Free, full Maine CDL general knowledge test practice right here in your browser — real exam format (50 questions, 80% to pass), diagnostic and adaptive modes, spaced-repetition review, and a readiness dashboard. No signup, no paywall — your progress is saved automatically on this device. Matched to the official BMV knowledge exam.
What does 'on-duty time' include for HOS purposes?
D. All time working, including loading, unloading, fueling, and waiting at a shipper — On-duty time includes ALL time working for a carrier: pre-trip inspections, loading/unloading, fueling, maintenance, waiting at a shipper or consignee, and all driving. It is not just driving time.
A commercial driver may legally hold a CDL from:
D. Only one state at a time — Federal law allows a driver only one CDL, issued by the home state, so violations follow the driver and cannot be hidden.
Standees on a bus may be allowed only when:
B. There is a legal standee line marked on the floor and the bus is not on a highway — Standees are only allowed behind a standee line marked on the floor (typically behind the front axle). Standing passengers are generally not allowed when the bus is operating on a highway.
What is 'rearward amplification' in a doubles or triples combination?
B. The tendency for the rear trailer to swing wider than the front trailer in an emergency maneuver — Rearward amplification means that a swerve or steering correction causes each successive trailer to move further sideways than the one ahead of it. The last trailer can swerve several times more than the tractor.
During a vehicle inspection, which of these would be a reason to put the vehicle out of service?
D. A cracked or broken windshield that obstructs view — A cracked windshield that obstructs the driver's field of vision is a federal out-of-service defect — the vehicle cannot move until the windshield is replaced. Even a small crack in the driver's direct line of sight meets the out-of-service threshold.
You are driving a 40-foot vehicle at 35 mph. What is the minimum following distance you should maintain?
C. 4 seconds — At speeds below 40 mph, use one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length. A 40-foot vehicle requires at least 4 seconds.
A vehicle transporting explosives (Class 1) must:
C. Never be left unattended — Vehicles transporting explosives must never be left unattended. Special parking and route requirements also apply.
What is the purpose of an interlock system on a transit bus?
B. To prevent the bus from moving while the rear doors are open — The interlock system prevents the bus from moving when the rear exit door is open, reducing the risk of passengers being dragged or injured.
What are the three emergency equipment items required on commercial vehicles?
A. Fire extinguisher, spare fuses, warning triangles — Federal law requires all commercial motor vehicles to carry a fire extinguisher of the correct type and rating, a set of three reflective warning triangles, and spare electrical fuses — missing any item is an out-of-service violation.
During a post-trip vehicle inspection report (DVIR), a driver MUST:
A. Report any defects found and sign the report, certifying defects or certifying the vehicle is satisfactory — FMCSA requires drivers to complete a DVIR (Driver Vehicle Inspection Report) at the end of each day reporting all defects or certifying the vehicle was found to be in satisfactory condition. The report must be signed.
The Maine CDL general knowledge test has 50 questions, and you need 80% to pass — at least 40 correct answers. The practice tests on this page use the same format. The 80% passing score is a federal FMCSA standard used by every state.
80%. You can miss at most 10 of the 50 questions. The readiness dashboard on this page tracks whether you're consistently scoring above that bar.
In Maine, driver licensing is handled by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), so you'll often see the exam called the BMV CDL general knowledge test. The practice tests on this page match the official BMV knowledge exam format.
Yes. Every practice test on this page and everything in the DMVPrep iPhone app is free — no ads, no paywall, no account.
Federal motor carrier safety regulations (FMCSA) — the same rules every state's CDL exam is drawn from. Every question in the DMVPrep app cites the regulation or handbook section it comes from.
Yes — the DMVPrep app includes all 3,745+ questions in Spanish, and the whole app works in Spanish.