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The High Road™ Online CDL Training Program

The Most Effective CDL Test Preparation Course On The Planet

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  • Intro
  • Overview
  • Features
  • Testimonials
  • Tips/Advice

The High Road™ Online CDL Training Program Is Pure Awesomeness

We're not pulling any punches. We're going to say it like it is. This is the highest quality, most comprehensive online CDL training program ever created. As if that wasn't awesome enough, it also happens to be unconditionally free for everyone to use.

Our program has a ton of incredible features, and it's really user friendly. So grab a cup of coffee and strap yourself in because you're going to be blown away when you see what we have in store for you!

The Entire CDL Manual And Beyond

Our CDL training program has the entire CDL manual built right in. That alone will prepare you for all of the required written exams including the CDL learner's permit and all of the endorsement exams. Now that's pretty fantastic in itself, but as experienced drivers, we knew that wasn't nearly enough. No way.

Because passing the CDL exam isn't the real test. The real test begins when you're sitting behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound rig, and we want to make sure you have the knowledge it takes to survive out there in the trucking industry. So we've gone beyond the CDL manual and built several sections ourselves full of critical knowledge that will prepare you for a great start to your trucking career.

Who Designed This Training Program?

This training program was designed and built with the help of professional drivers, including certified CDL instructors with decades of safe driving experience. These experienced professionals know exactly what it takes to pass the CDL exams and become safe, productive drivers out on the road.

Our CDL training program has proven to be so effective that is has gone viral in the trucking community essentially overnight! We are blown away with the positive response to this program, and you're going to be amazed at how well it's put together. Take a couple minutes to browse the features, testimonials, and tips before you sign up and get going!

Features Of The High Road Training System

Includes The Complete CDL Manual & More

We've built the entire CDL manual right into our training system. But we didn't stop there! We've added several sections of our own to this training program so you'll be prepared for all of the written exams and life on the road.

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Our training program covers it all. After completing our program you'll have all of the knowledge necessary to pass the permit written exam and all of the endorsement exams.

But this training system was built by experienced drivers and trainers who know there's a lot more to life on the road than what the CDL manual covers. We've added our own sections covering Logbook Rules and Weight & Balance so you'll be ready to tackle some of the toughest aspects of life in the trucking industry.

Sophisticated Review System

Our advanced review system re-calculates your scores in real time and allows you to review the questions you need the most immediate help with each step of the way.

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Repetition is the key to memorizing large amounts of information. By continuously analyzing your scores on each question as you progress through the program, our review system will determine which questions you are having the most trouble with.

These high priority questions will be repeated as many times as is necessary to reinforce the correct answers. This system is capable of determining each person's strengths and weaknesses in real time, and gives you continued reinforcement where you need it most.

Intelligent Halting System

When we find that you are beginning to struggle, we temporarily stop giving you new materials and have you review the questions you're having the most trouble with.

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What would be the point of feeding you new materials if we see you're having trouble with what we've given you so far? The point is to learn the materials, not just fly through the program as quickly as possible.

If you miss a particular question too many times or your overall average drops below 85%, we will help you review the areas you're struggling with most until we see you're ready to continue on to new materials.

Dynamically Built, Interactive Quizzes

The multiple choice quizzes given on each page include both questions from the page being loaded and review questions from pages you've already completed. The order of the questions and answers are randomized, and the answers to review questions from previous pages can be lookup up in an instant.

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The quizzes are designed to work as a tool to help reinforce the information, not simply as a way to test your knowledge. We don't want you guessing at the answers, because guessing isn't learning. In fact, guessing can inhibit learning by reinforcing an incorrect answer.

When taking a quiz, the answer to each question can be quickly found in the content of the page, or in the case of review questions, with the click of a link which reveals the answer. This allows you to quickly find the correct answer, reinforces the information, and saves tons of precious time trying when having to look something up.

Complete The Materials In Any Order At Your Own Pace

We've designed our training program to be very flexible. You can complete the course materials in any order, and at your own pace. Simply jump to a different section of the program when you're ready for a change of pace.

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The optimal experience means being able to work on the materials you're interested in learning at the moment, and working when you feel fresh and ready to take on a challenge. Instead of forcing everyone to work on the same materials at the same pace, our program allows you the flexibility to choose the materials you're working on and set your own schedule.

Even our review system and halt mechanism have been designed to adjust to your preferences. You can take the course in any order you like and we'll send the proper review questions from sections you've already completed. If you begin to struggle, we'll halt your progress and force a review of the materials before allowing you to move on.

Insights, Tips, And Suggestions

Throught the program you'll find important tips, insights, and suggestions wherever you see the purple question mark () to help you understand the materials better and gain an understanding for how that knowledge will fit into the overall picture.

