wdk450 that's what is stressing me out. Why do they make us jump through commercial driving hoops? I'm never going to back my trailer into that tight of a spot. If they want us to back into a camp in spot then move the cones farther apart for us. I could see taking a drive test because that's safety issue #1 and the pre trip inspection test. The skills test should be a simple basic handling test. So now I've purchased a nice 5th wheel and worry I'll never pass the load deck test, lol. The DMV needs to rethink the driving test for class A non commercial, or change the law to allow just an endorsement on the C class license. Which is basically the written test. Don't get me wrong, I'll pass the load dock test, I just don't appreciate stressing about it like my career depends upon it. Takes away from the meaning Recreational Vehicle.
Drivers License for towing in CA
- Thread starter jdfishing
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danemayer
Well-known member
In Texas, there's almost no difference in the testing for Class A non-commercial vs commercial, and about $4/year cost difference. So I went for the commercial license.
One component of the test is parallel parking. When I finished parking, the examiner said, "You really need more practice at parallel parking. You stopped almost 2 feet from the curb." My reply was that I thought that would be better than hitting the curb.
In fact, because I was more than 1 foot away from the curb, she deducted 2 or 3 points from my score. Had I hit the curb, it would have been an automatic fail of the test. My instructor had explained that to me ahead of time. His advice was to not worry about getting too close.
So I ended up passing the test by a wide margin with a score of around 90 out of 100.
You should find out how much California deducts for imperfectly backing up to a loading dock, versus hitting the dock or running over a cone.
One component of the test is parallel parking. When I finished parking, the examiner said, "You really need more practice at parallel parking. You stopped almost 2 feet from the curb." My reply was that I thought that would be better than hitting the curb.
In fact, because I was more than 1 foot away from the curb, she deducted 2 or 3 points from my score. Had I hit the curb, it would have been an automatic fail of the test. My instructor had explained that to me ahead of time. His advice was to not worry about getting too close.
So I ended up passing the test by a wide margin with a score of around 90 out of 100.
You should find out how much California deducts for imperfectly backing up to a loading dock, versus hitting the dock or running over a cone.
avvidclif
Well-known member
It must have been a while on your CDL. The current Texas rates are:
Class A CDL $61 renewable every 5 years. Required to have a medical certificate and be actually driving or between jobs
Class A Non-commercial $25 renewable every 6 years
Both require a $8 fee for motorcycle endorsement
Bottom line $69 for 5 or $33 for 6.
I practiced this morning, as long as I can pull through about 15 ft in front of the box I can get it within the box using 1 or at most 2 pull ups. Any closer than about 10 ft the trailer tires scrub real hard and takes me couple more pull ups. As much as I'm complaining about it, This is actually pretty useful skill in campgrounds I have already had to do this maneuver from both driver and passenger side, and usually without any room in front to pull up either!
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Does anyone know if the check engine light is on will that be a problem? Came on today while driving around, hope I can get it fixed before my test later this week. It says the instructor will do a safety check of the vehicle lights, horn, etc. I don't see anything in the handbook that mentioned check engine light.
Checked the code P20EE - NOx Catalyst Efficiency. Maybe the cheap Walmart DEF not so good
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Checked the code P20EE - NOx Catalyst Efficiency. Maybe the cheap Walmart DEF not so good
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wdk450
Well-known member
Another part of the California Class A noncommercial towing RV driving test I don't understand is why I can't use the rear camera system I paid for to help with backing into spaces. I am taking the test for MY PERSONAL RV RIG ONLY, not top become a professional 5th wheel towing transporter - I think they must have a FULL Class A for professional employment.
I think the licensing system and examiners in California have "Commercial Trucker" in their heads instead of "Recreatikonal RVer".
I think the licensing system and examiners in California have "Commercial Trucker" in their heads instead of "Recreatikonal RVer".
Excellent point, Danemayer! I was told I had to start at 90 degrees and I had 5 pull ups to get it. So when I failed and had to pull up, I pulled back to 90 degrees, not knowing I could pull up straight. After I failed he told me "don't be afraid to ask questions." Here's what's funny, when I started he didn't say anything about 90 degrees, so I pulled up less than 90 degrees to start the test and then he said no, you have to start at 90 degrees. So for sure I'm going to ask a lot of questions on Wed.
Bobca1 that's what I did. Practice with less room to pull up and use a tighter box. And I agree it was very useful. So kudos to California for that. I towed a 9800 lbs 32' pull behind for about 4 years before this. I could put that trailer wherever I wanted. However, a 5th wheel doesn't respond the same way. I learned that because...Before I knew I needed this, I took the wife to Pechanga RV resort with the new 5th wheel and all they had were back in spots. Took me like 10 times to get the darn thing parked right. I didn't know why, as I used to do it in 1 or 2 attempts with the pull behind. Now that I've practiced and watched some YouTube stuff, I realize how a 5th wheel works. So, there is some benefit to this.
