District of Columbia CDL General Knowledge
The commercial license general knowledge test: the federal rules for commercial driving that every CDL program follows, in every state and DC.
- Questions in this course
- 282
- The mock test
- 50 questions, 40 correct to pass.
A commercial driver's license (CDL) is the license a driver needs to operate a large truck or bus. **General Knowledge is the one test every CDL class shares** — Class A, B or C all sit it. An endorsement (passenger, school bus, tank vehicle or hazardous materials) and the hands-on skills test are separate steps that come after it, never instead of it.
This course is for anyone studying for that shared test: a first-time CDL applicant, someone upgrading a license, or a driver refreshing the rules before a renewal.
The test is given by the District of Columbia’s own driver licensing agency, not by this site. Since February 2022, a CDL applicant must also complete Entry-Level Driver Training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test for a Class A or B CDL, or for a passenger, school bus or hazardous materials credential — the registry lists approved providers near you.
The District of Columbia sets its own fees, office hours and required documents, and changes them from time to time, so confirm those with the District before you go.
This course covers the federal rules for commercial driving, which are the same in every state and DC. A state may add rules on top of that federal minimum; check the District of Columbia’s own CDL supplement, where it publishes one, for anything local this course does not cover.
Official links
- FMCSA Training Provider Registry — Find an Entry-Level Driver Training provider before the skills test
Questions
Common questions
Is there an official test, and how is the mock test scored?
80 percent is the federal pass mark for every CDL knowledge test (49 CFR 383.135). No federal rule sets the question count: 49 CFR 383.133 sends the states to AAMVA's test system, which is not public. The count here is the one used by the states that publish theirs, so your state may differ. 50 questions, 40 correct to pass.
How are the questions checked?
Every question is checked before it goes live, and again each time the site is updated.
Where do I take the CDL General Knowledge test in the District of Columbia?
The test is given by the District of Columbia’s own driver licensing agency, not by this site. Since February 2022, a CDL applicant must also complete Entry-Level Driver Training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test for a Class A or B CDL, or for a passenger, school bus or hazardous materials credential — the registry lists approved providers near you.
Is this course free?
Part of every course is free: a slice of every topic and one short practice test a day. Full access is $10 a month for one course, or $20 a month for every course on the site.