Maryland CDL General Knowledge study plan
Maryland CDL General Knowledge · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
General Knowledge (vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, backing, speed management, space management, hazard perception, emergency procedures, railroad crossings, night driving, mountain driving, fatigue, alcohol and drugs)
Read the full General Knowledge section on vehicle inspection, then recite the seven-step pre-trip inspection sequence from memory and explain what a defect in each step would look like.
Practice the basic control skills vocabulary (backing, turning, shifting) by writing a plain-language definition for each term and matching it to a real driving situation.
Build a one-page cheat sheet of Maryland-specific rules covered in the manual, including speed limits, railroad crossing procedures, and stopping distances.
Complete 40 practice questions on General Knowledge and log every missed question with the reason for the miss.
Your checkpoint
A handwritten or typed one-page General Knowledge cheat sheet plus a scored 40-question practice set with a written error log.
General Knowledge (vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, backing, speed management, space management, hazard perception, emergency procedures, railroad crossings, night driving, mountain driving, fatigue, alcohol and drugs)
Study speed management, space management, and hazard perception, then calculate following distance at 30, 45, and 55 mph using the manual's seconds-based method.
Explain the emergency procedures for brake failure, tire blowout, and hydroplaning in your own words without looking at the manual.
Describe night driving and mountain driving hazards and list at least five specific countermeasures for each.
Identify the signs of fatigue and the legal consequences of alcohol and drug use for a CDL holder in Maryland.
Answer 60 mixed General Knowledge questions and review every wrong answer until you can explain the correct one aloud.
Your checkpoint
A written response to 12 scenario prompts (three each for speed/space, emergencies, night/mountain, fatigue/alcohol) scored against the manual, plus a 60-question practice score of 85% or better.
Air Brakes
Diagram the air brake system from compressor to brake chambers, labeling the governor, reservoir, safety valve, and slack adjuster.
Recite the air brake pre-trip test sequence, including the static leak test, applied leak test, and low-pressure warning check, with the correct pressure thresholds.
Explain what causes brake fade and how to control speed on a long downgrade using engine braking and snubbing.
Complete 50 Air Brakes practice questions and correct every missed item in writing.
Your checkpoint
A labeled air brake system diagram plus a written, step-by-step air brake inspection checklist with pressure values, and a 50-question practice score of 85% or better.
Combination Vehicles
Explain the coupling and uncoupling procedure in order, including the tug test, fifth wheel inspection, and air line connection order.
Describe how to check the landing gear, glad hands, and electrical cord, and list the defects that would put a combination vehicle out of service.
Explain off-tracking and rearward amplification and how each affects turning and lane changes with a tractor-trailer.
Complete a 50-question Combination Vehicles practice set and review every miss.
Your checkpoint
A written coupling and uncoupling checklist in correct sequence, plus a 50-question practice score of 85% or better.
Hazardous Materials
Classify hazardous materials by hazard class and identify the placarding requirements for each class.
Explain the shipping paper requirements, including the basic description order and emergency response information.
Describe the rules for loading and segregating incompatible hazardous materials and the parking and routing restrictions for placarded loads.
Explain the emergency response steps for a hazardous materials spill, including when to evacuate and whom to notify.
Complete 50 Hazardous Materials practice questions and correct every missed item.
Your checkpoint
A hazard class and placarding reference table plus a 50-question practice score of 85% or better.
Cargo Securement / Cargo Handling
Explain the four forces that affect cargo securement and how each one changes with load weight and speed.
Identify the working load limits and inspection criteria for chains, straps, binders, and tiedowns, and state the minimum number of tiedowns for loads of different lengths and weights.
Describe the securement requirements for specific cargo types such as logs, dressed lumber, metal coils, and vehicles.
Complete 40 Cargo Securement practice questions and correct every missed item.
Your checkpoint
A cargo securement decision sheet covering tiedown counts and working load limits for at least five cargo types, plus a 40-question practice score of 85% or better.
Passenger Transport & School Bus
Explain the loading and unloading rules for passenger transport, including standee limits, aisle clearance, and emergency exit access.
Describe the additional inspection items for a school bus, including the stop arm, crossing gate, and child check procedure.
Explain the loading and unloading procedure for school buses, including when to use flashing lights and how to supervise students crossing the road.
Answer 40 combined Passenger Transport and School Bus questions and review every miss.
Your checkpoint
A side-by-side comparison chart of passenger versus school bus inspection and loading rules, plus a 40-question practice score of 85% or better.
Tanker Vehicles & Doubles and Triples
Explain the surge and slosh effects in tank vehicles and the driving techniques that counter them.
Describe the inspection points unique to tankers, including baffles, bulkheads, and dome covers.
Explain the differences between doubles and triples in coupling, converter dollies, and sway control.
Take a full-length timed practice exam covering all nine domains and review every missed question.
Schedule the Maryland CDL knowledge test and confirm which endorsement tests you still need.
Your checkpoint
A full-length timed practice exam with a score of 85% or better in every domain and a scheduled test date.
Milestones
Week 2: Score 85% or better on a 60-question General Knowledge practice set and explain the correct answer for every missed question aloud without notes.
Week 4: Recite the air brake inspection sequence and the coupling procedure from memory with no more than one prompt each.
Week 6: Score 85% or better on a combined Hazardous Materials and Cargo Securement practice set of 50 questions.
Week 8: Score 85% or better in every one of the nine domains on a full-length timed practice exam and have a confirmed Maryland CDL test appointment.