Just Getting Started
Topic 12691 | Page 1
Probably depends on your state. But I bet you're going to have to take it all in one sitting.
With some computerized tests, you can possibly skip the questions you draw a blank on, and still answer the 50 or whatever you need to take. The computer just keeps throwing them at you untill it has 50 answers.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
In Kentucky, to get your permit first you take the general knowledge test. After you pass that, the examiner will allow you to take air brakes, then after passing that, you can proceed to your combination. If you live in a county that uses computer testing, as soon as you answer enough questions correctly to pass, the exam stops.. in other words you don't have to answer all the questions. If your county uses paper testing, sorry, but you have to complete every question on each exam. Oh and you must have your DOT physical reported to the state before you can obtain your permit. The permit is only good for 6 months, but can be renewed 1 time for an additional 6 months by paying the fees again and retaking all written exams.
So, when you pass all 3 they'll issue your permit. After passing those, you may take any endorsement exams, excluding hazmat. You have to have your background check complete and the state notifies you by mail that you are approved to take that exam.
When you are ready to test out, you then schedule an appointment at a DOT testing site. There are only 4 or 5 in the state.
First you do your incab portion of your pretrip. If you pass thst, the examiner will have you proceed to complete the outside portion of that exam. If you pass, you are then allowed to test on your basic control skills. You do a straight line back, an offset, and a parallel. If you pass that, then you are allowed to take your road test. After passing those 3 exams you can get your CDL-A. Any skills test that you pass, you do not have to repeat. Very few people pass all their tests the first attempt.. especially the road test at the Louisville test site. My examiner told me that it generally takes 2 or 3 attempts before passing all exams. Luckiky, Kentucky allows 4 attempts for the initial exam fee.
So each state is a little bit different in how they do things. Kentucky state police used to give the exams here, but this fall, it was changed to where DOT gives the exams. No 3rd party testers allowed and instructors must be certified by the state by passing all exams with a minimum of 90%. (Regular CDL-A candidates must have a minimum of 80% to pass any exam).
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I'm also just getting started. I've been looking at study books on Amazon, does anyone have any recommendations for a good study book? There are a lot of choices!
I'm also just getting started. I've been looking at study books on Amazon, does anyone have any recommendations for a good study book? There are a lot of choices!
Welcome Elmer.
Trucking Truth has a self study course called High Road Training Program. Click the link and get started.
Also reading Brett's Book and the Truck Driver's Career Guide will give you a really good foundation of knowledge and what to expect.
Good luck.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
In Texas your permit is 2 tests. the permit general knowledge and something else I forgot at the moment
Then for the full license you have to take pre trip, general knowledge and air brakes. you can do one a day or you can do them all at once. heck you can even do 1 at 10am then another at 2pm... but you're gonna wait in line each time you go back to do more tests.
I'm also just getting started. I've been looking at study books on Amazon, does anyone have any recommendations for a good study book? There are a lot of choices!
Save your money, Elmer. G-Town laid it all out for you. Read the online books, study the High Road Training Program to ace the CDL written test, and hang out on this forum.
If you want to see about some Trucking Companies, or Truck Driving Schools or the free (kind of) Company-Sponsored Training , it's all here.
Enjoy!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Absolutely what Errol said.. save your money. You can easily get everything you need right here for free.
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I am new to the industry, so new in fact I haven't even started school. In doing my research on different company sponsored schools I discovered this site and what a help it has been. I am truly grateful for the CDL training tools available. It looks like there is a lot to cover. My question to anyone willing to help is, are you able to take the written exam in sections i.e., General Knowledge and Air Brakes then move on to a couple more sections or does it all have to be done as one test?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: