Free New Mexico CDL Permit Practice Test: General Knowledge 2026

Our free New Mexico CDL permit practice test, one of several we offer, is designed to help you pass the official CDL General Knowledge test. Have you been studying the official New Mexico Commercial Driver License Manual (New Mexico CDL Handbook 2026)? Use this practice test as a learning tool. It’s based on the official manual, just like the official knowledge test, and it’s up to date as of January, 2026. See if you understand the information in the manual well enough to answer 50 multiple-choice questions on it. Also, identify areas that you need to brush up on. The questions on this practice test will assess your understanding of such topics as cargo management, emergency preparedness, following distance, and pre-trip inspections. Unlike the official knowledge test, however, this practice test is accompanied by an automated assistant. For each question, the assistant can supply a hint to gently guide you to the correct answer and an explanation of the correct answer, as well as other help.

By passing the official knowledge test, submitting to a medical examination, and meeting a few other requirements, you’ll be eligible to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). This credential will allow you to practice commercial driving under the supervision of someone who already holds a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

By practicing commercial driving, you’ll become sufficiently good at it to pass the official skills test, a necessary step for you to obtain a CDL. The skills test will evaluate you on performing basic vehicle maneuvers, a pre-trip inspection, and a road test.

Depending on the types of vehicles you plan to drive, you may have to pass other official knowledge tests as well. Some knowledge tests are for obtaining various endorsements on your CDL, such as Tank (N), which will allow you to operate tank trucks. Others are for removing certain restrictions from your CDL, such as the one otherwise prohibiting you from driving vehicles equipped with air brakes.

Once you obtain a CDL and all the endorsements you need, you can start your new career as a commercial driver. Tourism has grown steadily in recent years, creating opportunities for bus drivers. New Mexico is the second-largest producer of crude oil and the ninth-largest producer of natural gas in America. Other major economic sectors include agriculture, mining, and high-tech, particularly around Albuquerque. These sectors have created opportunities for truck drivers to transport these products to the rest of the country. Major commercial routes include Interstates 25 and 40 and U.S. Routes 54 and 285.