My CDL License exam in 2 weeks in San Bernardino, CA. Any tips on prepping?

Go to www.dmv.ca.gov/.../comlhdbk

poke around the site has a copy of the check sheet the inspector will use when you are being tested.

 

if you want motivation think of your family that will motivate you to get your CDL

 

My best advice is to simply take it slow.

You are studying hard for the pre-trip exam. That's good.
Take it slow and easy so you don't leave things out.
The tester might try to rush you, but do it at your own pace.

The same with the driving test.
Slow n easy, and watch those turns. There will be at least one that will be very tight, and you need to take your time with it. Watch your mirrors, and your clearance!
If you have to wait a minute or two for traffic to clear to make that turn safely - do it! The cars behind you can either wait or go around.

 

my best advice is to take it slow, start from the top and work your way to the bottom, drill it into your head so it's second-nature.

As as for the road test and parking: always remember safety first, hot your marks, and go out and just drive. It's natural to be nervous, but don't let your nerves get the best of you! Taking your road test is a small stepping stone and pretty minuscule, or so I'm finding out.

Best luck to you! If you need anything, PM me.

 

Keep a $100 bill easily accessible in a pocket, if things go poorly, shake the examiners hand and palm him the C note. Just kidding....the only charge for retaking a test is the value of your time.

 

Sounds like you are getting your CDL on your own, without going to school? I did that early last year to regain my CDL and I took the test at the San Bernardino DMV. I drove team with my brother with my permit and we used his truck for the test. Since we weren't able to predict a date we could show up for a test we went repeatedly to the DMV when we were home to take the test on a standby basis.

My strongest recommendation is to go to the DMV and just hang out for a few hours and watch how other folks are taking the skills tests. That was very helpful for me.

For the parallel/alley dock they will have you pull forward until the front of your trailer is even with the front of the cones, then pace off the 10' behind the trailer and set the cones. You wait while they do this, then they will have you pull forward until the back end of your trailer is even with the far cone. As I watched other drivers do this skill I realized this was about the easiest of the skill tests:

- From the final set up position, when they signal you to start the skill turn the wheel hard left and back up until you are in a 90º jackknife to the right side of the trailer (that will cause the trailer tandems to travel about 12' backward and start angling the trailer into the dock). Stop then turn the wheel hard right and back up until you are in the dock in a full 90º jackknife to the left (as the tractor swings from the 90º right side position all away around to the 90º left side position the trailer tandems travel right into the dock/curb perfectly). Stop and honk your horn to signal you successfully got in the dock. It was really that easy.

 

my CDL test is also in two weeks..the 19th. school im in prefers to use the lancaster dmv..even though berdoo is closer. dunno if there's any back story to it but was told that the Sb dmv fails a higher percentage of testers than lancaster..good luck bro!

 

Depending on which testing agent you "draw" in SB you will get either a seasoned old hand or a young hipster. The younger ones tend to be pretty picky. Be patient on the skills tests and get it right.