North Dakota Tanker CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Tanker portion of the North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Transportation Drivers License Division 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 North Dakota.

Question 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 of 20

When driving with a load that has a low specific gravity (e.g., gasoline) versus high (e.g., asphalt), you should:

Drive the same
Adjust for the differences in surge dynamics, weight distribution, and braking
Skip braking
Run hot

Correct. Different products have different densities, surge characteristics, and weight distributions. Adjust speed and braking for the load.

Question 7 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 8 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 9 of 20

A loaded tanker on a curve is most likely to:

Roll over because surge plus high CG amplifies side forces
Skid in a straight line
Brake faster
Steer easier

Correct. Side surge plus high CG creates a tipping moment well above what a flat-bed of equal weight produces. Speed reduction in advance is the only safe answer.

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

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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 of 20

Empty tankers handle:

The same as loaded tankers
Differently — lighter axle weight reduces braking traction; tankers are also more affected by crosswinds when empty
Always better
Always worse

Correct. Empty tankers have less brake traction (less weight on tires) and are more affected by crosswinds. Never assume empty equals safer.

Question 19 of 20

Tankers have a high center of gravity because:

The driver sits high
The load is in a tall, narrow tank
The cargo is light
The cab is wide

Correct. A tank carries its load high above the road. The center of gravity is much higher than for a flatbed of the same weight, increasing rollover risk.

Question 20 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.

About the North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Transportation Drivers License Division 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 North Dakota CDL practice tests.