CDL License Process

I thought it would be helpful to share an overview of the process with some initial learning and my?take-aways on each.

Getting a Commercial Drivers License CDL is actually more work than many people think. And it should be. Driving a 80,000 lb vehicle including a 53 ft trailer has quite a bit of risk, (have you ever checked a curb, imagine now something 4 times as long as your fancy SUV). Note: A commercial license covers a broad swath (class A - semis, class B - heavy straight truck, school bus endorsement, tanker endorsement etc)

There are 4 key steps in obtaining your CDL. This is federally regulated so it is consistent state-to-state with small additions or adjustments (e.g. WI allows third party testing, MN must test with DMV)

1. DOT Physical exam and Medical Card
2. Commercial Learner's?Permit (CLP)
3. Entry-Level Driver Training (New February 2022)
4. CDL Skills/Road Test

Step One: DOT physical exam and medical card

This is the most straightforward?step. Pay ~$70 and get it done.

Basically just take an eye test, measure your blood pressure, and do a urine test. There are many providers that specialize in DOT Exams. These are valid for 24 months. Alternatively, you can self-certify that you are exempt from this (limits your ability to operate interstate). I self-certified so I could take my CLP test, then "got my card", and will change my status later.??

Step Two: Getting Your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

This was more difficult than I expected. There are required parts with a few incremental add-on options. The 3 mandatory sections are:

·?????? General Knowledge (50 questions)

·?????? Combination vehicle (20 ?questions)

·?????? Air brakes (25 questions)

The number of questions (above) and pass rates (e.g. 80% above) are state dependent. This is required to be 100% based on the state manual, which is based off a standard set of federal guidelines. There are many online quiz?prep sites like cdltest.co? Its good for 6 months.

?Step 3: Entry-Level Driver Training

This went into effect in 2022 and is why I am at a truck driving school (and the test is BYOT, bring-your-own-truck so I needed a big rig to take the test in).

There are three segments to the ELDT: Theory and two Behind-the-wheel (BTW) sections, Range BTW, and on Road BTW. FMCSA has a relatively helpful site that covers this but here is my take on the summary: ?

Theory (FMCSA A1) - the FMCSA has identified 35 subject areas, each requiring a test an 80% correct to pass. I will cover this with an online course through Interstate Truck Driving School.

Range “BTW” (A2) – While this is behind the wheel, only one of them is what most people would consider behind-the-wheel. FMCSA requires a deep dive on Pre-Trip Inspection (including air brake test), Backing exercises (Straight backing, Alley dock, PARALLEL PARKING! ), and Coupling (hooking up the tractor/truck and trailer).

I took a preliminary eval on backing the first week of the course, then ITDS set a custom curriculum. Currently, I am finishing my simulator backing which has really helped me.

Road BTW (A3) – ?this is what you would generally consider when hearing “behind-the-wheel”, including general driving techniques (highway, railroad crossing), ?Hours of Service (HOS) requirements and compliance, ?and a number of safety topics (hazard perception, skid recovery, extreme conditions etc). We cover this with a number of 1-1 BTW sessions- Picture to come ??

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Step Four: Commercial Driver’s License Exam (Road test)

Game day! Takes me back to being 16! Its honestly kinda funny getting my CDL at the same time as my 16 year old is preparing for and taking her drivers test. More to come on this when I actually get there!

For the test:

Pre-trip inspection

• For some of my classmates, this is the hardest part. I found this to be the most straight forward part, and the part that I could help my classmates the most: Providing a note taking approach, structuring memorization techniques, and being a practice partner

Basic control skills ?- This is where many of my classmates are helping me

• Includes straight backing, Offset backing (moving over one lane back) Loading Lock (backing into a loading doc perpendicular to path of travel)
• I thought I knew how to back up trailer pretty well. Turns out, backing a 53’ trailer into a 90 degree loading dock between two trailers is actually quite difficult.

The road test - Basically the same test my 16 year old took but with a massive tractor/trailer

In Minnesota, literally all of the CDL DMV appointments are currently booked for the schedulable future and it has been like this for months. This is one of the key benefits of the truck driving school, they test in Wisconsin which allows for third party testing. If I finish my course work on Friday, I could take the test as early as Monday.