Free, full Alabama CDL general knowledge test practice right here in your browser — real exam format (50 questions, 80% to pass), diagnostic and adaptive modes, spaced-repetition review, and a readiness dashboard. No signup, no paywall — your progress is saved automatically on this device. Matched to the official ALEA knowledge exam.
Which of the following liquids requires the MOST outage space in a tanker?
B. Gasoline — Petroleum products like gasoline expand significantly with temperature increases. Gasoline requires more outage space than water because it has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion.
Before beginning a trip with passengers, you should check that the emergency exits are:
B. Clearly marked, unobstructed, and operating properly — Emergency exits must be clearly marked and signed, unobstructed, and in proper working order before passengers board. This is part of the pre-trip inspection.
What is 'outage' (or ullage) in a liquid tanker?
A. The space left empty in a tank to allow for liquid expansion — Outage (ullage) is the empty space left in a tank to allow the liquid to expand due to temperature changes. Different liquids require different outage amounts.
During the in-cab inspection, you should check that:
A. Gauges, warning lights, horn, wipers, and mirrors all function properly — Confirming gauges, lights, horn, wipers, and mirrors work ensures you can monitor the vehicle and be seen and heard while driving.
When evacuating a bus in an emergency, you should:
C. Direct passengers to the nearest safe exit calmly and quickly — As the driver, take charge. Calmly direct passengers to the nearest safe exit (doors, windows, roof hatches). Account for all passengers.
When attending a vehicle carrying explosives (Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3), the driver must be:
B. Awake, within 100 feet of the vehicle, and able to see the vehicle at all times when it is not in a safe haven — When a vehicle carrying Division 1.1/1.2/1.3 explosives must be attended, the driver must be awake (not in sleeper berth), within 100 feet of the vehicle, and able to see it at all times outside a safe haven.
Under the 11-hour driving rule, how many hours may a property-carrying driver drive after 10 consecutive hours off duty?
B. 11 hours — Property-carrying drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. This is the 11-hour driving limit.
High winds are most dangerous to CMVs because:
A. They can push a high-profile vehicle sideways, increasing rollover and lane departure risk — CMVs have a large surface area and high center of gravity. Strong crosswinds can push a loaded trailer sideways, causing a lane departure or rollover. Reduce speed and grip the wheel firmly in windy conditions.
What is a 'packing group' in HazMat transportation?
B. A designation (PG I, II, or III) indicating the degree of danger of a HazMat: I = great danger, II = medium, III = minor danger — Packing groups designate the degree of danger: PG I (greatest danger), PG II (medium danger), PG III (minor danger). They determine which type of packaging is required for safe transport.
Which of the following is an 'out-of-service' condition that means you may NOT drive the vehicle?
B. A brake adjustment stroke exceeding the adjustment limit by 1/4 inch — Brake adjustment stroke exceeding the legal limit is a critical out-of-service violation under FMCSA regulations. You may not drive the vehicle until the brakes are properly adjusted.
The Alabama CDL general knowledge test has 50 questions, and you need 80% to pass — at least 40 correct answers. The practice tests on this page use the same format. The 80% passing score is a federal FMCSA standard used by every state.
80%. You can miss at most 10 of the 50 questions. The readiness dashboard on this page tracks whether you're consistently scoring above that bar.
In Alabama, driver licensing is handled by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), so you'll often see the exam called the ALEA CDL general knowledge test. The practice tests on this page match the official ALEA knowledge exam format.
Yes. Every practice test on this page and everything in the DMVPrep iPhone app is free — no ads, no paywall, no account.
Federal motor carrier safety regulations (FMCSA) — the same rules every state's CDL exam is drawn from. Every question in the DMVPrep app cites the regulation or handbook section it comes from.
Yes — the DMVPrep app includes all 3,745+ questions in Spanish, and the whole app works in Spanish.