Getting CDL

[CincyFlyer]

Don't forget about the lower blood alcohol level!

Yeah, which is likely a "good thing". As a pilot (private, commercial, or air transport) there is a two-part limit: 0.04% BAC max (half of what most states have for auto drivers) and eight hours "bottle to throttle"—eight hours after any alcohol before flying.

 

[Copperhead]

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.

One of the reasons there is such a high turnover of drivers in the industry. I grandfathered into the CDL back when I was driving semi in Alaska in the early 90's. Have never come close to losing it. But it is true, you drive like most people do with a regular license, and you will get yourself in a bind with a CDL.

The one gripe I have always had... one can get a discount on their vehicle insurance by attending a DD course, which means nothing. But with the higher restrictions of the CDL, along with several million miles of accident free driving will get you nothing for a discount. Heck, someone can take a DD course and get right in their car and drive like a idiot. You get more than 2 tickets in a year with a CDL and you lose it for 6 months.

 

[Rmart30]

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.

Im waiting to see the first ticket for this "infraction".

 

[sandman2234]

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.

Assuming you were talking about my post, THANKS!
As far as the double clutching, it really isn't a big deal, as long as you can float. Most of the time it is the rhythm or tempo that gets students. Won't hurt anything to learn and then you can say you have "been there, done that, lol.
I floated for 17 years before I was hired by a school. They told me I had to teach double clutching, and I had to go get somebody to explain it to me. Took me about 30 minutes to get used to it.
Nowadays I have to actually think about what I am doing as I show students, been doing it so long, otherwise it is just a habit.
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

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

There are a lot of "loop-holes" as well as mistakes made during the teaching, testing and issuing of CDL's.
I currently have a student that had a CDL- B and went to get his class A license. He also took the air-brakes test, and when they gave him his license back they had mistakenly given him an A. We told him that if he ever got caught, they would take it away, and also he wouldn't be able to get hired without proof of school or a year of experience. So he went and got a Class A permit to go along with his class A license and is currently attending school. First time I checked his paperwork, I dragged him into the office for an explanation, and the student coordinator looked and him and said "I told you so" because he said it would never get caught, and I was his first instructor, and immediately caught the snapfo.
As long as you don't get caught driving a commercial vehicle with a manual transmission, no big deal. It is when you get caught because of a wreck and some fancy lawyer starts checking, be prepared for a headache if he finds where that was an auto you tested in and you were involved in a fatality wreck with a manual.
Whatever you do, cross your T's and dot you i's
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

Yeah, which is likely a "good thing". As a pilot (private, commercial, or air transport) there is a two-part limit: 0.04% BAC max (half of what most states have for auto drivers) and eight hours "bottle to throttle"—eight hours after any alcohol before flying.

Not sure exactly what it is now, but at one time CDL license had the .04 and the can't drink or have any in your system for 24 before operation of a commercial vehicle, which is why i basically quit drinking. After that, it didn't matter to me, lol. I dare them to send me for a drug test anytime they want, as long as they are paying me to go!
David from jax
David from jax

 

[Turbys_1700]

I've got a buddy who had to give his CDL's due to diabetes. He had to go on insulin.