Maryland General Knowledge CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Maryland General Knowledge CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Try to answer each question on your own before reading the answer key directly under it. The questions and answer choices are shuffled deterministically per state and endorsement, so the order will stay the same on repeat visits — that lets you genuinely measure your improvement.
- A Honk and accelerate
- B Move to the right lane
- C Maintain speed
- D Cover the brake and slow down
- A Coast in neutral
- B Shift into reverse
- C Use the parking brake hard
- D Look for an escape ramp
- A Increase your following distance from the vehicle in front to give both of you more room
- B Move to the left lane only
- C Speed up to get away
- D Brake suddenly to teach a lesson
- A CDL disqualification for at least one year for a first offense
- B A warning
- C No federal consequence
- D A fine only
- A Slow down
- B All of the above
- C Increase following distance
- D Make smooth steering and braking inputs
- A Testing the service and parking brakes
- B Adjusting the trailer brakes individually
- C Walking around the vehicle and checking lights
- D Checking the engine compartment
- A Tap the horn lightly or flash lights to signal your presence
- B Never communicate; just drive
- C Honk loudly to warn other drivers
- D Make eye contact only when stopped
- A The pavement under the bridge is reinforced
- B The bridge is closed in winter
- C Bridge surfaces freeze first because of air circulation underneath
- D Bridges are inspected only in winter
- A Fills the trailer floor edge to edge
- B Looks neat from the outside
- C Cannot shift on stops, starts, or turns and is within axle weight limits
- D Is loaded in the order it will be delivered
- A When you are stopped or moving slowly enough to be a hazard
- B Only on the highway
- C Whenever you feel like it
- D Only at night
- A Considered driving under the influence for CDL purposes
- B Allowed if the driver feels fine
- C A traffic violation, but not a CDL disqualification
- D Allowed off-duty only
- A Properly working brakes
- B Driving too fast for conditions
- C Old tires
- D Manual transmissions
- A Use the four-way flashers instead of signals at intersections
- B Signal early, signal continuously, and cancel after the turn
- C Signal only at the moment you start turning
- D Signal only when other vehicles are present
- A The carrier only
- B The dispatcher only
- C No one
- D The driver, in the form of a logbook or electronic logging device
- A Gravel surfaces
- B Bridges and overpasses
- C Concrete pavement only
- D Roads in direct sunlight
- A Coast in neutral
- B Select a lower gear before starting down
- C Use the parking brake intermittently
- D Stay in high gear
- A Gross Vehicle Width Rating
- B Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
- C Government Vehicle Weight Regulation
- D General Vehicle Weight Reading
- A The full range of high-beam headlights when in use
- B The range of your low-beam headlights
- C Whatever speed feels safe
- D Half the range of your low-beam headlights
- A Took the test and passed
- B Took the test and failed
- C Did not take the test, with no consequence
- D Need to take it again later
- A Brakes alone are not designed to hold a heavy vehicle on a long downgrade
- B Heavy vehicles can slow down sharply on grades
- C All of the above
- D Engine braking helps keep speed under control
- A Pumping the brakes
- B Setting the parking brake, releasing the service brakes, and gently trying to move the vehicle in low gear
- C Driving over a speed bump
- D Releasing the parking brake on a flat surface and tugging gently against it
- A Cross at maximum speed to get over quickly
- B Slow down, look, listen, and be prepared to stop
- C Always come to a full stop regardless of traffic
- D Honk and proceed
- A It causes the engine to overheat
- B It can let poisonous carbon monoxide into the cab
- C It increases fuel use
- D It is illegal
- A Test the parking brake then the service brake
- B Test the service brake then the parking brake
- C Test only the air-leak rate
- D Test the low-air warning then drive
- A Drum brakes never need adjustment
- B Brake adjustment is the dispatcher's responsibility
- C Slack adjusters need periodic checking; pushrod travel beyond limits is out-of-service
- D Brakes self-adjust forever
Study tips for the Maryland General Knowledge exam
The General Knowledge portion of the Maryland CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the General Knowledge chapter of the Maryland CDL handbook, which itself is derived from the FMCSA Model Commercial Driver's License Manual. That means studying our practice tests, reading the corresponding handbook chapter, and re-reading the parts you got wrong is genuinely the most efficient route to a first-time pass.
Most successful applicants follow a simple cycle: take the practice test cold, write down every question you missed, open the matching chapter of the official Maryland handbook, re-read the section that contains the right answer, then re-take the practice test 24 to 48 hours later. The 24-hour delay matters — sleep is when your brain commits new information to long-term memory, and CDL knowledge questions reward that kind of consolidated learning rather than cramming.
Pay particular attention to questions that include qualifier words like always, never, only, primary, or most. CDL test writers love to flip the right answer with a single qualifier. When two answer choices look almost identical, pay attention to the verb (is it must, should, or may?) and to any numbers (14 days, 100 air miles, 8 hours, 70/8 split). On endorsement tests in particular, watch for trick framing where a true statement about a different endorsement is offered as the "correct" answer to a question that is actually about General Knowledge.
Test-day logistics matter too. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card or birth certificate, your medical examiner's certificate (DOT card), and proof of state residency if you haven't already submitted those documents. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration will not let you sit for the knowledge exam without your documentation, and most offices charge an additional fee for re-attempts. Arrive early — the wait at most CDL testing offices runs 30 to 60 minutes — and silence your phone before the exam begins.
Finally, keep your General Knowledge fundamentals sharp even when you're focused on the General Knowledge exam. Many states administer multiple knowledge tests in a single sitting, and questions on weight definitions (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR), stopping distance, and the pre-trip inspection routine show up across endorsements. If you're unsure on the basics, sit a fresh Maryland General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the General Knowledge study guide and the matching chapter in the official Maryland CDL handbook. Then come back and re-take the test. Once you can score 22 of 25 or higher on three runs in a row, you're in good shape to schedule the real exam at your local Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: MD Air Brakes · MD Combination Vehicles · MD Hazardous Materials · MD Passenger · MD School Bus · MD Tank Vehicle · MD Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Maryland? Read How to apply for a CDL in Maryland for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.