Anyone who wants to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in Maine must be at least 18 years old and be able to meet a few criteria. If an applicant wishes to obtain an interstate CDL, then he or she must be 21 years or older. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license without any DUI convictions within the past 2 years. A Maine CDL application can either be obtained online or from any office of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Applicants must complete the application and pay the corresponding fees. Fees include a $35 testing charge, $10 per endorsement change, and the license fee itself.
All applicants will be required to take and pass the general knowledge test. A separate test is given for specific endorsements such as air brakes, school buses, and Class A combinations. To ensure that applicants are able to drive well, they must undergo a vision screening which will be conducted by an eye specialist. After passing the written examinations, those who pass will be issued an Instruction Permit and a Skills Test Request card. This permit is valid for 18 months, or 12 months for school buses. This permit will allow an applicant to drive a commercial truck with the supervision of a licensed driver. The supervising driver must be at least 20 years old or older.
When the applicant feels that he/she has gained enough practical experience, then he/she can complete the Skills Test Request card and mail it to Augusta. Applicants will be informed of the time, date, and location of the road driving test. A vehicle of the appropriate class must be provided by each applicant. The test will cover pre-trip inspection, basic driving skills, and driving under various traffic conditions. If the evaluator finds the applicant capable of driving, then he/she will be given a CDL after paying the corresponding fees.
Truck Driving Schools in ME Listed By City
Biddeford
Right-Way Truck Training School
52 Elm Street,
Biddeford, ME 04005
Phone: (207) 284-2392
Brewer
Omega Pro
242 State Street,
Brewer, ME 04412
Mexico
Region 9 Professional Truck Driver Training
377 River Road,
Mexico, ME 04257
Phone: (207) 369-9058
Norway
Oxford Hills Technical School
P.O. Box 313
Norway, ME 04268
Scarborough
Northeast Technical Institute
51 U.S. Route 1, Suite K,
Scarborough, ME 04074
Phone: (800) 447-1151
Pro Drive
136 Route 1
Scarborough, ME 04074
Phone: (866) 243-1370
Skowhegan
Skowhegan Driving School
206 Water Street # 2,
Skowhegan, ME 04976
Phone: (207) 474-8524
South Portland
Northeast Tech Institute
798 Main Street,
South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (800) 447-1151
Northeast Technical Institute offers an award winning, nationally renowned CDL truck driving training for both Maine and New Hampshire residents. Students can complete their CDL training in just 5 weeks with their full-time program or 10 weekends with their part-time program. NTI’s truck driver training program is designed to teach students safe operation of trucks, as well as a general working knowledge of the truck industry and its regulations.
Westbrook
Westbrook Regional Vocational Center
125 Stroudwater Street,
Westbrook, ME 04092
Phone: (207) 596-7752
To submit a CDL training school to be included on this list please use our contact form found here. With your message please add the school name, address and contact details.
Next, you also need to pass a DOT medical certification and a visual examination as well. The DOT form can be acquired at any local BMV office or at an approved medical professional’s office itself. The physician will place his or her findings on the form and you will also have to undergo the visual exam. You need to have at least a 20/40 visual acuity in order to be eligible for the license. If you have lost the sight of one eye, you need to have the required visual range. If you are under a certain medical condition, the BMV may place some restrictions to your license.