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

Free ME CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Exam 2025

If you’ve never been a commercial driver before, you must obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) before you can apply for a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Your CLP will allow you to practice operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) while supervised by a commercial driver at least 20 years of age who has held a CDL for at least two years. In Maine, you must be at least 16 years old for a CLP. You must meet the documentation and medical requirements and pass a set of knowledge tests for the class and the type of vehicles you plan to drive. However, all aspiring commercial drivers must pass the official General Knowledge test, which covers general commercial driving theory.

The official General Knowledge test covers many commercial driving topics, including pre-trip and other vehicle inspections. Your test will likely include questions on which systems or components to check during a pre-trip inspection and how to determine whether they are performing adequately. All questions on the General Knowledge test are based on the official Maine CDL manual (Maine CDL Handbook 2025). You should study the manual, but the sheer volume of information may leave you feeling overwhelmed and wishing for additional help to pass the General Knowledge test. If so, you’ve come to the right place!

This Maine CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Test is the first of several we offer. It will help you reinforce the knowledge you gained from reading the CDL manual and prepare to correctly answer the General Knowledge test questions on pre-trip inspections. Like the official knowledge test, this practice test is multiple choice. For each question, you must choose the best or most complete answer choice. Our AI Assistant can help you out. It can supply hints and explanations and answer your own questions on commercial driving.

The information you’ll learn through our Maine CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Tests should also prove helpful as you practice pre-trip inspections to pass the official skills test. And it may even prove helpful in your commercial driving career when you’ll be performing actual pre-trip inspections.

Winter storms and freezing rain can make driving hazardous on numerous Maine roads. Even interstates like Interstate 95 and Interstate 295 can be greatly affected by snow and ice, which add to the accident risks posed by heavy traffic and urban congestion. Furthermore, treacherous black ice commonly occurs on I-95 during the colder months. In addition to snow and ice in winter, fog and urban congestion can present problems on U.S. Route 1 year-round. A thorough pre-trip inspection of your vehicle will help ensure it’s ready to tackle these conditions safely.

  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements

What you need to know

6 min to complete
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.

What to expect on the actual ME DMV exam

20

questions

16

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. What structure supporting the fifth wheel skid plate should be checked for cracks or breaks?
  2. You pump the pedal three times and hold it down for five seconds, making sure that the pedal does not move. What are you inspecting?
  3. What transmits power from the transmission to the drive axle?
  4. What carries air or hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake assembly?
  5. ________ are gas or hydraulic devices that cushion the vehicle's ride and stabilize the vehicle.
  6. What is the sliding mechanism and locking device for tandem axles on trailers?
  7. What do you inspect to make sure that all are present and show no signs of looseness such as rust trails or shiny threads?
  8. What should you check to be sure it is solid, clear of objects, and securely bolted to the tractor frame?
  9. What maintains air pressure in the air brake system?
  10. Which tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 inch?
  11. Which of the following can disengage the engine from the drivetrain?
  12. What transforms steering column action into wheel action?
  13. Make sure that the _________ are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn, and not tangled, pinched, or dragged against tractor parts.
  14. You are looking for puddles on the ground and dripping fluids on the underside of the engine and transmission. What are you checking for?
  15. What should be fully engaged with no loose or missing pins in the slide mechanism of the sliding fifth wheel?
  16. To improve visibility during severe or stormy weather, __________ must be secure, undamaged, and operating smoothly and correctly.
  17. _________ should be clean with no dirt, illegal stickers, obstructions, or damage.
  18. _________ are the brackets, bolts, or bushings that are used to attach the spring or air bag to the axle and vehicle frame.
  19. If the wheel has a sight glass, check that the oil level is adequate. Otherwise, look for leaks around the
  20. What releases the fifth wheel locking jaws so the trailer can be coupled?
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