Who has their Class A CDL?

[dieselcrawler]

I've been studying for my CDL. If the practice test I've been taking are any indication, should be easy to pass.

Who has them? How long? Haz-mat? Tankers?

I'm hoping to be able to fill in for our hotshot driver at work, and in big trucks as needed. I don't want or expect to ever be a full time big rig driver, but want to be able to legally do so when the opertunity is there.

 

[Furu]

Does your work have an authorized individual who can "train" you for the practical experience requirement or will you have to go to a formal school? Or does your state not try to make it a real PITA?

 

[Rustyiron]

They usually "get" you on the pre trip inspection. A friend gave me a video made by an inspector (supposedly) that gave everything away. The inspector on my test actually stopped me before I was done. He made a comment to the effect that I knew what I was doing, I think he just got bored. The video suggested having a pointer, like a wooden dowel to actuall touch or point to the part you are mentioning and the words secure, tight, and in good order not rubbing or chaffing should be used alot! They'll pull some tricks on the driving portion like asking the bridge height after you passed under it?. when there was no height sign there, and some others.
The "written" part was a multiple choice on a computer. They had something like 80 or 100 questions, you only needed 40? to pass. When a tricky question would come up that had 2 answers (in my mind) that could be correct, I would skip that question and move on to the next. It stopped me when I got the ammount of (passing) answers. I assume the it would have done the opposite if I had enough wrong answers. Thaat video may be on youtube?
Relax, study, and good luck.

 

[Stimw]

I've had my CDL since they started CDL !! Before that all you needed was a Chauffeur's Licence.
I have all endorsements except Bus (you can legally haul up to 14 people IIRC without CDL). The problem with endorsements is each one costs more money!

 

[dieselcrawler]

Once you take the written part, you get your cdl permit, which allows you to drive under supervision of another licenced driver. Then you go to an independent, 3rd party tester to take the driving portion of the test. Coworker said it was easy.

 

[mikesee]

This is what I did to get my CDL A to drive a hot shot (GMC C6500 with 14k trailer. 1) Get medical card 2) Go to DMV to take written test and get CDL permit 3) Sign up for road test, in my case that took 6 weeks for appointment. Find someone with CDL A to ride with you to the road test as the examiner will check that you didn't illegally drive to the test. 4) Take test in hot shot truck and you will have CDL A. Here are the limitations with this route. I have restrictions on my liscence that I can not drive a truck with air brakes or a truck or trailer with a GVW of more than 26k. This will make you legal for hot shots but not for big rigs. To get the restrictions removed I would need to take the road test in a big rig with air brakes. What I described is the easiest and least expensive way to get legal to hot shot.

 

[farmer2009]

I have mine. Class A with Tanker. Class A requires air brakes so make sure you study that one even if you aren't going after an endorsement. When I went for my permit the trooper said I passed then asked if I wanted an endorsement. I said I didn't study for any. He handed me the tanker and said read each question and use your head. I passed it easily. He said many of the endorsements were like that. Didn't take a lot of studying.

At driving test. The first trip. The first question out of the troopers mouth was have you ever taken this before. I said no. I never made it past the pre-trip. When I asked around I learned that that trooper never passes you first try. Second try. He had a different attitude and I passed.

The more of the parts that you touch the better off you are. Be willing to crawl under the trailer and get the weights off the axles. If no info plate. Things like that. I took mine in a hot shot truck with gooseneck. It was the truck everyone in the company used.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Try this one. You may have to watch it more than once

Watch "Alexis Shows How To Pre-Trip Inspection On A Semi 18 Wheeler prt 1" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Ag40Uo5TUL8

 

[GPintheMitten]

Seriously, you get the phrasing down pat, it will keep you from getting nervous and trying to think what to say.

