CDL Testing

[zraffz]

Any advice for taking the driving/inspection part of the CDL test? (Going Class B/Air Brakes).
Doing the written test tomorrow; feeling very confident about passing it after reading the entire book twice.

I heard the pre-trip inspection for the test (20 days after passing the written) sucks. Is it really as bad as everybody I work with is making it seem?

[Fleetwiz]

When doing your "pre-trip" described to the inspector what you are doing. I think I have a cheat sheet some where around here. Do the outside part first going clock wise...tires, suspension, check for leaks, lights...once inside make sure you visually check the mirrors and make sure the inspector has his seat belt on before you start the truck. The biggest part is make sure you pump the air brakes down and the guages build back up to normal range...I'll find more later.

[deadtrend1]

Pretrip is easy since all thr answers ars in front of you as you look at the truck. Be sure to explain as said above, and be sure to do the air bleed down test as the book describes.

Practice stopping in the box. Blind side docking, and your measured right turn for the road test

[zraffz]

Thanks guys. Test was delayed until tomorrow. Something about the computer systems being down across the state until the morning.

[Demonicbird00]

took my CDL A road test today and failed :( so mad

doing the alley dock, had it almost perfect but i just knicked the cone (base of cone) and i failed for encroachment

next test is 9/16/11 in cherry hill

like stated, make sure you do all air brake tests

[siguy]

took my CDL A road test today and failed :( so mad

doing the alley dock, had it almost perfect but i just knicked the cone (base of cone) and i failed for encroachment

next test is 9/16/11 in cherry hill

like stated, make sure you do all air brake tests

what type of bus are you using?

[zraffz]

Passed the written part. Now I can at least practice driving on the permit with a Class B/Air Brake endorsed truck :)

Oh and my test isn't for a few months. I have to stay at one of the DMVs in Northern NJ because I am doing the test in my employers truck.

[enRo]

Ive read a statistic a couple of years ago that 85% of people going for their CDL driving test fail their first time, because they did something wrong in the pre-trip... but I won't rub it in that I was one of the 15% that passed their first time :lol:

The key thing is to study and do the pre-trip over and over again until it becomes a habit. The driving part of the test is a walk in the park, but like you've heard, the pre-trip can be extremely difficult if unprepared.

[zraffz]

I plan on doing a walk around inspection with the book in my hand multiple times to help me remember everything in the right order. Then I will have one of the guys at work check the book while I do it without the book. I'm not nervous about it at all.

And as far as the driving part goes, I'll be learning to drive from Class A guys with every endorsement except for hazardous materials. (Only need class B to drive a plow/salt truck though).

[nj85z28]

i passed mine about 10 years ago, the pretrip was a lot of stuff to remember but if you practice a few times you'll be fine

[MonmouthCtyAntz]

Got my class A CDL a few years back.... even though ive never used it... I failed the pre trip my first time for something stupid lol....I would just go for the A...the 90 degree is a bit tricky til you get it but all in all not to bad.

[thehazguy]

When I took mine (CDL B) I keep talking to let the instructor know what I was doing or thinking until he told me to be quiet he knew by my actions what was going on. Luckily I passed the first time. I had one of my employee's try to pump the air brakes down with the truck running. Result instant failure, brakes seem to be what trips folks up.

[Demonicbird00]

what type of bus are you using?

driving a peterbuilt dump truck w/ a 20' trailer....not what i need it for but just to qualify to take the test in.

im an IBEW lineman apprentice, i need a A class for the fact that i have to carry 40'+ poles

-brandon

[01blackz28]

driving a peterbuilt dump truck w/ a 20' trailer....not what i need it for but just to qualify to take the test in.

im an IBEW lineman apprentice, i need a A class for the fact that i have to carry 40'+ poles

-brandon

got my class a in new york this month on mack tractor and a 48 ft trailer. Don't feel bad i failed my first time by 10 pts second time was cake. Do they make you parallel park in NJ? That was the trickiest part.

