Maryland CDL Combination study plan
Maryland CDL Combination · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Combination vehicle inspection and coupling/uncoupling
List the seven steps of the combination vehicle air brake and coupling inspection in the order Maryland expects, writing them from memory before checking any reference
Identify each coupling component (fifth wheel jaws, kingpin, apron, locking lever, safety latch, air lines, electrical cord, glad hands) and state what a defect in each looks like
Explain the difference between the tractor protection valve and the trailer spring brakes during a trailer breakaway, in your own words
Practice the full walk-around inspection aloud on a parked tractor-trailer or a labeled diagram set, timing yourself to stay under 30 minutes
Your checkpoint
A one-page handwritten inspection checklist in correct sequence, with a defect noted for every component, self-scored against the official Maryland CDL manual section
Combination vehicle inspection and coupling/uncoupling
Demonstrate the coupling sequence in order: inspect, back under slowly, secure, connect air lines, raise landing gear, test pull
Demonstrate the uncoupling sequence in order: park on level ground, chock wheels, lower landing gear, disconnect lines, pull the release handle, pull forward slowly
Describe three coupling errors that cause a trailer to be dropped or a kingpin to be missed, and the check that prevents each
Recite the trailer air supply and hand valve tug test and explain what a failed test tells you
Your checkpoint
A written coupling and uncoupling script with every step numbered, plus a list of five common errors and the specific check that catches each
Driving combination vehicles safely (turns, braking, off-tracking, speed control)
Explain off-tracking and calculate how much a trailer cuts the corner for a given wheelbase and turn radius using the rule of thumb in the manual
Describe the correct path for a right turn with a long trailer: swing wide, watch the trailer tires in the mirror, and complete the turn without crossing the lane line
State the stopping-distance formula for combination vehicles and apply it to three sample speeds, including the added distance from a fully loaded trailer
Explain why a lightly loaded trailer brakes differently from a loaded one and how that changes your following distance
Describe proper speed control on downgrades, including gear selection before the descent and use of engine braking
Your checkpoint
A worked problem set of five off-tracking and stopping-distance scenarios with answers and a short paragraph explaining each correction
Driving combination vehicles safely (turns, braking, off-tracking, speed control) & Air brakes and brake system checks on combination vehicles
Trace the path of air from the compressor through the governor, tanks, foot valve, relay valve, and brake chambers, naming what each part does
Explain the purpose of the tractor protection valve and the trailer air supply valve in normal operation and during a breakaway
Describe how to test for air leaks at the tractor and trailer, including the static leak test and the applied-pressure leak test with acceptable loss rates
Explain the low-air warning and the spring brake emergency application, including at what pressure each should occur
Your checkpoint
A labeled air-brake system diagram drawn from memory, with a written explanation of the breakaway sequence and the two leak tests with their pass criteria
Air brakes and brake system checks on combination vehicles
Perform the complete in-cab air brake check in order: build pressure, test warning, test spring brakes, test tractor protection valve, test trailer brakes, test service brakes
State the correct pressure readings and allowable leak-down rates for each step of the check
Describe the pre-trip brake test on a combination vehicle, including the tug test and the applied brake test
Identify the symptoms of a faulty slack adjuster, a leaking chamber, and a stuck relay valve, and state what to do before driving
Your checkpoint
A timed, spoken in-cab air brake check recorded or performed for a study partner, with a written scorecard showing each step, expected reading, and your result
Skid control, rollover prevention, and hazard response
Explain the causes of trailer skids and the correct recovery for a drive-wheel skid, a steer-wheel skid, and a trailer-wheel skid
Describe how to prevent a rollover by controlling speed in curves, keeping the load low, and watching for the warning signs of an impending tip
Explain the correct response to a front-tire blowout, a trailer-tire blowout, and a brake failure on a downgrade
Describe hazard response for a jackknife, an off-tracking collision risk, and a sudden lane change forced by a merging vehicle
Explain how load placement and securement affect rollover risk and stopping distance
Your checkpoint
A hazard-response decision table with at least eight scenarios, each with the warning sign, the immediate action, and the action to avoid
Skid control, rollover prevention, and hazard response & Combination vehicle inspection and coupling/uncoupling
Re-run the full pre-trip inspection from week 1 without notes, correcting any step you miss
Re-run the coupling and uncoupling sequence from week 2 without notes
Answer 60 mixed practice questions across all four domains, logging every miss by domain and by cause
Review each missed question and write the correct rule in your own words
Your checkpoint
A scored 60-question practice test with a written error log that names the domain and the specific rule for every miss
Driving combination vehicles safely (turns, braking, off-tracking, speed control) & Air brakes and brake system checks on combination vehicles & Skid control, rollover prevention, and hazard response
Take two full-length timed practice tests and score at least 85 percent on each
Re-drill every error-log entry from week 7 until you can state the rule without prompting
Recite the air brake check, the coupling sequence, and the hazard-response table back to back in one sitting
Confirm Maryland-specific test-day logistics: appointment, documents, vehicle requirements, and fee
Your checkpoint
Two timed practice test scores of 85 percent or higher plus a one-page final review sheet covering only your remaining weak points
Milestones
Week 2: Recite the full inspection sequence and the coupling/uncoupling sequence from memory with no more than two omissions
Week 4: Explain the breakaway sequence and both air leak tests, and pass a self-administered in-cab brake check with correct readings
Week 6: Score at least 80 percent on a 40-question mixed quiz covering domains 2, 3, and 4
Week 8: Score 85 percent or higher on two full-length timed practice tests and clear the entire error log