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CDL General Knowledge (Alabama)

First published: September 3, 2026Last verified: September 3, 2026Reviewed by the CertQuestUSA team
TL;DR

CDL General Knowledge (Alabama): a 124-question practice bank for the real CDL Permit & Endorsement Exams standard, 2 full papers of 50 questions each with no repeats, every question citing the real regulation it comes from.

Where these questions come from

Every question in this bank cites a real source -- primarily FMCSA CDL Manual (77%) and 49 CFR (23%) of this exam's citations.

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2
full papers, no repeats
50
questions per paper
124
questions in the bank
What this exam covers
Real Alabama CDL requirements

The knowledge tested here is federal (FMCSA) and identical nationwide -- what varies by state is who administers it and under what terms. Researched directly from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Driver License Division's own site, verified 2026-09-03.

Administering agency
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Driver License Division
CLP (permit) fee
$36.25 (Commercial Learner Permit)
CDL license fee
Class A: $66.25 / Class B: $56.25 / Class C: $36.25
Road/skills test fee
Skills test: $20; Knowledge test: $25
Minimum CLP hold before road test
14
CLP validity
180 days per federal CLP standard cited by ALEA FAQ page as 'valid for 360 days and not renewable' — ALEA's own FAQ states 360 days; use with caution and re-verify directly with ALEA before publishing since this exceeds the federal 180-day norm other states use.
Spanish-language knowledge test
English only

Alabama's standard (non-commercial) Class D knowledge test is offered in about a dozen languages including Spanish, per the ALEA driver manual. However, the CDL knowledge and skills tests are English-only — confirmed by multiple 2026 news reports on a pre-filed Alabama Legislature bill (Pettus bill, 2026 session) that would formally write an English-only requirement into law for both Class D and CDL exams, described as codifying ALEA's current English-only CDL practice rather than changing it. No official ALEA page explicitly states 'CDL test is English only' in so many words, so treat this as medium confidence pending direct ALEA confirmation.

5 real sample questions
Under the 30-minute break requirement in 49 CFR 395.3, a driver must take a break after accumulating how many cumulative hours of driving time?
A. 4 hours
B. 6 hours
C. 8 hours
D. 10 hours
Source: 49 CFR 395.3
What is the most important reason for performing a pre-trip inspection before every trip?
A. To satisfy your dispatcher that the truck left on time
B. To find problems that could cause a crash or breakdown before they happen on the road
C. To reduce the number of miles logged for the day
D. To avoid having to fill out any paperwork later
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual §2.1.1
A roadside inspector determines that a commercial motor vehicle has a safety defect serious enough to be an immediate hazard. What is the inspector authorized to do under 49 CFR 396.9?
A. Issue a warning only, since only the motor carrier can pull a vehicle from service
B. Declare the vehicle "out of service" until the defect is corrected
C. Impound the vehicle permanently
D. Fine the driver but allow the vehicle to continue to the next scheduled stop
Source: 49 CFR 396.9
Under the federal tire tread depth standard, what is the minimum tread depth allowed in any major tread groove on a steering axle tire?
A. 1/32 inch
B. 2/32 inch
C. 4/32 inch
D. 6/32 inch
Source: 49 CFR 393.75
What is the minimum tread depth required on non-steering axle tires of a commercial motor vehicle?
A. 1/32 inch
B. 2/32 inch
C. 3/32 inch
D. 4/32 inch
Source: 49 CFR 393.75
Same exam, other states
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Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the CertQuestUSA CDL General Knowledge (Alabama) practice test?
124 questions total, split into 2 full papers of 50 each with no repeats across papers.
What topics does the CDL General Knowledge (Alabama) test cover?
13 domains, with the heaviest weight on Vehicle Inspection (14%), Basic Control & Shifting (10%), and Emergency Maneuvers & Skid Control (10%).
Where do CertQuestUSA's CDL General Knowledge (Alabama) questions come from?
Primarily FMCSA CDL Manual (77%) and 49 CFR (23%) of this bank's citations -- computed directly from this exam's own question sources, not a generic description.
Is there a free diagnostic for CDL General Knowledge (Alabama)?
Yes -- 10 real questions across the exam's domains, no sign-up required, with a domain-by-domain breakdown at the end.
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