And wdk450 your point is extremely valid. We are not trying to make an income at this. We aren't going to trucking school to become professional drivers. We don't have a "practice lot" to practice on and many class A drivers to practice with and get pointers from, like at professional school. Instead, most of us purchased these trailers not knowing about this "requirement." We can't easily find a class A driver and borrow his time to go practice on some parking lot somewhere. We shouldn't be treated the same as those who want to be professional (see my previous reply.) They just need to make sure we have the "basic" understanding of how long our trailers are negotiating traffic safely with them. Not trying to stab a loading dock. You have way more room on camping spots and can easily take your time backing it in there. People will come and help you if they see you struggling. Lol.
We we don't need the stress of this. It should be more of a training not a "let's see what you can do after your trucking school" test.
Anyway, once I finally pass this test, if anyone wants to come to San Diego and practice on Fiesta Island or need support let me know. I'll bring the cones and help in an anyway I can!
Bobca1 that's what I did. Practice with less room to pull up and use a tighter box. And I agree it was very useful. So kudos to California for that. I towed a 9800 lbs 32' pull behind for about 4 years before this. I could put that trailer wherever I wanted. However, a 5th wheel doesn't respond the same way. I learned that because...Before I knew I needed this, I took the wife to Pechanga RV resort with the new 5th wheel and all they had were back in spots. Took me like 10 times to get the darn thing parked right. I didn't know why, as I used to do it in 1 or 2 attempts with the pull behind. Now that I've practiced and watched some YouTube stuff, I realize how a 5th wheel works. So, there is some benefit to this.
And wdk450 your point is extremely valid. We are not trying to make an income at this. We aren't going to trucking school to become professional drivers. We don't have a "practice lot" to practice on and many class A drivers to practice with and get pointers from, like at professional school. Instead, most of us purchased these trailers not knowing about this "requirement." We can't easily find a class A driver and borrow his time to go practice on some parking lot somewhere. We shouldn't be treated the same as those who want to be professional (see my previous reply.) They just need to make sure we have the "basic" understanding of how long our trailers are negotiating traffic safely with them. Not trying to stab a loading dock. You have way more room on camping spots and can easily take your time backing it in there. People will come and help you if they see you struggling. Lol.
We we don't need the stress of this. It should be more of a training not a "let's see what you can do after your trucking school" test.
Anyway, once I finally pass this test, if anyone wants to come to San Diego and practice on Fiesta Island or need support let me know. I'll bring the cones and help in an anyway I can!
Well, after all that stressing.....I passed. Easily.
Again, no one asked for my "escort." I had to do straight backing lane, this examiner had me zig zag into the box from the parking spot instead of straight into the box and had me go completely forward out of the box, then back up straight down the line. Told me to put the back end of the trailer over the end line then honk the horn. Got it first try, pretty simple.
Then from there he put the cone thing, one next to and almost on top of the other and I had to right turn around it to 90 degrees end. Said to get as close to the cone as I could without hitting it. Nailed it. I was probably 3 feet away from the cone but he said that was fine.
Then the dreaded load dock test. I decided not to use my jack knife technique as much on the asphalt. So I gently turned the trailer towards the box, then a little more, then when it was time to turn the trailer, I turned it good to get it going straight into the box. It overcorrected a bit so I had to pull up once, that's it. Nailed it. Skills test complete. Woo hoo.
TIP: I learned to go slow on the drills which is huge. You can stop if you need to, they don't count that as a pull up or error. Take your time, breath, believe in your practice and nail it. I was pleasantly surprised how well I handled the trailer on that skills test.
Now, here is what was cool. He was okay with my being 3 feet away from the cone on the turn. After he told me I passed, I asked him if I got it in the little 3 feet box in the back. He said I was about 5 feet away from the end. So, it seems they give a little leeway for us RVers. The "Alley Box" was only 20 feet deep and he told me beforehand the line stops in the box, so I didn't have to worry about an "imaginary line" going out from the side of the box, and could use as much of the space in front of the box I wanted.
Then the drive test, which I knew I would fly through. Main City streets, one side street (not too small, nothing was too tight or small on the drive test,) then on the freeway, get off, turn around and come back. No errors. Woo hoo.
So, I am now Class A non commercial licensed driver. If anyone needs a Class A driver to go to DMW with or even train with, let me know. I live in the north coast county area of San Diego (Oceanside/Carlsbad/Vista) and the commercial DMV down here is pretty laid back.