[deadtrend1]

Do they make you parallel park in NJ? That was the trickiest part.

No, i did not.

[greenformula92]

mays landing is the easiest course to take the test out, thats where i took mine. Pre-Trip is the most to remember, make sure you mention stuff that may not be on the driver side like the exhaust. when you finish up ask the instructor if he would like you to inspect the other side, if you missed something he will tell you to do other side. also DO NOT move the vehicle until the inspector puts his seat belt on. if hes not doing it ask him to put his seat belt on, it is part of the test sometimes, almost likely a sneaky DMV trick

[deadtrend1]

like greenformula said, seatbelts. And I think one thing was if you get out of the truck, take the keys with you.

[greenformula92]

like greenformula said, seatbelts. And I think one thing was if you get out of the truck, take the keys with you.

yeah thats the first thing in the pre-trip....the key doesn't have to be "in your pocket" it just has to be in your possesion

[siguy]

the hardest part of the pre trip most mess up is the air brake test ..

[zraffz]

the hardest part of the pre trip most mess up is the air brake test ..

I've been reading the book over and over again and practicing it at the same time. I'm ready for the pre-trip inspection. Now I just have to get used to driving the same truck that I'll use at work... they keep putting me in different trucks with different transmissions :-x

I can't shift the 2010 international to save my life.

[greenformula92]

LOL, i never understood why they make you double clutch for the test. those transmissions are made to shift gears without the clutch. they have no synchros, the last time i double clutched was the test. if i got a job that required me to double clutch i couldn't do it. the most important thing to know about shifting a truck is the motor, if it revs quick it will lose RPM quick, and you most likely won't have time to double clutch it

[deadtrend1]

LOL, i never understood why they make you double clutch for the test. those transmissions are made to shift gears without the clutch. they have no synchros, the last time i double clutched was the test. if i got a job that required me to double clutch i couldn't do it. the most important thing to know about shifting a truck is the motor, if it revs quick it will lose RPM quick, and you most likely won't have time to double clutch it

i use the clutch to start from a dead stop. Thats about it ....

[enRo]

i use the clutch to start from a dead stop. Thats about it ....

Pretty much... most of the time, if my 8 speed can roll forward just a tad, ill rev it into LO or 1st just so I don't have to use the clutch to get it going :lol: Stop and go for 8-12 hours straight a day in a garbage truck can be quite painful on the clutch knee

[zraffz]

I know it's a joke. Everybody I work with clutches in 1st and reverse but the stupid instructors want you to double clutch... it's damn near impossible at low speeds to learn to do it.

[thehazguy]

We starting buying automatic Freightliners A lot of the new guys never drove a stick in their life. We were going through a lot of clutch adjustments and when you take a CDL test they don't have to worry about shifting Pictured is one of two with Allison transmissions that arrived last week

[zraffz]

We starting buying automatic Freightliners A lot of the new guys never drove a stick in their life. We were going through a lot of clutch adjustments and when you take a CDL test they don't have to worry about shifting Pictured is one of two with Allison transmissions that arrived last week

Well I work part time with a local DPW. I am being encouraged to get my CDL Class B because they are thinking about rehiring a 5th worker (the part time guy usually gets first dibs). It's all local traveling through the town or to the quarry but they are mainly used to plow/salt the roads so they are all standard transmissions.

[greenformula92]

We starting buying automatic Freightliners A lot of the new guys never drove a stick in their life. We were going through a lot of clutch adjustments and when you take a CDL test they don't have to worry about shifting Pictured is one of two with Allison transmissions that arrived last week

i hate automatics....when im 80,000 pounds i want 100% control over what gear im in and what gear i want

[trashman01]

Pretty much... most of the time, if my 8 speed can roll forward just a tad, ill rev it into LO or 1st just so I don't have to use the clutch to get it going :lol: Stop and go for 8-12 hours straight a day in a garbage truck can be quite painful on the clutch knee

try doing it with a mack twin stick front load truck into a uphill can now that sucks.

as for the test, a trick a old timer taught me is find out where on the body tells you at your rear end is 6" from the "wall" or w/e. i used a ford f800 flat bed, it was halfway up the bed. also, 13-letter **** spreaders are cake to shift, dont double clutch em.

