Comments By Godsgift

Im not talking about the tug test........ I am trying to be polite and nice and help you but you’re just not understanding it. You can do the air test on just the tractor You can do the air test on just the trailer They do not have to be done at the same time You have to use a smaller number of seconds when you do them one at a time.

Sorry... I'm a complete noob... so I wasn't following....

Had to go back and re-read what you were saying...

You mean that one of my spring brake valves can be pulled out during the air brake tests?

The videos I've been studying with online always had both valves pushed in and used chocks during the test... so I'm not really sure.

I haven't gone to formal school, and this is the first time hearing anything about doing them separately with a 2psi/min or anything like that...

Yes, I can but first I'm going to tell you you're going about this all wrong.

I'll preface this by saying I don't know if this is how it works on the state test because I tested in a manual.

You charge up the brakes until the governor kicks.

You turn the truck off, wait for it to shut off completely and then turn the key to the on position so the gauges work.

You hit the brake (part I'm not sure about) and put it in drive. On the panel you need to see it say drive because sometimes It'll stay in neutral. And you have to press the brake otherwise it won't change gear, like a car. The shifter will move, but it'll stay in neutral.

So after I turn the engine off, and turn the key to on position for the gauges, put it into Drive, and that will prevent the truck from rolling, and than proceed with the air brake testing... and that won't affect the testing at all?

Putting it in Drive while the engine is off will act like the wheel chock and the truck won't start moving either, right?

Think I'm understanding you, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm going to try and ask my instructor about doing it like that... I'd hate for one stupid mistake to cause me to fail the test!

Thanks for your help.

Putting it in drive will have no effect on the brakes. It'll just stop the wheels from rolling because the engine isn't running.

Yea.. I think I see what you're saying.

I didn't think of that before... but I think I'll bring that up to my instructor or inspector... and make sure that way is okay for my test.

Thanks for input...

Why test in an automatic? You'll have a restriction on your license and most companies are still using manuals

From the things I've come across online... it seemed like many companies have been transitioning to autos.

Maybe it varies per company or type of driving...

But for OTR cross country with the company I have in mind, I think auto should be no problem.

What happens if you want to go local or if your future company has no new trucks with automatics but they only have old trucks with manuals? Why put that limitation on yourself

I don't think I'll ever go local... don't think that's for me..

I'll just have to deal with it as it comes...

I'm currently in a really tight situation... money and timewise...

Just needed to get my CDL and start getting some type of income ASAP.

I can always retest on a manual in the future...

Why test in an automatic? You'll have a restriction on your license and most companies are still using manuals

From the things I've come across online... it seemed like many companies have been transitioning to autos.

Maybe it varies per company or type of driving...

But for OTR cross country with the company I have in mind, I think auto should be no problem.

Yes, I can but first I'm going to tell you you're going about this all wrong.

I'll preface this by saying I don't know if this is how it works on the state test because I tested in a manual.

You charge up the brakes until the governor kicks.

You turn the truck off, wait for it to shut off completely and then turn the key to the on position so the gauges work.

You hit the brake (part I'm not sure about) and put it in drive. On the panel you need to see it say drive because sometimes It'll stay in neutral. And you have to press the brake otherwise it won't change gear, like a car. The shifter will move, but it'll stay in neutral.

So after I turn the engine off, and turn the key to on position for the gauges, put it into Drive, and that will prevent the truck from rolling, and than proceed with the air brake testing... and that won't affect the testing at all?

Putting it in Drive while the engine is off will act like the wheel chock and the truck won't start moving either, right?

Think I'm understanding you, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm going to try and ask my instructor about doing it like that... I'd hate for one stupid mistake to cause me to fail the test!

Thanks for your help.

I asked the tester if he wanted me to use chocks he said no. When I do my airbrake test, I put the truck in great to prevent it from rolling.

Yea, that should work for manual.

I'll be testing in an automatic though...

Works for automatics too. All I drive now is automatics. Put it in drive and it won't roll. Just make sure it's in drive on the instrument cluster. They haven't taught you this in school?

I didn't go to school.

I don't have the time or money.

I just took a few hour long lessons and renting a truck.

Could you explain a little of how that works in an automatic?

Thanks.

Chocks are absolutely not needed. Remember you will constantly be hitting the brakes and during the leak test you will have your foot on the pedal the entire time. This is why putting the truck in gear at the proper time of the test is so critical. Putting the truck in gear is what prevents you from rolling.

You're referring to manual transmissions right?

I'm testing in an automatic.

I asked the tester if he wanted me to use chocks he said no. When I do my airbrake test, I put the truck in great to prevent it from rolling.

Yea, that should work for manual.

I'll be testing in an automatic though...

Strange answer from your instructor. I would find some chocks. When I did my CDL test I went through the air brake test orally before actually performing the steps. I was on level ground with no chocks for the actual performance of the test.

I just asked my instructor about the chocks again and he said that the DMV doesn't even want you to use chocks.

Something about people forgetting them, leaving them behind, and running over them.

He said they haven't used chocks in years..

I really don't know...

I'm in NYC, btw...

Strange answer from your instructor. I would find some chocks. When I did my CDL test I went through the air brake test orally before actually performing the steps. I was on level ground with no chocks for the actual performance of the test.

I see. Maybe I can just tell the inspector that my instructor doesn't have chocks.

I'm assuming I'll probably be on level ground as well.

I just didn't want one simple/stupid mistake to cause me to fail the test.