General Driving Knowledge — New Jersey
New Jersey CDL practice test: 438 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. General Driving Knowledge: 143 questions.
Questions that do not fit a single topic: lane use, turning, signalling and other rules of the road.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | General Driving Knowledge |
| License test | New Jersey CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 143 (33% of 438 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
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Questions (143)
1. What does a hazardous materials shipping paper describe?
- The materials being transported ✓
- How the materials will be transported
- Who should accept the materials being transported
- The cost of the materials
Answer: A. The materials being transported
A shipping paper describes the hazardous materials being transported. The handbook states plainly that a shipping paper describes the hazardous materials being transported, and it lists shipping orders, bills of lading, and manifests as examples of shipping papers. The same passage explains why the description matters: after a crash or a spill you may be hurt and unable to tell responders what you are carrying, but firefighters and police can cut damage and injury at the scene if they know which hazardous materials are involved. So the paper's job is to identify the load, not to plan the trip, name a receiver, or price the goods.
2. Many products classed as poison are also:
- Radioactive.
- Flammable. ✓
- Heavy.
- Sweet-tasting.
Answer: B. Flammable.
Many products classed as poison are also flammable. The handbook's section on Class 6 poisonous materials says directly that many products classed as poison are also flammable. It tells drivers who suspect a poison gas or poison material might be flammable to add the precautions used for flammable liquids or gases, such as not allowing smoking, open flame, or welding. That makes flammable the quality the question is asking about. The passage does not list radioactivity, weight, or sweet taste as a shared property of poisons.
3. When inspecting a tank, a driver should:
- Follow their instincts.
- Refer to their specific vehicle’s operator manual. ✓
- Look online for information about the vehicle.
- Make sure there is no rust on the outside of the tank.
Answer: B. Refer to their specific vehicle’s operator manual.
Check your vehicle's operator manual to learn how to inspect your tank vehicle. The handbook says tank vehicles come in many types and sizes, so the inspection items differ from one vehicle to another. Because of that, it tells you to check the vehicle's operator manual to make sure you know how to inspect your particular tank vehicle. The manual is where the correct procedures for your tank are spelled out, so that is what you should rely on rather than guessing or using general information.
4. Which of the following statements is correct?
- Rims with a missing lug nut are acceptable if there are at least four other lug nuts on the rim.
- A cracked lock ring is acceptable if the vehicle is being driven at speeds under 55 mph.
- A missing clamp is dangerous and should be corrected. ✓
- Welded repairs are acceptable for wheels on rear axles.
Answer: C. A missing clamp is dangerous and should be corrected.
A missing clamp is dangerous and should be corrected. The handbook lists missing clamps, spacers, studs, or lugs as a danger, so a clamp that is gone is not a minor issue to ignore. It also treats mismatched, bent, or cracked lock rings as dangerous and says wheels or rims that have had welding repairs are not safe. Because these conditions are described as hazards rather than acceptable limits, the statement that a missing clamp is dangerous and should be corrected fits the manual.
5. While driving a vehicle, if an unusual noise or feeling occurs, the driver should:
- Assume it is not a concern and continue driving.
- Hope the vehicle makes it until it is switched to another driver.
- Check the vehicle to determine the proper solutions. ✓
- Drive on the shoulder.
Answer: C. Check the vehicle to determine the proper solutions.
When an unusual noise or feeling happens while you are driving, check the vehicle so you can determine the proper solution. The handbook says you should check vehicle operation regularly during a trip. It specifically notes that any unusual brake pedal feel or delayed stopping action can mean trouble, and that anything unsafe found in an inspection must be fixed. Federal and state laws forbid operating an unsafe vehicle. That supports checking the vehicle and identifying what is wrong rather than treating the noise or feeling as harmless. The pre-trip inspection passage also says inspections help find defects that can cause a breakdown or crash.
6. Rules regarding passenger comfort, such as smoking guidelines, should:
- Not be mentioned unless there is a rule violation.
- Only be mentioned if a passenger specifically asks about something.
- Be announced at the start of the trip. ✓
- Be discussed individually with each passenger.
Answer: C. Be announced at the start of the trip.
Passenger comfort rules, including smoking guidelines, should be announced at the start of the trip. The handbook says charter and intercity carriers often have passenger comfort and safety rules. It specifically tells drivers to mention rules about smoking, drinking, and radio or tape players when the trip begins. The stated reason is that explaining them early helps prevent trouble later. That supports announcing the rules at the start rather than waiting for a violation, a passenger request, or individual conversations.
7. How is a hazardous materials warning presented?
- On a placard ✓
- By wrapping the package in orange
- By placing the item away from other cargo and covering it with a sign
- With flashing lights
Answer: A. On a placard
A hazardous materials warning is presented on a placard — a sign fixed to the outside of the vehicle that identifies the hazard class of the cargo. The handbook explains that the rules aim to communicate the risk of a hazardous load so that drivers, carriers, and emergency responders know what is on board. To do that, shippers put hazard warning labels on packages and supply shipping papers, emergency response information, and placards. Placards are described as signs placed on the outside of the vehicle that name the hazard class of the cargo, readable from all four directions. That outside warning sign is what the question is asking about, so the placard is the answer.
8. If another driver is following you too closely, you should do all of the following, except:
- Avoid quick changes.
- Increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Speed up. ✓
- Avoid relying on tricks to help others pass.
Answer: C. Speed up.
The exception is speeding up: when someone is following you too closely, do not increase your speed. The handbook's tailgater section says not to speed up, because being tailgated at a low speed is safer than at a high speed. Instead, it lists things you can do: avoid sudden changes by signaling early and slowing gradually, and increase the following distance in front of you. That extra room lets you avoid sudden speed or direction changes and makes it easier for the tailgater to get around. It also says to avoid tricks, such as flashing taillights or brake lights. Speeding up is the action that is not recommended.
9. When backing, you should:
- Move quickly to get out of the way of other drivers.
- Try not to use your mirrors.
- Start from any position.
- Use a helper, if possible. ✓
Answer: D. Use a helper, if possible.
When backing, use a helper if possible. The handbook says backing is dangerous because you cannot see everything behind your vehicle, and there are blind spots. It advises using a helper when you can. The helper should stand near the back of your vehicle where you can see them. Before you begin backing, you and the helper should agree on hand signals, including a signal for stop. That guidance makes using a helper the correct choice here.
10. When carrying a wide load, you should:
- Drive as fast as possible.
- Obtain special permits and follow special rules, such as driving during certain hours. ✓
- Honk at other drivers to get them to move from the lane closest to you.
- Drive on the shoulder.
Answer: B. Obtain special permits and follow special rules, such as driving during certain hours.
Obtain the required special permits and follow special rules, including driving only during certain hours. The handbook's oversized-load section says over-width, over-length, and overweight loads need special transit permits. It also says driving is usually limited to certain times and that wide-load signs, flashing lights, flags, or pilot vehicles may be needed. That makes the permit-and-special-rules choice the one that matches the handbook. The other choices describe actions the handbook does not give for wide loads.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook