Maine (ME) CDL manual 2026

Practice the manual, chapter by chapter

State manuals are built on the same national model, chapter for chapter. One thing to know from each chapter, then real questions from it to answer — tap an option to check yourself.

1. 1

   Introduction

   Everyone

   Passenger capacity threshold: 16 or more passengers including the driver.

   How long will you lose your CDL for a first alcohol or felony offense committed while operating a placarded hazmat vehicle?

   1. AAt least three years
   2. BFor life
   3. CAt least one year
   4. DAt least five years

   How quickly must you tell your employer that your license has been suspended?

   1. AWithin two business days
   2. BBefore your next dispatch
   3. CWithin seven days
   4. DWithin 30 days
   This chapter has 26 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
2. 2

   Driving Safely

   Everyone

   Start the engine; listen for unusual noises.

   What is the minimum tread depth required in every major groove on a front (steering) tire?

   1. A6/32 inch
   2. B8/32 inch
   3. C4/32 inch
   4. D2/32 inch

   Why should you never change gears while your vehicle is moving across railroad tracks?

   1. AA missed shift could leave you stalled or stuck on the tracks
   2. BShifting can damage the transmission on the rough rail surface
   3. CIt is illegal to change speed anywhere inside a crossing zone
   4. DThe extra engine noise could drown out an approaching train horn
   This chapter has 290 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
3. 3

   Transporting Cargo Safely

   Everyone

   Whether or not you load and secure the cargo yourself, you are responsible for inspecting your cargo and recognizing overloads and poorly balanced weight.

   A dispatcher offers you a load that requires hazardous materials placards on the trailer, but you do not have a hazmat endorsement. What may you do?

   1. AHaul the load if the shipper provides the placards and shipping papers
   2. BHaul the load only on routes that avoid tunnels and major bridges
   3. CRefuse the load, because driving a placarded vehicle requires a hazmat endorsement
   4. DHaul the load if the hazardous portion stays in a separate compartment

   What do suspension systems carry from the manufacturer, like tires and coupling devices?

   1. AA recommended service interval
   2. BA maximum travel specification
   3. CA weight capacity rating
   4. DA minimum operating temperature
   This chapter has 26 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
4. 4

   Transporting Passengers

   P endorsement (bus)

   While driving, scan the interior of your bus as well as the road ahead, to the sides and to the rear.

   A standee line is painted on the floor of buses that allow standing riders. What does this line mark?

   1. AThe point behind which all standing riders must stay
   2. BWhere riders should line up to pay their fares
   3. CThe area reserved for riders with disabilities
   4. DThe rear boundary of the luggage storage area

   A rider stacks several suitcases against a window marked as an emergency exit on your intercity bus. Why must you have the bags moved?

   1. ARiders must be able to reach and use every emergency exit
   2. BThe stack will block the climate control airflow
   3. CBags stored there are not covered by the carrier
   4. DWindow glass could scratch the luggage in transit
   This chapter has 98 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
5. 5

   Air Brakes

   Any vehicle with air brakes

   Water and compressor oil accumulate in air tanks, can freeze in cold weather, and must be drained out.

   How is supply pressure displayed on a vehicle with a dual air brake system?

   1. AA gauge for the primary system and a warning lamp for the secondary
   2. BOne gauge showing the lower of the two systems
   3. CA gauge for each half, or one gauge with two needles
   4. DOne gauge showing the combined total of both systems

   How may the parking brakes be operated on an older air-braked vehicle?

   1. ABy a key-operated switch on the dash
   2. BBy a foot-operated ratchet pedal
   3. CBy a lever
   4. DBy a cable running to the rear axle
   This chapter has 148 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
6. 6

   Combination Vehicles

   Class A

   Plug the electrical cord into the trailer and fasten the safety catch.

   What rearward amplification figure does the manual give for triples?

   1. A1.5
   2. B3.5
   3. C2.5
   4. D2.0

   What steering habit best protects a doubles driver from tipping the rear trailer through rearward amplification?

   1. AMaking small, smooth steering corrections
   2. BTurning the wheel quickly to clear hazards early
   3. CCountersteering sharply after every lane change
   4. DHolding the wheel loosely so it can self-center
   This chapter has 118 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
7. 7

   Doubles and Triples

   T endorsement

   If the sliding fifth wheel is air powered, check that there are no air leaks.

   How should you adjust your driving when pulling doubles in rain or snow?

   1. ASlow down and drive with extra caution
   2. BDrive the same as with a single trailer
   3. CFollow other trucks closely to use their tire tracks
   4. DIncrease speed slightly to keep the trailers pulled taut

   Before backing the converter dolly under the second trailer, the trailer's nose height should be:

   1. AExactly level with the top of the dolly fifth wheel
   2. BResting on its landing gear pads at ground level
   3. CWell above the fifth wheel so it drops on hard
   4. DSlightly lower than the center of the dolly fifth wheel
   This chapter has 98 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
8. 8

   Tank Vehicles

   N endorsement

   Drivers should slow to a safe speed before a curve and maintain slight power through it rather than braking in the curve.

   Compared with most other kinds of cargo, why does a load of liquid in a tank make a truck easier to roll over?

   1. ALiquid cargo gradually lowers the air pressure in the tires
   2. BMuch of the load's weight is carried high above the roadway
   3. CLiquid loads are always heavier than dry freight loads
   4. DTank trailers ride on narrower axles than flatbed trailers

   A tanker driver wants to avoid skids, which are especially dangerous when a liquid load is pushing on the tank. What causes most skids?

   1. ADriving too fast for the road and weather conditions
   2. BWorn steering components that let the front wheels wander
   3. CBrake systems that apply unevenly from one side to the other
   4. DSudden gusts of wind striking the tall sides of the tank
   This chapter has 62 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
9. 9

   Hazardous Materials

   H endorsement

   Division 2.1 is Flammable Gases, with propane as an example.

   What does the manual require for materials subject to spontaneous combustion or heating?

   1. AVehicles with sufficient ventilation
   2. BTransport only during daylight hours
   3. CA dedicated fire watch in the cargo area
   4. DRefrigerated transport at all times

   What is required of the surface a placard is mounted on?

   1. AIt must be free of rivets across its whole area
   2. BIt must be flat sheet metal rather than fiberglass
   3. CIt must be repainted white before mounting
   4. DIt must be a background of contrasting color
   This chapter has 234 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
10. 10

    School Buses

    S endorsement

    Alternately flashing amber lights warn traffic that the bus is slowing and about to stop for students.

    A student who just exited your bus drops a book, and it slides underneath the bus. What should the student have been taught to do?

    1. ALeave the item, move away from the bus, and get the driver's attention for help
    2. BCrawl under the bus quickly while the red lights are still flashing
    3. CWait quietly beside the rear wheels until the driver finishes the route
    4. DKnock on the service door and reach beneath the bumper for the item

    What should be switched on while loading students in the dark?

    1. AThe stepwell heater lamp
    2. BThe dome light
    3. CThe high beam headlights
    4. DThe rear cargo lamp
    This chapter has 98 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.
11. 11

    Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection

    Everyone (skills test)

    Leaks are a fire hazard and can cause driving hazards to other traffic; fuel on pavement can be very slippery.

    What color must the reflectors mounted on the rear of a trailer be during your inspection?

    1. ABlue reflectors
    2. BRed reflectors
    3. CWhite reflectors
    4. DAmber reflectors

    What must be true of the light lenses on the front of the vehicle?

    1. ATinted to reduce glare for oncoming drivers
    2. BSealed with silicone around every edge
    3. CProper color, clean, not broken and not missing
    4. DReplaced whenever the bulb is changed
    This chapter has 200 more questions. Practice them in the app and see your pass chance.

The official Maine CDL manual