Gravel Lot OR Asphalt?

Topic 31609 | Page 1

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Paul Sol's Comment
member avatar

Regarding preparing for the CDL State range/road test, is there any difference practicing backing on a gravel lot as opposed to a paved lot? When weighing the pros & cons of training in my area, I find myself worried that a better instructor on a pot-holey gravel lot may not be any better than an average instructor on a properly coned, paved lot.

Any thoughts?

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Anne A. (and sometimes To's Comment
member avatar

Regarding preparing for the CDL State range/road test, is there any difference practicing backing on a gravel lot as opposed to a paved lot? When weighing the pros & cons of training in my area, I find myself worried that a better instructor on a pot-holey gravel lot may not be any better than an average instructor on a properly coned, paved lot.

Any thoughts?

Hey (again) Paul Sol ....

You'd probably get more hits (replies) if you'd post this in the 'General' section.

G'Town Old School ... somebody (mods!) can y'all move it?

In reply, however . . . I'd go with a paved lot, at a company sponsored course! (Or is your current employer still willing to sponsor you ... ?!?)

Apply For Paid CDL Training

Best wishes~!

~ Anne ~

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Paul Sol's Comment
member avatar

I'll tell you how it worked out. I had such a hard time getting the backing maneuvers correct on the maybe not even squarely positioned few cones on the pot holey gravel lot, so i practiced over and over determined to get it right. However, at the dmv test area, where it was of course paved striped AND cones galore, the backing maneuvers were a breeze for me, took all of a few minutes to complete them all then off to the road portion of the test. So lesson learned is paved lot or not, just keep practicing til you get it right.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

FR8 M4N's Comment
member avatar

I'll tell you how it worked out. I had such a hard time getting the backing maneuvers correct on the maybe not even squarely positioned few cones on the pot holey gravel lot, so i practiced over and over determined to get it right. However, at the dmv test area, where it was of course paved striped AND cones galore, the backing maneuvers were a breeze for me, took all of a few minutes to complete them all then off to the road portion of the test. So lesson learned is paved lot or not, just keep practicing til you get it right.

Super duper! Congrats!

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

Ryan B.'s Comment
member avatar

I'll tell you how it worked out. I had such a hard time getting the backing maneuvers correct on the maybe not even squarely positioned few cones on the pot holey gravel lot, so i practiced over and over determined to get it right. However, at the dmv test area, where it was of course paved striped AND cones galore, the backing maneuvers were a breeze for me, took all of a few minutes to complete them all then off to the road portion of the test. So lesson learned is paved lot or not, just keep practicing til you get it right.

It's good to have experience in backing on a gravel lot because you will eventually have to do it once working as a driver. Now when you face a real world scenario of backing into a spot on a gravel lot where there are potholes, the trucks aren't straight, and nothing is like you remember from the maneuvers test, you can recall that it's a little tougher to get your reference points but you know that you can back the truck and trailer successfully.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

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