PassRigGet early access

Maryland CDL practice test

Getting a commercial driver's licence in Maryland starts with the CDL knowledge tests. The content is federal: every state, Maryland included, writes its tests from the FMCSA CDL manual, so the general knowledge test has 50 questions, the endorsement tests have 20 to 30, and the passing score is 80% on each. The Maryland driver licensing agency administers the test; the rules behind it are published by the FMCSA. Try the free Maryland CDL practice questions below, then pick a full test.

Free Maryland CDL practice questions

Five questions from the general knowledge, air brakes and combination vehicles banks, the three tests most Maryland Class A applicants take first. Show the answer to read the explanation.

  1. Compared with the gear used to climb a hill, a modern truck going down the same hill:

    • May need a lower gear than the one used to climb it
    • Should always use the same gear
    • Should use a higher gear to keep the engine cool
    • Should be in neutral so the engine does not overheat
    Show answer
    Answer: A. May need a lower gear than the one used to climb it

    The old rule of using the climbing gear no longer works for modern trucks with low-friction parts and streamlined shapes. They need a lower gear going down to get enough engine braking.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.16 (Select a Safe Speed)

  2. Why must you shift into a low gear before starting down a steep grade instead of once you are on it?

    • Shifting on a hill is illegal in most states
    • Once you are going too fast you may not be able to get into a lower gear, and you may lose all braking effect from the engine
    • The transmission locks on downgrades
    • The engine would stall if shifted on a hill
    Show answer
    Answer: B. Once you are going too fast you may not be able to get into a lower gear, and you may lose all braking effect from the engine

    If you miss the shift on the grade, you are left in neutral with only the brakes to hold the vehicle. Downshift at the top so the engine is already helping before the descent begins.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.16 (Select a Safe Speed)

  3. Using the recommended downgrade braking technique, your safe speed is 40 mph. When the vehicle reaches 40 mph you should apply the brakes firmly until the speed drops to:

    • About 20 mph, then release
    • A complete stop
    • About 35 mph, then release
    • About 39 mph, then hold the brakes lightly
    Show answer
    Answer: C. About 35 mph, then release

    Apply the brakes hard enough to feel a definite slowdown, about 5 mph below the safe speed, then release. When you are back at the safe speed, repeat. Light steady braking overheats the brakes.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.16 (Proper Braking Technique)

  4. Escape ramps on mountain downgrades:

    • Are for passenger cars only
    • May be used only with a permit
    • Are only for vehicles carrying hazardous materials
    • Are built to stop runaway vehicles safely, and you should know where they are on your route
    Show answer
    Answer: D. Are built to stop runaway vehicles safely, and you should know where they are on your route

    Escape ramps use a long bed of loose gravel or an upgrade to stop a vehicle that has lost its brakes. Use one if your brakes fail. Know where they are before you need them.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.16 (Escape Ramps)

  5. A vehicle that is required to stop at railroad crossings must stop how far from the nearest rail?

    • Between 15 and 50 feet
    • Between 5 and 10 feet
    • At least 100 feet
    • Exactly 25 feet
    Show answer
    Answer: A. Between 15 and 50 feet

    Stopping 15 to 50 feet back keeps you clear of the train yet close enough to see down the tracks. After stopping, look and listen in both directions before crossing.

    Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 2.15.2 (Driving Procedures at Railroad Crossings)

Every CDL test for Maryland drivers

Each page has ten free sample questions, the real question count, the 80% pass mark and what the test covers.

How the Maryland CDL knowledge test works

You take the general knowledge test first; it is required for every CDL class. Class A drivers add the combination vehicles test. Almost everyone takes the air brakes test, because skipping it puts an air brake restriction on the licence. Endorsements (hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger, school bus) each have their own knowledge test. Pass the tests and you hold a commercial learner's permit; the skills test in a truck comes later.

Fees, appointment rules and test centre locations are set by Maryland and change over time, so check the state driver licensing agency before you go. What does not change is the content, and that is what PassRig drills.

Maryland CDL test questions

How many questions are on the Maryland CDL test?

The Maryland CDL general knowledge test follows the federal model: 50 questions, 40 correct to pass. Endorsement tests are shorter: air brakes 25, hazmat 30, and combination vehicles, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger and school bus 20 each.

What is the passing score on the Maryland CDL permit test?

80% on every knowledge test, the same pass mark used across the United States.

Where do I take the CDL knowledge test in Maryland?

At the Maryland state driver licensing agency (the DMV, DOT or equivalent). Check its website for locations, appointments and current fees; the test content itself comes from the FMCSA CDL manual.

Does PassRig have Maryland CDL practice questions?

Yes. Pick Maryland in the app and you get practice sets and mock exams built from the knowledge test content your state uses, with the real counts and the 80% line.

Other states