Just curious because I'm doing it and wondering if studyinh now will help me out later down the road..
As I see it can be nothing but Help. The wife and I start school in July and have been studying for over 3 months now, take practice test almost ever day on here and also take the Texas Practice test too. The Texas site the questions are about the same, but worded a little bit different and a lot long in wording. We do not see how it could hurt, and are very curious about what others might have to say on this topic.
never hurts to study. you'll be steps ahead of everyone else. won't hurt to get your permit ahead of time either.
In my own experience it not only didn't hurt, but greatly helped. I started studying the CDL manual (essentially the same for all states) last June, took the written tests for my learner's permit in October, attended CDL school in January/February and got my CDL near the end of February. I used the practice tests on this website and they helped me nail all the written tests on the first try. Studying (by itself) won't help you with the techniques of maneuvering a large truck around, backing into a slot, etc., but knowing which items to check on a pretrip inspection (for example) is one less thing you will then have to absorb during CDL school. Also: "Studying" includes reading the threads on this forum -- they helped me learn a lot about the day-to-day business of piloting a big rig -- and also watching the many excellent youtube videos on shifting, double-clutching, backing, and so forth. There are a lot of excellent resources all over the Internet if you go after them.
As long as you're studying from trustworthy sources, and learning facts and rules, not just memorizing answers from a given site's small pool of questions, you're helping yourself. A good help after you're confident in the tests would be studying the HoS (Hours of Service) rules and how to log properly. From there I'd say practice trip planning and you'll breeze through school. The tests are quite easy, like any standardized test.
I studied the cdl manual for two weeks before I even attended school. The bonus? I didn't find myself cramming information to pass my permit test in just three days like nearly half my class did. I also researched diligently not only the industry and its many facets but also life on the road, local delivery jobs, and even hot shotting. The more you know the better.... just remember nobody likes a know-it-all. unloader
The more important question is why wouldn't you? I am adding doubles and triples, plus passenger and school bus endorsements to my license because it is up for renewal and figure it won't hurt. I know I will get the endorsement for doubles tomorrow but I will take the test for the others even though I am going to take the classes for them starting this week. The permits I get are to learn so getting them first gives me a step up. That said, I have gone through the entire CDL manual as if I knew nothing to sharpen my knowledge, the manuals are free and when I have time, I take to it with a highlighter and a pen marking important things I need to know.
