how long should it take to study for a cdl permit on your own to pass the exam?

Years... better get started!

Seriously, that is a pretty subjective question. It depends on you. What are your study habits, how much time can you devote to it etc. I would suggest you your State Manual cover to cover concentrating on the specific numbers mentioned (i.e. 4/32 tread on the steers).

After you have done that start taking the CDL Practice exams that are available on this site and others. This will then give you an idea of where you are weakest and return and study those chapters.

Each person is going to have a different experience. I was always pretty good in school about just sitting in class and listening and being able to pass most every test without ever studying. The down side of that is it made me pretty lazy as far as study habits, but I followed the exact method I just outlined for you and passed all the written exams on the first try.

Time frame will depend how much time you have to devote to it. I was fully employed while I studied and it took me about a month to feel confident enough to go and start taking the tests.

 

getting your CDL on your own isn't the biggest hurdle. All the big carriers want you to go to an accredited school for insurance reasons. Never believe that trucking companies care about safety or your record all they care about is getting freight delivered. They only care about safety because the DOT cares and insurance companies dictate who is hireable or not
DOT is a pain in the butt but is truly only reason most of us have new equipment otherwise we would be driving junk trucks 18 hours a day and being told we aren't trying hard enough

 

I went this route on my second go around.

I originally drove from 1990 to 1996. I started with a chauffeurs license and then was grandfather'd in in April 92 when the CDL became manditory. All I had to do then was take the written tests (General knowledge, air brakes, doubles triples, tanker, hazmat and passengers) and the company I was working for gave a paper that stated I had been driving for them and had the required experience.

Then in late 96 I was offered a job in different career field. I then relocated to Florida in 99. With the endorsements I had Florida wanted something like $250 for me to transfer my CDL from Md to Fl. I didnt want to pay it. It was only $20 for a regular license. I was making very good money and felt my career was stable enough that I would never need my CDL again so I let it go. Dumbest thing I ever did.

So in 2009 the company I was working for folded and went out of business. I found myself jobless for over 2 years. I decided to go get my CDL back and get back into trucking. I got the handbook, studied it. Went and took the written tests. You then get a learners permit for 2 weeks before you can take your road test. The written tests are easy in my opinion. I suppose because I had driven before. I started out with a tow company and then got in with a transport company that hauled heavy equipment and did over size loads. That was my previous experience.

Here in Florida the only place you can get a road test done by the state is down in Miami. It was too costly to rent a truck and drive it from Tampa to Miami. We have a Roadmaster trucking school local here. So I paid $150 to them as a 3rd party road test.

I had to do a pre-trip. If you know trucks and know your pre-trip this will come easy to you. They will give you a 'zone' or area of a tractor and ask what you will check there. I touched everything I was talking about. After passing the pre-trip portion of the road test I went on to their on site road test. Alley backing between a row of cones. Basically the same as if you had to dock between 2 other trucks at a shipper or consignee. Or park between 2 trucks at truck stop. Then you are required to parallel park in a box of cones with only 2 or 3 pull ups allowed. After that the trainer got in the truck with me. I went on a road test which consisted of about 3 miles on a highway, then a few miles of city driving and a back road to get back to park the truck. My advice is to pay attention and have a truckers attitude. Watch your mirrors, check your clearances. I went over a girder bridge that had a height clearance of 14'2. I was testing in a Volvo with 53' van at 13'6. So I knew I was fine. But about 1 mile passed the bridge he asked me what the clearance was on the bridge to see if I was paying attention. I knew because as a trucker you need to always look ahead for clearance problems. These are the kinds of things to have in mind.

The written test was the easiest part. If you had little to no road experience I would suggest getting together with a friend who has a CDL and rent a truck and trailer to get some practice before taking the road test.

Then,.. as I quickly discovered. Just having a CDL-A license does not get you a job. Trucking companies are at the mercy of insurance companies as to who they can and cant hire. Its not like when I first started out, a good driving record, a test drive and a hand shake and you were hired. Completely different today. I had 6 years prior experience. But no 'recent' driving experience. Guys who graduated out of trucking school with no real world experience stood a better chance at getting hired than I did. I just kept knocking on doors, making phone calls and finally found a guys that would hire me. But as I quickly found out, at a severe cost that I wont get into in this post. Basically there are small company owners that pray upon drivers like me and take advantage of us knowing that we no where else to go. So they get at least 6 - 12 months out of us before we quit. I made it 6 months, just got my first home time and I have no intention of going back out if I can help it. I am trying to find employment right now with a different company.

Hope this helps. Best of luck to you.

Hurst

 

the written CDL permit exam?
I picked up the book from the CDL school.. drove straight over to the DMV and sat in the parking lot for about 2hrs memorizing it.

 

I can honestly say I never picked up the CDL book before I did my written test. Once it came time to take my pre-trip and road test I glanced over it a bit on the pre-trip section to make sure that I didn't miss anything. So it really depends who you are and if it comes naturally to you. I have been around trucks my whole life and had a pretty good understanding of laws associated with driving truck.