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The CDL general knowledge test is required to be taken by all CDL applicants. The Massachusetts CDL test consists of 50 questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 40 questions (80%). The general knowledge test covers the contents of the Massachusetts CDL Manual.
All CDL applicants (Class A, B and C) must study the following sections: Driving Safely, Transporting Cargo Safely, Air Brakes (if you plan to operate vehicles equipped with air brakes), Vehicle Inspection Test, Basic Control Skills Test, Road Test. In addition, the Class A CDL test will include questions based on the Combination Vehicles section. Take this CDL practice test now to prepare for the actual MA general knowledge test!
To get your CDL, you must pass both the knowledge and skills tests. CDL knowledge tests include: General Knowledge, Passenger Transport, Air Brakes, Combination Vehicles, Hazardous Materials, Tanker Vehicles, Doubles/Triples, School Bus, Firefighter. Depending on what class of license (A, B or C) and endorsements you need, you must take one or more knowledge tests. A special endorsement is also required to drive certain types of vehicles. The following endorsements may be used with a Class A, B or C CDL: HazMat (H), Tank Vehicles (N), Tank Vehicles Transporting Hazardous Materials (X) and Passenger Transport (P). The School Bus endorsement (S) is only available for Class A or B CDL, and the Doubles/Triples endorsement (T) is only available for Class A driver's licenses.
1.
Sleep debt is defined as:
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the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep.
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the accumulated amount of sleep from frequent rest brakes.
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the amount of sleep you get each night.
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All of the above.
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2.
Empty trucks:
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require a shorter stopping distance than full trucks.
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require the same stopping distance than full trucks.
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require a greater stopping distance than full trucks.
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None of the above.
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3.
Dollies with ABS are required to have a malfunction lamp:
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on the front.
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on the rear.
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on the right side.
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on the left side.
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4.
Drivers who cannot see others are
a dangerous hazard. Be especially alert for all of the following, except:
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Vehicles with frosted windows
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Pick-up trucks
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Rental trucks
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Loaded station wagons
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5.
To recognize when it's time to shift up to a higher gear, use:
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road speed (mph) and engine oil temperature.
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engine speed (rpm) and road speed (mph).
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engine sounds and road signs.
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engine speed (rpm) and road signs.
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6.
When using a turn signal, which of the following is NOT true?
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You should signal early.
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You should cancel the signal before completing the turn.
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You should turn off your turn signal after you've turned.
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You should signal continuously.
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7.
When only the tractor has ABS:
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the brakes won't work as effectively as without ABS.
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it will be much more difficult to maintain steering control.
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there is an increased chance of jackknifing.
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there is less chance of jackknifing.
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8.
_________ can make vehicle handling unsafe.
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Dry roads
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ABS
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Poor ventilation
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Poor weight balance
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9.
If brakes fail on a long downgrade, you should:
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turn off the engine as soon as you.
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pump the brake pedal 3 times.
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set the parking brake.
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use an escape ramp if it is available.
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10.
If coolant has to be added to a system without a recovery tank, you should:
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never use thick cloth to touch the radiator cap.
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wait until the engine has cooled before adding coolant.
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keep the engine running while adding coolant.
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turn the radiator cap quickly to the first stop.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To obtain a learner’s permit, you must be at least 16 years old. After holding your permit for six months with a clean driving record and completing a driver education program, you can apply for a junior operator license. Your class D driver’s license will be restricted until you reach 18 years old.
You can start your application online and you will receive an email to schedule an appointment at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) office you selected. If you prefer to complete the test at home, you are required to apply and visit a Service Center to provide identification documentation. Once the documentation has been verified, you'll receive login instructions to complete the test at home.
You are required to provide specific documents:
- Proof of identity.
- Proof of Social Security Status.
- Proof of Massachusetts residency.
- Written consent from a parent/legal guardian (for applicants under 18).
Use this checklist and view the acceptable documents.
The RMV written test is provided in Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cape Verdean Creole, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Kiswahili, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Audio exams are also available in these languages. If you need an oral exam, call 857-368-8105.
You need to read the Massachusetts Driver's Handbook. The exam covers various topics, including road signs, safe driving practices, and road rules. Remember that you cannot use driver's manuals or personal notes, so study the manual carefully and take our free practice tests to verify your preparation.
The RMV written test consists of 25 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you must complete the test within 25 minutes. You have approximately one minute for each question, so carefully read each sentence before selecting your answer and moving on to the next question.
To pass the Massachusetts RMV written test, you need to reach a score of 72%. This means that you must correctly answer 18 questions and can miss a maximum of 7 questions. Sign up for DMV Premium to test your preparation and check if you are ready for the real exam.
All drivers under 18 are not permitted to use any mobile electronic device except for emergency calls. There are also other specific restrictions:
- With a learner’s permit, you are allowed to drive only under the supervision of a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old, has held a driver's license for at least one year, and is seated beside you.
- After obtaining a junior operator license, driving alone is permitted only between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Furthermore, you cannot transport passengers under 18 unless accompanied by a driver who is at least 21 years old and has held a driver's license for at least one year (except when transporting siblings).
A learner’s permit in Massachusetts is valid for 2 years. If it expires, you'll have to apply again and retake the exam. After holding the permit for 6 consecutive months, you can get a junior operator license. If there's any suspension during this period, you'll need to wait another 6 months after the suspension ends.
Instructions will be provided at the end of the RMV written test on how to retake it. Keep in mind that a new fee must be paid. It's important to note that cheating during the exam will result in failure. Additionally, if you are taking the test online, you'll automatically fail if you leave the browser, if you have not clicked a button for more than 2 minutes, or if you exceed the 25 minutes available to complete the exam.