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  • Updated for January 2025
  • Based on 2025 ME commercial driver's license manual

Free Maine CDL Permit Practice Test: General Knowledge 2025

For commercial drivers, driving in Maine can blend economic opportunity, scenes of rugged beauty – and particularly hazardous conditions in winter.

Important economic sectors in Maine include logging, fishing, agriculture, and manufacturing. Truck drivers transport lumber, seafood, potatoes, and manufactured goods to markets and distribution hubs in cities like Boston and New York. For truckers and bus drivers, the primary commercial route is Interstate 95. Other important commercial routes include U.S. Routes 1, 2, and 302.

U.S. Route 1 is a scenic route as well as a commercial route. But in winter, snowstorms, icy roads, and poor visibility can make I-95, U.S. Route 1, and U.S. Route 2 treacherous for commercial drivers. In northern Maine, where logging trucks operate, steep, winding roads can become particularly hazardous when they turn icy.

Want to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) so you can start earning money as a commercial driver? One of the most important first steps you must take is to pass the official General Knowledge test on commercial driving theory. This is a necessary step for you to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). Once you hold a CLP, you will be allowed to practice commercial driving under the supervision of a licensed CDL holder.

You have likely been advised to prepare for the General Knowledge test by studying the official Maine Commercial Driver License Manual (Maine CDL Handbook 2025). The manual does contain all the information on which you’ll be tested. You should read it. However, you may find that much of the information is hard to assimilate just by reading it. You should supplement your reading of the official manual with other study tools, such as the ones we can offer you.

This free Maine CDL permit practice test, one of several we offer, will assess your grasp of commercial driving theory. It’s based on the official CDL manual, just like the official knowledge test, and is up to date as of January, 2025. The 50 multiple-choice questions on this practice test will assess your understanding of such topics as driving maneuvers, cargo management, emergency preparedness, and vehicle inspections. The practice test differs from the official knowledge test primarily in the extra tools it gives you to help you learn, including an automated assistant that can offer you a hint if you get stuck and an explanation if you still miss a question. Plus, the practice test has no time limit. Take all the time you need to learn the material.

Be sure to try our other free Maine CDL permit practice tests too.

Commercial Driver's License
  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements
  • Triple-checked for accuracy

What you need to know

Available in EN and ES
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.
Ensuring the accuracy and quality of our program is paramount. Learn more about our rigorous standards in our Commitment to Accuracy article.

What to expect on the actual ME DMV exam

50

questions

40

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. Which of the following requirements must you meet to get a military CDL skills test waiver?
  2. To transport cargo safely, which of these are you NOT responsible for?
  3. The minimum tread depth for front tires is
  4. You don't want to be a distracted driver, so you
  5. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) will
  6. Where should you place your warning devices if you must stop on a one-way road or divided highway?
  7. If you double your speed, how much more distance will it take to stop?
  8. What is the best way to figure out how many seconds of following distance you have?
  9. Hazardous materials placards are
  10. How long does it take a typical tractor-trailer to clear a double railroad track?
  11. Always try to back toward the driver's side because
  12. What is the gross vehicle weight (GVW)?
  13. Which of the following is NOT something you should check during a trip?
  14. How many hours of sleep per night does the average person need to avoid accumulating sleep debt?
  15. Total stopping distance equals
  16. What can you do at an accident scene to help avoid another accident?
  17. How many tiedowns are required for a 20-foot load?
  18. If you are confronted by an aggressive driver, you should
  19. In which of the following two situations should you downshift?
  20. What might happen if you swing wide to the left before you turn right?
  21. What is the definition of a hazard?
  22. When backing, it is important to use a helper
  23. While driving at night, which lights should you use as often as you can?
  24. Letting the air out of hot tires
  25. To help you stay alert and safe while driving, you should
  26. You should inspect wheel bearing seals for
  27. Which of the following should you NOT do if you experience a tire failure?
  28. Which of these is NOT part of the basic method for shifting up?
  29. Which of the following statements about retarders are correct?
  30. Before transporting a sealed load, you must check
  31. Which of the following is a key steering component?
  32. How can you determine if your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)?
  33. How can you start moving without rolling backward?
  34. Starting the engine and inspecting the cab involves each of the following tasks, EXCEPT
  35. If you are traveling at 55 mph in a 30-foot vehicle, you should leave how many seconds of following distance?
  36. On which of the following types of fires should you NOT use a B:C fire extinguisher?
  37. It has just reached freezing. Which of the following areas may be slippery?
  38. On wet roads, you should reduce your speed by
  39. What will help a drunk sober up?
  40. During your pre-trip test, when examining hoses with the instructor, you need to look for
  41. Do empty trucks have the best braking?
  42. Why should you cover your cargo?
  43. How often must you stop to check your cargo while on the road?
  44. For how long will you lose your CDL driving privileges if you are convicted of a second DUI offense in either a CMV or your private vehicle?
  45. Which is NOT one of the four basic skills that operating a commercial vehicle requires?
  46. When you start down a long downgrade, which of the following should influence your choice of speed?
  47. If the engine is not overheated, is it completely safe to remove the radiator cap?
  48. What is a common cause of tire fires?
  49. You should put the starter switch key into your pocket while you perform the pre-trip inspection because
  50. The most important hand signal you should agree on with a helper is
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