CDL testing in CA

When I tested last week for the endorsements, I included hazmat, but didn't take the test yet. I can go back and take the test. Since I am still on my permit, I didn't need to pay extra for it. I haven't yet done the air brakes/pretrip/skills/drive, but that is scheduled for Friday. I was planning on doing the test after, but have not yet done the fingerprinting.

 

Ok I understand now. I don't know if you can start the background process before you take the test. Don't quote me on that

 

The reason I ask is that, since I do not need it for the employer I have chosen to go with, I may just CANCEL the HazMat altogether for the time being if it will affect the overall CDL process and force me to remain on my permit until I do complete it. I am hoping someone knows for sure.

 

Use one of the guides at the back of the handbook. Many people dont know you can use that while testing because they missed the part that says you can. I believe its in the first section somewhere. Everything you need to know is in the book.

 

You cant take the test til you passed the tsa.

 

I know that to be untrue. I took my hazmat test before TSA screening. Unless it's changed....

 

No. It will not affect your CDL. The only thing that will change is if you decide to take the hazmat after you obtain your CDL you will have to pay the fee to add that endorsement.

 

Same topic.... different question. Let me describe the scenario to you:

I tried and failed the test 4 times to date (after the 3rd failure, I applied for a new permit). Mostly for stupid stuff on the pre trip and air brakes:

Attempt 1: After scoring a 42 on the pre-trip/in-cab (despite being able to identify at least 20 points that I did not get credit for), I failed the air brakes by citing the wrong number on the low air warning test (I stated 85, when it should have been 75).

Attempt 2: After scoring a 59 on the pre-trip/in-cab (again, despite being able to identify approximately 15 points that I should have gotten credit for), I failed the governor cut in when the examiner stated "Needle rose and settled at 110psi. I stated that the needle has risen and stopped at 110psi. This is a good test because it did not go below 85psi. The needle shoud rise to cut out." What I actually said was:

"My starting pressure is 125psi. I am releasing some pressure by pressing the service brake ONCE, dropping to 110psi. At this point. the needle has settled and started to rise immediately, therefore this is a good test since it did not allow pressure to fall below 85psi."


Upon this disqualification, the examiner started to actually LECTURE ME (if I wanted that, I would have called my parents). I have built (hired, trained, promoted, and fired) customer service teams in the past and had this examiner been seen by me treating any customer the way I was treated, he would have been fired immediately.



Attempt 3: After scoring 53 on the pre-trip / in-cab (again, I missed more than 20 points that I should have gotten credit for, most of those were in the in-cab portion; I should have only missed the operation of the horns, but got no credit for it), I failed the air brakes when the truck did not produce the same results as it had in the dozens of times I had performed it before)

Attempt 4: After scoring a 71 on the pre-trip / in-cab (I'll take that, as I passed, but I know I should have gotten 10 more points on it for items I did discuss, but were not heard), I failed the governor cut in test when I dropped pressure to 95 by pumping the service brake 3x since I knew that the pressure needed to be below 100 for that governor to allow cut in (they wanted pressure dropped gradually in approximately 5psi increments before cut in). The pressure still did not fall below 85 and was a good test on that basis.

Also, what confuses me is that it was obvious that English was not this examiner's first language and we had difficulty understanding each other because of it (he was Asian). My former father-in-law spoke 7 languages fluently, and despite his thick accent, he spoke better English (his languages were: English, Spanish. German, Russian, Lithuanian, Hebrew, and Yiddush). Isn't it a DOT regulation that the exams be conducted in English so that the examiner and applicant understand one another?

Attempt 5: After it became evident that the examiner had not heard ANYTHING I had to say as I began my pre-trip, I felt the need to raise my voice slightly to ask for another examiner (he kept interrupting ME, and probably only heard every 3rd word I said). I only raised my voice out of frustration, not anger or hostility (had I been angry or hostile, I would have knocked the guy out and landed in jail with an assault charge).

It has become evident through these attempts that these examiners do not know how to LISTEN, which frustrates me and as a result, I have yet to have a fair examiner at this location and testing at another location is not practical. Am I within my rights to ask for a different examiner (not a specific one) in this case? This test was terminated by me and was not completed, so not a failure.

Thanks for allowing me to vent.

That said, are there any owner-operators in the greater Sacramento area that are certified by CA DMV as examiners that might be willing to test me?

 

I can't answer your question but I do know the little Asian fella you're talking about. He's tough but not as tough as the ex-military examiner you could have gotten.

 

Since I feel my examiners have failed to listen to what I was saying in my pretrips, I feel the need to record my next attempt. Does anyone know if this is okay or not? I have been doing my pretrips and recording them on my phone in the following order:

In cab
Air Brakes
Exterior

When I play them back to study/evaluate (I have been doing them with no notes or other devices), I have not missed out on more than 5 points in the last dozen or so attempts.