I did it.

I successfully passed my General Knowledge, Air Brake, and Combination Vehicle tests to get my Class A CDL(Commercial Driver Lisence.

woot!!

congratulations man.

woot!!

congratulations man.
Thank you very much. I have been doing well in the class. We had a practice test for each. The General Knowledge I got 7/112 on the General Knowledge, 3/50 on Air Brakes, and then 4/35 on the Air brakes.

I know how hard that is, so congrats man!

Actually I read the book so many times, the answers came natural on the practice tests, at the DMV it took some thinking.

oh, i thought you had sex finally...


















congrats! :thumbsup:

oh, i thought you had sex finally...

that's what i thought too.

congrats on passing, i'm going to do the GB equivalent (HGV or Heavy Good Vehicle) when i'm 21, which is the minimum age for it.

there are 9 classes (like levels) to HGV licencing...

Coolness:sunglasse

congrats! you should be very proud.

i'm going to do the GB equivalent (HGV or Heavy Good Vehicle) when i'm 21, which is the minimum age for it.

there are 9 classes (like levels) to HGV licencing...
unless ur living in the states by 21

unless ur living in the states by 21

true. i'd find out which is cheaper to do. i'm pretty sure a GB licence would be valid. chances are i'll be living in the states long before i'm 21.

Congrats!!! My dad wants me to get a CDL, but I don't drive big trucks, nor do I intend to, so I don't see why he wants me to get a CDL, but that's neither here nor there. :)

Cool man.

Not sure what those scores mean, but if you passed they must be good.

that's what i thought too.



Sigh, chalk one up for me too....

^ Us dirty minds think alike :evillol:

Well a CDL will open you to more accomplishments. Here in the states we have 3 Classes with a lot of different endorsements. Starting age here is 18 for Class B and C CDLs.

i believe upon completion of all nine classes here you're entitled to drive literally any truck, from a 7-5-tonner to a 400-ton heavy haulage rig.

i don't know the exact details of it all, i would look into it but i've got 4 years to wait before i can even apply.

WOW that's a lot of reading. There is nothing wrong with starting the reading now. If you can get videos get them to see how things are done etc. It's never too early to start learning.

to a 400-ton heavy haulage rig.



Thats one big fricken Truck!
I think you might mean 40 ton ;)

Thats one big fricken Truck!
I think you might mean 40 ton ;)

nope, i mean 400-ton.

that's in the highest weight category. called STGO CAT.3 i believe.

the gross weight of a GB truck with a 6x2 configuration (most of ours are 6x2 with a push/tag lift axle) and fully-laden 40-ft trailer is often upto 60-tons.

the norm here is to run a trailer with 3 axles, each axle has one wheel each end, sometimes dual wheels are used on trailer hubs, but that's usually the reserve of low-loaders.

I think you mean 40 ton Chris.

I think you mean 40 ton Chris.

no, i mean 400-ton.

would you like me to find you a picture of one of our 400-ton heavy-haulage trucks?

Shouldn't you be in bed?


nope, i mean 400-ton.

that's in the highest weight category. called STGO CAT.3 i believe.

the gross weight of a GB truck with a 6x2 configuration (most of ours are 6x2 with a push/tag lift axle) and fully-laden 40-ft trailer is often upto 60-tons.


60ton is more like it. The limit here is 40ton, on very similar truck/trailer set ups to whats run in Europe (B trains and 40ft artic's)

400ton is the absolute extreme, thats some very serious weight, and would require among other things very specialised tractor units, low load trailer, and an escort. Not to mention a few closed roads.
They moved some 500ton power station parts about 150km here earlier in the year. It took them a week to do it running only at night.

60tons? That's squat, most turnpike doubles and triples run around that in just trailer weight w/o the converter dollies and tractor.

Shouldn't you be in bed?




60ton is more like it. The limit here is 40ton, on very similar truck/trailer set ups to whats run in Europe (B trains and 40ft artic's)

400ton is the absolute extreme, thats some very serious weight, and would require among other things very specialised tractor units, low load trailer, and an escort. Not to mention a few closed roads.
They moved some 500ton power station parts about 150km here earlier in the year. It took them a week to do it running only at night.
1. Tractors really have nothing special about them.
2. Lowboys not low loads
3. You are correct.

