Signed up for a 3 day refresher course with Jiffy Truck School, DMV Drive test in 4 weeks.

In a previous post I indicated I was looking for a fast track CDL class with one on one training. After searching for local available training I finally settled on Jiffy Truck Rental/School in Redding Ca. I am scheduled to start training on Sept 21 and will get 17 hrs drive/backing training and 4 hours working on the Pre Trip and Air Brake testing.
I have previous experience as a driver as I had my CDL for about 12 years but let it laps about 30 years ago. Things are much different now and getting a CDL class A is a lot more complicated. I now wish I had never let mine laps but I was young and dumb back then. I am now older and a little wiser but do get overwhelmed with the whole process. I studied for about 2 weeks before taking all my written tests and passed first time so I have my CDL Permit with all endorsements accept Hazmat and School Bus.
Once I signe up with Jiffy they sent me a 17 page Study guide with color pictures going over there exact truck layouts so I can familiarize myself with exactly what to say and point out during my Pre-trip saftey inspection. I will be using only one (the same) truck for my entire training and DMV drive test so it should be a little easier to memorize. Also the Trailer being used for testing will be a 24 or 28ft flat bead so it should be a little easier to see when backing and less blind side issues.
I have no illusions that this training is anything but training to pass the DMV test and I will need to learn a lot more after I get my CDL one again.I was told this training course is pretty much exactly what the new mandatory minimum training course will be when or if the mandated min training rules go into effect that are on hold for now.
I hope to get some free seat time with my brother in law who owns a towing and transport company in Northern Ca. My main purpose for getting my CDL now is so I can drive Water Trucks on Fires and to stay legal when driving a Dodge Dually and a 14k lb Goose Neck trailer for farm work and occasionally transporting cars. I may also do some spot local delivery with a Semi and various trailers. I am semi retired and mostly just work in the family Farm business and occasional local freight delivery.
Anyways I just thought I would journal my experience and get any pointers from fellow truckers .

Dave

 

Since you’ve driven before, you might be okay with them. I just graduated from ATS in Redding and they get a lot of students that went to Jiffy and can’t pass the DMV test. It’s just too short of a school. No way I could’ve done a 30 hr school and have passed. I did a 160 hr program. I could’ve MAYBE passed after 120 hrs but at 30 hrs in I was just getting my bearings.

 

I agree that if I did not have previous experience driving I would probably have hard time learning everything I need to pass the DMV test. As it is I am studying like crazy for the Pre-Trip inspection and in Cab + Brake tests. I think the driving will take care of its self but I am a little nervous about the backing skills portion though.
I have talked to a few drivers who have gone to Jiffy for Training and most only did a One Day session and did a drive test and failed on there first try but passed on a later date. That is why I went ahead and signed up for 3day course. The folks I talked to failed the Pre-Trip or Brake Test and advised me to really prepare and memorize the whole thing cause its the worst part of the DMV Test.
What was your biggest problems in preparing for your test. Any pointers or was it all just a matter of getting comfortable driving a big rig.\
Dave

 

The test was in this order: Starting in the DMV parking lot doing pre-trip walkaround, pre-trip in-cab, then driving to the skills yard (behind Pops 50's Place on Hwy 273), doing straight-line back, offset backing, and parallel parking (your get either parallel or alley dock), then driving through town to highway 44E to I-5S to Bonnyview to 273N ending back at DMV.

For the pre-trip walkaround you' either get part A, B, or C or you'll get full truck and trailer. Part A is from the front bumper to the front doors. Part B is from the front doors to the rear of the tractor. Part C is the entire trailer. If you get just one part and not full truck/trailer, there's 5 "must haves" also which are:

1) Adequate space between the rear of the cab to the front of the trailer to accommodate turns, and adequate space between the rear of the tractor and the trailer landing gear to accommodate turns.
2) Service and emergency brake lines.
3) Glad hands.
4) Electrical lines.
5) 5th wheel coupler assembly.

I'd say the hardest part for me was parallel parking. Also, the examiner would occasionally ask me "what did the sign we just passed say?" Luckily I was given a heads up on this a was paying attention to all signs.She asked about a high track RR crossing sign, and two different pedestrian crossing signs.

After we got back to DMV and she told me I passed, she let me know I went a little too slow on Park Marina, that it was a 40 mph limit and I was going about 31-32 mph through there. If I had been going 29 or 30, I would have likely failed.

Best of luck with it!

 

Congratulations and good info.

 

When you do your pre trip .
1. Everything you see on the truck Make sure you mention it , and that it is mounted securely .
2. Say You check Tire pressure with a gauge .
3. Everything you see on the truck or trailer , say what it is , and it's mounted securely .
4. Mounted securely . Lol
They want to know , that you know , what your checking and what your talking about .

