New driver CDL test...

Some years ago I was on the "panel of experts" (I do not claim to be an expert) charged with suggestions for the manual change and new test procedures. Unfortunately from my perspective the final decisions were made by people who apparently did not need to make some of the decisions.

We suggested that if the 90 degree alley dock was adopted to adapt the cone wall to lane distance to the length of the truck or tractor/trailer, say 10-15 ' longer than the combination. Unfortunately the distance decided on for class A is the same for a 70'+ combination as it is for a one ton with a 27' trailer (Considering that the latter has a GCWR and trailer GVWR requiring a class A). Somewhat boneheaded IMO. This is done with the parallel park, why not with the alley?

I don't believe the problem is a lack of regulations of schools, but regulatory problems with the industry itself. The industry is allowed (If not forced to) accommodate what is out there. Personally I would like to see the industry adopt an apprenticeship program after a good school. The problem is that the industry will not or cannot pay for such a thing and no one should work for little or nothing.

 

I second that. A buddy of mine got his that way. I told him it was cheating. He told me to piss up a rope.

 

So I take it all states dont have the "semi" restriction?

 

That's correct. Kinda doesn't seem to make good sense does it?

 

I guess the 26K plus and a trailer is an official combination. But this can be the old west at times in these parts.

 

I took the test in a freightliner fl70 pulling a wedge trailer with electric brakes. The freightshaker had airbrakes though.

There was one small issue. At first I was restricted to Truck/ Trailer and not tractor trailer. This was because of the flatbed on the truck. I went back and forth with the instructor about this. I contacted the office in Bismark about this sending pics of the truck and trailer. They told me that if I take the bed off the truck then I would have to be liscensed for tractor trailer. Which ment retesting possibly.

I told the lady that I already tested in this truck with the bed on it and I felt it was kinda pointless to retest simply because I took the bed off of it. She agreed and sent me a new liscense without the restriction.

Also as far as the manual/ automatic trans deal. In North Dakota, if you take the test in an automatic equiped truck then you will be restricted to automatic only trucks, you can not legally drive a manual trans truck.

But a class A can mean anything past a certain weight. You can take a class A test in a 1 ton dually with a wedge trailer but you will have restrictions on the liscense which will keep you from driving a tractor trailer legally.

Below is what I tested in.

 

AHHH HA i found my answer lol i appreciate this, im having the same problem you did except my "body" is nothing but storage compartments not a deck for carrying cargo