Has anyone ever heard of having to take the skills test with a tanker trailer?

I'm out of the Wilmer OC and that's also where I went through their inexperienced driver orientation. Currently, if you live in Texas, they take the CDL students to the Waco DPS office for testing. However, one of the trainers just recently told me they have a couple people currently in training to be third-party CDL testers. Once that happens, they'll be able to conduct the CDL tests there at the Wilmer yard.

The sleep apnea screening is a questionnaire you fill out that asks various questions about snoring, if you're tired during the day, etc. They require a sleep test based on height and weight, and how you answer those questions. So, when they ask, you never snore or need naps during the day. If you're a bigger guy, you may still end up being flagged for one. I'm 5'11 and 205 and was not required to take the sleep test. They didn't get around to looking at my questionnaire until I'd already been driving for about 6 months.

I've been really happy with Schneider and even after a year, I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere else. I was lucky to get on a dedicated account from the beginning that gets me home for a weekly reset as well as a couple nights during the week. That schedule really works well for me. The pay is a bit low to start with. I started at .44/mi, but after your first 2-3 months, you're eligible for the performance and safety bonus, which adds another 2-4 cents, and you get a bump after 6 months. I'm now making .50/mi with the bonus and should be getting another small bump now that I've hit the 1-year mark.

 

When dealing with the DMV all the opinions of every stranger on the internet will not change the DMV examiner's mind. If the examiner thinks, knows, is told you have to keep your right pinky finger in your ear at a traffic light and you don't do it, are you passing her exam? Frankly your skills test will be easier pulling a 45 or 48 foot empty tanker than a 53 ft dry van. There is no tail-swing to worry about and you can see more of what is behind you than with a dry van.

 

I took ALL of my written tests, AND endorsements, BEFORE I went to do my skills test. Oh an I never got the CLP... It isnt a requirement. And I already was driving under Idaho's agricultural exemption, which allows anyone with a valid lisence to drive truck in an agricultural setting provided you stay within 150 air miles of the main farm, only haul commodities actually owned by the same farm.

So basically I had passed all my endorsements before I even had ANY type of CDL, or CDL permit.

 

No proof but what I have been told is you are supposed to test in the kind of vehicle you will be driving. The tanker endorsement may indicate to dmv you will be driving tanker.
I had to test in a sleeper even though we have day cabs.

 

Texas has some special rules anyway. I am in a refresher course as it is here in TX. I have to wait to take hazmat as I need the ELDT course Friday. To get more to the point prior to February of 2022, you used to be able to take your endorsements when you took your CLP. Lots of people did back when I went through school in 2012/13. After you passed your CDL road test they just added it to your license. You could not use the endorsements on your permit. To the best of my understanding is in February of 2022 with the rules change you could only take your N endorsement with your CLP, and in Texas you have to have your CLP for 14 days before you can take the N endorsement test. If I ventured a guess at part of the reason for the rule change is that to take the endorsement tests with the CLP it cost the driver money to add them. A lot of people got the CLP's with the endorsements and then could not pass the pre-trip, backing, or road trip portions (no cdl issued). Even then you could not use the endorsements with the CLP, you had to wait until you passed the driving tests anyway. My advice is to study the endorsements while you are preparing for the road test. Right after you pass your road test you can take your endorsements the same day if you do not need to schedule an appointment (for everyone). In Texas DPS requires an appointment for the tests. I am scheduled for mine in about 2 hours. I will have to reschedule my HME because we do not take the ELDT HME until Friday. Yup, because I did not have HME before I have to take that class with the February 2022 rule change even though I have had my CDL since 2013. If you plan on getting your HME in TX as well, I believe you have to take that test in state, they will not transfer it, so if you get it in another state you will have to take the test again. once you pass the test Texas DPS gives you a number to call for a specific facility to get your HME background check done. Double check all that. It is a bit confusing to me as well, but that is my understanding. The Georgetown, TX DPS did not have long wait periods for appointments. I scheduled mine for a week out so that I could get to some other appointments and study the material. They had some next day appointments available on their end. So, if you are in central TX that is a good place to get them done. Killeen (FT. Hood) is booked out a couple weeks.