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Maine trucking rules

Fees, CDL costs, weight and size limits, chain laws and new bills for truckers and trucking companies in Maine. Updated 2026-10-22.

Must-know rules · Weight, oversize & chains · Fees · Bills

Must-know rules

Maine allows 6-axle, 100,000 lb combinations on state highways, but only with matching registration and a 36 ft axle spread, and the Interstate allowance comes from a federal exemption. Maine also has a stricter-than-usual idling rule (5 minutes in any 60), a hands-free law that exempts commercial drivers only as far as FMCSA rules allow, and one state office, BMV Motor Carrier Services, that handles IRP, IFTA and overlimit permits. I could not confirm truck-specific speed limits, winter chain o

Researched by our AI agent from the linked sources on 2026-10-21. Always confirm with the source.

• Must knowInterstate weight allowance

  An FHWA report says Maine allows a 100,000 lb six-axle truck on its Interstates, with up to 46,000 lb on a tandem and 54,000 lb on a tridem. Tolled Interstates and part of the free Interstate near the New Hampshire border were already exempt. The report is from about 2012, so confirm the current federal exemption with Motor Carrier Services before you rely on it.

  Maine and Vermont Interstate Highway Heavy Truck Pilot Program 6-Month Report - FHWA
• Must knowRegistration weight

  All Maine vehicles over 6,000 lb are registered by weight, and any vehicle registered above 10,000 lb gets a commercial plate. Register for enough weight to cover the truck, its load, any trailer and the trailer's load.

  Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle FAQ

Weight limits, oversize permits and chain laws

Our agent is still researching Maine's weight, size and chain rules. Check back soon.

Fees and DOT requirements

Maine's state-level costs are low. A CDL costs $34 for five years, and the same weight-based registration schedule applies to a 26,001 lb truck ($267/yr) and an 80,000 lb combination ($877/yr). Intrastate for-hire property carriers must file proof of insurance with the BMV Operating Authority Unit. I found no separate state operating-authority fee, and I did not find official sources on weight-distance taxes or emissions programs.

Class B CDL

$34 for 5 years (about $6.80 a year)
Under age 65: $34 for a 5-year license, or $59 for a REAL ID commercial license. A secondary source (legalclarity.org) lists $27 for 65+ (4 years); I could not confirm this on the official page. The CDL exam is $70 and includes the first road test. A re-exam is $70. Each endorsement exam is $20 (dou Source

Class A CDL

$34 for 5 years (about $6.80 a year)
The Maine BMV application form lists the same $70 fee for Class A, B and C permits, licenses and exams, and $20 per endorsement. The BMV's license fee table does not distinguish A from B. The Class A exam includes a combination-vehicle knowledge test, and the T (double/triple) endorsement is $20. RE Source

Registration, 26,001 lb straight truck

$267 a year Source

Registration, 80,000 lb combination

$877 a year Source

How registration is figured

Annual fee graduated by gross weight, per truck or truck-tractor. For a tractor plus semitrailer, the truck-tractor is registered at the rate for a truck of similar gross weight (29-A MRSA §504).
The 26,001-28,000 lb bracket is $267 and the 78,001-80,000 lb bracket is $877. These are state registration fees only; plates, agent fees and any municipal excise tax are not included. Interstate trucks register under the International Registration Plan (IRP) through the BMV, which collects fees and distributes them to member jurisdictions. Apportioned registration does not exempt a carrier from f Source

Intrastate operating authority

For-hire operating authority / for-hire insurance filing with the BMV Operating Authority Unit (no separate certificate . unclear - no fee or renewal term stated in the sources I fou.
Maine's own motor carrier guidance says carriers hauling other companies' property must get for-hire operating authority, and intrastate for-hire carriers contact the BMV Operating Authority Unit. That guidance is an old document. The current BMV pages show the practical requirement is proof of insurance on file: property carriers need $350,000 combined single limit (CSL) liability coverage, filed Source

State DOT requirements

• Must knowUSDOT number (intrastate)

  Maine adopts the federal USDOT number requirement. Intrastate vehicles over 26,000 lb must obtain and display a USDOT number. Exclusively intrastate carriers with vehicles of 10,001-26,000 lb that are not buses and carry no hazmat are exempt (since July 19, 2015). Boundary or combination cases should be confirmed with Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. Maine has no separate state DOT number in the sources I found.

  United States Department of Transportation Number (Maine BMV)

See all 6 DOT requirements with full access

Fees change; confirm with the linked state source. Compare all states.

New Maine trucking bills

No new trucking bills found here recently. The agent checks every morning.