Getting CDL

[brycez28]

I have been thinking about getting my cdl for a while. Couple questions on it. How do you "practice" and get your cdl when you don't have a vehicle that requires a cdl or know anyone who does? I'd only be getting it so that I can have a GCWR of a truck/trailer of more than 26k pounds, which with today's vehicles and trailers doesn't take much. Am I able to test with a 3/4 ton truck and trailer combination, or do I need to use a different vehicle?

 

[M5farms]

I have been thinking about getting my cdl for a while. Couple questions on it. How do you "practice" and get your cdl when you don't have a vehicle that requires a cdl or know anyone who does? I'd only be getting it so that I can have a GCWR of a truck/trailer of more than 26k pounds, which with today's vehicles and trailers doesn't take much. Am I able to test with a 3/4 ton truck and trailer combination, or do I need to use a different vehicle?

check your state regs but I know of a Guy that got a 5th wheel hitch and box trailer combination and used that to get theirs. his truck was a 3500 dually

 

[TMGT]

I got mine with a f550 and a 50ft gooseneck, didn't get an air brake endorsement with that but it's good for a clas A CDL.

 

[Cataclysm]

Call the CDL testing station. Ask them for a list of driving schools in the area. Try to find one ran by a retired CDL examiner. They will take you by the hand and walk you through the process and rent you truck to take your CDL in. Around here at least that is the cheapest, easiest and pain free way to get your CDL.

Avoid the "tech centers" driving schools. Expensive and ran by people that apparently hate life. At least around here.

Its a pretty daunting task to obtain a CDL here in the oil field. The written test is the easiest. The driving test not so much. There were 6 different backing tests. They will usually pick 3 for you to do. The Examiners are pretty hard core and most of the stuff they tested me on during the drive wasn't in the book.

Get everything except tanker all at once. Tanker is a yearly renewal or something like that and usually not worth it unless you driving a tanker for hire.

 

[TMGT]

Check but probably no need for a school, I did it workout a school and it was fairly pain free, the pre trip is where most people fail according to my tester. I can confirm this lol

 

[dieselcrawler]

I got mine while working as a mechanic at a local excavating company. The written test is no problem to take, study the book and you'll pass. The driving test took some effort to get them to let me get some seat time. If you can find a local owner/operator willing to let you drive/test with there right in exchange for some cash, might work for you. If you test in an auto truck, you'll be restricted to Auto, same with hydraulic brakes. I took my test in a beat up old Kenworth tractor just because it was the only 18 spd truck avaliable the day of my test. Pre-trip test can be hardest. Good luck.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

i took my at the local bus company in an old f-800 air brake box truck and a triaxle open deck trailer. I didn't practice so to speak, but I have driven a pickup and goose neck for long enough that their combination didn't worry me at all. I heard that there will be restrictions based on the vehicle type. I.E. transmission and connection type restrictions. I don't know if that happened yet or not though.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'd only be getting it so that I can have a GCWR of a truck/trailer of more than 26k pounds, which with today's vehicles and trailers doesn't take much.

I believe you can, just no air "endorsement", and as long as the combo is 26001#.
I'm still confused about the CDL "program" seemingly being a Federal issue, you would think that the requirements & regs would be national. Some of the discussions here (on the CDL topic) lead me to believe that there are local differences.:confused3:
I took my test in a friends (non CDL) little 12' flat bed Freightliner with a 10 ton a/b tag along trailer. Piece of cake!
The pre trip is where they usually "get ya". Look for a video on doing the pre trip inspection. I borrowed one from a friend, studied it well and even brought a "stick" or pointer along for the test. Pretty much repeated the guy on the video's language & procedure verbatim. After about 30 min. and only 2/3 around the rig, the inspector stopped me and said "let's do the road test".
This info/video might be on youtube now. Where I tested, the "written" part of the test was multiple choice on a computer. I don't remember the number of correct answers needed to pass, (40?), but there were 80 or so questions. Here & there a trick question would come up that I could reason 2 of the answers would apply, SKIP these questions. There's easier questions coming up. When I had enough correct answers, the computer was satisfied and ended the test. This assuming that I did not have enough wrong answers racked up yet.
Study the "book" and find a video, put a fire extinguisher in the truck along with 3 "triangle's and spare fuses and go for it!:thumbsup:

 

[TMGT]

Is the transmission restriction new? There wasn't any endorsements or restrictions for an auto. I did mine in a manual.

