Obtaining a CDL

I have E and O restrictions on my CDL limiting me to bumper type trailers and auto trans only. Have pulled goose necks all my life behind pickups and drove 5-10 speed trucks in the field and on the road. Doesn't make much sense to me why they restrict it the way they do.

PJ The Kid said:

I have E and O restrictions on my CDL limiting me to bumper type trailers and auto trans only. Have pulled goose necks all my life behind pickups and drove 5-10 speed trucks in the field and on the road. Doesn't make much sense to me why they restrict it the way they do.

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My guess is that to many people took the test with a pickup and gooseneck and then had no clue how to drive a semi. Thirty years ago here that was the standard for a lot of people testing so they changed the testing requirements to license up to what you test with.

I just went this week for my physical to renew my medical card now I have to go back in 3 mo for it again apparently the new regulations say that your bmi can't be over 35 I'm at 38 that puts me 23 lbs overweight the dr recommended me for a sleep apnea test or I have to lose the weight before my next physical and they started measuring your neck size I guess that can't be bigger than 17" or you have to go for a sleep test

cth008 said:

How have some of you obtained your cdl? Did the company you were working for assist you? Truck driving school? I obtained my cdl learner's permit on my own, but the company I am working for will not give me the opportunity to practice driving and the truck driver's will not talk me through a pretrip inspection. Thank you.

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First the company's insurance probably would not cover a newby. Second most of the drivers probably forgot how to do through pretrip.

Look for a Driving School. Our local schools have all the training material and driving courses set up. They schedule test dates and provide truck.

I was in the unpleasant position of not being quite poor enough to qualify for government freebies, or employed by a huge corporation willing to invest thousands on anyone they can find with no DUIs or felonies. I was a poor owner of one truck barely big enough to require CDL. I feel they tossed countless obstacles in my way. I don't believe that was fair.

Government constantly seeks to remove freedom from their people. This is not the worst, but it is part of a systematic purge of personal rights.

Each of the days I went through red tape, I saw employees of a huge multi state trash hauler getting fast tracked through the process. Many of these people I doubt could sign their name.

I have to laugh I got my Chauffeurs license {that's what they called a CDL in those days} in 1975. Any one who owned a semi could sign a voucher for you. Take the written
test and you were done. ----------------just remember to swing'em wide.

Truck Shop

Illinois has the worst CDL testing requirements in the country. I suppose they would call them the best

Seems we had a few incidents of CDL licenses being sold to anyone with legal tender by corrupt state employees. Some of them are still in prison. This prompted them to "improve" the testing requirements.

I got my class B (single vehicle) when I was 18. Moved to another state and transferred it. Moved back and tried to transfer back. Illinois battle axe employee says no can do. Surrender your CDL and start over. Ugh.

I found an outfit that will rent you a truck and trailer for the test. Pretty painless. Practiced backing and whatnot for an hour the night before. Sailed through the test and was on my way. This was not a driving school. You had to know how to drive. They just provided equipment.

Truck Shop said:

I have to laugh I got my Chauffeurs license {that's what they called a CDL in those days} in 1975. Any one who owned a semi could sign a voucher for you. Take the written
test and you were done. ----------------just remember to swing'em wide.

Truck Shop

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Same here, just in 1979.

RZucker said:

Same here, just in 1979.

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Man we are OLD School, my first Chauffeurs license was in 1975 in Ft Scott KS, had to have to run the wrecker and test drive trucks. Moved back to MO and had to test all over again as did not accept KS License carry over. Then as luck would have it let my license drop to a regular in late 80s to become a class C in 92 and had to Retest for my class A in 93. I got to enjoy the 15 mile Road Test as well all the Hazmat and other written tests all over again. Test MSHP agent and I knew each other, she was strict but had known me quite awhile so I did get some slack.

A late model duallie pickup and a fifth wheel trailer rated greater than 10k is a solution that has been suggested. No air brakes and no standard trans means these endorsements will not be included, but this is probably adequate for many circumstances.

Only issue is when you tweak the limits to get a little more load on or try to buy a slightly bigger trailer and sneak it past or end up having to replace an aged well worn dually with another that is a stick and then DO get caught. That is occurring here in MO to a limited value, local counties and larger metros are establishing their own DOT Code enforcement divisions as the State Boys and Girls cannot be everywhere. These New Agents in MO are riding pretty hard, be really Cautious in Franklin and St.Louis counties.

Here in Canada a CDL includes stick and or autos, not indicated on endorsement, but I am certain if you are unable to drive a stick or auto it would be a fail .
Air endorsement is separate and is not required for CDL .

