Comments By MB007

Thanks everyone. Would it be safe to assume the driver was probably fired? If so, do you think he/she would be able to drive trucks again?

Accuweather posted this dashcam video of a truck sliding on the ice and ending up at the bottom of an embankment: http://bcove.me/u54mmdkl

I am curious about what any experienced drivers think about this. It seems a sunny day after a storm with plowed roads can be very deceptive.

This particular bridge-tunnel system is unique in that it traverses the Chesapeake Bay, where you of course are traveling over wide-open water, and the shoreline on both sides is completely flat for miles inland... no obstructions whatsoever anywhere to buffer the wind. If there are any wind restrictions at all that might be a warning to just not cross, even if you are legally allowed to.

The article mentions a Level 2 and Level 1 wind advisories. I don't remember from years ago if they have signs that post those warnings. Do they exist?

As Brett and the others have been so generous with their expertise and wisdom, I thought I would give back a little. Although I'm barely a beginner in the industry, I thought I'd share some tips if you should need to get your CDL Permit. I got mine after a conditional hire for CDL training and job. Specifically, this was based on my experience at the Elk Grove Village state CDL testing facility February, 2017. Specifically my permit covered General Knowledge, Combination Vehicles and Airbrakes.

1. Get there when they open (8 am as of this writing). No appointment. Just walk in. If you get there later, keep in mind they shut off the computers at 5pm sharp. I was told this. So if you are in the middle of a test, you'll need to come back the next day to finish. Also, you will need 10-15 minutes minimum to do a test section.

2. Plan to be there ALL day until 5 pm closing. Not that you'll be in line all that time. But if you struggle getting 80% or higher on any of the tests and you believe you can fill in the gaps of questions you missed, you have a total of 3 tries for each test. However, you also have the freedom to leave, go home, study more and come back in a few days to week (or more?). But I learned that you are given time to retry. You don't have to retry the same day. During my stay, I would walk outside, think, get to the car, check my phone and go back. Be sure to leave your phone off and hidden if you enter. Those are the rules.

3. The test is on touchscreens. All have earphones which allow you to hear the computer read the question and text on screen. I unplugged mine. It was very distracting for me. Plug it back in when you're done if you take it out (I kept forgetting to plug mine back in). There is no timer. Go slow. Stand up. Sit down. Stretch your arms. Try to be calm. But if you're early and you don't plan to come back like me, don't be too slow. You'll have 2 more chances to cram if you blow the first.

4. The questions include photos. Be careful looking at them. They don't always seem completely relevant and if you unfamiliar with tractor trailer dashboards, it can be distracting. Focus on the question. Look out for trick questions such as "Which one is NOT an example of..."

5. As many on this forum suggest, use the "Skip" button at ANY hint of doubt. You won't lose points for skipping; only for getting questions wrong. There is also a "status" button which supposedly tells you how you are scoring. I never used it as I was too nervous to press anything else. You only get 3 consecutive skips before you must answer the question. If you correctly answer then it seems to give you more skip chances (seemed a bit unpredictable to me).

6. Make sure you have the latest state rulebook and keep it with you in the facility. Just shove it in a closed backpack or briefcase when you sit at the test machine. As of this writing the latest one has August 2016 printed inside. Use it to study while waiting in various queues. You'll go through 3 stations—and repeat the process if you retest the same day.

7. Make sure you have ALL proper ID. Drivers' license is not enough. I brought my DL and Passport. Also bring a check, cash or credit card to pay. Check this: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/drivers_license/CDL/cdl.html

8. The staff is overworked and underpaid. The State of Illinois is in a multi-year budget crisis and the place is rundown. Just speak clearly, respectfully and with a smile. Yes ma'am. No sir. Etc. They are not perfect and I don't think they are out to make your life hard. They just must follow the laws and put on a tough face. If one is very helpful, consider asking to talk to a manager and offer that employee's name with a positive remark. For me, one of them actually encouraged me to take more time to study in the waiting area. I would've just kept going like a robot, hitting my head on the wall. I think he really saved the day for me. So I made sure I found the manager and offered a compliment after I passed.

9. Bring a small container of water, tea, coffee and/or snack. The water fountain there is broken. Vending machines seemed to work.

10. Pay close attention to questions you get wrong. The screen pauses and shows you the correct answer! It will likely come up again if you take it. I tried to remember them and re-studied them in the rulebook. When I got them again, it was no problem. 1975, no handbrakes, bobtail, air pressure rates, etc. These seemed to be my weak points.

11. Final advice: Review the entire rulebook review questions sections (in a box at the end of each section). Be confident in answering them. Also, complete the entire Highroad program here. Focus all of your study time there. You must put in many hours each day for at least a week to get through it! Don't mess around with practice tests. You'll get pumped up with 100% scores, but you'll mess up (I know!).