 

[hslogger]

Ten-fourrrrr. When I got mine, I had to pilot a cabover flatbed semi through a huge urban park that had millions of tourists and leeetle cars with hills and curves. Written test was first, before we embarked on the run. Over forty years ago..... When you want hazmat and tanker endorsements you have to take tests for those and they have to be renewed often, according to your home state. Rules of the road help promote a save load. Oh yeah you have to have a medical card up to date to renew any of it. Glasses, medications, sleep apnea, all kinds of stuff you have to give disclosure on.

 

[George2615]

Try this one. You may have to watch it more than once

Watch "Alexis Shows How To Pre-Trip Inspection On A Semi 18 Wheeler prt 1" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Ag40Uo5TUL8

I watched the video but didn't see any semi 18 wheeler.

 

[Looking4new]

I really shouldn't comment on this one as I am a Canadian and didn't have to jump through all the hoops to get mine.
I was driving big rigs before Ontario made it mandatory to have a classified license to do so [1973]. I had a chauffeurs license and upgraded through the Grandfather system to a Class A. I have no endorsement for haz-mat (just a dangerous good certificate)[all that is needed in Ontario] and no endorsement for tanker, although that is my job. My paperwork is legal in the 'States as is my medical. I keep a copy of my current medical with me at all times. I have to take a medical every year to keep my class A license, because I am over 65.
But like I said, I am not really qualified to respond to the OPs' question, as I am Canadian and live in Canada.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I have mine and don't drive semis. Just make sure you do a dry run on the pre trip before hand and actually look and touch what you are inspecting. All the glass, lights, body panels, and tires. And on and on. If you can practice with the truck before hand, all the better. Practice paralell parking it and backing up between cones for 2 vehicle lengths. Pay attention. When you are driving around daily to the speed limit on turns, weight limits on bridges, and heights on over passes.

 

[Mace Canute]

I really shouldn't comment on this one as I am a Canadian and didn't have to jump through all the hoops to get mine.
I was driving big rigs before Ontario made it mandatory to have a classified license to do so [1973]. I had a chauffeurs license and upgraded through the Grandfather system to a Class A. I have no endorsement for haz-mat (just a dangerous good certificate)[all that is needed in Ontario] and no endorsement for tanker, although that is my job. My paperwork is legal in the 'States as is my medical. I keep a copy of my current medical with me at all times. I have to take a medical every year to keep my class A license, because I am over 65.
But like I said, I am not really qualified to respond to the OPs' question, as I am Canadian and live in Canada.

I was much like you...my Class 1 A was grandfathered in by virtue of my job but I also took all the required classes and training that one needed to get a Class 1 A license. A few years back when they brought medicals in my license was downgraded to a Class 5 because my vision was 20/40 instead of 20/30 or better. I wasn't unhappy about it because I didn't need the Class 1 any longer.

 

[DK35vince]

I had my Class B since the early 80's.
Upgraded to Class A around 20 years ago.
Along with it I need a drivers physical every 2 years, and my name gets pulled for drug testing (and occasional breathalyzer test) at least once per year.

 

[Looking4new]

The only classes other than d-g was for the air endorsement, which I have to take again in the spring as I now have air disks on my wagons.

 

[Looking4new]

and my name gets pulled for drug testing (and occasional breathalyzer test) at least once per year.

Drug testing is an invasion of my privacy and absolutely refuse to do it. It just means that i don't go to the states anymore and that is no hardship.

 

[DK35vince]

Drug testing is an invasion of my privacy and absolutely refuse to do it. It just means that i don't go to the states anymore and that is no hardship.

I don't have a lot of choice if I want to keep my job.

 

[Looking4new]

I don't have a lot of choice if I want to keep my job.

You don't have any choice. the commies that run the US of A have made it mandatory that your privacy be invaded whether you like it or not.
That is where we differ as I do have a choice. I can starve to death and haul freight stateside ($26,000.oo in 6 months) or I can stay in Canada and haul oil ($42,000.oo in the same 6 month period). It is a no brainer as far as I am concerned..

 

[DK35vince]

You don't have any choice. the commies that run the US of A have made it mandatory that your privacy be invaded whether you like it or not.

Just to the working man. The welfare recipients are exempt.