Maine Trucking Schools and Programs
Truck driving careers in Maine are easy to find. By being located in the northernmost part of New England, you will be able to tap into careers within the state of Maine as well as throughout many of the neighboring states.
Anyone who is at least 18 years old and meets a few criteria may apply for a Commercial Driver’s License in Maine. The applicant must have a valid driver’s license and no DUI convictions within the past 24 months. There may be additional restrictions on younger CDL holders, including limits on carrying passengers and hazardous materials. Interstate driving may also be restricted by age.
A Maine CDL application can be obtained online or from any office of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The completed application and fees are mailed to the Motor Vehicles Department in Augusta. Fees include a $35 testing charge, a $10 per endorsement charge, and the license fee itself. For those under 65 years, the cost is $34 for a license valid for 6 years. Applicants older than 65 pay $28 for a four year license.
The state office will mail the applicant an appointment notice showing date, time and location of testing. This appointment is just to take the written tests. The applicant needs to bring their medical certificate, proof of identity and legal residence and their current driver’s license.
The applicant will take a general knowledge test as well as separate tests for specific endorsements like air brakes or school buses. Six endorsements are offered; those for passenger and school buses require a driving test as well. A vision screening is also conducted. Any applicant who fails the vision screen will be referred to an eye specialist of the applicant’s choice for further testing or treatment.
After completing the tests, an Instruction Permit and a Skills Test Request card are issued. The permit is valid for 18 months, or 12 months for buses. The supervising driver of the student must be at least 20 years old, or 22 for school bus practice. The supervisor must also have held a corresponding class license for at least two years.
The skills request card is mailed to Augusta, and the driver will be informed of the time, date and location of the road driving test. A licensed driver must accompany the applicant. A vehicle of the appropriate class must be provided by the applicant. The test includes basic skills like backing up as well as driving on pubic roadways.
If you wish to qualify for a Hazardous Materials CDL, you must meet all the aforementioned qualifications, but you must also be at least 21 years old.
For the CDL road test portion, you will need to understand how to inspect your vehicle for safety hazards, drive in varying weather and road conditions, learn how to couple and uncouple trailers, and successfully maneuver the truck in traffic conditions.
It costs $35 to apply for a commercial CDL license in Maine. For each endorsement such as passenger transport, tank vehicles or hazardous materials that you wish to add to your CDL add another $10 to this application fee.
Northeast Tech Institute
798 Main St.
South Portland, ME 04106
Northeast Technical Institute
51 US Route 1 Ste K
Scarborough, ME 04074
Omega Pro
242 State St.
Brewer, ME 04412
Oxford Hills Technical School
P. O. Box 313
Norway, ME 04268
Prodrive
136 US Rte One
Scarborough, ME 04074
Right-Way Truck Training School
52 Elm St.
Biddeford, ME 04005
Westbrook Regional Vo Tech Center
125 Stoudwater St.
Westbrook, ME 04092
