Comments By Ken N.

WOW .... YEAH MAN...Thanks Guys ~! BIG LOVE to Brett and all the rest. ( that hazmat advice helped ) I went in with all my endorsements stacked up and ready ( DT Tank and HM ). I failed the road test the first time 10 days ago and , after a bit of wound lickin, pulled up by the bootstraps and went at it again with my eyes wide open. All your advice was absolutley correct .

I now hold a CDL-A NO Restrictions, DT TNK and HAZMAT, which means I am ready to learn how to drive truck.

I could float through all the gears in a 10 speed with a straight stick at the range, but the truck I tested in had an offset stick and I ground out a couple of 8 to 7 to 6th gear downshifts. The trailer did not track as nicely as the Volvo tractor I used in the first test.... blah blah blah..ha hah ah ha .... I did it . Time to keep keepin it safe.. i will post again, this is just a start to ( hopefully ) a good long career. thanks again, Ken

2 hours until my road test. Nervous. confident. relaxed. apprehensive.. Wish me luck.

Thanks Brett. Sound advice as always. Just a note of thanks on the HAZMAT prep test. (PASSED) I just got back from taking the written test for my endorsement, finger prints etc.. All ready to go for a relaxed confident and careful CDL-A road test. Thanks again.

I was doing so well on road time and range excercises that the director of the school offered me an opportunity to fill a vacant CDL road test time slot a few days ahead of schedule. I passed the pre trip , we went out on the range. I did mostly OK, the lines were worn so I had a wide entry on a left turn... All that was fine until..;. I was traveling west on a range road, came to a stop for a stop sign, scanned the entire area twice and proceeded carefully,, before I reached the center of the intersection, the examiner called a stop ( so I did) and then about a half secon later, from the right side, a car passed in front of me . The road 40 ' to my right is a 4 lane 45 MPH uncontrolled intersection that is the entrance to the test site. The car had been traveleing west as well. He set up for his left turn fast and entered into the short (30') drive that intersects the point where I was stopped and scanning. when I started through there was no way to see this car, he was behind me and 40' to my right on a 45 Mph road. My stop was smooth and almost instant. My examiner was not excited . we proceeded to the backing portion of the test where I performed very well. He then said " unfortunatly I can not take you on the outside road test because I had to call a stop, see you in a week )FAILED ! My problem with the whole thing is " He. as a passenger had plenty of time to see the approaching car on my right, he saw the car shooting into the left turn .Had he not called a stop, the car would have noticed a semi in the intersection 25- 30 feet in front of him and stopped. OR (if texting) would have run into the side of my trailer.

What I learned is always watch the right side in that type of intersection, and it always falls to the professional to avoid an accident. Theese are good lessons, though I cant help the feeling of (one in a million) can I do well after being out of a truck for a week ? I only get 2 hours 2 days before the retest.

Brett,

I am sure that i am overthinking. To me the most correct answer is the one that quotes the CDL manual.

My mistake was misinterpreting the question. it asked about accurate description, not definition.

A- is the proper "definition" while all others just "describe" some type of HM so all answers are correct.

thanks, please un halt me.. HM is an endorsement I do take seriously.

appreciate your time, Ken

CDL quote. HAZMAT is product that pose risk to health , safety , and property damage , during transportation.

Not just explosives , or just combustibles. How about radioactive ? corrosive ?

Why have I been halted for not agreeing that " ALL ANSWERS ARE CORRECT "

The qustion is " what ACCURATELY describes hazardous materials...

I am preparing for my HAZMAT endorsement and this is confusing, being halted , and haveing the quote i just referenced under my correct answer. while the incorrect answer is highlighted green and the question is marked wrong.

I have pretripped and pretripped, and need to keep practicing pretrip... I have upshift and downshift countless times on the test circuit.... Left turn right turn space management....straightline backing and offset backing and, 3 for 3 on a 90 degree alley dock type backing excercise.... But nothing was more fun than pulling a 45' van trailer with a International Sleeper cab Tractor with a 10 speed down the highway at 55 MPH for the first time !! on a real road excercise !!!!!..... ahem .... i'm okay now ... whew... probably always remember your first ?

When I "made the decision to" realized my career change included obtaining my CDL -A license, I researched schools, checked on hiring companies, talked to people in the field ( other career drivers), and began the High Road online CDL prep testing. I then made payment to Heavy Metal Truck Driving School in Inver Grove Heights, MN and gave 3 weeks notice to my current employer....Whew...So much to coordinate... This is where the story gets good. I did not realize I needed my CDL permit ( Gen Knw ) (Comb) ( AB ) and a DOT physical to start school next Monday! The physical was easy.. and THANKS to YOU my permit was a breeze I SCORED 100% ON AIR BRAKES ! just last Wednesday... The real world of school starts 5-6-2012 and my NEW JOB ! (conditional employment** safety* and road training** )starts the begining of June. Thanks again for this forum. I will be in touch.