Trucking: cdl class B, cdl exam, cdl class

Question
hi don my name is bill....i live in nj and i am 23 going to take my initial written test to validate my cdl permit.....and eventually go for my road test........my question is how tough is this test on a scale of one to ten.....i just took my ged this year and well it was the worst thing on paper i ever seen in my life....except for bills lol

Answer
Hi Bill...
Thanks for the question......

It is a little difficult to give you a definitive and measured answer to your question, so about all I can do is give you a very subjective opinion.

I understand it can be stressful when you're preparing for the CDL exam.  That can be further complicated by the fact that some very intelligent and knowledgeable people just have problems transferring what they do know to answering a test question.

You'll need the New Jersey CDL Manual.  The New Jersey CDL Manual can be down loaded at
http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Commercial/CDLManual.htm
If you cannot download the file, you may also pick up your copy at any MVC Agency or call (609) 292-6500 or (888) 486-3339 to request a copy by mail.

First of all, study the CDL manual for the parts of the test that apply to the basic information for all CDLs and also to only the parts that are applicable to the endorsements you'll need.  I do not recommend even reading the parts that you don't need at this time.  By that I mean if you don't need HazMat endorsement or doubles endorsement, don't study that part yet.  If you only need a basic CDL with air, study ONLY those parts that apply now.  You can go back and take the other endorsements as you need them.

A few personal suggestions for taking the test........

READ THE QUESTION...and then read it again before even looking at the possible answers.  Don't rush, just take your time and think about it.  You'll probably already know the answer and you can select the correct answser without any trouble.  If not, read each possible answer carefully.  Most of the time you can eliminate one or more as being obviously incorrect.  At least if you don't know the exact answer, your odds of getting it wrong are reduced if you have two possibilities to select from rather than three or four.

Study the New Jersey CDL Manual and SUPPLEMENT what you learn there with practice questions....but use the practice questions only as a supplement.  Just studying the practice questions and answers alone, is a quick path to failure.  However, using them in conjunction with a good understanding of the information contained in the CDL manual can sometimes help you pick out a few correct answers that you might have missed otherwise.  BUT...I must emphsize...just studying the questions and answers alone is not a substitute for knowing what is contained in the manual.

There are a lot of FREE sources that will give you potential questions and answers that may be found on the test.  Just do an internet search for CDL Test Questions.  There are many websites that have free "CDL Test Practice Questions".  Among them, here are a few that may help, but a Google search will locate many others.
http://www.testprepreview.com/cdl_practice.htm
http://www.cristcdl.com/otc/
http://www.testquestionsandanswers.com/cdl/new-jersey.html

I do not recommend purchasing materials since everything you'll need can be found in the CDL Manuals or on line for no charge.

I suggest your approach should be to study the New Jersey CDL manual first until you have read all the parts that you need for this test.  Once you have become very familiar with the manual, you can use the practice questions and answers in conjunction with it.  A method that I've found to be the effective for most people,is to take each practice question and look up the answer in the manual...even if you know the answer.  Read all of the parts in the manual that relate to it in any way.  On the test, some questions may be worded slightly differently from the practice questions, but if you have a thorough understanding of that topic area, you'll be able to answer it however it is worded.

I also suggest pacing yourself and not trying to cram all the information in a few hours or even a few days.  Good study habits can make a great deal of difference in how much you actually retain and how efficient your studies are.  Set aside a certain amount of time that you can study without distractions for each day.  Use that time effectively.  I don't recommend studying long hours or when you're tired and not at your sharpest.  It is not efficient use of your study time.

Be well rested and alert when you go take the test.  Get a good night's sleep the night before.  Don't try to do last minute cramming....more knowledge will run out than you'll force in to your head.

And last of all, relax and don't worry about it.  If you've done your best and studied the material well, you'll do well.

I'm sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer, but I hope this will be of some help.  If you have any other specific questions please feel free to ask.  Also, I'll be expecting a successful report when you pass the test.

By the way, congratulations on your success with the GED.  From what others have told me, I think you'll find it was a lot more difficult than the CDL written test.

Good luck and don't worry.... study and you'll pass.

...Don
SEMO Motor Transport Service