Again, no one asked for my "escort." I had to do straight backing lane, this examiner had me zig zag into the box from the parking spot instead of straight into the box and had me go completely forward out of the box, then back up straight down the line. Told me to put the back end of the trailer over the end line then honk the horn. Got it first try, pretty simple.
Then from there he put the cone thing, one next to and almost on top of the other and I had to right turn around it to 90 degrees end. Said to get as close to the cone as I could without hitting it. Nailed it. I was probably 3 feet away from the cone but he said that was fine.
Then the dreaded load dock test. I decided not to use my jack knife technique as much on the asphalt. So I gently turned the trailer towards the box, then a little more, then when it was time to turn the trailer, I turned it good to get it going straight into the box. It overcorrected a bit so I had to pull up once, that's it. Nailed it. Skills test complete. Woo hoo.
TIP: I learned to go slow on the drills which is huge. You can stop if you need to, they don't count that as a pull up or error. Take your time, breath, believe in your practice and nail it. I was pleasantly surprised how well I handled the trailer on that skills test.
Now, here is what was cool. He was okay with my being 3 feet away from the cone on the turn. After he told me I passed, I asked him if I got it in the little 3 feet box in the back. He said I was about 5 feet away from the end. So, it seems they give a little leeway for us RVers. The "Alley Box" was only 20 feet deep and he told me beforehand the line stops in the box, so I didn't have to worry about an "imaginary line" going out from the side of the box, and could use as much of the space in front of the box I wanted.
Then the drive test, which I knew I would fly through. Main City streets, one side street (not too small, nothing was too tight or small on the drive test,) then on the freeway, get off, turn around and come back. No errors. Woo hoo.
So, I am now Class A non commercial licensed driver. If anyone needs a Class A driver to go to DMW with or even train with, let me know. I live in the north coast county area of San Diego (Oceanside/Carlsbad/Vista) and the commercial DMV down here is pretty laid back.
That's great news, congrats on passing the test! Hopefully I will also get my Class A this Friday I am scheduled for my test but now I am stressing, not about the test now, but my tow vehicle which is in the shop due to emissions issue and check engine light. I am guessing that my truck will fail the pre-trip inspection if the check engine light is on. Question did the instructor actually get in the truck and look at your gauges with you while doing the pre-trip? Do you think I could get through it without him noticing (probably unlikely right)?
alex00
Well-known member
Good luck on the test. I was nervous, but try to relax. They did not get in my cab for the pre trip but do ride in the cab during the road test. I have no idea if they will make you come back if they see it. I wouldn't say anything, and see what happens. Maybe you put a photo of your favorite person over the light and cover it up. Haha.
I meant to address that with you on an the last post, bobca1, sorry about that. Since I own an auto repair shop, I wanted to tell you my thoughts. First, the answer is no he did not check inside my truck on the pre-trip. Yes I had the door open and he looked, but never while the key was on and he never entered the truck. I understand the big rigs do have an in cab inspection, but I don't know what it includes. They are basically looking for safety stuff on our pre trip inspection.
I think you should play it safe though and fix it before your test. I have a 2015 F350 dually and I took the hub caps off before going on so they could see the lug nuts. I had a tire gauge, fire extinguisher, red triangles. Etc. they never made me actually check the tightness of lug nuts or check air pressure, they just wanted to know what I would do/check on a pre trip. He never actually saw the fire extinguisher or the red triangles. I just told them where they were and pointed to a box that housed them.
A catalyst effiency code shouldn't fail you but I would fix it to play it safe. Hopefully it's a bad oxygen sensor or computer update that can fix it and not a cat replacement. :/
I think you should play it safe though and fix it before your test. I have a 2015 F350 dually and I took the hub caps off before going on so they could see the lug nuts. I had a tire gauge, fire extinguisher, red triangles. Etc. they never made me actually check the tightness of lug nuts or check air pressure, they just wanted to know what I would do/check on a pre trip. He never actually saw the fire extinguisher or the red triangles. I just told them where they were and pointed to a box that housed them.
A catalyst effiency code shouldn't fail you but I would fix it to play it safe. Hopefully it's a bad oxygen sensor or computer update that can fix it and not a cat replacement. :/
No problem Since it takes about 4-6 weeks to get a new appointment at the Fullerton DMV, I really don't want to have to reschedule again (for the 3rd time). Due to other events I had to reschedule 2 times already, been trying to do this test since May. So I will stick with it and give it a try, light or no light. If I get all the way to the road portion of the test before he sees it I'll pretend it must have just come on. I am upset with the local dealer here dropped truck off Monday they said will look at it first thing Tuesday, finally tracked the service guy down about 3pm today (Wed) and no tech has started on it yet. There is a software update they will apply tomorrow (may or may not have anything to do with the NOX error) which will reset the codes so hopefully the light at least stays off long enough to get me through Friday. So even if they did actually spend the time to diagnose no time now to get any parts. I watched a good youtube video about this error, and it could be due to lot of things within DEF system or cat.