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Not all information is created equal. Certain bits of information may be critically important to the safe operation of the vehicle, and some information will almost certainly show up on the CDL exam.

We want to go beyond just teaching the information. We want you to understand why this information is so important and how it will affect your CDL testing and your career in the trucking industry.

What People Are Saying About The High Road Training System

"My own experience with the course itself was nothing short of amazing. To come into the course with absolutely no prior knowledge of the subject, and to be able to grasp the information, understand it, and retain it, has taken quite a bit off stress off me. Now I know that when I do enroll in a school, I can focus on the driving aspects, and not have to worry about the classroom side of things.

Being able to study at my own pace and in my own time was extremely helpful to me. Being able to see what areas I was having difficulty with, and being able to spend more time on those sections was so beneficial. The way the information is broken down and presented topic by topic keeps the course from being overwhelming, and the layout of the program itself is condusive to a variety of learning styles."

- Ahmalia

"My experience so far has been fantastic. It is set up in such a way that it learns and adapts to what the student needs to pay closer attention to. If the program notices you need to go over a certain subject again, it will halt you for a review so that you dont continuously get a subject wrong.

I love the way it pulls refresher questions from other parts of the course that you have already covered. It reinforces the information needed to not only pass the permit test, but engrains it so it almost becomes second nature.

After studying for a week, and taking the practice tests here for the basic info needed to obtain a CDL learners permit, I can consistantly pass the practice tests for General Knowledge, Air Brakes, Combination Vehicles, Doubles and Triples, and Passengers at my State DMV. My lowest score so far is 94%.

I feel that anyone who doesn't use this before attending a school or taking their permit test is wasting a valuable asset. Before taking the course, I was lucky if I had gotten anything above 68% by just studying the manual alone.

Thanks again Brett. I'm gonna pass this on to anyone who is looking to get their CDL."

- Skip

Hi Brett,

I just want to say thank you for putting online such a valuable resource.

I used your CDL training course to study for my CDL, and when I took my written tests the DMV administrator was amazed as I finished the test faster than anyone she had ever had in her facility, and with the highest scores she had ever seen. I took all of my endorsements (Hazmat, Doubles - Triples, Tanker, and Air Brakes) all in one sitting and without hesitation I knew all of the answers. Some were tricky and not in the Colorado Manual (which I had also read) however because of the knowledge I had gained from your course I was able to logically figure out the answers.

I can honestly say that had I simply read the CDL manual I would have struggled to pass the test at all. I am convinced your course made all the difference. I went in prepared and knew what to expect and how to answer.

Thanks again Brett. I'm gonna pass this on to anyone who is looking to get their CDL."

- Tom Cooper

I wanted to share something that just made me pat myself on the back today... I am currently attending the FFE Driving Academy (Now KLLM). Today was our final written exam for the school, tomorrow we go take the DPS written tests. Once the class tests were graded, our instructor told me that in the more than two years the school had been open and with all the hundreds of students that had gone through the program, I was the third person EVER to get a perfect score on all 5 written exams.

WOW!

Darn right I'm proud of myself, but I didn't do it alone. I can't express enough how helpful The High Road Training Program is, and can't thank Brett and TruckingTruth enough for putting it together.

- Joseph

"I think that the program is great! I love the way the halt feature works if it feels you're having a lot of trouble or just guessing, and the way the review system reinforces learning by re-introducing material in the form of review questions.

Even with the limited amount that I've completed thus far, I feel as if I was much more prepared when I began my schooling, and was amazed by the amount of material covered at school that I already knew just from having done this program here!"

- Rob "Moe Rhonic"

"My stress was easily cut in half by taking TruckingTruth's High Road online CDL course. I've taken many courses online and never have I seen a better product that can produce better results! I have fond memories spending endless hours studying. It was simple, clear, and so well thought out. I have absolutely nothing to criticize.

If I were to try and put a price tag on it, $250-450 easily! You and your Team of Truckers, which I can now say I legitimately am one, are the greatest!"

- Jay

"I have taken several courses via computer (Navy, private/instrument pilot exams, and teacher courses) and this incorporates all of the best of each. It is obvious you have spent an incredible amount of time bringing all of this information together.

Great job!"

- Larry

Understanding The Review System

The High Road Training Program™ will continuously adjust to your strengths and weaknesses as you work your way through. Each page of the program has its own set of questions. Along with those questions you'll see a mix of review questions from pages you've already completed. These review questions were not selected at random. We track your scores throughout the program and choose the questions you're struggling with the most, and those are the ones you'll be reviewing.

For instance...say you're ready to begin page 10. Before page 10 loads we calculate your scores on every question you've done so far, including all review questions, and decide which questions you need the most help with right now. Those high priority questions from the previous 9 pages will be loaded along with the questions from page 10.

