Calfornia CDL Skills Test

I did offset, straight line, and parallel for my CA test. Of course we started with parallel. Once you learn the points to look for in your mirror it is all about getting the initial stopping distance down before you start to make the maneuver.

 

There is no set pattern, had four people go from my school on the same day. Two did straight line, parallel, and one of the off sets. one did alley dock, off set and straight line. The other did both off sets and straight line. They seem to mix it up....

 

Alley, straight, & parallel

I've only had to parallel twice in two years OTR, but it still is something you ought to know

 

I had a new examiner when I did my skills. I only had to do straight line and offset backing. He explained that the computer picks the skills tests to be performed. Good luck!

 

Parallel, alley, straight line is all I had to do.......

dont forget (like I did) that for your parallel: you get whatever your trailer length is- PLUS I think 10 extra feet (it says what you get exactly I. The CDL handbook you have)...........


i actually thought I had EXACTLY 27ft to put my trailer in, and had to pull up one time: THEN I actually looked at where she put the rear cone, got real happy with where it was (thought she made a mistake!) and zipped right on in the second time...........then when she told me I passed, I had asked her if she made a mistake on where she put the cone and she said "no I put it exactly 10 feet longer that your trailer"...........( I laughed to myself and thought: parallel parking a trailer is easy lol)

 

Yeah parallel parking a trailer is easy but now in California students have to parallel both truck and trailer. Poor guys

 

You're right, I think i might have said it wrong (it WAS back in 08 lol)..... She might have said "10 feet more than truck, and trailer", all I know was that when she told me to do the exercise, I didn't look at where the cone was: I just started real tight and kind of "feeling for it"...... Until I got frustrated and had to pull forward! Lol

 

The first time I got my CDL (1996) there were no skills or at least I didn't have to do any. It was pretrip and road test. When I went back last year to get my CDL again they had a whole new list of skills. I got my parallel parking of the trailer down but 2 days before my test date they implemented the parallel of truck and trailer skill. I practiced for 2 days, barely getting it, and decided to keep my test date. As previously stated I lucked out and only had to do 2 of the 6. Straight line and offset.

 

Yep, sure do!