If Fullerton fails me Friday, maybe I'll head down to your easy-going SD DMV next time. In fact I'll be in SD next weekend for labor day (no time for test then though).
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That's a great idea! I guess the square of black electrical tape I was going to apply would be a pretty obvious cover-up attempt
Since it takes about 4-6 weeks to get a new appointment at the Fullerton DMV, I really don't want to have to reschedule again (for the 3rd time). Due to other events I had to reschedule 2 times already, been trying to do this test since May. So I will stick with it and give it a try, light or no light. If I get all the way to the road portion of the test before he sees it I'll pretend it must have just come on. I am upset with the local dealer here dropped truck off Monday they said will look at it first thing Tuesday, finally tracked the service guy down about 3pm today (Wed) and no tech has started on it yet. There is a software update they will apply tomorrow (may or may not have anything to do with the NOX error) which will reset the codes so hopefully the light at least stays off long enough to get me through Friday. So even if they did actually spend the time to diagnose no time now to get any parts. I watched a good youtube video about this error, and it could be due to lot of things within DEF system or cat.If Fullerton fails me Friday, maybe I'll head down to your easy-going SD DMV next time. In fact I'll be in SD next weekend for labor day (no time for test then though).
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That's a great idea! I guess the square of black electrical tape I was going to apply would be a pretty obvious cover-up attempt
windviewer
Well-known member
That's a great idea! I guess the square of black electrical tape I was going to apply would be a pretty obvious cover-up attempt
Why not get an inexpensive code reader from the local auto parts supply (about $40) and reading the check engine codes, then clearing them. If they are indeed just an oxygen sensor, the light will stay off for about 50 miles of driving until the computer figures out to put the engine light on again. Sufficient time to pass your test (and also determine what needs to be fixed).
Windviewer, some codes are hard codes and will come right back on. But I don't think a cat efficiency code is one of them so that could work. Most shops, like mine, will read the code for free, and reset it once for you to see if it returns.
Bobca1 it sounds like a software update may fix your problem, otherwise they wouldn't perform it. That sounds like good news. Once they perform the update, they will make sure all DTC codes are cleared. That should get you easily through the test and hopefully fixes the problem too.
Bobca1 it sounds like a software update may fix your problem, otherwise they wouldn't perform it. That sounds like good news. Once they perform the update, they will make sure all DTC codes are cleared. That should get you easily through the test and hopefully fixes the problem too.
Yeah I hope the software update takes care of it! If not, and it comes back on tomorrow I will definitely try to clear code, I had just assumed that unless the issue was fixed the code would just come back on. Like you say though, if its an efficiency thing and not a bad sensor, then a reset should get me through the test! I will try that, thanks for the advice! I have this scanner, it says it supports clearing the codes:
http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products...F8&qid=1440693735&sr=1-7&keywords=code+reader
http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products...F8&qid=1440693735&sr=1-7&keywords=code+reader
Bobca1 it won't come back on for awhile. The catalyst effiency monitor is 1 of 9 and one of the last ones to run, I would anticipate several days and 100 miles before it comes back on, but I doubt it will come on at all if they updated software.
You got this. Trust your training and have a relaxed confidence. Just be yourself and do your thing. Keep it easy and don't feel rushed or panicked. You'll do just fine.
You got this. Trust your training and have a relaxed confidence. Just be yourself and do your thing. Keep it easy and don't feel rushed or panicked. You'll do just fine.
Yeah, Passed my test today! Thank you Jeff for meeting me there today!! The instructor @ Fullerton DMV was pretty easy going, he gave me a couple hints during the inspection (he just said anything else you would check here?). The skills test was pretty simple just 2 skills. 1. back up straight. 2. offset back up into the lane on right (passenger side). That was it - no loading dock! Then a drive through Fullerton side streets that seemed to take forever there was a lot of traffic. He said just don't hit any curbs, which I did not. But when I pulled out of DMV he said immediately make a right turn at the light I pulled out little too wide in order to clear the curb out of DMV parking lot ended up leaving a gap on my right then while waiting for light to turn green of course cars started to squeeze through on my right side (ignoring the right turn signal) he didn't like that. But i passed who cares
And no check engine light!
So if anyone needs a class A driver for their test now in northern LA or Ventura county I can offer to help now!
And no check engine light!
So if anyone needs a class A driver for their test now in northern LA or Ventura county I can offer to help now!
