New Hampshire Tanker CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Tanker portion of the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division 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 New Hampshire.

Question 1 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 2 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 3 of 20

When you drive a tanker on slippery roads, you should:

Drive faster
Reduce speed substantially and increase following distance
Use only the trailer brake
Maintain normal speed

Correct. Reduce speed by at least one-third on wet roads, by half on snow. Liquid loads make recovery from a skid much harder.

Question 4 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.

Question 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 of 20

When loading a cargo tank with flammable liquid, the driver must:

Stay alert, within 25 feet, with a clear view of the tank, and ready to handle emergencies
Leave for lunch
Smoke
Run the engine at high RPM

Correct. Federal rule: driver remains within 25 feet, alert, with a clear view, ready to act in case of overflow or emergency.

Question 9 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 10 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 11 of 20

When braking a partially filled smooth-bore tank, you should:

Brake hard at the last minute
Brake gently and start braking earlier than usual to compensate for surge
Use only the trailer hand valve
Pump the brakes

Correct. In smooth-bore tanks, surge is severe. Brake gently and earlier than you would in a dry-van trailer to avoid being pushed forward.

Question 12 of 20

Tanker pre-trip should specifically check:

Tank shell, intake/discharge/cut-off valves, manhole covers, venting devices, and pressure-relief equipment
Only the tires
Only the engine
Only the placards

Correct. In addition to standard pre-trip, inspect the tank shell, all valves, manhole covers, vents, and pressure-relief devices.

Question 13 of 20

When carrying water (a non-hazmat liquid) in a tanker, you still need:

The N endorsement, because it is a tank vehicle
No endorsement
Only the H endorsement
Just a Class B

Correct. The N endorsement is based on the vehicle being a tank, not on the cargo. Even non-hazardous water requires the N endorsement if the tank meets size criteria.

Question 14 of 20

A tanker with a high center of gravity is most prone to rollover during:

Straight-line driving
Tight curves, evasive maneuvers, and exit ramps
Backing
Stopping

Correct. High center of gravity makes tankers roll on tight curves, sudden lane changes, and exit ramps. Slow well in advance.

Question 15 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 16 of 20

A pressure-relief device that vents during transit:

Is a normal occurrence
Is a serious malfunction or over-fill — stop and investigate
Means the tank is empty
Means the load is cold

Correct. Continuous venting indicates over-pressure (often from over-fill or sun heating an over-filled tank). Stop and investigate; do not continue with a venting tank.

Question 17 of 20

When driving a tanker through a sharp bend at the recommended speed for cars:

You are likely to roll over
You are safe
You will accelerate
Brakes engage automatically

Correct. Tanker rollovers regularly happen at posted "car" curve speeds. Slow well below posted speeds in a loaded tanker.

Question 18 of 20

A heavy liquid load with a baffled tank may still surge:

Front-to-back, despite the baffles
Not at all
Less than smooth-bore but baffles do not stop side-to-side surge
None of the above

Correct. Baffles reduce front-to-back surge but do not affect side-to-side surge — bulkheads are typically transverse, not longitudinal.

Question 19 of 20

When unloading product from a cargo tank, you should:

Verify the receiving container can hold the load, bond and ground, control the flow rate, and remain within 25 feet for flammables
Walk away
Maximize flow rate
Smoke nearby

Correct. Pre-check receiving container, bond and ground, control flow rate to prevent splash and spill, and remain attentive for flammable liquids.

Question 20 of 20

Tank vehicles should not be driven:

On long downgrades without a lower gear and intermittent firm braking
On any highway
Anywhere
At night

Correct. On long downgrades, select a low gear before starting down and use firm intermittent brake applications to prevent fade.

About the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division 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 New Hampshire CDL practice tests.