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Anyone from TX just get their CDL?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by VinnyVincent, Dec 5, 2018.

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  1. Dec 5, 2018 #1
    VinnyVincent

    VinnyVincent Light Load Member

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    Hi,
    I've been sort of teaching myself to drive on the trucks at work. I have a road test scheduled for Jan. 9th and I am of course starting to get a little nervous about it and want to make sure I know exactly what to expect.
    Since I don't have an instructor to tell me what to expect on the test, I've been having to figure it all out on my own. The problem is a lot of the info online isn't always current.

    My biggest concern is the pre-trip. A lot of the video's on YouTube going over it are from out of state.
    I'm wondering if they made you go over the whole vehicle on the pre-trip, or just part of it? The TX manual isn't really clear about that part.
    I also want to make sure that they won't be doing the alley dock? From what I was looking at, it looks like they aren't doing that anymore and instead have opted for the parallel parking.
     
    VinnyVincent, Dec 5, 2018
    VinnyVincent, Dec 5, 2018
    #1
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  3. Dec 5, 2018 #2
    O.Henry

    O.Henry Road Train Member

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    San Antonio,TX.
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    FBF5A752-E9DB-4423-A09C-A7C80C591321.jpeg the Only pre trip is a air break test
     
    O.Henry, Dec 5, 2018
    O.Henry, Dec 5, 2018
    #2
    CJ701 and VinnyVincent Thank this.
  4. Dec 5, 2018 #3
    Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

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    Scranton PA
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    Most states use the same pre-trip, so whatever you study on youtube should be fine.
    Plan on going over the whole truck for the pre-trip. If the examiner wants you to quit after one side, they will tell you.

    I have seen that parallel parking is part of the skills test now. The offset dock test was very easy when I tested in Iowa in 2010. You pulled ahead and made a left turn, and backed onto the same track that you pulled forward on.
     
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Dec 5, 2018
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Dec 5, 2018
    #3
    Dan.S, CJ701 and VinnyVincent Thank this.
  5. Dec 5, 2018 #4
    VinnyVincent

    VinnyVincent Light Load Member

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    Really? That would be awesome, because some of those video's going over the pre-trip are an hour long, where the guy is pointing to and describing basically every single part on the whole truck.

    Then I looked at the TX CDL handbook and it said:
    So based on the part in bold, I was hoping they would only make me do a certain portion of it. I was kind of wondering if anyone knew what the "four versions" meant.
    If what you're saying is true, though and I only need to memorize what is listed on that paper you just posted, that would be a huge relief.
    Did you recently pass your test, or is that from your class?
     
    VinnyVincent, Dec 5, 2018
    VinnyVincent, Dec 5, 2018
    #4
  7. Dec 5, 2018 #5
    Badmon

    Badmon Heavy Load Member

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    Wish I could provide some information to you. God speed and good luck
     
    Badmon, Dec 5, 2018
    Badmon, Dec 5, 2018
    #5
  8. Dec 5, 2018 #6
    Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

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    Scranton PA
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    The pre-trip inspection will be intensive, just like the youtube videos.
    The four versions are simply different versions of the pre-trip....so if two buddies go in to take the pre-test, one will do version A and the other may do version B. The manual prepares you for all 4 versions, but you won’t know what version you are getting until you do the pre-trip.

    The one page paper is for the brake test, not the pre-trip.....the pre-trip is hard....and it is long. You have to really learn the pre-trip answers for virtually every exposed part on the truck....not easy! Do you know all the parts on the truck....that is the first step in prepping for the tre-trip test.
     
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Dec 5, 2018
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Dec 5, 2018
    #6
    Dan.S, VinnyVincent and BoxCarKidd Thank this.
  9. Dec 5, 2018 #7
    BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Get the manual from your local DMV. Follow it line by line, even the order in which you check the gauges.
    If you can some how come up with a day cab and flat bed for the test drive would be nice.
     
    BoxCarKidd, Dec 5, 2018
    BoxCarKidd, Dec 5, 2018
    #7
    VinnyVincent and Dan.S Thank this.
  10. Dec 5, 2018 #8
    ast26909

    ast26909 Medium Load Member

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    The examiner will have you pick a card from a stack of several (4 cards I think), each card in the stack has a portion of the vehicle written on it. Whichever card you pick that's the portion of the truck you will do pre-trip on, so you better know the whole truck. Take the initiative to do everything on your own, do not wait for the examiner to tell you to do something the air leak test is part of the in-cab portion. The examiner will ask something like 'are you done with pre-trip?' If you answer yes and didn't do something required then you fail. Also you must bring your current medical card, if you don't they won't issue your CDL if you pass til you present your current valid medical card. Good luck.
     
    ast26909, Dec 5, 2018
    ast26909, Dec 5, 2018
    #8
    rustyswife Thanks this.
  11. Dec 6, 2018 #9
    VinnyVincent

    VinnyVincent Light Load Member

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    Thanks everyone. Looks like I just need to buckel down and learn the whole inspection really well.

    I'm thinking about using this video to watch/study over and over again for the next month:



    Seems pretty thorough while also making it pretty easy to remember and execute. I like his use of CDL(not Cracked, Damaged, or Loose/Leaking) and ABC(no Abrasions, Bumps, or Cuts)
     
    VinnyVincent, Dec 6, 2018
    VinnyVincent, Dec 6, 2018
    #9
  12. Dec 6, 2018 #10
    BIGLEFTYINTX

    BIGLEFTYINTX Light Load Member

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    Nov 20, 2017
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    i finished my test last thursday in san antonio,I'm failing at adding it to this post. I can email it to you if you like
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2018
    BIGLEFTYINTX, Dec 6, 2018
    BIGLEFTYINTX, Dec 6, 2018
    #10
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