 

[DK35vince]

Is the transmission restriction new? There wasn't any endorsements or restrictions for an auto. I did mine in a manual.

My understanding is if the test is taken with auto transmission you are only licensed for auto, if taken with manual transmission you can run both, no restriction.

 

[Sprinklerman]

My understanding is if the test is taken with auto transmission you are only licensed for auto, if taken with manual transmission you can run both, no restriction.

That must be new , I took mine with an auto trans and have no restriction

 

[brycez28]

Thank you for all the replies! All of this stuff is confusing to understand and decipher where to go and what needs to be done. A little practice to get used to a different vehicle and trailer's turning radius and I'll be fine backing up.

 

[bigtiller]

Something to consider....
As the holder of a commercial drivers license (CDL), you’re held to a higher standard when behind the wheel – kind of a the -bigger-the-vehicle-the-bigger-the-responsibilities type mindset.

And, with this higher standard comes higher repercussions when traffic tickets and DUI convictions are involved.

 

[DK35vince]

That must be new , I took mine with an auto trans and have no restriction

Here is an example what I was talking about
Truck Driver Training - Automatic or Manual? - Ask The Trucker

 

[bdog]

They are trying to or have made the auto restrictions a thing in all states. I don't know the current status by they are pushing for it if it is t implemented already. I took my CDL test in Texas in 2015 in an auto and have no restrictions but not sure if that is the case now. My peterbilt and kenworth dump truck are both standards so I can drive both but testing for a newbie is way easier in an auto. I drove standard pickups all my life and learning to drive a standard big rig has a learning curve for sure. I think the restriction is a good idea because it takes some skill to drive a manual big rig.

 

[TMGT]

I guess autos are becoming more commonplace on class A trucks. My dad works for a large food distribution company and they've been changing a lot of their fleet over to auto's.

 

[dieselcrawler]

My former employer has a fleet of about 30 big trucks, 90% are Auto trans. Was hard getting a manual trans truck for taking my test, which is why it was the oldest, longest, junky one that nobody wanted to drive.

 

[sandman2234]

I am a CDL instructor.
Not all states allow the "auto restriction", Florida being one. If the rumors I hear are correct, it will be later this year or next when that restriction becomes a reality.
I spend most of my time teaching simple shifting in a 10 speed. The state mandates that students learn to double clutch, so that is a total new experience for people who have driven a stick.
There is a school south of here that is a CDL factory. Want to buy one, have at it. If you want a job, your wasting your money, because employer's give drivers a road test before hiring them, and then we get them (with class A license) to train all over again. You would be surprised at how many people that have a CDL-A that have no clue how to drive a semi truck. State requires that you be able to downshift also, a feat that usually scares most students, but I have teaching it down pat, so it is easier than up-shifting.
Bigtiller speaks the truth, if you don't need a CDL, stay away from it. The added penalties and such are not worth it. There are things you can do with a regular drivers license only to cost you a few bucks if you mess up, and they suspend your license if you have a CDL. (Take for instance running across a set of railroad tracks when the lights start flashing but the bars haven't gone down, and your on your way back from the store with ice cream for the wife, in your car. Probably $180 or so fine for a drivers license, but if you have a CDL, the penalty becomes a 60 day suspension, and you weren't even in a truck!!!)
David from jax

 

[bdog]

Lot of truth in that post.

I own a semi and a tandem dump truck. Semi has a 10 spd and the dump has an 8LL. I can drive the heck out of them both but I float gears up and down and have no idea how to double clutch. I would probably have difficulty during the test if they made me double clutch.

The other thing which you alluded to is that with a CDL lots of things change. For example no more defensive driving or deferred disposition on tickets. I have probably got 5 speeding tickets over the past 15 years prior to getting my CDL. None of them ever went on my record because I always did defensive driving or deferred. With a CDL those are no longer options even in a personal car. I no longer speed which I guess is a good thing.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Don't forget about the lower blood alcohol level!