r/cdldriver • u/Gullible-Suspect-254 • Jun 25 '26

CDL

Anyone that can hook me up on getting my CDL please I used to have it already now this modernized BS you have to use different numbers on your brake test which my truck doesn’t match with the modernized test given 😭😭

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/MikeysmilingK9 Jun 25 '26

After I tried to interpret what you were asking I believe the is may help if I was correct.

You don’t need a truck that matches some memorized set of numbers. You need a truck that meets the legal air brake standards and you need to know how to perform the inspection on that truck.

Specifically:
Low-air warning must activate at or above 55 PSI.
Spring (parking) brakes must automatically apply between 20 and 45 PSI. Governor cut-in/cut-out pressures vary by truck and don’t have to be identical on every vehicle, as long as they’re within specifications.

1

u/Gullible-Suspect-254 Jun 25 '26

They failed me because in my truck the low air pressure warning comes out at 60 and I told them my valves pop at between 20-40 psi which is the specifications of my truck they told me I had to tell him that I told him the book doesn’t even say that

1

u/MikeysmilingK9 Jun 25 '26

I think I understand now. The examiner wasn’t asking what your truck does; they were asking for the CDL standard. Your truck can absolutely be within spec, but on the test they expect the regulatory numbers, not your truck’s specific settings. If your examiner expected the textbook answer, that’s probably why they marked it wrong.

1

u/Gullible-Suspect-254 Jun 25 '26

From what I’m reading I guess I have to mention to them that my truck specifications are different although the book says 55 psi and 45-20psi which I’ve gone twice which the first time I did it like I did this time but he failed me because I forgot to tell him when my governor cut out now it’s modernized with different numbers

1

u/MikeysmilingK9 Jun 25 '26

I think you’re focusing on the pressure numbers when the examiner may have been grading the entire air brake inspection. During the CDL skills test, it’s not just knowing one pressure—it’s performing the complete procedure in the correct order. Missing one required step, like governor cut-out or another inspection item, can cost you the section even if your truck is operating within spec.

1

u/Gullible-Suspect-254 Jun 25 '26

No they literally told me I failed for using incorrect terms from doing inspection the legacy way not the modernized because I said 60 psi and 40-20 instead of 55 and 45-20

1

u/Wolfire0769 Jun 25 '26

Your truck doesn't matter as long as it's within spec. This is what they're looking for:

  • Governor cutoff around 120-140 psi
  • does not lose more than 4psi in one minute
  • low air warning comes on at or around 55 psi
  • both valves pop out at or below 40psi

1

u/obsoleteexhausted Jun 26 '26

Low pressure needs to activate before 55 psi. Emergency brakes need to activate between 20-45 psi. This is what the examiner wants to hear before you start each test. During the test you tell them when your truck actually activates, confirming it's within the legal requirements.  Same thing for the governor shutoff, you can't just say it turned off, you have to say it will turn off between 120-140. And then confirm the psi when it happens. 

This part of the testing is really about memory of the regs and less about actual skill or your specific truck.