Upgrading My CDL B To CDL A ?

Topic 22558 | Page 1

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Rekcurt9291 R.'s Comment
member avatar

I got my CDL B with restriction automatic transmission from a motorcoach tour company. And after the contract i had with them, i left. I'm Currently unemployed. Now I am planning to go to CDL school to remove restriction. I dont even know how to drive standad transmission in a regular vehicle, about 3 years ago i tried to learn for about an hour but never had a chance again after that. Do CDL schools accept this situation?

And these are my question: 1. Should i go CDL B or CDL A? 2. Is there any type of transmission that i should assure to learn in the cdl school? 3. Will the cdl school accompany me to road test? and do they provide the vehicle for testing? 4. What if i fail the first time? Do i need to pay the whole course/training again ? 5. What if i fail to upgrade my CDL ? can i go back to my default class B or i will lose it?

Please help me. I need some advice.

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.
Susan D. 's Comment
member avatar

Always go for the CDL-A so you're more versatile. Just attend a school that has manual transmission and tests in a manual to remove that restriction. A CDL school does provide the combination vehicle for testing and most schedule your skills testing with the DMV or a third party tester.

I doubt you'd lose your class B if you failed but only your states DMV could tell you for sure. Most states give several opportunities to pass your basic skills, pretrip, and road test. You'll also need to take the written test for combination vehicles and air brakes if you haven't taken the air brakes written test yet.

I'd apply for company sponsored schools or maybe for WIOA funding available through your local unemployment office and attend a private school with those funds.

Company sponsored schools can be a great advantage, as the company has already invested time and money in you so you're pretty much guaranteed a job when you pass the school.

Paid CDL Training Programs

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.

Combination Vehicle:

A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.

WIOA:

WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)

Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

Rekcurt9291 R. don't know:

I dont even know how to drive standard transmission in a regular vehicle,

You will have the advantage. People who already know how to shift a car's manual transmission have a bad habit: they probably don't double clutch. By not having a "single clutch" habit, you'll learn the trick much faster.

A short video: Double Clutch Video

Heads Up: if any anyone talks to your about "glide" shifting or "floating the gears", don't listen to them. Double clutch shifting is required for your driving test. You can float 'em after you get your own truck.

Double Clutch:

To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.

When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.

This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.

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