I have the opportunity to make a couple trips on weekends to earn some cash on the side, but I need to have a CDL.

For those of you out there who have one or know what it takes to get one what are my steps.

From my understanding I need to go to the DMV take that test, once I pass it I get a provisional license, then I need a certain amount of experience driving with a CDL holder before I can take the driving test and officaly get a CDL.

Does that sound right or way off.

The person I will be driving for has trucks and equipment at my disposal so I dont need to go through one of the driving schools.

I have quite a bit of experience driving with trialers and passenger trucks up to 35-foot trailer and can drive a stick, but have never driven a rig, what else should I be thinking about.

Thanks for any help or advice.

matt

I had a Texas CDL some years ago but can't remember much about the requirements, here is a site that might help some. b http://www.testquestionsandanswers.com/cdl/texas.html

I have a class B CDL. It's not the full blown Class A, but here's what I learned in my experience:

Figure out exactly which license (Class A or B) you need, and figure out which endorsememts you need (air brakes, vehicle weight limit, hazmat, etc.)

Get a study book and study ahead of time (you should be able to find it online), but be sure to only study for the endorsements you need. There's no need to study for a particular endorsement if you don't need it.

Once you take the written test and pass it (actually when I took it it was on a computer touch screen), you will have to do a driving test. You have to provide your own vehicle for this, although your friend will surely help you with this.

That's my advice. It's been since 2006 since I took mine, surely it hasn't changed that much. I'm sure someone else will be along with more info. Good luck!

Ok thanks for the help guys I just got a adobe pdf copy of the book. Im not sure which endorsements I will need, gonna have to do some homework on that one.

matt

One thing is that driving a rig stick shift is not the same as a car stick shift. A manual tranny for a car or pickup has synchros to enable you to clutch and change gear. On a rig you don't have synchros so you have to use engine rpms to synchronize the shift. The biggest thing to keep in mind is when doing the drive test the examiner wants to make sure you can control a truck of that size safely and correctly.

about the getting the CDL, study the handbook and take your written exams. you don't need experiance to take the driven test, but you do need to know what you are doing.

LOTS of practice driving, parrallel parking, backing, no shifting during turns, keep both hands on the wheel, etc.

when you go to take your driving test, bring the trailer that is the easiest to handle for you, that may not be the shortest trailer BTW.

As stated above, driving a stick shift auto is night and day different compared to a trans in a truck. I have never been much of a teacher, so the best I can tell you is don't force the shifts, work the engine RPM's and it will go into gear with ease. For instance upshifting; to upshift, as you are pulling your foot off of the throttle, be moving the stick into neutral, then hold slight pressure against the next gear and when the RPMS match, it'll slide into gear...same with down shifting, move into neutral as rpms are falling, but to get into lower gear, increase RPS as your holding pressure against the gear, and when the RPMS match up, it'll fall in...


Whatchya gonna be hauling
I have been wanting to find some parttime-weekend driving work for a little extra cash

also, just a suggestion, get all of the endorcements you can, like doubles and triples, hazmat, etc. That way, if something comes up like pulling a set of doubles, you can do it.

At the time I took my test, I wasn't old enough to get anything but the class A (I was 18) and now I can't find the time to go back and add the endorcements

Also might look into DOT requirements for DOT physical that will also be needed.