Skills Test Scam

I got my CDL in the eighties while on active duty (Seabee). Retired in 1995 and haven't used It since then but always renewed it just in case I wanted to drive I would have one less hoop to jump through. Fortunately or unfortunately my retirement job pays too much to leave for a driving job.

 

This is what I've been told by my current school. The DMV is changing things all the time. Even if you had called them brake hoses, it likely would have been something else. Like apparently I can't say "pre trip inspection" I must say "vehicle inspection and brake inspection" with very specific wording. The instructor says it's because the test examiners memorize everything from the book and a video, and you have to say it just like they memorize it. Makes no sense when you know what you know, and some other guy has memorized the right words but doesn't know how to drive his truck. For that, I'm very sorry. Just know it's not only you that's falling into this trap. You should have been coached by someone before spending the money.

 

That's one of my biggest complaints about the alleged "training" that takes place at these CDL "schools". They don't teach you what the parts are or what you're actually looking at. They teach you where to stand around the truck as you recite a list of items that you're SUPPOSED to be checking, and teach you those all important words: "cracked, broken, or missing". Most of the graduates probably couldn't put their finger on a brake chamber pushrod, drag link, or most of the other components on the truck...but by golly, they "aced" their pre-trip! This simple fact causes pre-trip inspections to simply not get done once the "driver" is turned loose, because they don't know what they are looking at...so what's the point? Unless it is hanging off dragging on the ground, they wouldn't be able to identify the problem anyway, so it is just a waste of time to walk around the truck reciting that list of parts you really can't identify.

Granted, the TRAINER ought to take the new driver under his/her wing and teach this sort of thing...but in many cases that trainer doesn't have a clue either because they've only had their license a couple months and were trained by another "trainer" with a whopping 2-3 months behind the wheel. Couple that with the "I'm just a driver" attitude many seem to have with ZERO interest in learning ANYTHING about the truck other than how to put it in gear and set the cruise control and you wind up with VETERAN drivers who still don't know how to properly pre-trip a truck.

 

Starting to appreciate the school I attended a little more.

 

At least in California, DMV is also cracking down on students waving or pointing in a general direction when naming a part. My instructor's saying I'd better be pointing to it. I'm going one further and putting my hand on it. (Unless the engine's hot!) But I'm lucky in that I have wrenched around in my own cars and know what a few things do. I am told I'm not supposed to call it a pre-trip, either. It's a vehicle inspection.

The DMV examiner memorizes a video, and that's all they are required to know. So thank whoever decided those examiners don't need to know anything else but how to memorize.

Also, DMV keeps adding to the list of things to "check" during the inspection, so the air brake chamber, the push rod slack adjuster, the drag link, tie rod, castle nuts and cotter pins, bolts, every little thing now is in that inspection. I'm memorizing it piece by piece and it's incredibly long. If anyone wants the list of items MY school is having me memorize and describe, I'd be happy to type it out, however, it keeps changing, almost month to month it sounds like!

With everything else there is to accomplish in a short-time school, the instructors are lucky to push that list into the student's brain and get a pass. Don't blame the instructors. They have their hands full for real.

But yes, it's getting to that point where you can't get away with NOT putting a finger on every part of the truck. Just my 2 cents as I'm in school now and they are on top of these changes.

 

Can't edit my previous comment, but I relayed this situation to my trainer at school, and he said he hasn't heard of anyone getting marked off by saying brake lines. Also this "step one" "step two" business is bunk and you should talk a friend into calling their office and impersonating an attorney. Or something like that. You should get your money back.

 

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You should be able to call it a TWINKIE as long as you know it needs to be inspected and you inspect it properly..

 

+1

I can renew my CDL (in Iowa) for $50.00, for 5 years. A regular drivers license cost my wife $40.00 for 5 years....and the difference MIGHT even be my tanker and motorcycle endorsements, not sure.
Don't know why anyone would go "backwards" on their privileges.

 

Similar story here. I've been a mechanic for years. School taught us which parts to point out and what to say. I balked at the spiel, told em what I knew, flunked pre trip twice, played the game the third time, passed. Executed the backing maneuvers with 0 pull ups. Examiner said it was a smooth test drive. I believe the pre trips are a good thing, but I wish the examiners were more interested in assuring the competence of drivers than the "game". Did anyone notice, here at least, they don't allow them to carry guns.

 

Spot on man. Recently tested out in Indiana as well and even saw some students failing for calling the fuel cap a gas cap. I get it, it's the wrong name for the part but does it really void the integrity of a pretrip if your vocabulary is off a bit? Completely ridiculous, but you know, a pre trip is like brain surgery.