Getting A CDL-The Private School Route

The End of The Road....

Was yesterday. I arrived at the test location on a rainy Thursday am. It was a certainty I wouldn't miss wipers on my in cab! I was a bit surprised how nervous I was, figured I'd be a bit more relaxed being a bit older and been in stressful situations before- I just kept waiting to screw up!

It's amazing how stuff you've memorized endlessly seems to disappear when you have to demonstrate it on test day, but all the drilling did pay off. I completed my brake tests without issue, in cab and pre-trip too.

My straight back went well, but when it came time for my offset, just into the maneuver, I was unsure of my position (they use all white cones at the test site, we used all red at the yard. In retrospect, I may have memorized my surroundings in the yard during all those offsets- things just looked odd in the side mirror at the test! I used a get out to confirm my setup- I was all good, just needed to move over a bit more. Got back in the cab, looked in the mirror, and I might as well have been on another planet- I couldn't process it! I used a pull up to straighten out, and in the process killed a cone in front. Whistle! I was getting steamed at myself now. I thought, #$^&$#! Just put it in the box! So I looked in the mirror and got my act together and backed it in, no more trouble.

Finally on parallel, I used a pull up when my line into the box wasn't perfect, and a get out to check my position in the box. As my instructors had told me they're free, use 'em! Glad I did- I was a little close on the box edge, needed to move over a foot or so- didn't want to leave any room for interpretation on the examiner's part. Tweaked my position with a small pull up and I was done. Out to the road.

I ground a few on the road, missed one and even stalled starting from a stop sign (in 5th instead of 3rd) Other than that, it was a go. A pass is a pass.

Off to the registry to get my license today.

I'll say this- If you've got the green, go to a private school. I enjoyed the process and though I probably only learned as much as what a trucking company school would have taught me, it wasn't high stress, go-go. Frustrating at times yes, but a very good experience and just the path I was looking for to get my license.

Good Luck!

Congrats! I too went with a private school. I was laid off from my last job and I took advantage of the One Stop program so my tuition was covered by the state. Anyway, I am looking forward to the test. Did they test you like the following:

Step 1: In Cab, Air Brakes & tug tests Step 2: Pretrip Coupling Step 3: Pretrip on 1 of 3 sections of the combo vehicle Step 4: Straight line back Step 5: Off set to the right OR left Step 6: Parallel park left, parallel park right OR 90 degree alley dock Step 7: 15 mile road test.

It's that way in NJ, I made it all the way to step 7 and I failed for stalling 20+ times. *sigh*

This past July NJ changed the test from what it used to be:

Step 1: Pre trip exterior of combination vehicle Step 2: In cab Pre Trip Strp 3: Air Brakes & Tug Test Step 4: drive 1/4 mile to the yard skills area Step 5: Straight line back Step 6: 45 degree alley dock Step 7: measured right turn Step 8: drive 1/4 mile back to DMV test area.

Congrats! I too went with a private school. I was laid off from my last job and I took advantage of the One Stop program so my tuition was covered by the state. Anyway, I am looking forward to the test. Did they test you like the following:

Step 1: In Cab, Air Brakes & tug tests Step 2: Pretrip Coupling Step 3: Pretrip on 1 of 3 sections of the combo vehicle Step 4: Straight line back Step 5: Off set to the right OR left Step 6: Parallel park left, parallel park right OR 90 degree alley dock Step 7: 15 mile road test.

It's that way in NJ, I made it all the way to step 7 and I failed for stalling 20+ times. *sigh*

This past July NJ changed the test from what it used to be:

Step 1: Pre trip exterior of combination vehicle Step 2: In cab Pre Trip Strp 3: Air Brakes & Tug Test Step 4: drive 1/4 mile to the yard skills area Step 5: Straight line back Step 6: 45 degree alley dock Step 7: measured right turn Step 8: drive 1/4 mile back to DMV test area.

In RI, you perform your Airbrake tests first and four point brake test (tug tests) Miss any part of the sequence, auto fail. In-cab is next, and a complete pretrip of the tractor and trailer, pretty much as written in the CDL manual, A-Z Straight Back, Parallel (sight side was what I was asked to perform), and an offset. (Again, it was a sight side)

Off to the road 15 mi. or so, including emergency stop, highway driving, ( on off ramps,) some multi lane intersections, secondary roads and railroad crossings simulating carrying hazmat.