Free, full Montana 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.
If your brakes begin to fade on a long downgrade, what is the BEST thing to do next time you descend that grade?
A. Use a lower gear from the top of the grade to slow the vehicle with engine braking before the service brakes heat up — To prevent brake fade on downgrades: select a lower gear before beginning the descent and use engine braking throughout to keep speed under control, minimizing service brake use and heat buildup.
When driving a tanker, you should corner at lower speeds because of:
C. High center of gravity and surge — Tankers have a high center of gravity. Liquid surge in turns can cause rollovers. Slow down before curves.
When connecting the glad hands, you should connect the lines so that:
B. The correct colors match — emergency to emergency and service to service — Matching emergency and service glad hands correctly ensures the right air reaches the right brakes; crossing them can disable trailer braking.
What does 'off-tracking' mean for large trucks?
D. The rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels when turning — Off-tracking (also called 'cheating') occurs when the rear wheels of a long vehicle take a tighter, shorter path than the front wheels when turning. Drivers must swing wide to prevent the rear from hitting curbs or pedestrians.
When discharging passengers at a destination, you should:
A. Announce the location and remind passengers to watch their step — Announce the location, remind passengers to take belongings, and watch their step when exiting.
You are driving a 50-foot truck at 50 mph. The safe following distance is at least:
A. 6 seconds — At 50 mph (above 40), add 1 second to base formula: 5 seconds for 50 feet + 1 second for speed = 6 seconds minimum.
What is the most common cause of large truck crashes according to FMCSA data?
B. Driver error, including inattention, fatigue, and following too closely — FMCSA studies consistently show that driver error is the most common factor in large truck crashes, with recognition errors (inattention), decision errors (speeding, following too close), and fatigue as leading causes.
During an air brake pre-trip inspection, you turn off the engine and release all brakes. The air pressure should not drop more than how much per minute?
B. 2 psi — With the engine off and all brakes released, air pressure should not drop more than 2 psi per minute on a single vehicle (3 psi per minute in a combination vehicle). Greater loss indicates a leak.
What is the maximum blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while operating a CMV?
C. 0.04% — Federal law sets a BAC limit of 0.04% for commercial motor vehicle drivers — half the 0.08% limit for non-commercial drivers. A conviction for DUI in any vehicle disqualifies a CDL driver.
The correct technique for descending a long, steep grade is:
D. Select a gear before the descent that allows engine braking to control speed, using service brakes only for short applications — Before starting a steep descent, shift into a low gear (not neutral) so the engine provides braking. Apply the service brakes firmly for about 3 seconds to slow 5 mph below the target speed, then release and repeat.
The Montana 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 Montana, 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.
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.