So you don't have to keep track of what you're learning well and what you need help with - we're already doing that for you. Just work your way straight through the program and focus on getting every single question correct. We'll feed you the review questions you need the most help with throughout the program.

Do Not Guess At The Answers - Look Them Up!

Consider the quizzes at the end of each page to be a learning tool as opposed to a way of testing your knowledge. Repetition is the key to learning a large amount of materials, and the quizzes will help reinforce the correct information time and time again.

Keep in mind that your goal is to learn the materials, and guessing is not learning. In fact, guessing wrong will reinforce the incorrect answer, requiring extra repetitions of the correct answer to force the incorrect answer out of your mind.

So when taking the quizzes, please look up the correct answers and shoot for a perfect score on every quiz. With every review question you will see a link that will say "This is a review question. Click here to look up the answer". Please do it! Do not guess at the answers. We've put that link there so you can quickly and easily look up the answer. We want you to look it up. It's not a weakness or a failure on your part to have to look up the answer - that's a victory! Getting a question wrong is the only failure. So shoot for a perfect score on each quiz by looking up the correct answers each and every time. You'll learn the materials better and get through the program more quickly.

The High Road™ Online CDL Training Program is a complete CDL test preparation course. It has everything you'll need to pass the CDL permit exam and prepare for the start of CDL training:

  1. The entire CDL manual is built right in and broken down into small sections
  2. A few multiple choice questions follow each section
  3. Score tracking and progress reports available throughout the program
  4. A review system helps you learn by going over the questions you're struggling with
  5. A friendly and easy to use interface makes it a breeze to use
  6. And to top it off the whole darn thing is free :-)

Trying to read and memorize the entire CDL manual is a daunting task. We've made it so much easier by breaking it down into small sections with a few multiple choice review questions after each section.

Take a moment to learn more by exploring the tabs above and enjoy a preview of the user interface by answering some randomly chosen questions below.

Random Questions From The High Road™ CDL Training Program

Review Questions - Click On The Picture To Begin...

These Questions Come From The Illinois CDL Manual

If you slide the 5th wheel toward the nose of the tractor, what will be the effect?
  • You will decrease the weight on the steer axle and it will have no effect on the drive axles
  • You will decrease the weight on the steer axle and take weight off the drive axles
  • You will increase the weight on the steer axle and increase the weight on the drive axles
  • You will increase the weight on the steer axle and take weight off the drive axles
This is a review question from page 118 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 0 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

If you slide the 5th wheel toward the nose of the tractor you will increase the weight on the steer axle and take weight off the drive axles.
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To decide which placards to use, you need to know all of the following information, except:
  • The total weight of all classes of hazardous materials in your vehicle.
  • The hazard class of materials
  • The type of container the material is in
  • The amount of hazardous materials shipped.
This is a review question from page 68 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 94 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

To decide which placards to use, you need to know:

  • The hazard class of materials.
  • The amount of hazardous materials shipped.
  • The total weight of all classes of hazardous materials in your vehicle.
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Next
What is a 34 hour restart?
  • If you drive less than 34 hours in 7 days, all your hours will reset
  • If you take at least two 17 hour breaks within an 8 day period, all your hours will reset
  • After you have been on duty for 34 hours, you must take a 70 hour break
  • The regulations allow you to "restart" your 60 or 70 hour clock calculations after having at least 34 consecutive hours off duty
This is a review question from page 93 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 0 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

The 34 Hour Restart

The regulations allow you to "restart" your 60 or 70 hour clock calculations after having at least 34 consecutive hours off duty. In other words, after you have taken at least 34 hours off duty in a row, you have the full 60 or 70 hours available again. You would then begin counting hours on the day of the restart and not go back the full 7 or 8 days.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

If you are planning to become an OTR truck driver, you will use the 8 day / 70 hour limit. That means, you are unable to drive once you've been on duty for more than 70 hours within an 8 day period. If you've worked close to that limit, you may want to "reset" the 70 hour limit. The only way to completely reset your 70 hour limit is to take an extended amount of time off duty. If you take 34 consecutive hours off without driving or performing on duty tasks, your 70 hour limit will reset.

