Things that helped you pass your CDL written test?

[debit.servus]

I am currently studying for the California DMV written CDL test, and asking the community what lines of thinking, unusual hacks, tips, tricks and strategies (other than studying) you used to pass the CDL written test so you can advance to training in the trucks?

 

[Wabbit]

No idea, sorry. But maybe the morning crew might have some ideas.

 

[GotSmart]

There are no cheats/hacks for learning the laws and rules of safety while driving 80,000 lbs of brick down a road filled with living people. The only thing to remember is patience is the safest way to survive.

Here is one of the best lessons of this.  Watch for the WALMART driver, and see how he saves a lot of problems from happening by stoping in the right place and being patient.

 

[FinallyFree]

I had to take the Idaho written last year and easily found specific question/anwser guides online in the form of practice tests and they were free. I suspect most, if not all, states have something similar. As I recall there were about 9 practice test which took about an hour to complete. I made a few mistakes, reviewed the correction and re-took the tests. Next day went in and aced the test at the DMV in about 5 minutes.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I've always had a knack for test taking so I didn't find the written test very difficult. With multiple choice you can almost always narrow it down from 4 choices to two. Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting the right answer. Studies have proven that if you don't know an answer you always want to go with the answer you first thought was right. 2nd guessing yourself usually leads you to the wrong answer. You def do want to study some though, there are some very important things you should know. Online practice tests are great and there are probably California specific ones online. In Massachusetts even after the written test, the instructors would ask us several questions everyday before being allowed in the truck and if we got too many wrong the day was over, we weren't allowed to continue on in the truck that day. They were usually pretrip inspection questions because that was a big part of the actual driving test with the DMV. You had to do the entire pre trip inspection and answer all the officer's questions in 3 min so make sure you do study as you will def need to know everything on the test.

 

[Trebor English]

Florida has a booklet.  The way to pass is to study the booklet and do practice tests.  Mostly it makes sense.  I found hazmat to be the most new to me material, the most difficult.  

In Florida all the endorsements are tested individually and paid for individually.  Take all you can, even bus and school bus.  You never know where jobs might turn up.  For example, I never used the tank endorsement but the test was super easy.  Every license renewal charges for each endorsement.

Remember, when you get to the medical, the point is not health care.  The point is to disqualify you.  I'm not suggesting that you lie but don't offer information or ask the doctor health questions.

They lie when they call you for a drug test.  They do not give you drugs to test.

 

[Goshawk]

So which state will it be best to take a CDL course in? Can you do it in four weeks while camped at a campground in a car and a tent? Am asking for a friend who is a great driver, but has no idea where to go for a relatively cheap course.


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[bullfrog]

A good way to get a free class B CDL is to go work for a school district. A lot of them do their own training or reimburse costs but all have different systems so shop around you would be surprised what a seasonal garbage truck driver can make.

 

[speedhighway46]

Best way to pass the written CDL test?

Only one way: study. That's what I did and it worked.

Just my opinion . . .

 

[debit.servus]

There are no cheats/hacks for learning the laws and rules of safety while driving 80,000 lbs of brick down a road filled with living people. The only thing to remember is patience is the safest way to survive.

Here is one of the best lessons of this.  Watch for the WALMART driver, and see how he saves a lot of problems from happening by stoping in the right place and being patient.

I had to take the Idaho written last year and easily found specific question/anwser guides online in the form of practice tests and they were free. I suspect most, if not all, states have something similar. As I recall there were about 9 practice test which took about an hour to complete. I made a few mistakes, reviewed the correction and re-took the tests. Next day went in and aced the test at the DMV in about 5 minutes.

I've always had a knack for test taking so I didn't find the written test very difficult.  With multiple choice you can almost always narrow it down from 4 choices to two.  Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting the right answer.  Studies have proven that if you don't know an answer you always want to go with the answer you first thought was right.  2nd guessing yourself usually leads you to the wrong answer.  You def do want to study some though, there are some very important things you should know.  Online practice tests are great and there are probably California specific ones online.  

Thanks, California's CDL written test questions are randomized & the 3 multiple choice test questions shuffled around.

