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11.5.4 – Remainder of Coach/ Transit Bus
Remainder of Vehicle
Please refer to Section 11.2 of this manual for
detailed inspection procedures for the remainder of
the vehicle.
Remember, the Vehicle Inspection must be passed
before you can proceed to the Basic Control Skills
test.
11.6 – Taking the CDL Vehicle
Inspection Test
11.6.1 – Class A Vehicle Inspection Test
If you are applying for a Class A CDL, you will be
required to perform one of the four versions of a
Vehicle inspection in the vehicle you have brought
with you for testing. Each of the four tests are
equivalent and you will not know which test you will
take until just before the testing begins.
All of the tests include an engine start, an in-cab-
inspection, and an inspection of the coupling
system. Then, your test may require an inspection
of the entire vehicle or only a portion of the vehicle
which your CDL Examiner will explain to you.
11.6.2 – Class B and C Vehicle Inspection Test
If you are applying for a Class B CDL, you will be
required to perform one of the three versions of a
Vehicle inspection in the vehicle you have brought
with you for testing. Each of the three tests are
equivalent and you will not know which test you will
take until just before the testing begins.
All of the tests include an engine start and an in-
cab inspection. Then, your test may require an
inspection of the entire vehicle or only a portion of
the vehicle which your CDL Examiner will explain to
you. You will also have to inspect any special
features of your vehicle (e.g, school or transit bus).
Section 11 - Vehicle Inspection Page 11-9
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Section 11 - Vehicle Inspection Page 11-9
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Section 12
Basic Vehicle Control
Skills Test
This Section Covers
• Skills Test Scoring
• Skills Test Exercises
Your basic control skills could be tested using one
or more of the following exercises off-road or
somewhere on the street during the road test:
Straight line backing.
Offset back/right
Offset back/left
Parallel park (driver side).
Parallel park (conventional).
Alley dock.
These exercises are shown in Figures 12-1 through
12-6.
12.1 Scoring
Crossing Boundaries (encroachments)
Pull-ups
Outside Vehicle Observations (looks)
Final Position/Inside Parallel
Encroachments – The examiner will score the
number of times you touch or cross over an exercise
boundary line or cone with any portion of your
vehicle. Each encroachment will count as an error.
Pull-ups – When a driver stops and pulls forward
to clear an encroachment or to get a better position,
it is scored as a “pull-up”. Stopping without changing
direction does not count as a pull-up. You will not
be penalized for initial pull-ups. However, an
excessive number of pull-ups, will count as errors.
Outside Vehicle Observations (Looks) – You
may be permitted to safely stop and exit the vehicle
to check the external position of the vehicle (look).
When doing so, you must place the vehicle in
neutral and set the parking brake(s). Then, when
exiting the vehicle, you must do so safely by facing
the vehicle and maintaining three points of contact
with the vehicle at all times (when exiting a bus,
maintain a firm grasp on the handrail at all times). If
you do not safely secure the vehicle or safely exit
the vehicle it may result in an automatic failure of
the basic control skills test.
The maximum number of times that you may look to
check the position of you vehicle is two (2) except
for the Straight Line Backing exercise, which allows
one look. Each time you open the door, move from
a seated position where in physical control of the
vehicle or on a bus walk to the back of a bus to get
a better view, it is scored as a “look”.
Final Position/Inside Parallel – It is important that
you finish each exercise exactly as the examiner
has instructed you. If you do not maneuver the
vehicle into its final position as described by the
examiner, you will be penalized and could fail the
basic skills test.
12.2 Exercises
12.2.1 – Straight Line Backing
You may be asked to back your vehicle in a straight
line between two rows of cones without touching or
crossing over the exercise boundaries. (See Figure
12.1.)
12.2.2 – Offset Back/Right
You may be asked to back into a space that is to the
right rear of your vehicle. You will drive straight
forward the outer boundary. From that position you
must back the vehicle into the opposite lane until
the front of your vehicle has passed the first set of
cones without striking boundary lines or cones. (See
Figure 12.2)
12.2.3 – Offset Back/Left
You may be asked to back into a space that is to the
left rear of your vehicle. You will drive straight
forward the outer boundary. From that position, you
must back the vehicle into the opposite lane until the
front of your vehicle has passed the first set of cones
without striking boundary lines or cones. (See
Figure 12.3)
12.2.4 – Parallel Park (Driver Side)
You may be asked to park in a parallel parking
space that is on your left. You are to drive past the
entrance to the parallel parking space with your
vehicle parallel to the parking area; and back into
the space without crossing front, side or rear
boundaries marked by cones. You are required to
get your entire vehicle completely into the space.
(See Figure 12.4)
Section 12 – Basic Control Skills Page 12-1
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
12.2.5 – Parallel Park (Conventional)
You may be asked to park in a parallel parking
space that is on your right. You are to drive past the
entrance to the parallel parking space with your
vehicle parallel to the parking area; and back into
the space without crossing front, side or rear
boundaries marked by cones. You are required to
get your entire vehicle completely into the space.
(See Figure 12.5)
12.2.6 – Alley Dock
You may be asked to sight-side back your vehicle
into an alley. You will drive past the alley and
position your vehicle parallel to the outer boundary.
From that position, back into the alley bringing the
rear of your vehicle within three feet of the rear of
the alley without touching boundary lines or cones.
Your vehicle must be straight within the alley/lane
when you have completed the maneuver. (See
Figure 12.6.)
