Classroom Study Big Part of CDL Schooling

Your CDL training at truck driving school will generally consist of three areas: in the classroom, in the “yard” and on the road. Let’s take a look at the classroom.

Many students will find this on the boring side, especially compared to actually being in the truck. But classroom study is a crucial phase. Here you’ll learn what you need to know to pass the CDL permit exam and the CDL license exam. Both of these exams are in multiple-choice format, with most questions having four choices.

Studying to get your permit will come first, naturally. In both CDL training schools I attended (one for a Class B and one for Class A) handouts were given to students containing actual questions that will be or had been on the test. You can’t get any better than this for study materials.

The teacher went around the room and students took turns reading a question and then choosing an answer. Sometimes discussion followed to clarify a point.

One thing about these tests that is helpful to the student is that almost every question contains one possible answer out of the four that is ridiculous and obviously not the right answer. So even if you’re totally guessing on that question, your odds have been narrowed from a 1-in-4 chance to a 1-in-3. That helps.

My favorite one of these nonsense answers came from the question: “If your engine catches fire while you’re driving what is the best course of action?” There were reasonable sounding answers, and then there was this: “Speed up quickly so the wind can put the fire out.” Now, even if you know nothing about trucking you know that is an absurd answer.

Those who can memorize well should breeze through these tests. But even those who can’t should not have much trouble because the correct answers are explained in a way that makes sense (at least they should be if the instructor is good). If two answers appear equally legitimate the instructor will analyze them both with the class so you get a clear understanding of why the answer is correct. This is helpful during testing because you can now rely on actual knowledge instead of memorization.

An important part of your classroom CDL training will be learning how to conduct a pre-trip inspection. You are required to do these when you get a driving job in the real world. These are mandated by the Department of Transportation so they figure heavily in the exams. There is quite a bit to go over here, so a lot of your classroom time will be devoted to this.

The pre-trip (or walkaround) involves a lot of memorization. You must learn to identify everything you would check during a pre-trip. There are several dozen things that get checked, beginning with the engine and circling around the entire truck to include practically everything that could conceivably be a safety concern.

Also DOT mandated is the ability to do a brake test. You will learn this in the classroom as well (and in the yard). It basically involves pumping the brakes and checking the pressure recovery times. Again, this is strictly memorization but a necessary part of your CDL training.

You will also learn some basic rules and regulations about hauling hazardous material (hazmat), weight limits, hours of operation and emergency procedures. As we mentioned in a previous article, CDL training schools teach you only what you need to know to pass all your exams and road tests.

So in the classroom, expect almost all instruction to be focused on the written exams. Don’t expect any advice on, say, how to do a blindside backup to a loading dock or how to properly load your truck. In other words, you will not get a lot of “real world” advice during your classroom CDL training. You will get information that’s targeted specifically toward what’s on the upcoming exams.