Anyone have a Class A license/airbrakes

[hrc200x]

I'm thinking of getting a Class A with air brake endorsement. Can anyone give me the lowdown on the testing?

I understand there is a written test. How many questions? How many can you get wrong?

After you pass the written you take the road test correct? And after the written do you get a slip of paper that is supposed to help you on the pretrip inspection test?

One guy I talked to that took the test many years ago said he failed part of the driving test because he forgot to put on his 4 way flashers during a backup around a corner. When do you use 4 ways, I assume everytime you are backing up, or pulled over to the side of the road for an emergency or to check things out?

Any tips?

I found a web site that has sample questions that you can answer, then it corrects you. Seems like its testing your ability to read and understand the questions as much as its testing understanding class A material.

[smokinwrench]

It is easy as can be. I have a class B with air brakes. Goto your local drivers license place and get the book. Study a little bit pass the written test then you go take the drivign test.

[KASEY]

you also have to pass a DOT physical (cough please)
i have a CDL with haz mat , airbrakes ,doubles and triples ,,,

[Dave223]

heres a site that gives you a test...for each category your interested in. http://www.layover.com/newbies/cdltest/

and another here http://www.usadrivesafe.com/cdlonline.asp

[hrc200x]

Thanks for the links Dave. I do already have the heath card so that will be one last thing to worry about. Jeswinehart, I'm assuming up here that if you don't pass you get sent home. A friend of mine took it in minneapolis, he ran over a curb making a corner and I guess thats what failed him. I'll be doing mine in Duluth. Maybe the minneapolis place is so busy they need to keep the flow going so if you screw up there's no second chance, not sure how long you'd have to wait, possibly the next day or next time you could get an appointment.

For the pretrip inspection, does the teacher tell you somthing like " Point out some possible problems that could happen with the steering"? Or are you to run through the whole pretrip thing on your own? Looked like quite a bit of stuff, everything from checking lights to making sure there's no dents in the drive shaft to making sure the door shuts tight?

[mywifeknowseverything]

you also have to pass a DOT physical (cough please)
i have a CDL with haz mat , airbrakes ,doubles and triples ,,,

Same Here....I have a Physical this Friday....I have to Cough once a yr...Normally your Physical is a 2 yr thing but if your on Meds....Its once a yr... None of the Test is a Big Deal if you Study...

[hrc200x]

yes, as of now I only have a Class D license. To drive a delivery truck at work I guess we needed a medical card, so got that a few years ago. Will be taking the written test for class A/airbrakes next week, then road test a month from now.

[LonesomeTriZ]

The best advice I can give is, don't hit anything.

[grundlegrabber]

I'm sure it varies from state to state. I have a PA class B with airbrakes (straight truck only). I studied the PA commercial driver's manual pretty well and had no problem with the written test. You should be familiar with the mechanics of airbrake systems, there will be quite a few questions on it. Pretrip was pretty simple, and the instructor did guide me a little bit. Just read and memorize the book stuff for the written. As for the driving, it's all in the skill. Can't help ya there!

[bearclawchris]

I got my a class cdl in the early 90's in Illinois. My best advice is study your states manual/studyguide. I remember some totally rediculous stuff like what five things can go wrong with your wheels and lugnuts etc. I suppose it all depends on how good a mood the person testing you is in when you are there. Seems like most dealings with the dmv the people are way uptight. I also heard now you might need to get a federal background check for Hazmat endorsement. Good Luck and study hard.

[Dave223]

when I took my cdl pretrip down here in La. You walk around the truck, starting on one corner pointing out things that you are supposed to be looking for. The inspector says nothing and takes notes on what you missed. I walked around and pointed out things like "front springs, no cracks, gouges or welds" "front rim, no cracks, bends, gouges or welds" "engine, no visible oil leaks, no audible air leaks" "fuel tank, no visible dents, cracks, welds, leaks" I had to do this all around the truck until I made it around. At our DMV you can go in and get free booklets that show what will be tested, maybe give em a call? hope this helps, Dave

[sandpuppi101]

Like John said,up here in MI. you just keep taking and taking the test until you get the written passed! On the pre-trip ,up here you can actually ask for a cheet sheet and they will give you one! When you pass that and actually go for your drving part,don't forget to do a air brake test and make sure you have the warning lights comne on when you go below 60PSI.I hate driving trucks- I get to tool around Detroit and the Burbs in my P&h truck crane,now thats fun.It is about 60' long when it is folded up and sitting in the cradle!

[hrc200x]

Thanks for the tips! From reading the posts it sounds like you have to remember everything on the truck to be checked. I was hoping that the instructor would ask you to check the springs make sure they arn't cracked, do a low air pressure test to make sure a buzzer comes on at 60psi.

The outside checks shouldn't be bad with a cheat sheet. What all inside stuff is there? There's a few tests alone on the brakes that can be done right?

1. parking brake pops on around 40 psi

2. buzzer around 60 psi

3. compressor stops pumping around 125psi

4. starts pumping at 100psi

They looking for all of them? Is there any more tests on the brakes?

what about when to use 4 way flashers? Just when pulled over for say an emergency or backing up?

[mywifeknowseverything]

There are NO Cheat Sheets Allowed.. You dont walk around life with a Cheat Sheet

Just a bit of Advise....When doing the Walk Around....Make sure you Touch and Talk about everything you see..(when I did mine I even crawled under the Trailer )..Do this until the DMV person tells you to move on...When doing the In the Cab Pre Trip..Talk about what you are doing and why...Im not sure about where you are but in CALI.... If you miss one Break Check....You are down the road and not allowed to return for 2 weeks...

[hrc200x]

I'm fairly sure you get a cheat sheet up here. Not sure if you were talking to me or not, but I'm in Minnesota, not cali. Only a day and a half until the written!