Section 12 – Basic Control Skills Page 12-2
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Figure 12.1: Straight Line Backing
Figure 12.2: Offset Back/Right
Figure 12.3: Offset Back/Left
Section 12 – Basic Control Skills Page 12-3
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Figure 12.4: Parallel Park (Driver Side)
Figure 12.5: Parallel Park (Conventional)
Section 12 – Basic Control Skills Page 12-4
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Figure 12.6: Alley Dock
90° Alley Dock
Section 12 – Basic Control Skills Page 12-5
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Section 13
On-road Driving
This Section Covers
• How You Will Be Tested
You will drive over a test route that has a variety of
traffic situations. At all times during the test, you
must drive in a safe and responsible manner; and
you must:
Wear your safety belt.
Obey all traffic signs, signals, and laws.
Complete the test without an accident or moving
violation.
During the driving test, the examiner will be scoring
you on specific driving maneuvers as well as on
your general driving behavior. You will follow the
directions of the examiner. Directions will be given
to you so you will have plenty of time to do what the
examiner has asked. You will not be asked to drive
in an unsafe manner.
If your test route does not have certain traffic
situations, you may be asked to simulate a traffic
situation. You will do this by telling the examiner
what you are or would be doing if you were in that
traffic situation.
13.1 – How You Will Be Tested
13.1.1 – Turns
You have been asked to make a turn:
Check traffic in all directions.
Use turn signals and safely get into the lane
needed for the turn.
As you approach the turn:
Use turn signals to warn others of your turn.
Slow down smoothly, change gears as needed to
keep power, but do not coast unsafely. Unsafe
coasting occurs when your vehicle is out of gear
(clutch depressed or gearshift in neutral) for more
than the length of your vehicle.
If you must stop before making the turn:
Come to a smooth stop without skidding.
Come to a complete stop behind the stop line,
crosswalk, or stop sign.
If stopping behind another vehicle, stop where you
can see the rear tires on the vehicle ahead of you
(safe gap).
Do not let your vehicle roll.
Keep the front wheels aimed straight ahead.
When ready to turn:
Check traffic in all directions.
Keep both hands on the steering wheel during the
turn.
Keep checking your mirror to make sure the
vehicle does not hit anything on the inside of the
turn.
Vehicle should not move into oncoming traffic.
Vehicle should finish turn in correct lane.
After turn:
Make sure turn signal is off.
Get up to speed of traffic, use turn signal, and
move into right-most lane when safe to do so (if not
already there).
Check mirrors and traffic.
13.1.2 – Intersections
As you approach an intersection:
Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
Decelerate gently.
Brake smoothly and, if necessary, change gears.
If necessary, come to a complete stop (no
coasting) behind any stop signs, signals,
sidewalks, or stop lines maintaining a safe gap
behind any vehicle in front of you.
Your vehicle must not roll forward or backward.
When driving through an intersection:
Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
Decelerate and yield to any pedestrians and traffic
in the intersection.
Do not change lanes while proceeding through the
intersection.
Keep your hands on the wheel.
Once through the intersection:
Continue checking mirrors and traffic.
Accelerate smoothly and change gears as
necessary.
Section 13 – On-road Driving Page 13-1
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
13.1.3 – Urban Business
During this part of the test, you are expected to
make regular traffic checks and maintain a safe
following distance. Your vehicle should be centered
in the proper lane (right-most lane) and you should
keep up with the flow of traffic but not exceed the
posted speed limit.
13.1.4 –Lane Changes
During multiple lane portions of the test, you will be
asked to change lanes to the left, and then back to
the right. You should make the necessary traffic
checks first, then use proper signals and smoothly
change lanes when it is safe to do so.
13.1.5 – Expressway or Rural/Limited Access
Highway
Before entering the expressway:
Check traffic.
Use proper signals.
Merge smoothly into the proper lane of traffic.
Once on the expressway:
Maintain proper lane positioning, vehicle spacing,
and vehicle speed.
Continue to check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
When exiting the expressway:
Make necessary traffic checks.
Use proper signals.
Decelerate smoothly in the exit lane.
Once on the exit ramp, you must continue to
decelerate within the lane markings and maintain
adequate spacing between your vehicle and other
vehicles.
13.1.6 – Stop/Start
For this maneuver, you will be asked to pull your
vehicle over to the side of the road and stop as if
you were going to get out and check something on
your vehicle. You must check traffic thoroughly in all
directions and move to the right-most lane or
shoulder of road.
As you prepare for the stop:
Check traffic.
Activate your right turn signal.
Decelerate smoothly, brake evenly, change gears
as necessary.
Bring your vehicle to a full stop without coasting.
Once stopped:
Vehicle must be parallel to the curb or shoulder of
the road and safely out of the traffic flow.
Vehicle should not be blocking driveways, fire
hydrants, intersections, signs, etc.
Cancel your turn signal.
Activate your four-way emergency flashers.
Apply the parking brake.
Move the gear shift to neutral or park.
Remove your feet from the brake and clutch pedals.
When instructed to resume:
Check traffic and your mirrors thoroughly in all
directions.
Turn off your four-way flashers.
Activate the left turn signal.
When traffic permits, you should release the parking
brake and pull straight ahead.
Do not turn the wheel before your vehicle moves.
Check traffic from all directions, especially to the
left.
Steer and accelerate smoothly into the proper lane
when safe to do so.
Once your vehicle is back into the flow of traffic,
cancel your left turn signal.
13.1.7 – Curve
When approaching a curve:
Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.
Before entering the curve, reduce speed so further
braking or shifting is not required in the curve.
Keep vehicle in the lane.
Continue checking traffic in all directions.
13.1.8 – Railroad Crossing
Before reaching the crossing, all commercial drivers
should:
Decelerate, brake smoothly, and shift gears as
necessary.
Look and listen for the presence of trains.
Check traffic in all directions.
Do not stop, change gears, pass another vehicle, or
change lanes while any part of your vehicle is in the
crossing.
Section 13 – On-road Driving Page 13-2
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
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