This was the hardest test of my life. I never cared about test like this one. When I first failed, I cried. But I knew I couldn't quit. I had to keep trying, even if it meant I had to forgo food and work to cram the info. Even though I was sick, with stuffy head, dizziness and sore nose. I kept going. I had to try my best. My journey toward a CDL is serious business and definitely a modern rite-of-passage.

I was within 10 miles of the CBBT when that accident happened. I did park it today early because when it was gusting at near 40 mph, there was no way I was going to be caught dragging an empty trailer 100 miles from Suffolk, VA back to Hopewell, VA. I cannot guess how high the wind was where that truck crashed, but I will guess the wind played a factor. He was alive when they initially retrieved him from the water, but unfortunately passed away en route to the hospital.

This makes me wonder if there is any way we can get real time wind speed readings while in a truck. Or if there is any technique to "plan" for potential high wind spots?

Hey Mister B., can I ask if there is any particular reason why you need to go back the very next day to try again? There were a few students in my school who didn't pass on their first attempt, but I know that they didn't necessarily attempt to take it again the very next day. I have no idea what the guidelines are for that but perhaps spending a bit more time studying would be useful.

I also highly suggest taking advantage of the "Skip" feature during your tests. You are not penalized for skipping a question. Granted, if you get enough other questions wrong, those skipped questions will indeed be presented to you again, but you may not need them because once you reach enough questions to pass the test, the test ends right then and there.

Thanks Nacho. My family depends on my successful transition into this career ASAP. Basically, if I didn't make it this week, I wouldn't have another 30 days to reset the process as they would be in a worse situation. So whether I was going to blow all three chances in 2 days or not, I had no option but to "live" in the facility, studying the rulebook and retrying. Also, it was not explained to me that I had a choice to come back at another day (Many, many things about the facility were not explained, including the details of the skipped questions). I was just told I could come back the next day and try again. By the way, another user at TT mentioned that "Skip" feature. Yes, that thing really helped.

Awesome congratulations!

Thanks Matt!

Yes, it seems the OP spent too much time in the Big Chair and studying for "a couple of seconds". It takes several weeks for "a couple of HOURS" per day to learn this stuff. We were trying to impress that upon him. Not laughing at you at all!

No, that is not true. I take this endeavor very seriously to the degree that I barely did any work and no personal activity studying for 7 days straight. But I was studying improperly. Case in point: While I was "sure" I would pass from the 100% scores of the various CDL practice tests here, on Roehl's site and the book, I went ahead and studied all the endorsements too (getting 100% on them as well). But I was very wrong in that High Road should have been my only focus (as evidenced by my dabbling in HighRoad). I made up for all the "missing" details by trying, re-studying (the rulebook) and re-taking my tests at the testing facility. I wrote "missing" because nothing was missing except my focus on the proper study resource.

I wanted to share an update to this thread to state 2 important things:

1. I did not properly understand how to use the learning materials--especially HIghRoad--and relied mostly on the TT CDL Practice Tests and Roehl's practice tests. I incorrectly assumed TT's CDL Practice Test were directly related to HighRoad. I now understand these are 2 very different tools. I also understand that although the Illinois Rulebook has changed slightly, it does not mean HighRoad is inadequate. Again, I apologize for the statements.

2. From 11 am to 3pm I made myself stay, study, re-study and re-test at the driving facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. On the final try, I made 94% on General. On the second try, I got 92% on Combination and on the first try, 94% on Airbrakes. So I am now officially going into the training ranks for OTR driver. I was determined to do it and not give up.

Thank you to Brett and everyone here for sharing and helping so selflessly. If I am successful with training and get on the road, I hope to meet all of you in person some day.

Again, I apologize. It just seems like a Reply button. I have been using the study guides here heavily (https://www.truckingtruth.com/cdl-test/). But apparently, not Highroad. From what I have deduced they are two very different study guides.

This is The High Road Training Program.

What you linked to is another generic CDL practice quiz.

The High Road Training Program, takes you through each subsection of knowledge with review questions from previous sections, and keeps hitting you with questions you miss. It's designed to reinforce previous sections while adding new information. If you keep drilling it - until your proficiency is above 90% - there is NO WAY YOU CAN FAIL any DMV's test - even if they throw you a curveball or two question that isn't covered in the HRTP.

Rick

Thanks Rick. That explains alot. I was focusing on the quizzes and judging my progress on the Highroad score chart as I stumbled around in Highroad. But I am a still a little concerned that the Aug 2016 rulebook is organized differently from the Highroad section descriptions and there seems to be additional rules (as I cited in an earlier response). The Highroad sections match fine for the 2009 rulebook.