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Split duals?

RTSmith

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Oct 23, 2008
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Middle Tenn.
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Amateur demolition & dirt pusher
Regulators and law makers are revamping the commercial drivers licensing program to mandate 3 weeks classroom training for new CDL applicants. From what I was told, this is supposed to begin in 2021 or 2022, which will make the cost of getting a CDL substantially higher than it is today.

Wow. Had not heard that. we do a lot of horse trailers that when on a 1 ton truck, classify to needing a CDL. And folks fuss to no end about it and few actually do it. This will make it even worse....
 

dixon700

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May 11, 2014
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210
Location
pa
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heavy truck mechanic
Huh? Vermont law, I thought was same as everybody else. Here a trailer over 10,000 loaded capacity needs CDL. The law is specific.
Then, later it says if truck & trailer exceeds 26000.
As the law isn't specific which is the case, I'm not clear how the enforcement types handle it.
My gcwr are below 26k so no cdl required. If your gcwr is over 17,001 lbs or gvwr if the truck is over 10,001 lb you are required to have a dot medical card. My truck is 10k and my trl is 14k so I'm under 26k, therefore no cdl required. Now if I had a 1ton I'd need a CDL. My truck is also only registered to a class 8 combination so I'd also have to register my truck higher and that's already a retarded $540 a year. I think I'm gonna get my CDL this year. I think it's $350 at Kip's bus service and you even use their vehicles.
 

Willie B

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Jan 2, 2016
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Location
Mount Tabor VT
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Electrician
For me CDL exam was a frustration nightmare.
Written test went fine. I studied the manual. The test is really a word for word test of the language in the manual. They are not testing your skill, or understanding of law. They want word for word exactly what the manual says. A correct answer that doesn't exactly quote the manual is an incorrect answer.
Made my appointment for the road test that day. I would not need a medical card if I didn't drive out of state.
For my road test I needed a truck & trailer worthy of a fine tooth comb inspection, a trailer likewise. I had to be accompanied by a CDL driver. I made a deal with my son's boss. Arriving for the road test, they asked for my medical card. "You said I wouldn't need one." Well, the law is changing in July, we're enforcing it early.

I made my appointment with my doctor. I arrived for the exam, he informed me he no longer does CDL exams. Doctor had a little argument with his office staff, he thought I couldn't hear. Finally he did give the exam. He explained, "There is a week long course for MDs to be certified to give the test. I'm qualified to teach it, but without wasting a week, I'm not qualified to examine you."

Next road test, I failed the pre trip inspection. "You didn't inspect the headboard, or running gear on the trailer."
I answered "It doesn't have either of those features!"
He says, "You should have mentioned that." "Also, you didn't inspect the windshield, or mirrors"
I drove to Rutland, I'd have noticed a problem.

Next appointment, I made by phone. When I showed up they had no record of me having an appointment.

By the last appointment my CDL driver backed out on me days before the test. I scrambled, spent $2000 on my truck, found a different CDL driver, a retired trucker who kept his CDL. That time I spent two hours on the pre trip inspection. I pointed out the trailer had no landing gear, or headboard. I inspected the windshield, and mirrors, even wiped a smudge on the passenger side. I'm sure he HATED me! He finally called it off, said he had other tests to do same day. The road test went fine. I was a little cock eyed backing into the loading dock, but legal.
 

Truck Shop

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When I retire in a few years I will drop the CDL. I use to like to drive but not much anymore.
 

92U 3406

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Western Canuckistan
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Wrench Bender
Glad they aren't ****tards about the phrasing or language we use on our test up here. They want to see understanding vs word for word receitment of the book. At least that was my experience anyways.
 

suladas

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Jun 30, 2016
Messages
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Location
Canada
Glad they aren't ****tards about the phrasing or language we use on our test up here. They want to see understanding vs word for word receitment of the book. At least that was my experience anyways.

You got lucky. My experience was different. When taking my class 3 test I argued with the examiner for docking me for "late lane change" I told him it was to test my driving skills, not follow his crappy directions because IMO his "were turning here" was too late for the intersection he wanted me to turn at. Passed as that was my only thing but it's more the point of it.

Class 1 written test is stupid. I failed because I didn't study schoolbus or some other TDG BS. Road test awful too. I failed first time on pre trip I was docked for things like not checking mirrors, hydraulic tank cap, not checking to make sure wipers work, etc. I put on 4 ways to check signal lights, but apparently that's not acceptable either. Just stupid. The part I cannot understand is, how does a pre trip not involve opening the hood? Or checking oil level in hubs, etc? But you better say a cap is tight or get docked.

I got cocky the first time and just did a pre trip the way I did for the last 10 years, not how the dumb book wants it done. And of course after the test back to common sense pre trips.

I'm just happy to be done with it and not need to deal with this new garbage they brought in. Just a medical every 5 years.
 

Don.S

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Messages
397
Location
Montreal Canada
I got caught behind a truck whos fuel tank cap was open. Sure wish he had checked it on his pre trip so i would not have to eat diesel all over my windshield and only realize after the wipers were used.
 
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suladas

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Jun 30, 2016
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Canada
I got caught behind a truck whos fuel tank cap was open. Sure wish he had checked it on his pre trip so i would not have to eat diesel all over my windshield and only realize after the wipers were used.

