General Knowledge · Section 3.2 and 3.3

Cargo weight and securement: CDL practice questions

Sections 3.2 and 3.3 cover weight terms and legal limits, balancing a load, and the blocking, bracing and tie-downs that keep cargo in place. These questions are part of the General Knowledge test.

Examlane has 33 questions on this chapter. Ten are below; open one to see the answer and why. The rest are in the practice tests.

Practice this chapter

1. What is Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)?
1. The weight of the empty vehicle
2. The most weight the maker allows for the vehicle
3. The weight of one vehicle plus its load
4. The weight on one axle or set of axles
Answer: C. The weight of one vehicle plus its load
GVW is the weight of one vehicle together with the load it carries.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.2.1 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
2. How should blocking be fitted and held in place?
1. Cut shorter than the cargo and left loose on the deck
2. Placed only on top of the cargo
3. Shaped to fit snugly and fastened to the cargo deck
4. Hung from the walls and roof of the cargo compartment
Answer: C. Shaped to fit snugly and fastened to the cargo deck
Blocking must fit tightly against the cargo and be fastened to the deck so the cargo cannot slide.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.3.1 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
3. What term describes the combined weight of a tractor, the trailer it pulls, and the cargo on board?
1. Gross Combination Weight
2. Axle weight
3. Tire load
4. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
Answer: A. Gross Combination Weight
Gross Combination Weight (GCW) is the total of the powered unit, the trailers and the cargo.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.2.1 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
4. Where does bracing go?
1. From the top of the load down to the floor or walls
2. From the bottom of the cargo up to the roof of the trailer
3. From the front axle to the rear axle
4. From one side of the cargo deck to the other under the cargo
Answer: A. From the top of the load down to the floor or walls
Bracing stops cargo from moving by running from its top section down to the floor or walls.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.3.1 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
5. What does a vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) tell you?
1. The weight of the vehicle when it is empty and fueled
2. The weight the ground feels under one axle
3. The most weight each state allows on its public roads
4. The most the maker says the loaded vehicle may weigh
Answer: D. The most the maker says the loaded vehicle may weigh
GVWR is the maximum gross vehicle weight set by the manufacturer.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.2.1 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
6. You haul cargo on a trailer that has no sides. What must you do about the cargo?
1. Rely on its weight to keep it in place
2. Secure it so it cannot shift or fall off
3. Secure it only if the load is lighter than the trailer
4. Secure it only when the weather is bad
Answer: B. Secure it so it cannot shift or fall off
Cargo on flatbeds and trailers without sides must always be secured against shifting or falling off.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.3.2 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
7. What does axle weight mean?
1. The weight of the axle itself and its wheel hubs
2. The weight one axle or axle set puts on the ground
3. The most weight a tractor can pull up a steep hill
4. The weight of the cargo ahead of the axle
Answer: B. The weight one axle or axle set puts on the ground
Axle weight is the weight an axle or set of axles transmits to the ground.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.2.1 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
8. Why can tiedowns be important in a closed van?
1. They are never needed because the walls hold the cargo
2. They keep the doors from opening
3. They are needed only to keep cargo from falling out
4. They stop shifting cargo that can affect handling
Answer: D. They stop shifting cargo that can affect handling
Even in a closed van, cargo that shifts can change how the vehicle handles, so tiedowns can matter.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.3.2 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
9. What does a tire's load rating tell you?
1. The weight of the tire and wheel
2. The most air pressure a tire can hold before it bursts open
3. The heaviest load a tire can carry at its set pressure
4. The number of miles the tire can carry a load safely
Answer: C. The heaviest load a tire can carry at its set pressure
Tire load is the heaviest weight a tire can safely hold when it is inflated to a specified pressure.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.2.1 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.
10. Compared with the weight of the cargo, what is the minimum aggregate working load limit of the tiedowns holding it?
1. One-half of the cargo's weight
2. One-quarter of the cargo's weight
3. One-third of the cargo's weight
4. One-tenth of the cargo's weight
Answer: A. One-half of the cargo's weight
Federal rules require the securement system's aggregate working load limit to be at least one-half of the cargo's weight.
Based on: CDL manual, Section 3.3.2 (Georgia edition of the national model manual, read 2026-10-24). Question in our own words.

Read the chapter itself in your state's CDL manual, Section 3.2 and 3.3. Your state's manual is free: find it in the state table.

More General Knowledge chapters: Railroad crossings, Vehicle inspection, Speed and stopping distance, Managing space, Driving emergencies.