Idaho General Knowledge Test
You'll haul potatoes down I-84, dodge elk on US-95, and chain up before White Bird Summit — this test covers what you actually need to know on Idaho roads.
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Jump straight into Idaho's CDL General Knowledge test. 50 questions, 60 minutes, 80% to pass — same as the real ITD exam.
Key Topics
- •Vehicle inspection and basic control
- •Speed, space, and communication
- •Extreme driving and cargo handling
About the Idaho General Knowledge Test
Topics Covered
- ✓Vehicle inspection procedures — Idaho examiners watch for pre-trip details because your rig might hit 6,000-foot passes where a brake failure means you're in the canyon
- ✓Basic control and shifting — long grades on I-84 mean you need to know when to downshift before you lose speed, not after
- ✓Seeing and communication — narrow two-lane roads on US-95 mean you need to spot oncoming trucks early and signal lane changes well in advance
- + 3 more topics
📘 Study Tips & State Info
Idaho examiners care about safety over speed. They'll ask you to explain why you check certain things during a pre-trip — not just what you check. For example, they'll ask why you check your brake adjustment. It's because on a 7% grade near Craters of the Moon, you can't afford a brake imbalance.
Focus on the sections about mountain driving and winter conditions. Idaho doesn't close roads often, but when they do, it's because drivers didn't know how to handle the conditions. The manual has specific rules about chaining up — you need to know when chains are required and how to install them safely.
Use the Idaho CDL manual, not a generic one. The PDF is on the ITD website. Read the end-of-chapter questions. They're the closest thing to the actual test. Our practice test mirrors that format. Take it until you score 90% consistently, then you're ready.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) handles all CDL testing. You'll take the General Knowledge test at any of the 40+ driver licensing offices across the state. Major locations include Boise (Chinden Blvd), Idaho Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Twin Falls, and Lewiston. Most offices require appointments for CDL written tests — walk-ins are risky, especially in summer when harvest season fills the slots.
Fees: The CLP application fee is $30. The General Knowledge test is included in that fee if you take it at the same time. If you retake it, you pay $3 per test. You need a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT physical) before you can take the test. The ITD accepts both paper and electronic versions.
One Idaho-specific rule: if you're under 18, you can only get a Class B or C license for intrastate driving. Class A requires you to be 18 for intrastate, but 21 for interstate hauling. The test questions don't change by age, but the restrictions do. Know them before you go.
About the Idaho General Knowledge Test
The Idaho General Knowledge test is the first written exam every commercial driver takes. It covers the basics: vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, seeing, communication, speed management, space management, night driving, extreme driving conditions, and cargo handling. You need this before you can get your CLP or any endorsement.
Idaho's version follows federal standards, but the ITD examiners know our roads. They'll ask about braking on long downgrades — think I-84 coming down from Mountain Home toward the Oregon border. They'll ask about stopping distance on snow and ice, because you'll see it on US-95 between Grangeville and Lewiston. They'll ask about cargo securement for agricultural loads, because that's what moves through this state.
The test is 50 multiple-choice questions. You need 40 correct to pass — that's 80%. You get 60 minutes, which is plenty if you know the material. The Idaho Transportation Department administers it at driver licensing offices across the state. You can take it as part of your CLP application or upgrade from a Class B to a Class A.
Don't waste time memorizing answers from other states. Idaho's manual has specific sections on mountain driving, chain requirements, and livestock transportation. Study that. The questions come straight from it.
Topics Covered
Study Tips
Idaho examiners care about safety over speed. They'll ask you to explain why you check certain things during a pre-trip — not just what you check. For example, they'll ask why you check your brake adjustment. It's because on a 7% grade near Craters of the Moon, you can't afford a brake imbalance.
Focus on the sections about mountain driving and winter conditions. Idaho doesn't close roads often, but when they do, it's because drivers didn't know how to handle the conditions. The manual has specific rules about chaining up — you need to know when chains are required and how to install them safely.
Use the Idaho CDL manual, not a generic one. The PDF is on the ITD website. Read the end-of-chapter questions. They're the closest thing to the actual test. Our practice test mirrors that format. Take it until you score 90% consistently, then you're ready.
Idaho Specific Information
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) handles all CDL testing. You'll take the General Knowledge test at any of the 40+ driver licensing offices across the state. Major locations include Boise (Chinden Blvd), Idaho Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Twin Falls, and Lewiston. Most offices require appointments for CDL written tests — walk-ins are risky, especially in summer when harvest season fills the slots.
Fees: The CLP application fee is $30. The General Knowledge test is included in that fee if you take it at the same time. If you retake it, you pay $3 per test. You need a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT physical) before you can take the test. The ITD accepts both paper and electronic versions.
One Idaho-specific rule: if you're under 18, you can only get a Class B or C license for intrastate driving. Class A requires you to be 18 for intrastate, but 21 for interstate hauling. The test questions don't change by age, but the restrictions do. Know them before you go.