Shouldn't you be in bed?

yes.


60ton is more like it. The limit here is 40ton, on very similar truck/trailer set ups to whats run in Europe (B trains and 40ft artic's)

400ton is the absolute extreme, thats some very serious weight, and would require among other things very specialised tractor units, low load trailer, and an escort. Not to mention a few closed roads.
They moved some 500ton power station parts about 150km here earlier in the year. It took them a week to do it running only at night.

yes, the 400-ton trucks are the extremes, and they're usually shifting parts of power stations and oil refinery plants, that kind of stuff.

the usualy setup for that kind of thing is two ballast tractors, one pulling, one pushing. a trailer with two dollies, and the centre-section with the load suspended between.

nope, i mean 400-ton.

that's in the highest weight category. called STGO CAT.3 i believe.

the gross weight of a GB truck with a 6x2 configuration (most of ours are 6x2 with a push/tag lift axle) and fully-laden 40-ft trailer is often upto 60-tons.

the norm here is to run a trailer with 3 axles, each axle has one wheel each end, sometimes dual wheels are used on trailer hubs, but that's usually the reserve of low-loaders.
Tri-Axles offer lower center of gravity, and duals are better for stability though. The lower center of gravity doesn't make up much of the difference in stability threw high winds, blow-outs, and jack knifing.

Tri-Axles offer lower center of gravity, and duals are better for stability though. The lower center of gravity doesn't make up much of the difference in stability threw high winds, blow-outs, and jack knifing.

we have the advantage in turning too, almost all of our trailers have the axles about 10-12 feet in from the rear, giving a shorter wheelbase and tighter turning circle, whereas teh US trailers mean you have to swing out more to go round turns.

Awesome. So when do you get your Mercedes-Benz powered Freightliner???? :sunglasse

why not get a Mercedes-Benz-powered Mercedes-Benz?

I don't think they sell them over here.

Grey Import.

1. Tractors really have nothing special about them.
2. Lowboys not low loads
3. You are correct.


Totaly different set of rules, roads and needs in Europe and here in NZ compared to the US.
Our roads are generaly much narrower, and built of much softer material. So the trucks that drive on them need to be smaller and lighter.

A tractor unit capable of pulling 400 tons is pretty special. Generaly they use 2 or 3, hooked together front and back, pushing and pulling.
Its a huge amount of strain to put on a chassis and coupling, generaly they use an A frame, with assorting winching equipment.

Low heavy duty trailers are called Low Loaders here :)

I don't think they sell them over here.
Yes they do. Go to the on-line car show, the rig posted is Powered by Mercedes Benz.

Yes they do. Go to the on-line car show, the rig posted is Powered by Mercedes Benz.

Yeah, it's a Freightliner isn't it?? 2.2 was saying get a Mercedes Benz diesel like this.....

http://www.dieseltruck.mercedes-benz.pl/mbl/gfx_article/actros(1).jpg

I don't think you can get these over here. But you are the man who would know!! :)

Actros for the win!

http://www.dieseltruck.mercedes-benz.pl/mbl/gfx_article/actros(1).jpg

cool pic, the reflections are the previous generations.

No I don't think we get those. Close European truck we have here is the Volvo, but I think it's along with Ford's line but MUCH better quality. I love my friend's MB Powered Rigs. Volvo is a great rig as well. They are also about 10,000 dollars cheaper then the competition and offer the same stuff if not a little bit more quality and ergonomic design. I am hoping when I get my job to drive a Volvo, Kenworth T2000, or a Peterbilt Model 387. My friend wants me to work for him but that's mostly local not OTR(Over The Road) which is what I really want.

congrats! I just passed my class B general knowledge and air brake on tuesday. I passed the general knowledge pretty easily but was scratching my noggin on the air brake for a few questions. I didn't really read the book though so I guess its understandable. Good luck with your road test when you go for it!

congrats! I just passed my class B general knowledge and air brake on tuesday. I passed the general knowledge pretty easily but was scratching my noggin on the air brake for a few questions. I didn't really read the book though so I guess its understandable. Good luck with your road test when you go for it!
Are you going to a school or doing it on your own?

