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  • Updated for February 2025
  • Based on 2025 MD commercial driver's license manual

Free Maryland CDL Air Brakes Test 2025

Planning to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with air brakes? Our Maryland MVA CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests are designed to help you pass your knowledge exam on the first attempt. Failing the air brakes test in Maryland results in a waiting period of one day and a retest fee. If you don’t pass, your CDL will include the restriction “L,” preventing you from operating CMVs with air brakes. Air brakes are essential for navigating Maryland’s diverse terrain, from the steep grades of the Appalachian Mountains in the west to the rolling hills and urban congestion challenging transport in central Maryland. I-95, for example, is known for its stop-and-go traffic, increasing the need for precise braking. As most semi-trucks and tractor-trailers rely on air brakes, this restriction limits your driving options and your access to job opportunities.

Industries across the Old Line State rely on drivers with the air brake qualification. These include shipping (Port of Baltimore), agriculture (Eastern Shore), and tourism (Ocean City, Annapolis). Major companies requiring the air brakes qualification include trucking companies like XPO Logistics (Baltimore) and UPS Freight (Sparks). Charter bus companies like Academy Bus (Baltimore) and DC Trails require the certification, as do Maryland Paving (Glen Burnie) and Aggregate Industries (Greenbelt) in the construction sector. In public transit, the Maryland Transit Administration (as well as every school district in the state) operates buses equipped with air brakes. Simply put, the “L” restriction makes operating CMVs equipped with air brakes illegal, making the above-listed jobs unattainable.

Our CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests cover all essential knowledge for the official MVA Air Brakes knowledge test. The information you learn will also be useful as you practice inspecting and operating CMVs to pass your skills test. The skills test includes inspecting components, testing for air pressure and leaks, and operating air brake-equipped vehicles. Overall, the official MVA test ensures you’re proficient in air brake systems, effective operation, and air-brake inspection procedures. The Air Brakes knowledge test features multiple-choice questions based on the official Maryland CDL manual (Maryland CDL Handbook 2025) and requires a minimum score of 80% to pass.

Our Practice Tests mimic the content and format you will face on the official test and offer real-time feedback on all responses. This scientifically proven approach improves material retention and ensures you’re prepared to pass the test.

  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements

What you need to know

4.41 out of 5 • 34 votes
9 min to complete
Available in EN and ES
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.

What to expect on the actual MD MVA exam

25

questions

20

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. Which of the following is NOT part of the braking process when driving a tractor-trailer combination vehicle with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)?
  2. Which of the following can cause brakes to fade or fail?
  3. Which of the following is NOT part of the drum brake?
  4. The purpose of a supply pressure gauge is
  5. Why must you pass a knowledge test on air brakes?
  6. Spring brakes are
  7. The tractor protection valve
  8. If the air tanks are not drained,
  9. How can you tell if your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)?
  10. At what measurement is the safety valve USUALLY set to open?
  11. Which vehicles must have low air pressure warning signals?
  12. Which of the following is NOT part of the air brake system?
  13. An anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  14. When should you use the parking brake?
  15. Which of the following will be true about your brake function if your anti-lock braking system (ABS) fails?
  16. When should you drain your air tanks?
  17. How do brakes work on a long, steep downgrade?
  18. Slack adjusters are
  19. Under which conditions are front wheel brakes good?
  20. Which of the following are true about a dual air brake system?
  21. After the initial drop, the maximum acceptable leakage rates per minute are
  22. What is the best way to test your vehicle's low air pressure warning signal?
  23. What is the best way to test if your vehicle's spring brakes come on automatically?
  24. Which of the following should you do before leaving your vehicle unattended?
  25. How do you check your truck's slack adjusters?
  26. The low air pressure warning signal will come on before the pressure in the air tanks falls below
  27. A low pressure warning signal is required on
  28. All vehicles equipped with air brakes have
  29. With air brake-equipped vehicles, the parking brakes should be used
  30. The use of air brakes on a downgrade is only a supplement to the
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