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Arizona CDL Practice Test

Free, full Arizona 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 MVD knowledge exam.

50
Real exam questions
80%
Passing score
750+
CDL questions

Sample Arizona CDL general knowledge test questions

  1. What must you do at a railroad crossing when transporting non-hazardous cargo in a vehicle that does NOT require a placard?

    • A. Stop within 50 feet of all railroad crossings regardless of cargo
    • B. Stop only when signals are active or a train is visible or audible
    • C. Slow to 15 mph and proceed if the crossing appears clear
    • D. Stop at crossings marked with 'Bus' or 'School' signs only
    Show answer

    B. Stop only when signals are active or a train is visible or audible — Non-hazardous CMVs (that are not buses, tanks, or hazmat vehicles) are not required to stop at all railroad crossings. They must stop only when signals are active or a train is approaching.

  2. When braking a loaded liquid tanker, you should:

    • A. Brake at the last possible moment
    • B. Brake hard in the curve
    • C. Use only the trailer hand valve
    • D. Begin braking early and gently, allowing extra distance because of surge
    Show answer

    D. Begin braking early and gently, allowing extra distance because of surge — Surge can push a tanker forward when stopping, so brake early and smoothly and leave extra following distance to stop safely.

  3. What does it mean when the tractor protection valve 'pops out' (trips)?

    • A. The air pressure in the tractor tanks is too high
    • B. The trailer air line has lost pressure and the valve has automatically closed to protect the tractor's air supply
    • C. A tire has blown out on the tractor
    • D. The trailer brakes have been manually released
    Show answer

    B. The trailer air line has lost pressure and the valve has automatically closed to protect the tractor's air supply — The tractor protection valve automatically closes when the tractor-trailer air line pressure drops below about 20-45 psi (depending on setting), protecting the tractor's air supply from draining through a broken trailer line.

  4. CDL safety scenario 65: When transporting hazardous materials, shipping papers should be kept where?

    • A. Ask traffic behind you to go around
    • B. Ignore it until the next terminal
    • C. Increase speed to finish the route sooner
    • D. Within the driver's reach or on the driver's seat when leaving the vehicle
    Show answer

    D. Within the driver's reach or on the driver's seat when leaving the vehicle — Within the driver's reach or on the driver's seat when leaving the vehicle. Commercial drivers are expected to manage this situation before it becomes a crash risk. The CDL manual emphasizes controlling the vehicle, inspecting safety-critical systems, and correcting hazards promptly.

  5. A pre-trip inspection should be done:

    • A. Before every trip, so problems are found before you drive
    • B. Only after a long trip
    • C. Once a week
    • D. Only when the vehicle is new
    Show answer

    A. Before every trip, so problems are found before you drive — Inspecting before each trip finds defects early, when they can be fixed safely instead of causing a roadside breakdown or crash.

  6. After coupling the second trailer and dolly, you should:

    • A. Drive without testing the brakes
    • B. Leave the air lines disconnected
    • C. Connect and secure the air and electrical lines and supply air before driving
    • D. Disconnect the safety chains
    Show answer

    C. Connect and secure the air and electrical lines and supply air before driving — Connecting and charging the air and light lines, then testing, ensures the rear trailer's brakes and lights work before you move.

  7. What is the 'two-second rule' for following distance at highway speeds?

    • A. Allow 2 seconds of following distance for every 10 feet of vehicle length
    • B. Add 1 second for every additional 10 mph over 40 mph, starting at 1 second minimum
    • C. For speeds under 40 mph, allow at least 1 second per 10 feet of vehicle length; add 1 second for each 10 mph over 40
    • D. Add 2 seconds of following distance per 10 mph of speed
    Show answer

    C. For speeds under 40 mph, allow at least 1 second per 10 feet of vehicle length; add 1 second for each 10 mph over 40 — FMCSA recommends: for speeds under 40 mph, leave at least 1 second per 10 feet of vehicle length. For speeds over 40 mph, add 1 second. A 60-foot truck at 55 mph needs at least 7 seconds of following distance.

  8. If you find a safety defect during an inspection, you should:

    • A. Drive carefully to the next town and fix it there
    • B. Note it and continue the trip
    • C. Ignore it if the trip is short
    • D. Have it repaired before driving, since some defects make it illegal to operate the vehicle
    Show answer

    D. Have it repaired before driving, since some defects make it illegal to operate the vehicle — Safety defects must be fixed before driving; operating a vehicle with an out-of-service defect is illegal and dangerous.

  9. What is the purpose of an interlock system on a transit bus?

    • A. To lock all doors during highway driving
    • B. To prevent the bus from moving while the rear doors are open
    • C. To control the air conditioning system
    • D. To activate emergency lighting automatically
    Show answer

    B. To prevent the bus from moving while the rear doors are open — The interlock system prevents the bus from moving when the rear exit door is open, reducing the risk of passengers being dragged or injured.

  10. A vehicle carrying hazardous materials must be placarded when the gross weight of hazmat is:

    • A. Any amount
    • B. Over 100 lbs
    • C. 1,001 lbs or more (with some materials always requiring placards)
    • D. Over 10,000 lbs only
    Show answer

    C. 1,001 lbs or more (with some materials always requiring placards) — Generally, placards are required when carrying 1,001 lbs or more of a single hazmat class. Some materials (like explosives and poison gas) always require placards.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Arizona CDL general knowledge test?

The Arizona 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.

What score do I need to pass the Arizona CDL general knowledge test?

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.

Is the Arizona CDL general knowledge test taken at the DMV?

In Arizona, driver licensing is handled by the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), so you'll often see the exam called the MVD CDL general knowledge test. The practice tests on this page match the official MVD knowledge exam format.

Is this Arizona CDL general knowledge test practice really free?

Yes. Every practice test on this page and everything in the DMVPrep iPhone app is free — no ads, no paywall, no account.

Where do these CDL general knowledge test questions come from?

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.

Can I study for the Arizona CDL general knowledge test in Spanish?

Yes — the DMVPrep app includes all 3,745+ questions in Spanish, and the whole app works in Spanish.

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