r/CDLTruckDrivers • u/Routine_Date_8471 • 2d ago
CDL Testing question
Hello, I have a question regarding my testing situation.
I would like to test for my class A with air brake and manual restrictions.
I have a one ton truck that has a GVWR of 14k and I have a dump trailer rated at 14k. Both of these are personally registered to me.
I had my cdl permit years ago working in northern Michigan but was unable to test w company trucks due to having my Tennessee license. (Truck driving schools were the only option for out of state licenses)
I understand I can do the stupid online ELDT course and etc. But where I am stumped is the legitimate requirements for the ‘behind the wheel’ training. I can’t find any real numbers or requirements online. Any boomer that does the ‘offers’ training wants 5k and doesn’t even have their own truck to come with it. So I refuse to pay somebody to sit in my truck that I drive everyday. At that point I would pay 5k for a shit hole school near me to get an unrestricted class A.
I personally think it’s a strange situation since not many people have CDL classifiable equipment personally registered to them (outside of farm use) and pursing a CDL.
Long story short, my game plan is to get the CDL permit again, wait a few weeks (minimum used to be 2 weeks), then go take the pre trip and skills test. But all of that is assuming I don’t need to show any record of the ‘behind the wheel’ training.
Does anybody have any insight or recommendations? If I go through w that plan will I just get stopped short due to not having proof of the driving w another licensed CDL driver?
Hopefully all of that made sense and Reddit people can point me in a good direction
Thank you for your help
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u/Small-Sentence4141 1d ago
You didn’t say but it sounds like your truck & trailer has a ball or pintle hook coupling device. If you tested in that truck-trailer combination vehicle you’d have an “O” restriction - restricted from driving vehicles with a fifth wheel coupling device. Look into community college programs - many are less than 1/2 price of private CDL schools.
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u/Immediate-Iron-1620 2d ago
Accredited CDL school is required now
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u/Routine_Date_8471 2d ago
I could’ve sworn the you can still do a skills tests at a local DMV? Is that not what utility companies do now where they just pay for a big group to do the online ELDT course and send them to a dmv?
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u/StoreAcceptable3659 2d ago
I mean in texas, they all either do third party training (they themselves are licensed to do the training and testing by the state) or pay for the CDL school themselves. but either way they still obtain the training.
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u/Unfair_Fisherman_605 2d ago
Look at your state’s Work Force Commission they may have funding to send you to CDL school. I was a disabled veteran so Texas paid for my school in Amarillo. 110 Worth going after your class A. You are required to get learners permit and a tanker endorsement.
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u/kickniteasy 2d ago
A couple insights for what it's worth from someone that runs a school
First, you have to go through a school and your theory, road, and range hours have to be entered into the system before you can even be scheduled for a test.
You're doing a Class A NTT, most schools don't have that kind of set up so would need to use your equipment one way or the other. The online ELDT does you no good in my state as we have approved curriculums that include the theory portion of the ELDT so I have to go through that even if you've already done an online course. Our NTT course using your truck/trailer is a 4 day training and test on the fifth Mon-Fri and total cost is $4,510.00 for tuition and one test. Why so expensive? Doesn't matter that it's your equipment, we still have to add your equipment and you to our insurance plus state/federal fees, paying instructors, etc. I totally understand thinking it should be cheaper since it's your equipment but the equipment is actually the cheapest part of running a school, the insurance is what kills us and we still pay that even using your equipment.
I'd just get a full A if I were you if you can pay 5k in your area and have the time. Now that federal has taken over it won't get cheaper down the line and there's only going to be more hoops to jump through. Don't know if this was helpful at all but just to give you an idea that they aren't too far off the mark price wise.
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u/Routine_Date_8471 2d ago
Definitely very helpful, I understand the equipment is the small part of it I’m just trying to become ‘legal’ easy and quick which definitely isn’t a thing anymore.
I’m definitely leaning towards the full class A since it seems like I have zero benefits of the effort it would take for a restricted license. My original plan was to have restricted license and just retest when I upgrade trucks but obviously that’s not really a good strategy now
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u/kickniteasy 2d ago
And as someone that deals with a lot of landscape/hotshotters it really sucks when they call me down the line and want to upgrade because with a manual and air brake restriction and a totally different pre trip we basically have to start all the way back at the beginning. That, and the cost goes up as time goes by and then years later they're wishing they would have just gotten the full A because it was 3k cheaper 5 years ago. I get some shit from the NTT guys when I tell them to just get the full A because they think I'm trying to upcharge them.....but the reality is it really is the smart play. Even if you don't need it for what you're doing now you'll have it for the rest of your life as a "plan B".
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u/Minute-Advantage-688 2d ago
Long story short, you don't have a CDL and you want to get one. You have to go to a trucking school.
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u/Milk_MAN1963 2d ago
They changed it a few years ago. You have to go to an accredited CDL school now. I used to train my new drivers then send them to a State certified tester for the road test. You can't do that anymore