Frustrated! Training School Question

Topic 2187 | Page 1

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Thomas M.'s Comment
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I am finishing a six week training school and just failed part 2 of the state CDL test, particularly the 90 degree alley backing. All total, I have had about 5 hours actual driving and 3 hours actual backing time. We were promised more but due to illnesses in the staff and down trucks this is what I ended up with. They claim I had enough time; I think differently. About how much driving and backing time is needed to get proficient enough to pass a CDL test? thanks

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.
Brett Aquila's Comment
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Welcome aboard Thomas.

It's impossible to put a number on how many hours it takes to get proficient. It varies dramatically from person to person but certainly more than just a few. I think most schools advertise you'll get somewhere around 20 hours behind the wheel time. Sometimes that number includes watching someone else drive while you share a truck with them, other times not.

Now retaking the tests is no big deal. Just sign up and do it again. A lot of people fail their first time.

What has the school said about practice time? Are you guys completely finished with the schooling or do you get more truck time?

Woody's Comment
member avatar

I take it you attended a private school?

I cant speak for all private schools, but I can talk a little about the one I attended. Mine was a 3 week program of 154 hrs. There were times on the yard that we had extra students backing because they had failed the test and needed more time. The instructors always encouraged students and when they were struggling always told them not to worry, they would get them to where they would pass. They were quite proud that they had never had a student not be able to get through. One of my instructors talked about a student that was there for 11 weeks, but they got them through.

It is not uncommon for people not to pass on the first try. In fact my class was almost the first class they EVER had where everyone passed on the first try. Unfortunately the last guy to go missed getting out of the yard by one point.

Now depending on the state your in and how it is set up, there can be a charge for extra tests. My school would pay for up to two tests, and after that it was up to the school if they would pay or charge the student. The fee at our testing facility was $100.

Were testing fees and details not discussed before you signed up for the school?

Woody

Thomas M.'s Comment
member avatar

This was a six week school at 8 hours a day m-f . . . about 235 hours total time of which I had about a grand total of about 8 hours behind the wheel. The first week we did not drive at all because of all the students in the previous class that failed that were using the equipment to practice. The ratio of trucks to students was so low that one had to wait a half an hour between backing attempts (2 AT THE MOST), besides using different trucks that steered quite differently from each other. Add to that frequent truck breakdowns and we did not get much real driving time. My problem is unique in that the school is moving 60 miles south on the last day of class, which will force me to drive 220 miles a day round trip to practice and retest. The other problem is that the state of Missouri retest schedule list is about 6 to 8 weeks out, which means that one cannot get in right right away to retest. Fortunately, there was an opening in another DMV about 180 miles from me for this Wednesday. I will only have two days to practice and get up to snuff before attempting it again.

I have discovered that I am not a natural at truck driving so it takes me longer to learn. The 90 degree alley backing is hard because I have yet to master how to fix a mistake. Thanks for your replies.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

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