[ARCHIVED THREAD] - cdl drivers (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 4/5/2015 3:55:47 PM EDT
| Going to do my driving test tomorrow. Gonna restudy my pretrip inspection. Any advice or pointers? Class a |
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Best of luck OP.
Don't really have any advise for taking the test but once you have it and start driving get you a couple of years over the road and then start looking for a local job. I have made substanly more money locally than I ever saw OTR and im home every night and off weekends |
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During the pretrip: Take it slow, point out each item, name it, tell the tester what you are checking for (properly mounted/secured, no leaks, cuts etc.). During the road test portion, take note of every sign you pass (Speed zones, school zones etc.) as well as any overpass heights, the tester will likely ask about them after you pass them. |
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Quoted: Run far away and don't look back. <<<<<<<< *Almost 20 years of driving semi trucks* Depends on what you do. OTR  I work for a crane company, I do heavy haul, do some rigging and some wrenching. I enjoy the work and get payed very well (make 3 times what I made driving OTR). |
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My job is offering to send me and a bunch of others I work with to get ours for free through the Union, its just a matter of having the time to do it
The one supervisor was worried though that once we get it that the oil/gas company we deal with daily will try to lure some of us away. They already have tried with some of the techs and only heard about them wanting their own parts guys full time I know that I will be getting class a and may also be going for hazmat and tanker along with doubles Was talking to the main boss and he said once I get it it would be a pay increase as well which will be nice but as I'm the only one interested in my dpt it would mean longer hours and helping out other division within my shop. |
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My job is offering to send me and a bunch of others I work with to get ours for free through the Union, its just a matter of having the time to do it The one supervisor was worried though that once we get it that the oil/gas company we deal with daily will try to lure some of us away. They already have tried with some of the techs and only heard about them wanting their own parts guys full time I know that I will be getting class a and may also be going for hazmat and tanker along with doubles Was talking to the main boss and he said once I get it it would be a pay increase as well which will be nice but as I'm the only one interested in my dpt it would mean longer hours and helping out other division within my shop. Few of my drivers left me for O&G companies. Only to ask to come back now. We also give our mechanics a dollar an hour raise to get their CDL. Part of the reason you guys are getting pushed for the CDL is the lube trailers we built for you guys. Pushes a standard service truck over the CDL limit. |
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Few of my drivers left me for O&G companies. Only to ask to come back now. We also give our mechanics a dollar an hour raise to get their CDL. Part of the reason you guys are getting pushed for the CDL is the lube trailers we built for you guys. Pushes a standard service truck over the CDL limit. Quoted:
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My job is offering to send me and a bunch of others I work with to get ours for free through the Union, its just a matter of having the time to do it The one supervisor was worried though that once we get it that the oil/gas company we deal with daily will try to lure some of us away. They already have tried with some of the techs and only heard about them wanting their own parts guys full time I know that I will be getting class a and may also be going for hazmat and tanker along with doubles Was talking to the main boss and he said once I get it it would be a pay increase as well which will be nice but as I'm the only one interested in my dpt it would mean longer hours and helping out other division within my shop. Few of my drivers left me for O&G companies. Only to ask to come back now. We also give our mechanics a dollar an hour raise to get their CDL. Part of the reason you guys are getting pushed for the CDL is the lube trailers we built for you guys. Pushes a standard service truck over the CDL limit. Yeah that's one of the reasons also to do road testing on jobs, I'm not a tech but the one supervisor wants me to get it so I can help out when needed in the yard and some other stuff. |
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I don't plan on OTR. Right now I do O&G and only deal with class b but oversized. Just want something to help build resume and fall back on. Thanks for the good pointers! Didn't think about the non posted signs. The guy I'm going through I've been told has a single axle, automatic, with a 30 ft trailer.
Hoping all goes well and when gas goes belly up I can get on with a construction company. |
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keep looking at your mirrors
don't get tunnel vision. do you know where to put out markers if you emergency stop after 10 min? do you know the minimum bridge height on a freeway/secondary? how's your parallel parking? s line backing? watch your tracking,don't hit any curbs take your pre trip slow,start at the top,work your way down don't forget about the cab inspection,and the break test. remember your emergency equipment in the cab,and to make sure you have no cargo it the trailer during your test.... relax and good luck! |
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Quoted: Check the permit book. Secure cap on the piss bottle. Pick up lot lizards. T-shirt that you've been wearing for a week (Bonus point for stains from the Flying J pizza you ate 3 days ago) Flannel Pajama bottoms Flip flops (with socks) Huge Blue Tooth headset with boom mike and don't shower or shave for at least a week. |
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Don't forget to show up for the road test in the proper attire: T-shirt that you've been wearing for a week (Bonus point for stains from the Flying J pizza you ate 3 days ago) Flannel Pajama bottoms Flip flops (with socks) Huge Blue Tooth headset with boom mike and don't shower or shave for at least a week. Quoted:
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Check the permit book. Secure cap on the piss bottle. Pick up lot lizards. T-shirt that you've been wearing for a week (Bonus point for stains from the Flying J pizza you ate 3 days ago) Flannel Pajama bottoms Flip flops (with socks) Huge Blue Tooth headset with boom mike and don't shower or shave for at least a week. No No No this is not how it works, this is not how any of this works. sweat shirt and sweat pants with Jesus sandals(no socks) so we can see your gangrenous toes and un kept nails is the uniform of the day. Also bonus points for the stains as seabeemech said on the shirt. Extra points if you smell like a buck in rut. Also don't forget your big wheeler 2 liter travel mug, this should always be in your right hand and resting on your tool shed You could also crop dust the inside of the truck before your tester jumps in, ensuring your test wont be long at all |
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Don't shift in an intersection. Take your hand off the shift lever and put it back on the wheel after each time you shift gears.
