Profile For Lawrence K.

Without any arrogance, I can say I don't really see the test as a problem.

Thank you guys. The written regs in Washington state gave that impression, and a statement by the school's bus supervisor also gave that impression. So since we have two states checking in, I suspect that Washington state also requires a skills test.

Sigh ☺

Lawrence

I think 90% of the US requires a skills test with passenger vehicle.. Im not 100% sure on that but from previous research, i found most states required it. If you passed in a truck, bus shouldn't be to different. I think its the same to a point....

Thank you guys. The written regs in Washington state gave that impression, and a statement by the school's bus supervisor also gave that impression. So since we have two states checking in, I suspect that Washington state also requires a skills test.

Sigh ☺

Lawrence

I got my CDL-A this last August with T N endorsements. I, obviously, passed the written endorsement tests and the skills test, using a Tractor-trailer rig. I am changing how I will be using my CDL. I have been hired as a substitute school bus driver. 1 know I have to take the S endorsement written test, and I'll take the P endorsement test while I'm at it.

My question is, since I already have my CDL-A, will i have to take a skills test for the school bus?

Thank you

Lawrence

Does anyone know if Nuvigil (armodafinil) cause a DOT drug test to fail and thus disqualifying me from driving with my CDL?

My doctor and I already have some information from the FMSCA, but we don't know if it would cause a test failure.

Thank you for considering this.

Lawrence

My mentor will be picking me up in a couple of hours, and my 200 hours start.

From the replies , I am not sure I explained the question clearly. So let me try again.

1. After the mentor period when I am driving solo, I have no questions on this point.

2. I am speaking of a 24-hour period, Friday night to Saturday night. I am not speaking of 10 hours or 16 hours.

3. During those 24 hours, I will not be logging my time on lines 3 and 4, driving and on duty, respectively.

4. Therefore, I will be logging that time on lines 1 and 2, off duty and sleeper berth, respectively.

5. I am ONLY talking about sitting in the passenger seat, not the driver's seat. Put another way, the seat that does not have the steering wheel in front of it. :)

6. I was told by my "boss" at the new company (the one that deals with students in the mentor period) that I cannot sit in the passenger seat, that MUST be logged as On Duty time. I must stay in the sleeper berth or out of the truck. (Now, I know this is not entirely true, as the Hours of Service laws allow for a team driver to sit in the passenger seat for 2 hours, under particular conditions.)

7. My "boss" made it clear that he was not happy to accommodate my religious convictions, but because the company is so large, they would be extremely hard pressed to show that I caused "undue hardship," the legal litmus test. And, I have heard, there are other drivers with that company who have the same convictions.

Question (Remember I am speaking of a continuous 24-hour period): So, am I ONLY allowed to sit in the passenger seat for those 2 hours or can I sit there more than that during that 24-hour period?

Reason for the question: I would really like to see some countryside during that 24-hour period and not be confined to the sleeper berth (or outside at stops) during the entire 24 hours.

I hope this clarifies things.

Oh, I am purposely not stating the company. I don't want them to consider this to be negative comments about them.

Lawrence

ps. I am thinking of going to the State Patrol office tomorrow and asking if I can speak to someone who is a DOT officer.

I have been hired. The company has a mentor program. After the first 50 hours, the truck is dispatched as a team.

For religious reasons, I do not work on Saturday, specifically Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. The company is accommodating that request. During that time, I have no company obligations at all. It is as if I am not there.

During that time, the "Saturday hours," am I allowed to sit in the passenger seat of the truck? Or must I be in the sleeping berth or outside the truck (when stopped)?

I am looking for the legal answer here. If no one can provide it, how would I go about finding out that answer?

Thank you

Lawrence

By the way, this was written by TruckerMike right here on Trucking Truth: https://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/Article-3085/learning-how-to-back-up-a-big-truck

Lawrence

I read the following somewhere:

Here's a trick I used with my student for the 90 degree alley maneuver. I had my student pull straight forward as far as was legally allowed. Immediately, I had him turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and begin backing up. As soon as the drivers side mirror matched up with the right landing pad on the trailer landing gear, he would stop the truck. Then, he'd turn the wheel all the way to the left and start backing up again. He'd continue back until his drivers side mirror matched up with the exact center of the landing gear on the trailer before turning the steering wheel back to the right and doing it all over again. After doing this 7 times, his trailer would be lined up exactly where it should be and he could then "eyeball it" into the spot. It worked perfectly each and every time.

I am not able to follow what is happening here. Can someone explain?

According to the two videos that were given to show the answer, I think something is being missed here.

Let's break this down: "Immediately, I had him turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and begin backing up."

No problem.

"As soon as the drivers side mirror matched up with the right landing pad on the trailer landing gear, he would stop the truck."

Problem. The driver's side mirror is on the left, correct? Just to my left. And I am trying to see the RIGHT landing pad in that mirror? Is that possible? If you don't see my question, read it again.

"Then, he'd turn the wheel all the way to the left and start backing up again."

No problem.

"He'd continue back until his drivers side mirror matched up with the exact center of the landing gear on the trailer before turning the steering wheel back to the right and doing it all over again."

When he writes, "...exact center of the landing gear," is that the left landing gear, or right? If it is the left, hasn't he just lined the truck up again to be straight?

Lawrence

I read the following somewhere:

Here's a trick I used with my student for the 90 degree alley maneuver. I had my student pull straight forward as far as was legally allowed. Immediately, I had him turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and begin backing up. As soon as the drivers side mirror matched up with the right landing pad on the trailer landing gear, he would stop the truck. Then, he'd turn the wheel all the way to the left and start backing up again. He'd continue back until his drivers side mirror matched up with the exact center of the landing gear on the trailer before turning the steering wheel back to the right and doing it all over again. After doing this 7 times, his trailer would be lined up exactly where it should be and he could then "eyeball it" into the spot. It worked perfectly each and every time.

I am not able to follow what is happening here. Can someone explain?