There's a difference between being off and actually on though. And well a difference between a driver who knows their truck and a clueless one. In many cases you can visually see if something like a fuel cap is on properly or not.
 

92U 3406

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You got lucky. My experience was different. When taking my class 3 test I argued with the examiner for docking me for "late lane change" I told him it was to test my driving skills, not follow his crappy directions because IMO his "were turning here" was too late for the intersection he wanted me to turn at. Passed as that was my only thing but it's more the point of it.

Class 1 written test is stupid. I failed because I didn't study schoolbus or some other TDG BS. Road test awful too. I failed first time on pre trip I was docked for things like not checking mirrors, hydraulic tank cap, not checking to make sure wipers work, etc. I put on 4 ways to check signal lights, but apparently that's not acceptable either. Just stupid. The part I cannot understand is, how does a pre trip not involve opening the hood? Or checking oil level in hubs, etc? But you better say a cap is tight or get docked.

I got cocky the first time and just did a pre trip the way I did for the last 10 years, not how the dumb book wants it done. And of course after the test back to common sense pre trips.

I'm just happy to be done with it and not need to deal with this new garbage they brought in. Just a medical every 5 years.

My examiner was good. No tricks, no last 2nd directions etc.

I think we're lucky compared to the US when it comes to licencing and commercial licenses. Seems like we have so much less crap to wade through.
 
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92U 3406

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Oh the thing with not opening the hood. I was told some moron threw their back out trying to open the hood years ago and made an injury claim over it so now no hoods get opened.
 

redneckracin

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May 19, 2010
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574
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Western PA
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Civil Engineer
My gcwr are below 26k so no cdl required. If your gcwr is over 17,001 lbs or gvwr if the truck is over 10,001 lb you are required to have a dot medical card. My truck is 10k and my trl is 14k so I'm under 26k, therefore no cdl required. Now if I had a 1ton I'd need a CDL. My truck is also only registered to a class 8 combination so I'd also have to register my truck higher and that's already a retarded $540 a year. I think I'm gonna get my CDL this year. I think it's $350 at Kip's bus service and you even use their vehicles.

I took my test at Kips (Curwensville, PA and it was $450 a few years ago. They used an old F800 box truck and triaxle car trailer. Very easy to maneuver if you have ever driven a goose neck or little longer trailer around. I used their stuff since I knew it would pass the inspection and I wouldn't need a cdl license holder to drive over with me with my setup. I think they have since upgraded the truck but I don't get by there too often.
 

dixon700

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pa
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heavy truck mechanic
I took my test at Kips (Curwensville, PA and it was $450 a few years ago. They used an old F800 box truck and triaxle car trailer. Very easy to maneuver if you have ever driven a goose neck or little longer trailer around. I used their stuff since I knew it would pass the inspection and I wouldn't need a cdl license holder to drive over with me with my setup. I think they have since upgraded the truck but I don't get by there too often.
I knew it was some price like that. All I know is many have been going there for their cdl's for years n years.
 

Truck Shop

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Again laughable, I got my CDL 45 years ago or so. Truck owner signed my ticket for a written test, I took the test, I got my chauffeurs licence. That was it in them days. You fellers should
have been born sooner.
 

NepeanGC

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Ottawa, Ontario
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#dirtherder
My class A was a breeze when I did it, wrote a test, did a pre-trip, drove a truck and trailer for about 30 mins, and away I went. We're getting one of the guys trained up this year...$10k and 103 hours of minimum training...Luckily we get significant government subsidies.
 

92U 3406

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Again laughable, I got my CDL 45 years ago or so. Truck owner signed my ticket for a written test, I took the test, I got my chauffeurs licence. That was it in them days. You fellers should
have been born sooner.

I'm a firm believer that you're either born with the ability to handle a truck or you're not. No amount of training will turn a non-driver into a driver IMO.
 

Truck Shop

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I'm a firm believer that you're either born with the ability to handle a truck or you're not. No amount of training will turn a non-driver into a driver IMO.

You said a mouthful, either your a wheel man or your not. Same goes for about everything else too.---Most people setting behind the wheel herd what their driving, they don't drive it. {Yah mule-Yah get along
there you lop eared galoot!.
 

Don.S

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Mar 28, 2016
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Montreal Canada
I did my license last year and honestly it should be harder to get. I was able to remeber a bunch of stuff to point at and say it is good and i drove around with a 53' trailer in town with out hitting anything and could shift. I always joke that the pointy end goes forward and thats all you need to know. It works around here in flat country but i have no idea what to do if i had to come down a real hill.
 

Truck Shop

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It works around here in flat country but i have no idea what to do if i had to come down a real hill.

Oregon DOT is always dressing the gravel on the escape ramps on Cabbage Hill I-84. The Midwest flat lander's come down flashers a-flashing and some smoke a rolling out behind.
You can smell them when they are a half mile ahead of you. Frozen starring ahead with a death grip on the wheel looking like a cigar store Indian.
 

Don.S

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Mar 28, 2016
Messages
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Montreal Canada
But i know pointy end goes forward and if i i get in a jam the flat end can go backwards. All jokes aside i can put a truck where i need but its pretty scary how easy it is to get a license.
 
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