[Tru2Chevy]

How's everyone else's training / testing coming? My brother passed his Class A last Saturday at Bakers Basin with flying colors. He said the DMV employee didn't even follow him to watch his pre-trip, he just stood at the back of the truck and waited for my brother to finish.

- Justin

[greenformula92]

How's everyone else's training / testing coming? My brother passed his Class A last Saturday at Bakers Basin with flying colors. He said the DMV employee didn't even follow him to watch his pre-trip, he just stood at the back of the truck and waited for my brother to finish.

- Justin

Im shocked, that's usually the thing they are sticklers with

[zraffz]

I'm still practicing driving at this point... getting more and more comfortable. the only time I have is about 15 minutes every few days during my lunch break when we eat at the shop.

Got the shifting/downshifting and braking down, just a little hung up on the high and low splitter.

[trashman01]

I'm still practicing driving at this point... getting more and more comfortable. the only time I have is about 15 minutes every few days during my lunch break when we eat at the shop.

Got the shifting/downshifting and braking down, just a little hung up on the high and low splitter.

split before shifting, im sure they told you that, also notice the speed and RPM for the gear your in before you shift, will help come downshifting

[greenformula92]

knowing what gear you need to be in is key, always split before the shift, only time will make you better at it all as a whole, its like when you learned how to ride a bike, only theres a lot more things to pay attention to.

[Demonicbird00]

i finally got my cdl 2 weeks ago....was going for the A, but push came to shove and if I didnt pass this time i wouldve been kicked out of my apprenticeship so i settled for the B...ill upgrade next year

keep practicing, what about driving after work/weekends for seat time?

-brandon

[zraffz]

Passed my CDL class B with air brakes this morning. Man was I nervous. I was hired full time with the local Department of Public Works pending I passed the test!

The truck I am going to be plowing with (and the one I learned to drive on) was damaged in the storm. I had to use a 2007 International... I had about 3-5 hours of practice in it lol. My truck has a synchronized transmission so it was a totally new feeling to me.

It's a good feeling. My pay nearly doubles and I get a good health care package now. Oh and I'm eligible to join the union now ;)

[deadtrend1]

Funny, i just took someone for their test today also. They passed btw. I should be a instructor by now....

[zraffz]

Funny, i just took someone for their test today also. They passed btw. I should be a instructor by now....

Good to hear it!
I messed up on some minor things but I was able to justify why/how I messed up to the instructor and he actually liked my logic. Like for instance, in the book it says "When stopping at a sign or red light, you must be able to visibly see the pavement under the tires of the car in front of you"... unfortunately the guy stopped at a yellow light and I knew I wasn't stopping in time so I quickly raised my air ride seat to the ceiling while he wasn't looking. I saw him mark in his book that I had stopped too closely so I said "hey, is their a physical distance I should be behind the car in front of me or just a suggested visual distance". He asked what I meant and I explained that he might not be able to see the tires how he was sitting but from my view (the difference in my height standing at 6'4 and my seat sitting higher) my head was touching the ceiling. My line of sight was higher and therefor I could see more of the front of the truck then he could at his lower position in the seat. He smiled, slid up higher in the seat and looked at me and crossed off what he had written in the book. SCORE!

I challenged quiet a few of my mistakes before he told me what I did wrong and he liked my logic on most of them. I think more than anything he liked how I noticed what I did wrong before he could tell me.

I was a little disappointed that I wasn't allowed to use the jake brake, I had learned to drive using it so it changed my shift points and shift timing.

[WildBillyT]

Congrats on passing, man!