FL CDL Test Requirements and Info.

I posted this in response to another thread on a different forum but thought I deserves it's own post. As it may help someone out in the future getting the CDL in FL.

In FL you can get your endorsements prior to getting your CDL (At the time of applying for your permit.) It is actually recommended by the state to get your hazmat at the time of your permit, so by the time you finish and get your CDL, TSA would have given you the green light. When I went to get my permit, i took all the endorsement tests except for people moving and passed them all. On my actual paper permit non of my endorsements were listed. Of course once I got my CDL then they were there.

As far as the pretrip & road test in FL-

You do a specified pretrip. Meaning there are 4 zones on the truck and you only get tested on 1 zone. (Zone is picked at random by computer depending on where you go to test.) But If i remember correctly, Z1- under the hood Z2 tractor aft of the drives door hinge. Z3 trailer. Z4 entire truck. Regardless of which zone you were given, you always had to do an in-cab, fifth wheel inspection, and air brake check.

The air brake check you had to call out exactly what you were doing. I.e. building PSI must see 85 -> 100 within 45 sec. etc...The air brake check is a pass or fail "test". There is no opps I missed a step. If you dont get it right the first time you fail the entire pre-trip.

As far as the other parts of the pretrip, you are scored on a point system, so you can forget to call out something and be ok. Best thing to do is call out every nut, bolt, and screw if your unsure of what is required on the test. As to much doesn't count against you.

For the backing test, everyone does a straight line, 1 offset (either driver or blind side), and either 1 parallel park (drivers or blind side) or an ally dock. Of course the driver does not get to pick or choose. State of FL reg's say you get 1 free pull up on the straight line, and 2 free pull ups on all other maneuvers. You are only allowed 14? points total. Each additional pullup cost you a point. Hitting a cone or crossing a line costs you 4 points. You are also allowed to get out of the cab 2 times on each maneuver, except for straight line which is 1 get out and look. If your butt comes off of the drivers seat (i.e. leaning out of the window and your not firmly sitting in the seat) it counts as a get out and look and costs points.

The road test is a piece of cake, again depending on where you test. Depending on where you test, you will be tested as a hazmat driver on the road regardless of whether you have the endorsement or not. Which is no big deal. In florida the hazmat "driving test" just means you have to stop at a RR xing between 50 - 15 feet of the crossing, stop, look, listen. Your hazards must be turned on 100 feet before crossing the tracks and stay on until after your trailer is clear of the tracks. Also you must keep both hands on the steering wheel while crossing the tracks until your trailer has cleared. (Hint Hint you cant shift while your hands are on the wheel. So no shifting while on the tracks until you are clear. If you start out in low or first gear on the tracks, you dont upshift until after your trailer is clear of the tracks).

The above covers the testing criteria in FL. I'm not sure if its in the CDL manual or not. I said earlier on the pretrip to call out everything you can see, because some stuff is required to be identified and other items are not required. I.e. A/C compressor on your engine is not required to be called out on the pretrip. Same with the license plates, they are not required to be identified on the pretrip.)

Hope this will help someone out down the road getting there CDL in FL. Sorry for the lengthy post.

Thanks
JR