No one mentioned how lengthy the CDL manual is

Well like many things in trucking it really does not appear as what it really is......that book the easy stuff. When your up at the school ask to seee the FMCSA manual, its used as a tool, but the information on inspections and haz mat loads you need to understand and apply.
I did study the commercial DMV manual for a few evenings before taking the test, as I had no backround in the field. I passed those tests on the first try and I'm sure you will too. The big hurdle for some is doing the Pre-trip inspection of the test, walking around picking out parts, naming them and telling the tester what they do and why your checking them, lots to remember....... but very important.

I would take old Rug Trucker up on his offer, he seems to have it all figured based on all his posts. He has been through the class and knows it not a cake walk......but doable with the right attitude.


P.S Just imagine what those 2 weeks schools are like here in Nashville!

 

ND you driving now? Well you know, working as a driver?

I don't have it all figured out. I do have the T-shirt though Someday turn it into a grease rag.

 

Yep, local shuttling trailers around town. I found a great regional job, but they now tell me my limited OTR driving would not qualify me and I would again need to go with a trainer.I knew I should have stuck it out for a couple years on the road, but the local job just fell in my lap......and after team driving a few months it looked very attractive. Well live and learn, just seems silly that as soon as you go local a they the dont recognize your OTR driving after a couple years.

 

OTR? No thanks! Depends on who you go with.

I am making more money. And sleeping in my own bed.

Some guys like OTR. I did it until I could get a local gig. I got out of driving in '87. It was pretty much all local except for a fuel hauling job I did briefly.

 

I dont want to hi-jack this man's thread, but I found a regional tanker job, 3 days over the road and 2 days local Nashville doing relays and no weekend work period and it pays more then what I made driving teams back in 2008 before the economy dumped and we were getting paid .50 mile to the truck and rarely did less the 6800 miles a week on a dedicated account. The money is even better and I sleep in my own bed at least 3 nights a week......plus the truck is stopped when I'm taking a break!! Running team as a new driver was a good thing for my wallet, but not my attitude.

 

Its not as bad as it seems, but yes, it is a lot of information. It is all very important to the safe and legal operation of your CMV.

 

Concentrate on learning the pre-trip. That's the most important thing. The rest is a lot of common sense and little technical info. The size of the manual must be state specific. Mine came on the back of a Waffle House napkin.

 

The Missouri Commercial Driver's License Manual that I have is an older one. It is 8" X 11" and has 13 sections and 185 pages.

 

Just study the manual for General Knowleage,combination and air brakes section then go take your test for your permit thats the easy part once you get into the air brake bleed down and pre trip thats where your head will spin. the problem with the 3-4 week courses is they dont teachg you anything at all the ones that are 20-22 weeks is where you learn all the tools you need. the 3-4 week course is there to rush you through maneuvers and training to get your CDL quickly.

the school im in has 3 programs 1 is just finishing up it was the 480 hour course that is 20 weeks now that is being phased out the new one is 600 hours. and they have the 3-4 week course the first week of that course teaches you the cdl manual then after that its all road time and maneuvers.

I am in the 480 hour course we have the ppl in the 160 course that is the 3-4 wekk course that know nothing about trucking and they get in saying i didnt think there was this much stuff to learn i thought it was like shifting a cart or a normal truck and then they get into the double clutching and then the 3 step process to downshifting and they get all screwed up.

If your in the 3-4 week course you have to fully pay attention on everything that is said because if you miss a beat it can be the difference between pass or fail on your road test.