VA CDL -- Road Skills Test

She will wait til you have passed the sign and then ask what was the weight limit on that bridge or what was the posted speed for the ramp so just pay attention. She made me act like I was at a railroad crossing and had me show her what to do. Had to point and describe a lot of things on the pre trip.

She was not there to fail me she just made sure I was aware of my surroundings and that I somewhat knew how to pre-trip and what to look for.


I asked her a question she could not answer and then come to find out she did not have a CDL.

Let us know how the test went.

Good luck

 

As of now I'm still waiting. Was supposed to have been on road with my trainer headed to Roanoke but he got rerouted west this week and headed right in to hurricane alley. PTI, Brakes and in cab I have down. Ive been doing straight backs offsets and parallel parking for the 30 days, so I have that part as well. They seem to be stumped on the curve back and cant set one up for me so I havent practiced that at all. Hopefully I'll get there in enough time to see someone else do it first.

 

I should have said off set it is not really a curved back. I just did not know the name of it. It is kind of offset so that the cones are not really straight.
Kind of like this so called diagram. It has been over 15 years so it is hard to remember. But my brother had to take it last year in Rocky Mount Va. and it was like this.

x
x
x

Sorry for the confusion.

 

The darn computer would not let me make the right diagram.
x
x
x.

 

Can't show you on computer but the cones are not straight they are diagonally set up so you are kind of angled back but only by about a foot or two from the front cone to the back one.

 

Have you taken the test and if so did you pass?

 

Depending on where in VA you are. I did my test in Suffolk at the CDL testing site there. (just got mine last month) Somethings to highlight on:

- Pre-trip inspection. If you can't pass this, then you won't move on the the backing. I had 105 steps of mine. (got a 103)
- AIR BRAKE TEST! Must be #### near perfect. If you can't stop, then how are you expected to drive. (at least it's the mindset)
- Backing. Have to be within 3 ft of the cones.
- Driving. As stated. Make sure your head is on a 360 swivel. I was asked twice about signs. An emergency pull-off. (you will tell the instructor what you would do. I.E. triangles on a divided high way vs. 2-way road, etc...) I went on a route that gave me 3 very tight turns with a 43" trailer. Go over the white lines, hit a curb/sidewalk or not use your mirrors twice while making those turns is a failure (unsafe driving) Downshifting when you come to a stop. Maybe not ALL the way down, but you need to show the inspector that you are in control on the vehicle. And lastly, do NOT cross the white lines and at stop or go past a stop sign more than twice... it's unsafe and an auto failure.

Nervousness is expected, and my inspector was actually rather nice about the whole process, but I still didn't give her the chance to question me.


Expect the worst, hope for the best.

 

Did you take the test in Roanoke yet? Looking to see if you passed or not.