Maine CDL Classes Explained
Which Maine CDL class you need depends on vehicle weight, what it tows, and the type of operation, not just the truck size. The three classes are set by federal rule (49 CFR 383.91) and are the same in every state, so a Maine CDL is valid nationwide. Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Maine's rural landscape and seasonal industries create steady demand for flatbed and reefer operators.
A Class A CDL is generally used for combination vehicles, including tractor-trailers, when the gross combination weight rating is 26,001 pounds or more and the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds.
Knowledge Test Topics
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes if equipped
- Combination Vehicles
- Vehicle Inspection
- Basic Vehicle Control
- Road Test
Common Job Types
- Tractor-trailer driver
- Regional freight driver
- Heavy combination vehicle operator
- Class A delivery driver
Class A CDL in Maine
Class A is the license behind most of Maine's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-95, I-295. With lumber and paper products, seafood and cold-chain, potato agriculture driving demand, typical Maine Class A work includes:
- Lumber and paper products: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials
- Seafood and cold-chain: refrigerated (reefer) loads of produce and food moving to distribution centers and out of state
- Tourism and resort supply: event, production, and resort supply freight
Apply, test, and schedule through Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the Maine CDL Selector.
A Class B CDL is generally used for a single commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, plus limited towing.
Knowledge Test Topics
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes if equipped
- Vehicle Inspection
- Basic Vehicle Control
- Road Test
Common Job Types
- Straight truck driver
- Dump truck driver
- Large bus driver
- Box truck driver
- Concrete mixer driver
Class B CDL in Maine
Class B covers the single heavy vehicles that keep Maine moving locally: no tractor-trailer, but everything from dump trucks to full-size buses. Typical Maine Class B work includes:
- Lumber and paper products: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
- Seafood and cold-chain: single-unit farm and packing-house trucks (many states offer a restricted farm CDL)
- Tourism and resort supply: motorcoaches and tour buses (P endorsement)
- Transit and school districts: city buses and full-size school buses across Maine (P and S endorsements)
Apply, test, and schedule through Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the Maine CDL Selector.
A Class C CDL may apply when the vehicle does not meet Class A or B weight definitions but is used for passengers, school bus operation, or placarded hazardous materials.
Knowledge Test Topics
- General Knowledge as required
- Passenger or School Bus endorsement if applicable
- HazMat endorsement if applicable
- State-specific requirements
Common Job Types
- Shuttle driver
- Small passenger vehicle driver
- School activity driver
- HazMat delivery driver
Class C CDL in Maine
Class C applies to lighter vehicles in Maine that still need a CDL because of what they carry: 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Typical Maine Class C work includes:
- Seafood and cold-chain: farm crew transport when the vehicle carries 16 or more passengers
- Tourism and resort supply: hotel, airport, and resort shuttle vans (P endorsement)
- Smaller school buses and activity buses for Maine school districts (P and S endorsements)
- Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers
Apply, test, and schedule through Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the Maine CDL Selector.
Not sure which class applies to you?
Answer a few questions about your vehicle and operation, and the CDL Selector gives you a starting point in under a minute.