Florida has a booklet.  The way to pass is to study the booklet and do practice tests.  Mostly it makes sense.  I found hazmat to be the most new to me material, the most difficult.  

In Florida all the endorsements are tested individually and paid for individually.  Take all you can, even bus and school bus.  You never know where jobs might turn up.  For example, I never used the tank endorsement but the test was super easy.  Every license renewal charges for each endorsement.

Remember, when you get to the medical, the point is not health care.  The point is to disqualify you.  I'm not suggesting that you lie but don't offer information or ask the doctor health questions.

They lie when they call you for a drug test.  They do not give you drugs to test.

So which state will it be best to take a CDL course in?  Can you do it in four weeks while camped at a campground in a car and a tent?  Am asking for a friend who is a great driver, but has no idea where to go for a relatively cheap course.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A good way to get a free class B CDL is to go work for a school district.  A lot of them do their own training or reimburse costs but all have different systems so shop around you would be surprised what a seasonal garbage truck driver can make.

I should have mentioned that I'm already enrolled in a trucking school here in San Jose, it's San Jose Trucking School on North King Rd. I started the week before Christmas 2016 and still slogging for the written test.

I started this thread incase there were any California DMV hacks people wished they knew before earning their CDL. Also, I need to have a CDL ASAP so I can work and earn real money (not $100 tonight, $80 next week as with pedicabs and Door Dash gigs), and this years beautiful experiences are in jeoprady due to being unfunded. I plan to go back to Alberta this easter, back to Canada for their Sesqucentennial (150 years) on Canada Day 2017, and back to Black Rock City for Burning Man 2017; and I need MONEY to make it all happen!

 

[GotSmart]

When I got my CDL, it was in the 70's.  Truck driving school was driving with the company driver, and having him scream at me.   :dodgy:

You need to get the details down. There are no short cuts. There are a lot of lives depending on you knowing things 100%.  It is not just a way to make money.  A few years ago I saw a wreck where a semi driver fell asleep during rush hour, (driving 36 hours without a break) and plowed through a red light at 60 MPH.  At 24 years old, he was facing multiple charges of 1st degree involentary homicide, 

Just remember, your screen name translates out to;  "Debt, at your service."Welcome to reality.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

<B>debit.servus</B>, First of all, it's not an easy gravy train and it shouldn't be. I would get out of the hack mindset. Most drivers that have been in the seat a long time (me included as a female) will tell you it is a responsibility not be taken lightly. I'm just glad to be alive with all I have experienced in 28 years driving.

I sense if you're "rushy" with wanting to "just get it done" without the work, you may be that driver that isn't patient on the road. The road will accentuate your qualities; be it impatient or otherwise.

Studying is your only way. You may end up finding the actual pre-trip inspection test (not written) the most difficult (if through the DMV). I personally didn't go to driving school; with my farm experience and with a move to a different state, I was hired at a time to be grandfathered in (this was the 80's).

Plus, you can't test for endorsements that don't match what you're are training in. (example: passenger school bus endorsement with a Class A license -- those are two different licenses with two different skills test). The state and gov't has strict limitations unless you jump through another license hoop as it were.

<B>Goshawk</B>, cheap and fast don't go together training for this.

Note: This post isn't meant as a tongue lashing, just reality.

 

[debit.servus]

I thank test-CDL.com for helping me pass the written test and earn my commercial learners permit. $27 got me access to practice tests modeled after the DMVs, & very informative videos, without it I would likely still be slogging on the written test so it's worth every penny. Now it's time to study the pre-trip process & get as much drivetime with the trucking school in as I can.

So test-CDL.com is a "strategy" for passage of the written test.

 

[Gary68]

one more reason to stay off the interstates

Debit it's good seeing you working on a future for yourself,keep it up,it will payoff

 

[CautionToTheWind]

Learn ahead of time the one strike you failed during the pre-trip and driving skills tests. Once you know what they are, you will not forget (hopefully).

 

[OutdoorFT]

I only took the B test, but I passed all endorsements except metal coil. Lots of studying. Thetruckersreport.com has practice tests. Never got my license, though.

 

[morongobill]

Good luck getting all that time off when you want it as a rookie driver.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

I look back and just think - can't believe all those hours.