Commercial Driver Handbook ( PDF ) - California Department of ...

SectIOn 12: BASIc VehIcle cOntROl SkIllS teSt
This section will assist drivers taking the skills tests
Three of the six following CDL skills tests are
required. All directions for the skills tests will be
given in the English language. This is pursuant
to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
regulations §§391.11 (b) (2) and 383.133 (c) (5).
If you are unable to understand the instructions
given in the English language after three times,
the test will be counted as a failure.
• Straight line backing.
• Off-set backing right.
• Off-set backing left.
• Alley dock (driver side).
• Parallel park (conventional).
• Parallel park (sight side).
These exercises are shown on the following page.
ScORIng
Your performance on the Basic Vehicle Controls
Skills tests is scored by the Examiner.
Errors occur anytime:
• You pull-up to prevent crossing over a boundary
for the skill.
• You actually cross over a boundary line with
any portion of the vehicle (except the mirrors.)
• You leave the vehicle to check your progress.
• The final position of the vehicle is not within
the prescribed boundaries upon completion
of the skill.
exeRcISeS
The examiner will give you specific instructions
before each skill is attempted. The instructions
will inform you of the skill objective and the
parameters for the skill. You are expected to inform
the examiner that your attempt at any skill is
complete by sounding the vehicle horn and setting
the parking brake.
Straight line backing — You will back your
vehicle 100 feet in a straight line between two
rows of cones without touching or crossing over
the exercise boundaries.
Offset backing right — You will be asked to
pull forward from a lane and stop at a barrier of
cones. You will then back up so your vehicle is
positioned in the lane to the right of the lane you
pulled from. You must continue backing until the
vehicle has cleared the forward set of cones with
the front of the vehicle.
Offset backing left — You will be asked to pull
forward from a lane and stop at the barrier of
cones. You will then back up so your vehicle is
positioned in the lane to the left of the lane you
pulled from. You must continue backing until the
vehicle has cleared the forward set of cones with
the front of the vehicle.
Alley dock — You will be asked to back your
vehicle from the sight side into an alley, bringing
the rear of your vehicle or trailer within three feet
of the rear of the alley without going beyond the
exercise boundary. The final position of the vehicle
must be within the exercise boundaries and within
three feet of the rear boundary.
Parallel park (sight side) — You will be asked
to park in a parallel parking space that is on your
left. You will drive past the space and back into
the space getting the entire vehicle (tractor and
trailer for Class A) completely into the space. The
vehicle’s final position must be entirely within the
exercise boundaries.
Parallel park (conventional) — You will be
asked to park in a parallel parking space that is
on your right. You will drive past the space and
back the entire vehicle (tractor and trailer for
Class A) completely into the space. The vehicles
final position must be entirely within the exercise
boundaries.
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