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Next
What is the cargo's center of gravity?
  • The overall length of the cargo after being loaded into the trailer.
  • The center point of the cargo's weight.
  • The distance from the front of the trailer to the center point of the cargo.
  • The average height of the cargo above the trailer floor.
This is a review question from page 114 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 0 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

The center of gravity location of the cargo is the center point of the cargo's weight. In other words, if all of the cargo in your trailer was one solid block, the center of gravity would be the point that the entire block would balance upon like a teeter totter.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Sometimes you will load 22 pallets that all weigh the same. That makes it simple to determine the center of gravity. But often times you'll have a mixed product and you'll have to look over what's being put on the truck so you can get the weight of the cargo roughly centered between the drive axles and trailer tandems.
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Next
When approaching a downgrade, when is the best time to downshift?
  • Downshift before starting down the hill
  • Downshift about half way down the hill
  • None of these are correct
  • Downshift once the RPM's become too high for the current gear
This is a review question from page 16 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 25 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

Slow down and shift down to a speed that you can control without using the brakes hard. Otherwise the brakes can overheat and lose their braking power. Downshift before starting down the hill. Make sure you are in a low enough gear, usually lower than the gear required to climb the same hill.

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Next
How should you perform a parking break check?
  • Bring the truck to approximately 20mph then apply the parking and emergency brakes to see if they are effective in stopping the truck
  • If the truck is equipped with a trailer hand valve, apply full pressure to the trailer service brakes then gently tug against the brakes in a low gear to be sure the brakes are functioning properly
  • Move forward in the lowest possible gear at idle speed, then apply the emergency brake and make sure you come to a full stop
  • Apply the parking brake only and make sure it will hold the vehicle by shifting into a low gear and gently pulling against the brake
This is a review question from page 82 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 117 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

Parking brake check: Apply parking brake only and make sure it will hold the vehicle by shifting into a lower gear and gently pulling against the brake.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

To properly perform a parking break check, you must start the truck and build air to 120 to 125 psi. Place the transmission into a low gear. Release the yellow tractor park brake valve and do a light "tug" to be certain the trailer brakes hold the truck from rolling. Then, reverse the brake valves (set the tractor brakes and release the trailer brakes). Do a light tug again. The tractor brake should keep the truck from rolling. Here's what to say to the examiner:

"I will now perform a parking break check. I have a fully charged system and will check the trailer parking brakes first. [Do your trailer tug test here.] Now, I will check the tractor parking brakes. [Reverse the brakes and do your tractor tug test here.] Both the trailer parking brakes as well as the tractor parking brakes are functioning normally."

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Next
Sliding your trailer tandems forward or backward will redistribute the weight mainly between which two sets of axles?
  • Steer axle and drive axles
  • Steer axle and trailer tandems
  • None of these answers are correct
  • Drive axles and trailer tandems
This is a review question from page 110 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 0 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

Sliding your trailer tandems forward or backward will redistribute the weight mainly between your drive axles and trailer tandems

TruckingTruth's Advice:

You may find a slight change in the weight of your steer axle after sliding your tandems, but it won't be very much and it's rarely much of a concern.
Prev
Next
Locking Jaws on a fifth wheel should be fully closed around what part of the trailer?
  • Crossbeam
  • Kingpin
  • Securing Hook
  • Tandem
This is a review question from page 84 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 120 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

Locking jaws:

  • Look into fifth wheel gap and check that locking jaws are fully closed around the kingpin.
  • On other types of coupling systems (i.e., ball hitch, pintle, hook, etc.), inspect the locking mechanism for missing or broken parts and make sure it is locked securely. If present, safety cables or chains must be secure and free of kinks and excessive slack.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

While inspecting the fifth wheel locking jaws, tell the examiner:

"I need to make sure the locking jaw is fully engaged and that the fifth wheel is positioned properly so that the tractor frame will clear the landing gear during turns."

Prev
Next
Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosives should never be parked within how many feet of a travel lane?
  • 10 feet
  • 20 feet
  • 15 feet
  • 5 feet
This is a review question from page 73 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 101 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

Never park with Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 (Class A or B) explosives within 5 feet of the traveled part of the road. Except for short periods of time needed for vehicle operation necessities (e.g. fueling), do not park within 300 feet of:

  • a bridge, tunnel or building
  • a place where people gather
  • an open fire.
Prev
Next
Traffic in an intersection has the right of way, except:
  • When you have a green light
  • Traffic in the intersection never have the right of way
  • After their light turns red
  • Traffic in the intersection always has the right of way
This is a review question from page 88 - click here to look up the answer

Quote From Page 128 Of The Illinois CDL Manual:

When driving through an intersection:

- Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
- Decelerate and yield to any pedestrians and traffic in the intersection.
- Do not change lanes or shift gears while proceeding through the Intersection.
- Keep your hands on the wheel.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Regardless of what color a traffic light is, you must always yield to pedestrians and traffic in the intersection.

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Who Is Required To Get A CDL?

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Picture Of Brett Aquila
TruckingTruth was founded by Brett Aquila (that's me!), a 15 year truck driving veteran, in January 2007. After 15 years on the road I wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker. We'll help you make the right choices and prepare you for a great start to your trucking career.