Are you going to a school or doing it on your own?


Nope no school, I drive for work. I work for a sub-contractor of a large moving company. Until now I just navigated and loaded and unloaded. Now I share seat time with my boss. Tonight was my first night behind the wheel of our truck. Its a Freightliner FL70 either 26' or 28' box truck with the CAT under the hood. She runs nice and handles good. I just have to get used to the feel of the air brakes.

Nope no school, I drive for work. I work for a sub-contractor of a large moving company. Until now I just navigated and loaded and unloaded. Now I share seat time with my boss. Tonight was my first night behind the wheel of our truck. Its a Freightliner FL70 either 26' or 28' box truck with the CAT under the hood. She runs nice and handles good. I just have to get used to the feel of the air brakes.
If I remember correctly, your from the SE NY(Westchester,NYC(5-boroughs), LI area. Although seat time is good it's really best that you get some theory and classroom training. In all honesty, I am reallizing how valuable this class is. Here is were I am going http://www.cdtschool.com/ . There are several location throughout the state. I believe they are Mount Vernon, Kingston,and Queens, besides the one in West Babylon the branch I attend.

Congratulations, I'm in school for my class B but I passed the written tests already (general+airbrake) so I know what a pain it is. Good luck with your career.

Congratulations, I'm in school for my class B but I passed the written tests already (general+airbrake) so I know what a pain it is. Good luck with your career.
Thanks. I had to do combo too being class a is tractor trailer. This week went for our hazmat and tanker endorsements. Got them too. This week I start applying to OTR companies for a job.

nope, i mean 400-ton.

that's in the highest weight category. called STGO CAT.3 i believe.

the gross weight of a GB truck with a 6x2 configuration (most of ours are 6x2 with a push/tag lift axle) and fully-laden 40-ft trailer is often upto 60-tons.

the norm here is to run a trailer with 3 axles, each axle has one wheel each end, sometimes dual wheels are used on trailer hubs, but that's usually the reserve of low-loaders.


I need to see a pic of a 400 ton rig. I would think that thing would just be cracking cement behind it as it tugged down the road.

Not quite the same thing but check this truck out, it can carry 400 tons and weighs something like 500-600 tons loaded.

http://www.primidi.com/2004/06/21.html

This new mining truck can carry about 360 tonnes (400 tons) at 64 km/h. New Scientist interviewed its designer, Francis Bartley, who says that such a truck costs US$3 million and that the worldwide market for these trucks doesn't exceed 75 units per year. He adds that this is an unconventional truck. It has a 2723-kilowatt diesel engine which powers two electric motors, making the T 282 B the biggest AC drive truck. If you like big toys, you'll enjoy this interview.

Q: Just how big is this truck?

A: Well, empty it weighs in at 224 tons (203 tonnes), it's 24 foot 3 inches (7.4 metres) tall over the canopy, 47 feet 6 inches (14.5 metres) long with a wheelbase of 21 foot 6 inches (6.6 metres). And it can carry loads of 400 tons (365 tonnes). So that's an overall weight when loaded of 624 tons (568 tonnes).

How similar is it to an ordinary truck you would see on the highway?

A: It's quite different from what you might expect. For a start there isn't one huge engine powering the wheels, as you would get in a regular truck. Instead, a 3650-horsepower (2723-kilowatt) diesel engine generates power for two electric motors in the rear axles. So it's more like a huge electric railroad locomotive than a conventional truck. Older giant trucks used a DC electrical drive system but this one uses AC, which is more efficient.

Q: It must cost a fortune...

A: In the US, $3million. In the over-300-ton range there are probably 50 to 75 trucks sold each year worldwide. Our big trucks end up used in coal mines in Wyoming and Australia, copper mines in Chile, in iron extraction in South Africa and in gold mines in Nevada.

Not quite the same thing but check this truck out, it can carry 400 tons and weighs something like 500-600 tons loaded.

http://www.primidi.com/2004/06/21.html


that thing is a freaking MOTEL 6 on WHEELS!!! thats amazing:uhoh: :uhoh:

Thats not road legal anywhere. It's broken down and hauled to mining and other sites by tractor trailer.