What test am I taking for a CDL permit?

I believe minimun is General Knowledge, Air Brakes and Combination Vehicles

 

disregard post

 

yes, no, yes, no, yes

 

Your permit test requires the following:
General Knowledge of Commercial Vehicles
Combinations test - pulling a trailer
Air Brakes - in CA this is an option, however must pass this (written & skill) to operate a vehicle with airbrakes.. If it is an option in your state, I recommend getting that out of your head & pass it regardless. *
Class C retake is also required in CA, if you have not taken the test within a year or had a recent renewal, so dont forget what you learned as a teenager.**

The following ENDORSEMENTS are optional
Doubles/Triples - Get this one
Tank Vehicle - Get this one
Hazardous Material - Cant hurt, but does require extra time/money. Best case is to get it, and if you dont use it by the time you have a renewal or have to take the test again, then decide to keep or drop it. I knew I did not need it, so I dont have it.
Passenger - skip it, unless you want to drive a bus. In CA, this is a written test, and SEPARATE road test from your regular road test.
School bus - same as above. In CA, this is a written test, road test for DMV, and road test for CHP....you have to really want that one lol

This should all be explained in your state's handbook, is it not?

*/**Corrected, thanks DirtyBob!

 

Take ALL the tests, even the Passenger test. You never know what will come up (job wise). Be Prepared! (isnt that the boy scout motto?)

 

The only reason I advised against that one is because (in my state, anyway) it requires a separate road test. So even if you go to trucking school and they provide a rig to take your test in, that's great. Now you have to fund your own $400 to rent a bus to pass a road test for your passenger endorsment, if you want to use it to its full potential, that is. If you test in a 15 passenger Chevy Express van...then thats all you can drive.

 

Air brakes are optional in CA. http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d06/vc15260.htm It would be very stupid not to get though.

And the C retest isn't mandatory although normally given. If you've taken it in the last 6-12 months they won't make you take it many times. I hadn't taken it in 5 years but since I had a newly renewed Class C I guess they assumed I had taken it recently and didn't give it to me. 3 out of about 9 of us at my school didn't retest the C.

 

You're right, the airbrakes is not manditory...Would almost rather assume it is, because like you said, what's the point?

Good to know about the C retest, I knew if it was taken within a year they would not make you retake it but I did not know about the renewal. Good to know.