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

Free Maryland CDL Permit Practice Test: General Knowledge 2025

There’s much to see and savor in the great state of Maryland. Take in the vistas of the Chesapeake Bay area and drive the Maryland Scenic Byways. There are many economic opportunities as well.

Maryland’s households are currently the wealthiest in the country, and the state’s poverty rate is the lowest in the country. The state’s economy benefits from federal government services and defense contracting because of its proximity to Washington, DC. However, nearly half of Baltimore’s residents lack access to a car and depend on public transportation. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) operates 80 bus lines in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

To become a commercial driver, you must obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

There are three classes of CDLs, each designed for different types of commercial vehicles: Class A (generally for semi-trucks and tractor-trailers), Class B (generally for box trucks, dump trucks, and full-size buses), and Class C (for relatively smaller vehicles designed to carry hazardous materials or at least 16 occupants, including the driver).

Regardless of which class of CDL you plan to obtain, your first technical challenge is to pass the official General Knowledge test. This written test will evaluate your knowledge of general commercial driving theory. Once you have done so and met some other requirements, you can obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), which will allow you to practice commercial driving under supervision.

The official Maryland Commercial Driver License Manual contains all the information that is covered by the General Knowledge test. However, it’s designed as a reference work, not as a tutorial or textbook. You should read it, but you should also supplement your reading with better study tools.

This free Maryland CDL permit practice test is up to date as of January, 2025 and is designed to resemble the official written knowledge test in both content and structure. The 50 practice questions address such topics as cargo management, following distance, stopping distance, vehicle components, and driving under special conditions. Unlike the official test, however, you’re not under pressure to pass, and each question has both an available hint to gently lead you to the correct answer and an explanation of the correct answer. Once you’ve scored well enough on these practice tests, you can consider yourself ready to take the official knowledge test.

Test-taking tip: Be alert for keywords that either exaggerate or negate the sense of the question, such as “always,” “avoid,” “except”, “never,” or “not.” If the question says “not,” then can you find an answer choice that the driver should NOT do? Good luck!

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

What you need to know

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What to expect on the actual MD MVA exam

50

questions

40

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. Signs of distracted drivers include
  2. When you apply for a CDL, you will need to provide the MVA with information about the past ________ of your driving record.
  3. During your pre-trip test, when examining hoses with the instructor, you need to look for
  4. You should inspect wheel bearing seals for
  5. It has just reached freezing. Which of the following areas may be slippery?
  6. Which of the following is a key steering component?
  7. Where should you place your warning devices if you must stop on a one-way road or divided highway?
  8. According to the Maryland CDL manual, how far ahead should you look while driving?
  9. Which of the following are most likely to get stuck at a raised railroad crossing?
  10. What is the best way to figure out how many seconds of following distance you have?
  11. Do empty trucks have the best braking?
  12. If you double your speed, how much more distance will it take to stop?
  13. Which of the following should you NOT do if you experience a tire failure?
  14. Before transporting a sealed load, you must check
  15. What might happen if you swing wide to the left before you turn right?
  16. To prevent drowsiness on a trip, you should
  17. When backing, it is important to use a helper
  18. Which is NOT one of the four basic skills that operating a commercial motor vehicle requires?
  19. If the engine is not overheated, is it completely safe to remove the radiator cap?
  20. How long does it take a typical tractor-trailer to clear a double railroad track?
  21. If you are traveling at 55 mph in a 30-foot vehicle, you should leave how many seconds of following distance?
  22. If you feel drowsy while driving, what should you do?
  23. Which of the following is NOT true about an escape ramp?
  24. The minimum tread depth for front tires is
  25. Which of these is NOT part of the basic method for shifting up?
  26. Starting the engine and inspecting the cab involves each of the following tasks, EXCEPT
  27. What is the gross vehicle weight (GVW)?
  28. On wet roads, you should reduce your speed by
  29. If you are confronted by an aggressive driver, you should
  30. Letting the air out of hot tires
  31. In your emergency kit, you do not need to have
  32. Hazardous materials placards are
  33. When you start down a long downgrade, which of the following should influence your choice of speed?
  34. You should put the starter switch key into your pocket while you perform the pre-trip inspection because
  35. While driving at night, which lights should you use as often as you can?
  36. How often must you stop to check your cargo while on the road?
  37. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) will
  38. 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?
  39. Total stopping distance equals
  40. Which of the following statements about retarders are correct?
  41. What is the definition of a hazard?
  42. In which of the following two situations should you downshift?
  43. The most important hand signal you should agree on with a helper is
  44. How many tie-downs are required for a 20-foot load?
  45. Why should you cover your cargo?
  46. Always try to back toward the driver's side because
  47. What is a common cause of tire fires?
  48. What will help a drunk sober up?
  49. Which of the following is NOT something you should check during a trip?
  50. How can you determine if your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)?
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