South Dakota General Knowledge Test
Built for drivers who haul grain across I-90 in whiteout conditions — know the rules before you hit the road.
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This is the General Knowledge test you need for any CDL in South Dakota. 50 questions, 80% to pass, 60 minutes.
Key Topics
- •Vehicle inspection
- •Safe driving practices
- •Traffic laws and rules
About the South Dakota General Knowledge Test
Topics Covered
- ✓Pre-trip vehicle inspection — South Dakota winters mean you better check your brakes, tires, and lights every single time. One bad seal on an air brake can freeze up on I-90.
- ✓Basic control and shifting — Long grades near the Missouri River on US-14 require smooth shifting to keep momentum. Examiners watch for clutch control knowledge.
- ✓Speed management — High winds on I-29 between Sioux Falls and Brookings can push a box trailer into the ditch. You need to know when to slow down.
- + 3 more topics
📘 Study Tips & State Info
South Dakota examiners don't play games. They want to see that you actually understand the manual, not just memorized a practice test. Focus on the sections about air brakes (even if you're not endorsing them yet), because General Knowledge includes basic air brake questions. Also pay extra attention to the chapter on winter driving — SD has specific advice about tire chains and stopping distances on ice.
One thing I've noticed over the years: examiners here love asking about proper following distance in bad weather. They'll give you a scenario on I-90 in a snow squall and ask how many seconds you need. The manual says 4 seconds in good conditions, but you need to double that in rain or snow. That's the kind of detail that trips people up.
Use the state supplement in the South Dakota CDL manual. It's only a few pages, but it covers state-specific laws like rural road right-of-way and agricultural vehicle interactions. Skip that supplement and you're missing easy points.
The South Dakota DMV administers CDL tests at 14 driver exam stations across the state. You can find them in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, Aberdeen, Brookings, Mitchell, Watertown, and other towns. Appointments are strongly recommended — walk-ins are accepted at some locations but you might wait hours. Call ahead or book online at the SD DPS website.
For the General Knowledge test, you'll pay a $10 fee (cash or check; most offices don't take cards). You need to bring a valid medical examiner's certificate, proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), and your Social Security card. If you're upgrading from a Class B to a Class A, you still need the General Knowledge test unless you already passed it within the last year.
South Dakota doesn't allow online testing for CDL written exams. You have to take it in person at a DMV office. The test is available in English and Spanish at most locations. If you fail, you can retake it the same day after a 15-minute wait, but you'll pay the fee again. Plan to pass the first time.
About the South Dakota General Knowledge Test
The South Dakota CDL General Knowledge test covers the basics every commercial driver needs — vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, communicating, speed management, space management, and hazard awareness. You'll take this test no matter what class of CDL you're after. It's the foundation.
South Dakota roads aren't like the rest of the country. I-90 runs straight across the plains, but winter winds can turn that straight line into a skating rink. On I-29 near Sioux Falls, you're sharing the road with livestock haulers and ethanol tankers. The test expects you to know how to handle those conditions — not just textbook answers.
The South Dakota DMV follows federal standards, so the content matches the FMCSA manual. But the examiners here pay close attention to your understanding of rural driving, weather hazards, and load securement. If you've ever driven US-14 through the Badlands in a crosswind, you know why.
You need 40 out of 50 questions correct to pass. That's 80%. The test is timed at 60 minutes, which is plenty if you know the material. Don't rush — read each question twice.
Topics Covered
Study Tips
South Dakota examiners don't play games. They want to see that you actually understand the manual, not just memorized a practice test. Focus on the sections about air brakes (even if you're not endorsing them yet), because General Knowledge includes basic air brake questions. Also pay extra attention to the chapter on winter driving — SD has specific advice about tire chains and stopping distances on ice.
One thing I've noticed over the years: examiners here love asking about proper following distance in bad weather. They'll give you a scenario on I-90 in a snow squall and ask how many seconds you need. The manual says 4 seconds in good conditions, but you need to double that in rain or snow. That's the kind of detail that trips people up.
Use the state supplement in the South Dakota CDL manual. It's only a few pages, but it covers state-specific laws like rural road right-of-way and agricultural vehicle interactions. Skip that supplement and you're missing easy points.
South Dakota Specific Information
The South Dakota DMV administers CDL tests at 14 driver exam stations across the state. You can find them in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, Aberdeen, Brookings, Mitchell, Watertown, and other towns. Appointments are strongly recommended — walk-ins are accepted at some locations but you might wait hours. Call ahead or book online at the SD DPS website.
For the General Knowledge test, you'll pay a $10 fee (cash or check; most offices don't take cards). You need to bring a valid medical examiner's certificate, proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), and your Social Security card. If you're upgrading from a Class B to a Class A, you still need the General Knowledge test unless you already passed it within the last year.
South Dakota doesn't allow online testing for CDL written exams. You have to take it in person at a DMV office. The test is available in English and Spanish at most locations. If you fail, you can retake it the same day after a 15-minute wait, but you'll pay the fee again. Plan to pass the first time.