Louisiana Tanker CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Tanker portion of the Louisiana Commercial Driver's License knowledge exam. Questions are pulled from a pool of 50 drawn from the AAMVA CDL Manual, which is the source document the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles uses to write its actual exam.

How it works: Click an answer. The correct choice highlights in green, and you'll see a short explanation. Aim for 85% or better before you sit for the real test in Louisiana.

Question 1 of 20

A "baffled" tank has:

Walls with holes that slow surge but allow flow
No walls
Only one compartment
Outside reinforcement

Correct. Baffled tanks have internal bulkheads with holes — they slow surge but still allow product to flow through during loading and unloading.

Question 2 of 20

When emergency-braking a smooth-bore tanker:

Brake hard
Anticipate forward surge that can throw your weight against the wheel and may push the rig past your intended stopping distance
Use only trailer brake
No special concern

Correct. Forward surge can dramatically push a smooth-bore tank rig further than expected. Plan stopping distance with significant additional margin.

Question 3 of 20

Outage requirements:

Vary by liquid because of differing thermal expansion rates
Are always 1 percent
Do not exist
Are only for water

Correct. Outage requirements differ by product. Gasoline expands more than diesel, ethanol expands differently, etc. Check the shipping paper or product specifications.

Question 4 of 20

Tankers should be driven with:

Less following distance
More following distance and gentler control inputs than a dry van
The same as a car
Higher speeds

Correct. Tankers stop slower and roll easier. Increase following distance and use gentler steering and braking inputs.

Question 5 of 20

Liquid in a partially filled tank causes:

No special concern
Surge — the load slosh that affects vehicle handling
Better fuel economy
Improved braking

Correct. Surge is the side-to-side or front-to-back movement of liquid in a partially filled tank — it can throw the rig forward, pull it sideways, and significantly affect handling.

Question 6 of 20

Bonding and grounding during product transfer:

Equalizes electrical potential between the tank and receiving container, preventing static-spark ignition
Charges the battery
Cools the load
Speeds delivery

Correct. Static electricity builds up during liquid transfer. Bonding (cable between tank and receiving container) plus grounding equalizes potential to prevent ignition.

Question 7 of 20

Compartmented tanks have:

Liquid-tight bulkheads dividing the tank into separate sections
No divisions
Smooth interior
Only baffles

Correct. Compartmented tanks have liquid-tight bulkheads. Each compartment is loaded separately, allowing different products in one trailer.

Question 8 of 20

Tank specification "MC-307" or "DOT-407" generally refers to:

Cargo tanks for low-pressure liquids and certain hazardous chemicals
Explosives
Bulk solids
Refrigerated gases

Correct. MC-307/DOT-407 are insulated low-pressure tanks for chemicals — common for many industrial liquids.

Question 9 of 20

In the event of a fire on a tanker:

Pull off the road, away from buildings, get out, call 911, and use the ERG to identify the response
Continue to deliver
Pour water on a fuel fire
Drive faster to put out the wind

Correct. Pull to a safe area, away from buildings and people. Get out, call 911, and consult the ERG. Some tank fires (e.g., water on flammable liquid) make matters worse.

Question 10 of 20

A "tank vehicle" requiring an N endorsement is generally defined as:

Any commercial vehicle
A vehicle used to transport liquid or gaseous materials in a tank with rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, individual tanks of 119+ gallons
Only fuel trucks
Only vehicles over 80,000 lbs

Correct. The N endorsement is required for any commercial vehicle hauling liquid or gas in a permanently mounted tank or portable tank with rated capacity of 1,000+ gallons (and individual tanks of 119+ gallons).

Question 11 of 20

Front-to-back surge is most likely to cause:

The vehicle to be pushed forward when braking
The vehicle to roll over
Better braking
No effect

Correct. Front-to-back surge pushes the rig forward when you brake — drivers have been pushed through stop lines by an unexpected forward surge.

Question 12 of 20

You should never load a tank completely full because:

It is illegal in all states
Liquids expand when warmed and need outage; over-filling can rupture the tank
Trucks won't move
It saves no time

Correct. Liquids expand with temperature. Without outage, a warming load can over-pressurize and rupture the tank.

Question 13 of 20

When driving a tanker, you should:

Drive faster on curves
Drive slower than posted curve speeds, especially on exit ramps
Use only the trailer brake
Match car speeds

Correct. Posted advisory speeds assume cars. A loaded tanker may roll over at the posted speed — slow well below posted speeds for ramps and curves.

Question 14 of 20

Loading dock procedure for cargo tanks of flammable liquid:

Set parking brake, chock wheels, shut off engine, ground and bond, monitor loading, follow loading-rack procedures
Leave the engine running
Skip the chocks
Smoke nearby

Correct. Standard loading-rack procedure: brake set, chocks in, engine off, bond and ground, monitor loading, follow rack-specific procedures (vapor recovery, load arms, etc.).

Question 15 of 20

When the surge in a tanker pushes the rig forward at a stop, you may:

Brake harder
Be pushed past the intended stopping point
Skid backward
Have no effect

Correct. Forward surge can push the entire rig forward — past stop lines, into intersections, into the vehicle ahead. Plan your stops with extra distance.

Question 16 of 20

Side-to-side surge is most likely to cause:

Improved fuel economy
Rollover, especially on curves and in evasive maneuvers
No effect
Better braking

Correct. Side-to-side surge can amplify side-loading forces, contributing to rollover on curves and exit ramps.

Question 17 of 20

When you stop a placarded tanker carrying flammable liquid at a railroad crossing, you must stop:

On the rails
Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail, then proceed only when safe
Anywhere
Only if a train is in sight

Correct. Placarded hazmat (which most fuel tankers are) must stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. Look, listen, and cross only when clear.

Question 18 of 20

When you discover a leak in a cargo tank carrying flammable liquid:

Continue to the destination
Stop in a safe location, secure the area, contact emergency response and the carrier — never transfer cargo on the road
Try to drive around the leak
Pour water on it

Correct. A leaking flammable cargo tank is a major incident — secure the area, evacuate per the ERG, contact emergency services. Never attempt roadside cargo transfer.

Question 19 of 20

Pressure relief devices on cargo tanks are designed to:

Open if pressure inside exceeds safe limits, releasing product or vapor before the tank ruptures
Increase pressure
Be tightened down
Stay closed at all times

Correct. Pressure relief valves open at a set pressure to prevent tank rupture. Tampering with them is illegal and dangerous.

Question 20 of 20

A double trailer tanker requires:

Both N (Tanker) and T (Doubles/Triples) endorsements, plus possibly H (Hazmat)
Only the N endorsement
No endorsements
Only the H endorsement

Correct. Pulling more than one tank requires Doubles/Triples (T) plus Tanker (N) endorsements. Add Hazmat (H) — together written X — for hazardous liquid loads.

About the Louisiana Tanker exam

Most states administer 20 Tanker questions and require 80% to pass. Topics include the unique handling of liquid loads, surge effects, baffles vs. smooth-bore, outage and expansion, inspection of the cargo tank, and emergency procedures.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles follows the federal CDL standards established by FMCSA. To earn the Tanker credential, you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. Many candidates score lower the first time because the test pulls from a large pool — refreshing this page will give you a different mix of questions, drawn from the same authoritative source.

Want more practice? Try the full Tanker question bank or browse all Louisiana CDL practice tests.