Info about backing double on DCL test?

This should be helpful.......

watch?v=1ETRgPsxFNw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xGRv0oTK3Q&feature=related

 

yeah i never had to take a road test for doubles or tankers. but that's here in michigan. i went through a school and got my cdl. my driving instructor told me i could just take the written exam before i turned in all my paperwork. they were pretty easy to get. i never hauled a double or a tank but i got them just so i could have a better opportunity to get a job somewhere.

 

I hate to tell you this but this truck is not a set of doubles. It's called a truck and trailer. You may call it a B train but anyone that drives them hauling gasoline always refers to them as truck and trailers. Out west you'll see alot of gasoline companies using this type of set up because it's easy to back and you can get into tighter places. A set of doubles have two trailers that you can drop. With your truck the front box is permanently mounted to the power unit. The trailer is mounted to a turn table and that box is permanently mounted to that. You have no fifth wheels or landing gear except for the brace that holds up the drawbar when you unhook the trailer. This set up pivots in two places so your turn the steering wheel just like your car. If your drawbar is short then the trailer will turn faster. It takes awhile to get used to. I could back doubles when I was hauling triples and then when I went to a gasoline company I had a had time backing a truck and trailer. And our trucks were 85' long with a 20' drawbar. But after backing a few times it was a breeze. Just don't oversteer.

 

Should be easy to back with a little practice but I don't think I'd take one for my CDL road test. It's ridiculous what they have you do so you'd have a better chance with a semi since it's set up for that. And again it takes practice.

I was going to say that up where you're act there's alot of what we call super tankers because they hold alot of gas (12,450 gallons). Well that's what we hauled anyway.

 

What your describing is a truck and trailer, like a gas tanker. This is not what you want to use to take you test, and it should not be backed up during a test because of the double hitch situation. You need to see if the company has or has access to a stright trailer like a equipment trailer for the backing portion of the test. Experienced driver can back the setup your describing, But none of us would reccomend it for the parallel or alley dock manuver. I believe that both are required along with a stright back. New drivier = ain't to happen.

 

I had an discussion with one of our company mechanics late last week about backing up double trailers. He said he can do it with no problems jackkniefing (sp?) until after he has backed up the whole length of the truck/tractor and the two trailers. Me, I can only back up my set of Beall penumatic doubles about 10 feet before the rear (b trailer) starts to turn kattywampus.

When I did my CDL drive test on 10-16-2007 I only had to back up the tractor and one of the trailers. The road test also was with only one trailer, not the two trailers that all of our company drivers pull. Some pull bottom dumps (what I trained on), some transfers, other pull bulk trailers
(cement powder). But, to get hired by Robertson's Transport in Rialto, Ca, had to get learner's permit first, including doubles endorsement test. After road test given by one of Robertson's dispatchers (company is approved by Calif. DMV to train drivers and administer the road test) went back to DMV with the signed-off road test form and got my CDL. Finished up my year obligation with Robertson's this past October and still with them, but basically only part-time. Not much demand for concrete so not driving every day (Robertson's Transport hauls bulk cement powder, rock, sand to Robertson's Ready-Mix plants here in so. Calif).

Got my HazMat endorsement 12-2007. Would like to haul fuel, but nobody is hiring right now.

dave
(Is my Robertson's truck photo showing in the little square)

 

He would have it made if he could drop the trailer but they will not let him take the test with a straight truck.