Air Brake Test W/o Chocks?

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

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...

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...

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.

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

I know NYC is different - they do some crazy stuff there, but you are awfully naive to think freshly printed CDL = income. Whatever gave you that idea?

You have zero experience.

You have zero training.

You aren't even sure how to do the in cab air test.

What is it you think you have to offer?

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...

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

I know NYC is different - they do some crazy stuff there, but you are awfully naive to think freshly printed CDL = income. Whatever gave you that idea?

You have zero experience.

You have zero training.

You aren't even sure how to do the in cab air test.

What is it you think you have to offer?

What do I have to offer?

Just my services as a new driver I guess...

Of course I'll need training... no one is born a trucker right?

I know there's limitations in doing it this way...

But it's the route I felt made the most sense to me.

I plan on trying to start with Western Express.

I heard on this forum... (actually from you)... that they are willing to take on new CDLs without school.

Plan is to start and train with them... get some experience... and hopefully down the road I'll have more options.

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

I know NYC is different - they do some crazy stuff there, but you are awfully naive to think freshly printed CDL = income. Whatever gave you that idea?

You have zero experience.

You have zero training.

You aren't even sure how to do the in cab air test.

What is it you think you have to offer?

What do I have to offer?

Just my services as a new driver I guess...

Of course I'll need training... no one is born a trucker right?

I know there's limitations in doing it this way...

But it's the route I felt made the most sense to me.

I plan on trying to start with Western Express.

I heard on this forum... (actually from you)... that they are willing to take on new CDLs without school.

Plan is to start and train with them... get some experience... and hopefully down the road I'll have more options.

What's he's saying is that you're going to have a hard time getting hired. Many companies aren't able to hire self certified CDL holders for insurance reasons. New drivers with no experience either get company training or go to a school to get a certificate along with their license that says they received 160 hours of training.

If you plan on going with Western Express, I would reach out to them and see if they would be able to hire you with a license and no certificate.

Have you considered going with paid CDL training? Roehl and Prime are 2 companies that I can think of that pay you while you train and you're guaranteed a job upon completion of your training.

From the sounds of things, you're investing a lot in this test. If you're using Ferrari's school truck you're probably paying them about 500 to use their truck. I'll be honest with you, it sounds like you're not ready for this. A simple mistake on the brake test is an automatic fail and you're out of all that money for no reason. That's why I told you earlier, you're going about this all wrong.

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

I know NYC is different - they do some crazy stuff there, but you are awfully naive to think freshly printed CDL = income. Whatever gave you that idea?

You have zero experience.

You have zero training.

You aren't even sure how to do the in cab air test.

What is it you think you have to offer?

What do I have to offer?

Just my services as a new driver I guess...

Of course I'll need training... no one is born a trucker right?

I know there's limitations in doing it this way...

But it's the route I felt made the most sense to me.

I plan on trying to start with Western Express.

I heard on this forum... (actually from you)... that they are willing to take on new CDLs without school.

Plan is to start and train with them... get some experience... and hopefully down the road I'll have more options.

What's he's saying is that you're going to have a hard time getting hired. Many companies aren't able to hire self certified CDL holders for insurance reasons. New drivers with no experience either get company training or go to a school to get a certificate along with their license that says they received 160 hours of training.

If you plan on going with Western Express, I would reach out to them and see if they would be able to hire you with a license and no certificate.

Have you considered going with paid CDL training? Roehl and Prime are 2 companies that I can think of that pay you while you train and you're guaranteed a job upon completion of your training.

From the sounds of things, you're investing a lot in this test. If you're using Ferrari's school truck you're probably paying them about 500 to use their truck. I'll be honest with you, it sounds like you're not ready for this. A simple mistake on the brake test is an automatic fail and you're out of all that money for no reason. That's why I told you earlier, you're going about this all wrong.

I've read over all his posts and.. He seems to have some idea that a CDL is get rich quick. Well, it aint. He thinks he does not have to get along with other people. Well, you do.

I'm gonna be blunt. This is not the career for you. It takes dedication to going to company sponsored schooled or local technical college. It takes being able to handle yourself in high stress situations. It takes being open to learning something new every day. It takes being able to get along with others because you and a trainer will be together in a tight confined space (sleeper cab) for weeks.

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

Daniel B. , Yessir. Husband's local yard is on shut down this week, so he's pulling loads from Don's yard, and is heading to Ft. Wayne right now, actually... in the SPARE, which is the International 10 speed. His 2029 went in for B'service, which they didn't complete before 'they' (the yard/barn/company out of Mt.V he works out of) went on shut down/vacation.

Yes, he has a week (or 2?) of vacation himself left.. but sure didn't want to be on a 'forced' vacation because he couldn't drive, or had a restriction on, a manual.

Hours and yards have been 'odd' this week, but it's 'business as usual' for us'ns.

Wish you well, O/P~!