Order Of Performing The Tug Test In CDL Air Brake Test: Before Or After?

Hey truckers! I have my CDL test coming up this Thursday, and I'm a bit confused about the order of performing the air brake test. Specifically, I'm unsure if I should do the tug test before or after the air brake test. A co-worker of mine failed their test last month because they missed the tug test. For those who have recently obtained their CDL, could you please share your experiences and clarify whether the tug test should be done before or after the air brake test? Thanks!

I went through Swift's company school There I was taught to do the brake operation test ("tug test") before doing the air leak & low pressure alarm tests. Later I started teaching the CDL class. I followed that test order. But examiners asked my students to do the leak test before the brake operation test.

So my students do the leak test first and there's no problem.

(Note: "Tug test" is simply to pull forward to make sure the kingpin is locked into the fifth wheel. In the CDL PTI test, you are checking the actual operation of all the brakes - how do you "tug test" your own drive brakes?)

I tested on PA, and it was leak test then function test. Our trainer had us use the time during air pressure rebuild, to make sure we didn't MISS anything in our heads.

If I recall correctly, we did leak down and then function. We didn't do a tug test. As Errol said, that's for checking the king pin against the locking jaws.

Here in Canada we do the tug test just before we leave for the road when you check your tractor, trailer and hand spike brakes. In real life I do a tug test when I hook up to a new trailer before I get out to raise the landing gear so if I’m not hooked up properly I don’t drop the trailer