Why Everyone Should Consider Trade School

Your Commercial Driver's License Study Guide

10 March 2016

Roberto Morrison

If you are applying for a commercial driver's license, otherwise known as a CDL, you need to become more familiar with the content you will be asked about during the exam. The initial test you take will be just like the permit exam you took before you got behind the wheel for your driver's license. In order to ace the test, you first need to know what kind of information you will be asked about. Here are a few tips to consider before you head to the DMV to take your test:

Read your state's commercial driving manual.

Each state may have a few different laws specific to commercial drivers. In order to pass your state's test, you need to familiarize yourself with local and regional laws. You may be surprised at what you discover when you read the book.

Understand Best Practice for Towing

One of the most important aspects of driving a commercial vehicle is understanding how to tow items. Doubles and triples are both important to consider, and you need to know how to tow them even if you don't anticipate you will be doing it.

Transportation of Various Materials

The commercial driver's license test will examine transportation of different types of materials. This includes the transportation of hazardous goods. Questions will pertain to safety.

Trip Inspections

Pre-trip inspections are essential to driving a commercial vehicle. The exam will require that you understand the significance of looking over your load and truck. Commercial drivers are required to inspect their truck before beginning the trip, but do you also know when the first required inspection must occur after that? The only way to ensure that your truck is safe to drive is to pay attention to inspection.

Safety Concerns

You need to know what to do if your truck breaks down or you have an emergency on the side of the road. For instance, do you know where to put your reflective triangles to warn other drivers of your emergency? You also need to understand the consequences of certain actions, like overloading a commercial vehicle. Overloading your vehicle may result in your inability to properly control your speed or steer correctly.

Vocabulary

You are also going to be asked to recall some specific terms. For instance, you need to know about offtracking, the word describing a commercial vehicle making wide turns. Pay close attention to terms described in the DMV manual.

Once you know what to study before the exam, you can make better choices on the test itself. Make sure to read your handbook and take practice exams before the big day.

For CDL training, contact a business such as Center For Transportation Safety. 

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