The only hit I got was for signaling a turn too soon. There was a street and then about 30 feet further was the on ramp to the interstate. I stated signaling about a hundred feet before the onramp.  I think that was a no win situation. 
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| Thank you all for the advice. I tried to go over the book one more time tonight. I'm in a bad situation because I went ahead and am going for A but I work around B stuff and it's a single person cab so I haven't gotten any practice in a tractor trailer. Alot of this stuff has been very helpful for small things I haven't thought of stressing over the big stuff. |
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When you decide you must pull forward on the obstacle test, pull forward further then you need to make things perfect. Its 1 point every time you change directions and the distance doesnt matter.
Know the air brake test word for word. start your pretrip as you and the instructor are walking across the parking lot bullshitting. As you walk towards the vehicle start looking for obvious defects, puddles under truck, tires, loose debris, just name anything stupid you can think of at the moment. |
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When I went for my interview with Wal-Mart I had to do a Pre-Trip Inspection and Road Test. After driving for 12 years I was worried like hell about the Pre-Trip. I watched a few videos on Youtube to refresh me and even going over the truck with a fine tooth comb I still missed a few things. Just take your time and be careful.
If you ever decide to go OTR I always recommend anyone who wants to live well and be treated well to apply for Wal-Mart. Right now and for the next year or two will be the golden time to get hired because so many of my co-workers are retiring. I'm home every week and most of us are making $100k a year. |
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Quoted:
When I went for my interview with Wal-Mart I had to do a Pre-Trip Inspection and Road Test. After driving for 12 years I was worried like hell about the Pre-Trip. I watched a few videos on Youtube to refresh me and even going over the truck with a fine tooth comb I still missed a few things. Just take your time and be careful. If you ever decide to go OTR I always recommend anyone who wants to live well and be treated well to apply for Wal-Mart. Right now and for the next year or two will be the golden time to get hired because so many of my co-workers are retiring. I'm home every week and most of us are making $100k a year. I don't plan to ever go OTR. my main thing is just surviving here with my wife. I passed up 120 a year running a rig in North dakota 2 years ago. Hoping the cdl will help me with a construction or utility company that's worth retiring from. |
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Yup, got mine a few years ago for similar reasons. Helped get a job with a utility company, then in a facility/grounds maintenance job.  Quoted:
Quoted:. Hoping the cdl will help me with a construction or utility company that's worth retiring from. Yup, got mine a few years ago for similar reasons. Helped get a job with a utility company, then in a facility/grounds maintenance job. Hey as long as they got good retirement! Breaking my back the past 5 years made me realize I need a stable career lol |
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Quoted:
keep looking at your mirrors don't get tunnel vision. do you know where to put out markers if you emergency stop after 10 min? do you know the minimum bridge height on a freeway/secondary? how's your parallel parking? s line backing? watch your tracking,don't hit any curbs take your pre trip slow,start at the top,work your way down don't forget about the cab inspection,and the break test. remember your emergency equipment in the cab,and to make sure you have no cargo it the trailer during your test.... relax and good luck! Glad I got grandfathered back in 93 or 94 and did not have to go through any of that crap. |
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Glad I got grandfathered back in 93 or 94 and did not have to go through any of that crap. Quoted:
Quoted:
keep looking at your mirrors don't get tunnel vision. do you know where to put out markers if you emergency stop after 10 min? do you know the minimum bridge height on a freeway/secondary? how's your parallel parking? s line backing? watch your tracking,don't hit any curbs take your pre trip slow,start at the top,work your way down don't forget about the cab inspection,and the break test. remember your emergency equipment in the cab,and to make sure you have no cargo it the trailer during your test.... relax and good luck! Glad I got grandfathered back in 93 or 94 and did not have to go through any of that crap. I think I still needed a night light to sleep back then.. |
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You could get lucky like I did when I took my cdl driving test.
They were running way behind that day. My pre trip consisted of the air brake check only. Then I drove a quarter of their designated course, parallel parked and that was it. I was in and out in less than a half hour. 
