I'm finally taking the plunge and will be scheduling my CDL test. I haven't taken the official written test yet but I don't expect any problems with it.

A few questions....

On the pre trip inspections do you have to crawl under the trailer or truck or can you just look and point out what you're looking at while doing a walk around? I know you have to inspect each brake chamber, look for seal leaks on the hubs, cracked or leaking air lines, etc and I don't know how you'd do that properly without laying hands on them. Yet, I've never seen a truck driver get under a trailer or his truck before driving.

I am very fluent in air brakes and how they operate but I've heard the air brake portion of the test is hard. I don't know if the test can trip me up on air brakes but I want to make sure I pass with flying colors.

I also have to get a passenger endorsement so I can drive our church bus.

I haven't actually studied anything yet but I've been taking free online tests and I've been scoring above 90% on the general knowledge test and 98-100% on the written pre trip tests. Do you actually have a written pre trip test or do you just do a walk around?

My biggest challenge will be actually driving the truck. Me and those non synchronized gears don't get along to good. LOL I should have gotten my CDL last year while one of my friends had an automatic KW.

I'd say you'll be just fine. You outta ride by and see some of the characters standing in line to take the test let alone some of the creatures they let drive these days. I've got drivers that deliver us seed and chemicals that can't even speak a lick of English. One the other day was talking that Arabic crap almost told him to leave but I needed the seed.

Oh, I see them all the time. A lot of those got grandfathered in though. They've changed the tests and requirements. Use to I could have taken the test in a dump truck pulling an equipment trailer but now I've got to take it in a semi and semi trailer. Luckily I have a few sitting around

You can bet that I will be pulling a feed trailer. They're only 40' long. No way I'm pulling out on Hwy 431 with a 53' van trailer.

I took mine bout a year ago fur its not hard and no you do not have to crawl under just point it out and MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON IT that or have a stick to place on the part or they will count it against you

Correct! It is beyond simple. Just read the book and read over the practice pre trip inspections

Take something you can see out the back window and see the rear of the trailer sucks to get all the way thru it and hit that Damn cone and have to come back and do it all over again

Thanks for the replies. Any tips on double clutching since you can't "float" gears on the test? I can actually double clutch up rather well, the down shifting is my problem.



I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, can you elaborate?

Get you an auto shift for the test if you can do that.

On the pre trip you just have to walk around and tell what you are checking and why.... Make sure and tell them why you are checking tread depth, frame, what the fuses are for, wheel chocks, etc. in the driving test stop behind the line and always get the clearance on overpasses when you go under one. Woman was turned looking at me going down the road and about 30 seconds after going under one asked me what the clearance was. I thought for a second and told her I didn't see one, which was correct, but I hadnt been looking either. It's an auto fail if you get it wrong.

X2, mine was, a little short top kick truck and lowboy. I could back it like a boss and never had to pull up and try again. The guys in cullman doing the test in a big rig all failed that day. 2 of the 6 of us passed in the top kick truck.

I'm gonna try to find one. Heck I may rent one.

I took mine @ Calhoun Community College. It was a automatic truck. FYI!!! Good luck

I took mine about 6 months ago. Watch some youtube videos of pre-trip. The Tennessee driving school is a good one. On the computer test make some you study doubles and triples. I didn't even look at that part because I didn't need those. But they are considered a combination vehicle and there will be questions about them. They told me I got in on the last week of the small dump truck and lowboy. I think it has to be a full tractor with box now.

What does it cost if you use their truck?

It does.

How close to Hamilton are you fur? I know a guy up there that has a set up made just for his driving school business he uses a auto dump truck and a special trailer made just for it pm me if you want his number

quickshot, I'm on the other side of the state. Thanks though.

No problem good luck with the test!

I'm not sure I understand what you're
saying, can you elaborate?
[/quote]

If you take it with a trailer it's easier in a truck you can see out of the back glass and see the center rear of the trailer when you simulate backing into a loading dock if you hit the cone you fail

If you take it with a trailer it's easier in a truck you can see out of the back glass and see the center rear of the trailer when you simulate backing into a loading dock if you hit the cone you fail [/quote]

Yes the truck I have is a day cab and that's what I'm going to use unless I borrow a truck with an auto trans.