I failed my air brake test, do you think I did?

The only times I remember doing that particular one is on Level 1 inspection, which is couple times a year at the most, and the thing is, that I just do whatever is asked, nothing else on my own. It is different than the exam.

There are steps to do it "right", it's all in the book. I don't see how anyone out here can tell you being right or wrong without being there. May be a lot of guessing though. Will it help you?

 

What does the cdl manual say?

This is what the Michigan manual says which is a direct copy of the fmcsa template used for almost all states.

• With the air pressure built up to governor cutoff (120 – 140 psi), shut off the engine leaving the key in the “on” or “battery charge” position, chock your wheels if necessary, release the parking brake (all vehicles), and the tractor protection valve (combination vehicle) and fully apply the foot brake. Hold the foot brake for one minute. Check the air gauge to see if the air pressure drops more than three pounds in one minute (single vehicle) or four pounds in one minute (combination vehicle).
• Begin fanning off the air pressure by rapidly applying and releasing the foot brake. Low air warning devices (buzzer, light, flag) should activate before air pressure drops below 55 psi or level specified by the manufacturer.
• Continue to fan off the air pressure. At approximately 40 psi on a tractor-trailer combination vehicle (or level specified by the manufacturer), the tractor protection valve and parking brake valve should close (pop out). On other combination vehicle types and single vehicle types, the parking brake valve should close (pop out).

Nothing mentioned about starting the truck after the low warning alarm is on.

At this point, you start the truck to do the next test which is the service brake test.

If your cdl manual says the same thing as I posted, then I would speak to the manager of the site or your dmv at the state level to file a complaint because the examiner failed you for something that isn’t required so unless you graduated at the university of mind reading with a masters, you can’t be failed for something she didn’t explain and you didn’t fail.

by the way I have a driver who went through this crap with one of the third party testers in the state, he worked for me for a year in my yard doing truck and trailer moves to get practice, he knows the Pretrip test inside out upside down and could teach a class in it but luck wasn’t with him when he got to the test. Fate handed him the one examiner who had a dozen complaints against him for not following the tests and had a very high failure rate so he failed the Pretrip. He thought it was him but the mechanic tested him a couple times and said he would pass him without any problem so he filed a complaint with the state which finally removed the credentials of the examiner, took the entire test again and whipped through it.

 

Seems you really need to make a list of requirements and follow them to a T. Friend (40 years experience) just failed for not removing wheel chocks during tug test.

 

Biggest thing I see. Is him not saying what he said during the test. Performing the steps are just a part of it. You have to explain it to the instructor. "I'm doing XYZ because and it should..." They want to know if you know Why you're doing it. Not just how to do it.

 

You didn't get "screwed over". You just didn't do that one procedure to the satisfaction of the tester. Re-take the test and pass it. You can do it. She's not judging your worth as a person or a driver. She's listening for the words the regulations require you say and she is watching for the actions the regulations require you perform.

 

well yes. IF you didn't have the key in the on position. You failed. It is one of the steps.

 

No. The engine has to be OFF for the pump down test. But the key needs to be in the on position. You then start the engine for the tug tests

 

If truck is running you won’t lose air past 100psi because the compressor kicks on.

if your instructor failed you then she made a mistake or has never done this before.