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Practicing that part right now LOL Quoted:
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Don't forget to breathe! Practicing that part right now LOL I know it sounds funny but I know some good drivers who didn't do that well on their tests because they got themselves so worked up and nervous that they changed color. Don't do that. Just relax and breathe normally. |
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I know it sounds funny but I know some good drivers who didn't do that well on their tests because they got themselves so worked up and nervous that they changed color. Don't do that. Just relax and breathe normally. Quoted:
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Don't forget to breathe! Practicing that part right now LOL I know it sounds funny but I know some good drivers who didn't do that well on their tests because they got themselves so worked up and nervous that they changed color. Don't do that. Just relax and breathe normally. That's where I'm at right now. (Had this class scheduled almost 2 months) and now I'm all wtf I get myself into, I haven't even got to drive a tractor trailer yet. |
When I took mine we used our own equipment from the company I would be driving for. I picked whatever tractor I wanted and the newest empty pup trailer in our yard the day of the test. Went over my pre trip with my instructor for a few hours before the test. I never checked the registration on the trailer  That was an embarrassing moment when I went to grab it and the holder was empty. We had to call corporate and have it faxed to the testing place before we could hit the road 
Just relax, you'll do fine. |
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When I took mine we used our own equipment from the company I would be driving for. I picked whatever tractor I wanted and the newest empty pup trailer in our yard the day of the test. Went over my pre trip with my instructor for a few hours before the test. I never checked the registration on the trailer That was an embarrassing moment when I went to grab it and the holder was empty. We had to call corporate and have it faxed to the testing place before we could hit the road
Just relax, you'll do fine. When I tested the first time we weren't allowed to use anything shorter than 40ft. Last time I renewed my CDL they were not allowing any combinations besides a real tractor and trailer, no dump trucks with equipment trailers or pickups with 5th wheel trailers. I felt lucky to be able to use a 45 footer because I could run it with the tandems all the way back for easier backing. Anything longer and the overhang made things a pain and anything shorter than 40ft is damn squirrelly when backing. I hated pups because they reacted so quickly you had to stop and make your corrections instead of steering corrections on the move. As far as your pre trip, a Rand McNally trucker's atlas has good cheat sheet guides for pre trips that are easy to memorize. Mentally run through one a couple of times before doing your test and t should be easy for you. Good luck on the test. |
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Thank you all for the advice. I tried to go over the book one more time tonight. I'm in a bad situation because I went ahead and am going for A but I work around B stuff and it's a single person cab so I haven't gotten any practice in a tractor trailer. Alot of this stuff has been very helpful for small things I haven't thought of stressing over the big stuff. What are you going to do when you have to back a serpentine ? That's a tricky thing to do without some practice. |
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What are you going to do when you have to back a serpentine ? That's a tricky thing to do without some practice. Quoted:
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Thank you all for the advice. I tried to go over the book one more time tonight. I'm in a bad situation because I went ahead and am going for A but I work around B stuff and it's a single person cab so I haven't gotten any practice in a tractor trailer. Alot of this stuff has been very helpful for small things I haven't thought of stressing over the big stuff. What are you going to do when you have to back a serpentine ? That's a tricky thing to do without some practice. I have pulled and backed utility trailers all my life..just not tractors. Not everyone has them laying around to take out on a Saturday drive. This guy I'm going to sets up the cone test at his yard and we will do all the pretrip and cone driving at his yard til I'm ready, then drive the exact course state police make me drive on the way to the state police to do the test for them. |
| When I took mine I had to parallel park the truck and trailer. You may think that there is no way a trucker would have to do that in real life but you would be very surprised. About once a month I have to parallel park one. If you have to do that for your test aim the back drivers side of the trailer for the back passenger side cone of the box. Once your trailer tire crosses the imaginary box line start cutting the wheel to bring the back end of the truck into the box followed by the front end. It really isn't that hard. |
| Ask the test guy if he wants you to walk behind the truck before you back up. Here it was an automatic fail if you backed up without getting out of the truck and checking behind it for obstacles, small children, or lot lizards. Make sure he can tell you are using your mirrors. Don't just glance at them out of the corner of your eye. Don't forget the air brake test. |
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Do what the testing officer tells you to do.
All the other things above are good but when I took mine the officer told me what he expected me to do. I listened and did it. One thing was when you merge off of the shoulder to be going at least 45 before getting into the lane. I have never run that far on a shoulder in my life. But I did it his way. He said look at least 3 time in the mirror before a lane change and at least once over your shoulder or you fail. I did it He said do not have a wreck and do not break any laws. I was really worried about the brake test even though it is easy. He told me how to do it even though I knew how. passed all the test first time but was only going for a B Drove commercial bucket and digger trucks for over ten years without it after my first license lapse when cdl went into effect. I was one day late on getting to just take the written test which I passed but at the time had no truck with air brakes so I just drove illegal. Good luck and hope you get a good officer like I did. |