I had been told for years you had to be full time employed to test for CDL. That was not true. There are numerous limited licenses. Mine is class A truck & trailer, air brakes, but no fifth wheel. For fifth wheel you need to test with fifth wheel rig. I couldn't muster one, I have a restriction on my license, (no fifth wheel)

muzy said:

Here in Canada a CDL includes stick and or autos, not indicated on endorsement, but I am certain if you are unable to drive a stick or auto it would be a fail. Air endorsement is separate and is not required for CDL.

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Our side of the pond if you test on a stick you get a licence that covers you for both stick AND auto transmissions. If you test on an auto trans your licence clearly states AUTO ONLY. If you want a licence for stick after that you have to do a re-test on a truck with a stick transmission. To my mind that's fair enough.

In my case testing was a big ordeal. My truck & trailer are old. I know they go over your equipment with a fine tooth comb. I opted to work a deal with an owner with newer equipment.
You have to have a licenced CDL driver accompany you to the test 22 miles from my home, 30 miles from his.
They failed me on my first pre trip inspection. I didn't check landing gear, fifth wheel or headboard on the trailer. I pointed out the trailer didn't have those items. I failed to check mirrors, or windshield. I argued I just drove it to Rutland. They were fine then.
Next round: I had been told in state drivers didn't need a medical card. When I arrived to test they wanted my medical card. "You told me I didn't need one." He replied: "The law is changing in a few months. We're enforcing them early."
Another wasted trip.
I got a medical card, made another appointment. On the appointed day he informed me he had no record of me having an appointment. Wasted trip three!
Last appointment: my accompanying driver, truck & trailer backed out on me. With a weeks notice, I spent $2000. on my truck, and recruited a retired trucker who was still licensed, but sold his truck. I spent two hours on pre trip inspection. Used the State provided check list, checking off each item. The test guy was trying to hurry me through it. I informed him safety was important. I DID make the point the trailer wasn't equipped with headboard, landing gear. He argued my truck was available with hydraulic brakes. It should have both electric horn, and air horn. He did let it slide that I had only an air horn.

It is a big ordeal to test. Vermont opposes you all the way. To retest each time you buy a different truck is frustrating.

Missouri is getting near as bad, is as if they really want Foreign Drivers doing the work as they receive white glove handling.

My license lapsed at one time. The first time I I took the written test. Then the company safety officer rode with we and did a letter.
The second time I had to do the DMV driving test. Asked a company I worked with about using their equipment. They had new people test on a regular basis. Be there we we are there and it is free.
Failed the first time. Stopped just a bit short of the stop here line, which I did not know. Then I moved on to the parallel park in this box. Replied I cannot because this truck and trailer will not fit in those cones. Well you have to back the trailer into the space between the lines and stop just before the cones. If the truck is sticking out that is OK.
Trailer tires were on the line but within the cones so I worked on that a bit.
OK driver you are done and can return to the parking area. Whoa whoa whoa what's the problem. No problem but you already failed. If you just stopped the first time you backed up you would have been fine. You stopped just short of the the line and that is one point. Then you pulled up three times. Each time you pull up is three points. You are allowed ten points and you are done. If you had stopped the first time you backed up you would have been fine. Being on the line only counts on point. But you said I had to be between the lines?
I got past that the second time. Then I was really worried about remembering to use the clutch all the time, not in my nature.
Caught myself shifting gears going through an intersection. Oh man I am not supposed to shift gears while turning am I? No but what I do not understand is why you always shift while turning right. You never shift while turning left. I have never seen that before. Well the truck I am shuttling trailers with does not have P/S. You cannot turn left and shift gears at the same time.
I do not do that anymore and I passed. Thanks Mister.
Just a couple of things not to do.
An air brake, day cab with a short drop deck makes it as easy as possible. With a stick it covers all the bases for a class A. I saw a company with that set up while I was driving a sleeper and a van.

Nige said:

Our side of the pond if you test on a stick you get a licence that covers you for both stick AND auto transmissions. If you test on an auto trans your licence clearly states AUTO ONLY. If you want a licence for stick after that you have to do a re-test on a truck with a stick transmission. To my mind that's fair enough.

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Here in quebec it is the same way i did it this spring. I was very surprised at how easy it was. Tractor can crossover solid lines but trailer has to stay in them at all times. And they really dont care how much you grind gears as long as you double clutch and of you miss a gear are able to recover from it.

Reading this thread brought back many memories. I live in Washington State. I got my "commercial endorsement" in 1968 I was 16. I got it the day I got my first drivers license. After taking the drivers test in my Dad's pickup, I went back into the office and when starting the paperwork I presented them the paper signed by my uncle who owned several log trucks vouching for my ability. No questions asked. In those days lots of kids were driving log truck off highway for family. I could not drive on the highway though until I turned 18, insurance companies would not insure a kid driving a log truck or any other truck for that matter. So, I drove off highway every summer until I turned 18. For those of you in Washington, this all happened in Morton, so that might have some influence on what happened.