A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required in Maine to operate commercial motor vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVWR, buses carrying 16 or more passengers, or vehicles placarded for hazardous materials. Maine CDL fees start at $30 for a 6-year license. Three CDL classes are available: Class A for tractor-trailer combinations, Class B for single large vehicles, and Class C for passenger and HazMat vehicles. First-time applicants must complete Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) through an FMCSA-registered provider before taking the skills test. All interstate CDL holders must maintain a valid DOT Medical Certificate. Test your knowledge with the Maine CDL knowledge test, then pass the skills test — pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and road driving — to earn your license.
Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more, provided the GVWR of the towed vehicle exceeds 10,000 lbs.
Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR not exceeding 10,000 lbs.
Any single vehicle or combination not covered by Class A or B, designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or required to be placarded for hazardous materials.
TSA security threat assessment and fingerprinting required. Valid 5 years. Important for fuel haulers serving Maine's remote northern communities and heating oil delivery operations.
Required for bulk liquid or gas transport. Common for heating oil, propane, and fuel delivery throughout rural Maine.
Required for vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver.
Requires P endorsement. Maine requires background check for school bus drivers. Rural Maine school bus routes can be very long.
Required for pulling double or triple trailers. Class A CDL required.
Combination of H and N endorsements. TSA background check applies.
Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) is required by federal regulation (49 CFR Part 380, effective Feb 7, 2022) for first-time Class A or B CDL applicants, and for adding H, P, or S endorsements. Training must be completed through an FMCSA-registered provider listed in the Training Provider Registry at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Find a registered ELDT provider in Maine →Interstate CDL holders must maintain a valid DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC) issued by an FMCSA-certified medical examiner, valid up to 24 months. Submit self-certification and MEC copy to Maine BMV. Medical requirements for intrastate-only CDL holders may be met through Maine-specific medical standards for certain drivers.
Find an FMCSA-certified medical examiner →Apply at a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) office with proof of identity, Social Security Number, and Maine residency. Pass the required knowledge tests, complete ELDT through an FMCSA-registered provider, then schedule and pass the skills test. The CDL original fee is $30 — among the lowest in the US.
Maine CDLs are valid for 6 years. Your DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate is separate and must be renewed every 24 months for most interstate drivers, or more frequently if required by your medical examiner.
A Maine Class A CDL at age 18 allows intrastate (within Maine) driving only. Interstate operation — crossing state lines in a qualifying CMV — requires the driver to be at least 21 under federal FMCSA regulations.
Heating oil delivery in bulk tank trucks requires an N (Tank) endorsement. If the fuel is classified as hazardous materials — which heating oil typically is above certain quantities — you also need an H (HazMat) endorsement, commonly combined as the X endorsement. The H endorsement requires a TSA background check and fingerprinting.
Maine spring weight restrictions typically run from February through May — among the longest restriction periods in the US. Nearly all non-Interstate secondary roads post reduced weight limits. The restrictions protect roads from thaw-weakened base layers. CDL drivers must check Maine DOT at maine.gov/mdot for current posting status before routing on any secondary Maine road during this period.
Browse commercial trucks for sale from dealers in Maine on TruckRadar.
Maine CDL fees are very low at $30 for original and renewal. Knowledge tests have a nominal fee of approximately $5. Skills test fees vary — state testing is low-cost. Verify current amounts at maine.gov/sos/bmv before scheduling.
Disclaimer
The information on this page is compiled from publicly available government sources and is provided for general informational purposes only. TruckRadar is an independent search engine — we are not affiliated with any government agency and this content does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Regulations change frequently; always verify current requirements directly with the official source before making compliance decisions.
Official source: Maine ME Official DMVLast reviewed: April 8, 2026