Official exam: CDL General Knowledge (North Dakota)
Take a free North Dakota CDL practice test online: a full 50-question paper with every answer explained, no sign-up, scored by topic. The full 124-question bank and the timed simulator are $14.99 for 30 days.
CDL General Knowledge (North Dakota): 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 written to the regulation it comes from.
Where these questions come from
Every question in this bank cites a source -- primarily FMCSA CDL Manual (77%) and 49 CFR (23%) of this exam's citations.
Take a full practice test free. 50 real questions built to the exam's domain weights, every answer explained, no sign-up required, with a domain-by-domain score at the end.
Want the whole bank for CDL General Knowledge (North Dakota)? One payment of $14.99 gives you 30 days of full access to this exam. It does not renew. No account needed to buy, and there is a 7-day money-back guarantee.
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 North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT)'s own site, verified 2026-09-03.
$15 (domiciled); $20 (non-domiciled) -- per dot.nd.gov CDL page
CDL license fee
Not confirmed on an official NDDOT fee-schedule page. Secondary sources (not verified) cite Class A/B $15, Class C $8, renewal $15 -- treat as unconfirmed.
Road/skills test fee
$5 (per dot.nd.gov CDL page)
Minimum CLP hold before road test
14 days -- official: 'A road test cannot be scheduled without a valid CLP, which must have been earned at least 14 days prior' (dot.nd.gov)
Retake wait after a failed knowledge test
Knowledge test: one attempt allowed per day ($5 per attempt), per official page. An unverified secondary claim suggests a 14-day wait after 3 failed attempts -- not confirmed on a primary source.
Spanish-language knowledge test
English only
No official NDDOT page found stating knowledge-test language options for the CDL test specifically. Secondary sources report the CDL knowledge test is English-only, while ND's noncommercial Class D test is offered in 13+ languages and the motorcycle (Class M) test in English/Spanish -- implying CDL was deliberately excluded from ND's multilingual testing rather than recently removed. No 2025/2026 change documented on an official page. Confidence: medium (secondary-corroborated, not primary-confirmed).
ND does not use 'Airbrakes' as a formal endorsement; instead the CDL is restricted to 'No Airbrake Equipped CMV' if the skills test vehicle lacks air brakes.
ND has Farm CDL reciprocity agreements with South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming.
As of April 21, 2025, medical examiners must upload DOT medical certificates electronically rather than submit physical copies.
ND offers a Seasonal CDL / Agribusiness license path -- not fully researched in this pass.
5 real sample questions
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
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. To find problems that could cause a crash or breakdown before they happen on the road
A: A pre-trip inspection has nothing to do with dispatch timing.
C: Inspection findings do not change logged mileage.
D: A pre-trip inspection actually creates required paperwork (the inspection report), not less of it.
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
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. Declare the vehicle "out of service" until the defect is corrected
A: 396.9 gives the inspector authority to declare the vehicle out of service, not merely to warn.
C: Out-of-service means repaired and released, not permanent impoundment.
D: An out-of-service order prohibits further operation until the defect is fixed, not a fine-and-continue arrangement.
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
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: C. 4/32 inch
A: 1/32 inch is below the federal minimum for any position.
B: 2/32 inch is the minimum for tires on axles other than the steering axle.
D: 6/32 inch is deeper than the regulation requires, though additional depth is never unsafe.
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
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. 2/32 inch
A: 1/32 inch is too shallow to meet the federal standard for any tire position.
C: 3/32 inch is not the regulatory threshold; the rule specifies 2/32 inch for non-steering tires.
D: 4/32 inch is the steering-axle minimum, not the standard for other axle positions.
Source: 49 CFR 393.75
Under 49 CFR 392.7, a driver may not operate a commercial motor vehicle unless satisfied that certain systems are in good working order. Which of the following is included in that pre-trip requirement?
A. The radio and cab air-conditioning system
B. Service brakes, trailer brake connections, parking brake, tires, lights, and mirrors
C. The cruise control set speed
D. The fuel economy displayed on the dashboard computer
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. Service brakes, trailer brake connections, parking brake, tires, lights, and mirrors
A: Comfort features like radio and A/C are not part of the 392.7 safety-systems check.
C: Cruise control settings are a convenience feature, not a listed safety system.
D: Fuel economy readouts are informational only, not a safety-critical system under 392.7.
Where can I take a free North Dakota CDL practice test online?
Right here. CertQuestUSA's free North Dakota CDL practice test online is a full 50-question practice paper built to the real exam's domain weights, with every answer explained, with no sign-up and no credit card, and shows your score by topic at the end. The full 124-question bank, with every answer explained and cited to the regulation it comes from, is $14.99 for a 30-day pass that never renews.
How many questions are on the CertQuestUSA CDL General Knowledge (North Dakota) 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 (North Dakota) 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 (North Dakota) 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 CDL General Knowledge (North Dakota) practice test?
Yes -- one full 50-question practice paper built to the exam's domain weights, free with no sign-up, with every answer explained and a domain-by-domain score at the end.
Still need a CDL school, a DOT physical, or tuition help?
CDL Schools USA, our sister site, lists FMCSA-registered schools by state, paid training programs, DOT physical clinics, and WIOA and GI Bill funding.
