CDL Class A Pre-trip/Skills/Road Tests

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by HotShot Trucker, Jan 10, 2020.

  1. HotShot Trucker

    HotShot Trucker Light Load Member

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    That is what the representatives from the Truck driving schools said to me, they mentioned that before 2015, the test in NJ was a simple pre-trip, skills straight-line back, and either parallell park or 45 degree alley dock. And a 4 mile road test driving around in circles :). FMCSA wanted all states to increase the difficulty.
    Oh btw funny thing I found out, do you know that the FAA was founded by former aircraft pilots, the FRA also operated by former locomotive engineers. The FMCSA employees and administrators never had a CDL or have any Trucking experience and yet put all these non-sense rules for HOS, testing, E-logs etc.
    Amazing right?
     
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  3. HotShot Trucker

    HotShot Trucker Light Load Member

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    Wow, I never knew they had that maneuver the schools never mentioned that when they where giving me a history lesson :)
     
  4. HotShot Trucker

    HotShot Trucker Light Load Member

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    The good news is about this test is that they have banking scores, that means the test you failed is the test you take again such as you pass the Pre-trip and the Skills test, however you mount a curb with the Trailer and you fail the Road test, next time you come for the test; you only have to take the test which you failed in this case the Road test.
     
  5. feldsforever

    feldsforever Road Train Member

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    Wow. You got nothing to worry about then. Heck ya man or woman. Do it up. You should have started with that.
    Cdl in 60 days and only gotta retest what you missed . you should a been singed up.
    Or is your goal to stay under 25, 999. Or is it 26,001. I dunno either way. Hell yeah jump on it or jump down from it.

    Don't rent two hours from a school. Most likely they won't do it, even of you tried. Just make up your mind.
    Its like this: heading up hill. 2k undergross. Down shift caught behind, 63 mph truck. You down shift again. The truck in front of you does also. Now your doing 57 mph. But lower gear. You now have enough power to pass this truck. Put directional on, check your mirror. Here I come screaming up the hill empty. Running 70. 6 tenths of a mile away. You gotta enough time to pass and get out of my way. Do u or do you stay right there till I pass.

    There is no wrong response here. Pulling out in front of me. And getting out of my way. Is just you making your decision. As long as your caught behind that truck wondering what to do. That's where you will always be.
    Good luck and good night.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2020
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  6. HotShot Trucker

    HotShot Trucker Light Load Member

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    Thank You for the reply,
    My decision is to go for the Class A CDL as it has better opportunities and career advancement, my strategy as of now is to acquire the Class A CLP and join a school to get trained/tested. I will keep you informed on training progress.
    Thanks
     
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  7. npok

    npok Light Load Member

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    If you're gonna go for Class A, don't test in anything but a semi with a manual transmission. Taking the test with any other kind of Class A vehicle will earn you needless restrictions on your license.

    Say that you test with a dump truck & trailer, that gets a "no 5th wheel" restriction. Or you could test in a dually with a gooseneck, but you'll get the "no 5th wheel", "automatic only", and "no airbrakes" restrictions.
     
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  8. HotShot Trucker

    HotShot Trucker Light Load Member

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    Thanks for letting me know, I thought the restriction only applied to Pick-up trucks
     
  9. HotShot Trucker

    HotShot Trucker Light Load Member

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    Hello All:
    Yes...I am reviving an old post. Just wanted to inform you all that I had successfully passed all CDL Tests and obtained a CDL Class A Driver License with E Restriction.
    Thank You all for your support.
     
    tarheelsfan105 Thanks this.
  10. m16ty

    m16ty Road Train Member

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    The pre-trip is the hard part of the test. Where they get you on the pre-trip is even though you may know how to do a great pre-trip, if you don’t do it in the exact order and use the correct terminology you fail.
    Last guy I helped get a class A failed the air brake leak down test all because he didn’t have the key on while doing it. Even though the air gauges are analog and work all the same with no power, the manual says you’ve got to have the key on. Any misstep during the air brake test is automatic fail.
     
  11. HotShot Trucker

    HotShot Trucker Light Load Member

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    Surprisngly the Pre-Trip was not that hard at all. We had been given a checklist that allows you to know what to inspect. All we needed to know was the definition for example for the brakes lines/hoses/brake contaminates I had to say to the examiner "my brake lines/hoses supply air to the brakes and should not be leaking. the lines or hoses should not be cracked worn or frayed and all fittings and couplings are secure. I'm inspecting that there are no brake contaminates such as oil or grease in brake lines or drums that could affect breaking capabilities."

    The In Cab Air Brake Test is automatic failure if not done correctly.
     
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