California Commercial Driver Handbook - Section 11

Four basic control skills will be tested using the following exercises off-road or somewhere on the street during the road test:

Forward stop/Straight line backing

Alley dock (driver side).

Parallel park (conventional).

Right turn.

These exercises are shown on the following pages.

The examiner will score the number of times you touch or cross over an exercise boundary line with any portion of your vehicle. Each time you cross over the boundary will count as an error.

In some of the exercises, the examiner will also score the number of times you stop and change direction or pull-up during the exercise. Errors will be explained to you prior to the beginning of each exercise. A failure of any or all skill tests requires a retest fee.

Remember: You are allowed a total of three attempts to pass the pre-trip, skills, or driving tests. See here for more information.

Once you start your skills test, you must stay seated until the test is finished. You may not stop and get out of your seat to check on your progress.

Forward Stop/Straight Line Backing. You will be asked to drive forward between two rows of cones and bring your vehicle to a complete stop as close as you can to the exercise boundary marked by a line or set of cones without going beyond the line or cones. You will be asked to back your vehicle in a straight line between two rows of cones without touching or crossing over the exercise boundaries.

Alley Dock. You will be asked to sight-side back your vehicle into an alley, bringing the rear of your vehicles close as possible to the rear of the alley without going beyond the exercise boundary marked by a line or row of cones.

Parallel Park (Conventional). You will be asked to park in a parallel parking space that is on your right. You are to drive past the parking space and back into it bringing the rear of your vehicle as close as possible to the rear of the space without crossing side or rear boundaries marked by cones. You are to try to get your vehicle (or trailer, if combination vehicle) completely into the space.

Right Turn. You will be asked to drive forward and make a right turn around a cone or marker. The rear wheel should come as close to the cone or marker as possible without touching it.

You will drive forward between two rows of cones and bring your vehicle to a complete stop as close as you can to the exercise boundary marked by a line or set of cones without going beyond the line or cones.

Then, you will back your vehicle in a straight line between two rows of cones without touching or crossing over the exercise boundaries.

You will dock a single vehicle or a trailer (if it is a combination) from about a 90° angle without touching any of the cones or stanchions while staying within the boundaries.

You will make a right turn around a corner, with the back axles of the vehicle as close to the designated cone as possible, without striking it.

You will parallel park your vehicle or trailer (only if combination vehicle) in a designated area without striking any boundaries. You will be required to position the vehicle or trailer inside the parking area.

NOTE: Combination vehicle park (trailer only) = trailer length + 10 feet. Truck or bus = whole vehicle length + 10 feet.

Commercial Driver License Handbook