oklahoma CDL General Knowledge study plan
Oklahoma CDL General Knowledge · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Driving Safely
Read the Driving Safely material end to end once, then rewrite the speed-management rules (posted limits, basic speed law, stopping distance factors) in your own words
List the top 10 causes of crashes cited in the manual and match each to a specific driving habit you will change
Memorize the following-distance rules for dry, wet, and icy roads and state them aloud without notes
Practice identifying 15 road hazards from memory (construction zones, school buses, railroad crossings, work zones, sharp curves) and the required action for each
Your checkpoint
A one-page handwritten 'Driving Safely' cheat sheet covering speed rules, following distance, and 15 hazard responses, scored at 90% or better on a 25-question self-quiz
Driving Safely & Space Management and Speed Control
Explain how total stopping distance is built from perception, reaction, brake lag, and braking distance, and compute it for 30 mph and 55 mph
Identify the conditions that require reducing speed below the posted limit and describe the action for each
Describe how to manage space in front, behind, and to the sides, including when to increase following distance
Practice the 'look ahead 12-15 seconds' scanning routine and describe what you check in each mirror every 5-8 seconds
Your checkpoint
A written stopping-distance table for 20, 30, 40, 55, and 65 mph on dry and wet pavement, plus a 20-question quiz at 85% or better
Basic Control of Your Vehicle & Shifting Gears
Describe the correct procedure for starting from a stop on a hill, including clutch, throttle, and parking brake use
List the steps for a safe lane change and a safe right turn in a large vehicle, including off-tracking allowance
Explain when to shift and when not to shift, including the risks of coasting and skipping gears
Identify the correct gear for descending a long grade and explain why braking alone is dangerous
Your checkpoint
A step-by-step written procedure for hill start, lane change, right turn, and downhill gear selection, verified against the manual with zero missing steps
Vehicle Inspection & Combination Vehicles
Recite the seven-step vehicle inspection in order and name at least three checkpoints in each step
Describe the specific inspection items for coupling and uncoupling a tractor-trailer, including the fifth wheel, kingpin, and air lines
Explain the difference between the tractor protection valve, relay valve, and spring brakes and what each does during a breakaway
Perform a complete pre-trip inspection on a real or simulated vehicle and time it
Your checkpoint
A timed 30-minute walkaround inspection checklist completed from memory with all seven steps in order and no more than two missed items
Air Brakes
Explain how air pressure builds, where it is stored, and what the low-pressure warning signals require you to do
Describe the three air brake tests (leakage, low-pressure warning, and spring brake) and the pass criteria for each
Identify the components of the air brake system and trace the path of air from compressor to brake chamber
Explain how to use the parking brake and what to do if air pressure is lost while driving
Your checkpoint
A written summary of all three air brake tests with pass/fail numbers, plus a 20-question air brake quiz at 90% or better
Transporting Cargo Safely & Hazardous Materials and Emergency Response
State the cargo securement rules: how many tiedowns are required, working load limits, and how to distribute weight
Describe the special handling rules for hazardous materials: placards, shipping papers, and emergency response information
List the actions to take at the scene of a hazardous materials spill, including what not to do
Explain how to check cargo before, during, and after a trip and what to do if it shifts
Your checkpoint
A one-page cargo and hazmat reference card covering tiedown counts, placard rules, and spill response steps, plus a 15-question quiz at 85% or better
Seeing and Communicating & Hazardous Materials and Emergency Response
Describe the proper use of mirrors, signals, and headlights for communicating intentions to other drivers
Explain the blind spots around a large vehicle and how to compensate for them
List the emergency response steps for a tire blowout, brake failure, and a fire
Describe the rules for railroad crossings and what to do if the vehicle stalls on the tracks
Your checkpoint
A written emergency-response card for blowout, brake failure, fire, and railroad stall, plus a 20-question quiz at 90% or better
Driving Safely & Air Brakes & Vehicle Inspection
Take three full-length practice tests of 50 questions each, mixing all ten domains, and score each
Review every missed question and write the correct rule and the reason for the miss
Re-run the seven-step inspection and the three air brake tests from memory under time pressure
Identify your two weakest domains and drill 20 questions in each until you reach 90%
Your checkpoint
Three scored practice tests with all misses corrected in writing, and a final full-length test at 90% or better
Milestones
Week 2: Score 85% or better on a 25-question quiz covering domains 1 and 9, and recite the following-distance rules without notes
Week 4: Complete the seven-step inspection from memory in under 30 minutes with no more than two missed items, and score 85% or better on a 20-question combination vehicle quiz
Week 6: Score 90% or better on the air brake quiz and 85% or better on the cargo and hazmat quiz, and state all three air brake test pass criteria from memory
Week 8: Score 90% or better on a full-length 50-question mixed practice test and explain every missed question in writing