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.