Tennessee CDL General Knowledge Test (TN) 5

4.9 out of 5 (57 votes)
80% Passing score
50 Questions
10 Mistakes allowed
Get ready to hone your commercial driving skills with our fifth Tennessee CDL General Knowledge Practice Test. Tailored to assist you in grasping essential concepts and regulations, this CDL practice test offers a comprehensive set of 50 permit test questions designed to mirror the structure and content of the official Tennessee CDL permit test. Achieving a score of 40 or higher is your goal, signaling readiness for the actual assessment. Our TN CDL practice test not only measures your knowledge but also strengthens it by exposing you to a variety of scenarios you might encounter on the road. By integrating DMV test answers derived from real-life situations, we ensure you're not just memorizing facts but learning how to apply them. This approach is vital for both the Tennessee DMV CDL permit test and your future responsibilities as a commercial driver. We encourage complementing this 2026 TN CDL permit practice test with additional resources such as the state's CDL driver's manual, the cornerstone of all DMV test questions. Understanding that effective preparation spans beyond multiple-choice questions, we suggest engaging with different formats like flashcards and road sign charts. And if you're determined to excel, consider enrolling in a certified driver's education course or an Entry Level Driver Training course. Remember, consistent practice and a diverse study approach are key to mastering the material and feeling confident on test day. So, take advantage of this Tennessee CDL permit practice test and prepare to elevate your driving acumen in 2026!
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Sample Tennessee CDL Test Questions - General Knowledge

Question 1

What happens as a driver’s blood alcohol concentration rises?

  1. A. Alcohol’s effects become weaker
  2. B. The driver always recognizes the increasing impairment
  3. C. Judgment and physical control worsen, increasing crash risk
  4. D. The body eliminates alcohol more quickly

Correct answer: C. – Judgment and physical control worsen, increasing crash risk

As BAC rises, alcohol affects more of the brain. Judgment and self-control are affected early, and the drinker may not recognize the increasing impairment. At higher concentrations, vision, coordination, and muscle control deteriorate further, making safe driving less likely and increasing the chance of a crash.

Source: Tennessee Commercial Driver’s License Manual — § 2.22.1, “Alcohol,” “Alcohol and the Brain”

Question 2

How should you normally brake a vehicle equipped with ABS?

  1. A. Pump the brake pedal rapidly
  2. B. Brake normally, using only the pressure needed to stop safely
  3. C. Push the pedal as hard as possible during every stop
  4. D. Release the accelerator and wait for ABS to apply the brakes

Correct answer: B. – Brake normally, using only the pressure needed to stop safely

The Tennessee CDL manual instructs drivers with ABS to brake normally and use only the force needed to stop safely while maintaining control. Monitor the vehicle and reduce pressure if necessary to remain stable. In an emergency, a straight truck or combination vehicle with working ABS on every axle may receive a full brake application.

Source: Tennessee Commercial Driver’s License Manual — § 2.18.6, “Braking with ABS”

Question 3

A CMV is stopped beside a one-way or divided highway. How should its three warning devices be spaced?

  1. A. 50, 100, and 150 feet from the vehicle
  2. B. 50, 50, and 100 feet toward approaching traffic
  3. C. 10, 100, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic
  4. D. 10 feet behind and 100 feet in each direction

Correct answer: C. – 10, 100, and 200 feet toward approaching traffic

On a one-way or divided highway, place the warning devices 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet from the stopped vehicle in the direction of approaching traffic. Emergency warning devices generally must be set out within ten minutes after stopping on the roadway or shoulder.

Source: Tennessee Commercial Driver’s License Manual — § 2.5.2, “Communicating Your Presence,” “When Parked at the Side of the Road”, 49 CFR § 392.22 — Emergency Signals; Stopped Commercial Motor Vehicles

Question 4

Which statement about cargo weight is accurate?

  1. A. The legal maximum weight is safe under every driving condition
  2. B. A driver cannot be responsible for cargo loaded by a shipper
  3. C. Applicable laws establish maximum gross and axle weights
  4. D. A load never needs rechecking after the initial inspection

Correct answer: C. – Applicable laws establish maximum gross and axle weights

Tennessee law establishes maximum axle and gross weights, subject to stated exceptions and permit provisions. The driver remains responsible for recognizing overloads and must keep the vehicle within applicable limits. A legal maximum may still be unsafe during severe weather or in mountainous conditions, and cargo must be rechecked during the trip.

Source: Tennessee Commercial Driver’s License Manual — § 3.1, “Inspecting Cargo”; § 3.2.2, “Legal Weight Limits”, Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-7-203 — Maximum Weight per Axle or Group of Axles Allowed—Exemptions for Heavy-Duty Tow and Recovery and Emergency Fire Suppression Vehicles

Question 5

Which vehicle configuration is especially likely to become hung up at a raised railroad-highway crossing?

  1. A. A commercial vehicle with a damaged tire
  2. B. A truck with a leaking shock absorber
  3. C. A low-clearance trailer or a single-axle tractor pulling a long trailer
  4. D. Any vehicle equipped with a manual transmission

Correct answer: C. – A low-clearance trailer or a single-axle tractor pulling a long trailer

Low-slung units such as lowboys, car carriers, moving vans, and possum-belly livestock trailers may become stuck on raised crossings. A single-axle tractor pulling a long trailer can also hang up when the landing gear is positioned for a tandem-axle tractor. Drivers must account for the vehicle’s underneath clearance before crossing.

Source: Tennessee Commercial Driver’s License Manual — § 2.15.6, “Special Situations”

Question 6

Which braking method depends on allowing the wheels to lock and is not the normal technique for a vehicle with functioning ABS?

  1. A. Controlled braking
  2. B. Smooth, steady brake application
  3. C. Normal braking with only the force needed
  4. D. Stab braking

Correct answer: D. – Stab braking

Stab braking involves fully applying the brakes, releasing them when the wheels lock, and reapplying them after the wheels begin rolling. ABS braking guidance instead calls for normal brake use with the pressure needed to stop safely and maintain control. ABS automatically responds when wheels are about to lock.

Source: Tennessee Commercial Driver’s License Manual — § 2.17.2, “How to Stop Quickly and Safely”; § 2.18.6, “Braking with ABS”

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