I spent three weeks in a school , should of been 6 weeks, since I had my CDL before , Drving a truck came back quickly . Instructor said I was ready in three weeks . I spent Maybe 25 hours total . In driving school.
Go over pre trip in cab and air brake every day on your own .
Backing take your time and if you need to get out and check do it .
I did straight line
Off set
Passenger parallel .
Have your instructor make cones a little tighter ,should help
As the dmv sets them up a little loser .
Don't be nervous. Enjoy , you get to play with trucks .

 

I am curious You say you got Maybe 25hrs total. Are you saying that In the 3 weeks you spent going to school you only got 25 hrs of drive time or you went part time and that was your total. If my math is correct 3 weeks times 5 8hr days would 120 total hours in 95 of those hours were either watching others or in class no wonder you feel like it should have been 6 weeks.
I am not saying there is not a lot to learn besides the driving part but a lot of the class time could be spent with online classes or studying on your own. Of course you have to be dedicated and many cant or wont put in the time on there own unless forced to by sitting in a class room setting.
I am studying everything I can, going over every detail of the pre-trip and every part of the in cab air brake test portion. I have a DMV test day set for the 23 of Sept. and hope to have it so memorize I have it down pat. I hope the 2 full days of driving/One on One training prior to the DMV test will give me enough of a refresher to pass the driving test. On the morning of my DMV test I was told we will do a full walk around/in cab air beak test and skills test + a short simulated drive test before going and doing it for real at the DMV. In the mean time I just keep studying and going over it all at home.

 

Hi,
My school was 3 days a week . One on one instruction . 2 hours each session with driving and backing .
Instuctor gave us a study sheet form , for pre trip, in cab per trip and air brake .
We would go over pre trip and air brake before every drive session .
I dont even think it was 25 hours . All of it came back real fast for me .
I would also get to the yard early and work on my pre trips and air brake , with an extra tractor in the yard. while Instuctor was with other student .
I also showed other students that were waiting for there session and were completely new to trucking . How to do pre trip and what the parts were and functions . Slack adjuster , air brake chamber , s cam , compressor , etc etc. amazing how many students , did not know , where any of these components were , or what they did. This also helped me .
Being a o/o in another life , 20 years ago. It all came back quickly.
This school was not a accredited school. I didn't need to go to one of those. I just wanted to get my CDL asap .
Driving is the easy part . Just make sure your good on your pre trips and air brake test .
I even Practiced it on my pick up . Just to practice .

Your thread reminds me of me , a few months back .

 

70% of failed CDL exams are failed on the Pre-Trip portion of the test. Study and practice that pre-trip like your life depends on it.

If you have driven before you shouldnt have to much of an issue with the driving portion. Watch all signs closely and be prepared to say what the signs are AFTER you have passed by them if the tester asks.

I got my CDL in 2013 in ID. I had never had any formal training or schooling related to driving truck. But I had been driving them on and off for about 15 years on the farm. When I got my CDL I studied the book from the DMV, practiced the pre-trip on the farm truck I would be using for the test many, many, MANY times. I also took practice tests online a few times for all the written tests. I didnt get the CDL permit, as I didnt need it to get seat time in the farm truck hauling farm stuff, and the state didnt require it for the driving test. From the time I got the CDL book to the time I had my CDL (with Tanker, Doubles & Triples) in my hands was about 2 weeks. Total cost including including tests, the license itself, medical exam and medical card came to $239 and sone change... All of which my boss at the time paid for.

I wish you the best of luck. Its really not as hard as many make it out to be if you have some common sense and study some.

 

I have been doing much of what you did. Practicing and memorizing every step of the Pre Trip and Air Brake tests. I had no problem getting my permit, I studied for about 10 days and downloaded a few practice apps and went and got my DOT physical. Then you have to wait here in CA. for at least 14 days to get a Drive test Date. With all the Covid 19 stuff going on they were backed up about a month. In the mean time I searched for a School that would work with my One on One so every hour of training is actually focused on me learning and not watching some one else go through the motions. The School I chose said they could probably get me ready in 2 days but I chose to go for 3 days just incase I need a little more seat and practice time.
The one problem I am having studying for the Pre Trip and especially the Air Brake test is I was given a study sheet but some of the steps are not the same when I watch online demonstrations. For one the first item on my study sheet is to do a compressor cut out test but no where do the mention a compressor cut in test ? Also some online examples do the in cab inspection after all air brake test where as my instructions say to do it while waiting for the air pressure to come back up after the Spring Pressure test and before the final service and emergency brake stall test.
I guess I will have to address it all with my instructor when I get there since they should know exactly what the CA. DMV examiners want. It is also not clear if when doing the Pre Trip if you have to do both sides of the truck or just say you check everything the same on the both sides when it comes to tires brakes and suspension items.