Profile For Bob H.

The CDL test is taken with the 3 parts in order (pretrip, skills, and road). You must pass one before moving to the next. If at some point along the line should you fail one, you may come back and restart with the failed portion and not have to retake what you have passed (when you fail 3 times and then you start all over). What Florida wants to do is when you show up for your test and fail pretrip, they want to continue on with the next part of the test right then and there and worry about the pretrip portion later(next visit).

B to A would be a full test (knowledge, pretrip, skills, and road). Written or knowledge test would only be the combination test. And don't forget about the ELDT schooling for the upgrade.

No writing or markings of any kind other than checking off what you have covered.

If you attended training for a class A, the only endorsements you would need additional training for would be hazmat, passenger, or school bus. Tank and double/triples are only a knowledge test to add, and manual and air brake restrictions only involve a permits and appropriate portions of the skills test. You would not have to start from scratch.

There is no need to downgrade your license. Simply submit a new self-certification form to a catagory (EI or EA) that doesn't require a med card. This will in effect put your CDL on hold until you get your issues cleared up and decide to drive again. Then it would just be a matter of changing your self certification again along a new physical and you are back in business.

"If you have to do a pull-up use all the room you can to try and get yourself straight with the box as you are pulling up."

This is an important as well. During testing, I have seen many drivers waste a pull-up and only move 6 or 8 feet while doing little or nothing to better their angle of approach. Use your max room to try and make it more like a straight back rather than an offset.

Switched jobs due to covid. Only driving part-time as motor coach travel has been slow to rebound. So now I'm working for PennDOT as a CDL examiner. During the alley dock, the rear-most portion of your vehicle must end up within the boundaries of the 3-foot box at the rear of the "alley". Does not matter where your tires are as long as they are within the side boundaries. You have 2 free pull-ups before accumulating points, as well as 2 free "looks". More than 2 looks is an auto-fail. BTW, I do stress that the 2 look limit is for testing purposes on the test pad only, and if you need to GOAL 20 times on the job after the test, by all means do so.

Would also need a CLP in order to practice and test

I interviewed for one of these positions, was offered, but turned it down due to too far of a commute for 0-25 hours a week (45 min. one way). Greg M is correct about the company vehicle. Another possibility would be returning with a truck they needed at your facility, or maybe one that needs service of some sort.

Just don't forget your fridge/cooler will be off