If you have taken the Texas Class A Exempt (Non-Commercial) driving test since July 1, 2016 (after Texas updated its requirements to conform to the federal standard), what parking and backing-up maneuvers did you have to do?

The new federal CDL requirements include not just parallel parking and backing up 60' in a straight line, but also backing up into an offset space, among other things. I'd like to find out if Texas is applying these same requirements to the non-CDL Class A test.

I would never attempt any of these without my wife outside on a walkie-talkie, but I've also heard you're not allowed to use a spotter during the test. (We have a 41' fifth wheel.) True?

I've not been to Texas, but I did take the class A CDL test in my pickup and 40' trailer last year in Ohio. Should be the same federal standards, or very similar. For the maneuverability test, there was the straight line backing, but it was more like 100'. The parallel parking was more along the lines of pulling straight out of one parking space, and backing into the adjacent parking space at a truck stop. There was a right hand turn where you had to come close to a cone without hitting it, basically simulating not driving over a curb on a sharp turn. Last was an alley dock back, which is backing into a slot 90 degrees to the "road" and stopping within 3' of the end of the slot. Really no different than backing into a slot at a truck stop and not hitting the truck behind you. All are fairly simple maneuvers with plenty of room allowed for the truck to swing. They use the same layout as they use for an 18 wheeler test, so you have even more room using a pickup/camper combo. You have a certain number of points they deduct for each mistake (I want to say 3, but I could be misremembering , but they will tell you) for things like pulling ahead to reposition, knocking over a cone, getting out of the truck, etc. You need to play the game smart. Assuming you can do the easy stuff like the straight line backing clean and no deductions, when you get to the only harder maneuver, the alley dock, you can use your unused deductions to get out of the truck and take a look, or pull up. I have only one good eye and poor depth perception, so I used my points to get out and walk back and make sure I was stopped at the proper depth in the alley. Doesn't matter if you have a perfect score or max deductions, you still pass, so do it smart.

In my personal opinion, and absolutely no disrespect meant to the poster, if a driver can not perform these simple maneuvers without a spotter the state has no business issuing that driver a license to drive that rig. They only simulate very common things you will run into on every single trip you take. And in an environment with an open lot, a bunch of cones instead of buildings or other trucks blocking your sight lines, no other drivers or distractions. If you can't back that thing up straight, you will not get out of half the gas stations you have to pull into on a trip, and the same for all the other parts of the test.

One thing you may have trouble with depending on the size of your rig, I almost was unable to take the test in my own truck. They declared when I got there that the rig had to be 26000# gvw minimum to test in it, and I did not qualify. After I made the tester come out and look at the tags, I had 26200# combined and just made it. If not, they were going to make me test in their tandem axle dump truck and pintle hitch equipment trailer instead which would have been far more difficult than my own truck. Ohio does not have a class A non-commercial, so here you take the same test as the CDL. You may want to confirm before you go that you can use your own truck, and make sure it meets their minimum size.

Welcome and good luck!

Also, the one other thing I should mention is that the pre-trip inspection portion of the test was FAR harder than the driving or maneuverability portions of the test. Not sure if they make you go through all that for a class A non-commercial, but they should. A non-commercial 25000# rig is just as dangerous as a commercial 25000# rig if a wheel or axle fails in traffic or brakes fail on a grade. I've been a class B CDL driver for 25 years, and I FAILED the pretrip test on the first go around. I admit I didn't study as deeply as I should have, but the test was far more detailed than I expected. You get 30 minutes to do the pretrip inspection, and believe me, if you hurry you need every bit of the 30 minutes to do it right. They don't make you actually physically crawl under and check everything, but you have to stand there and rattle off literally everything in the book that you are supposed to check. For example, if you are standing by the rear wheel of the truck, you need to mention: "I'm visually inspecting the outer tire for tread wear, damage, and dry rot/ sidewall cracking. I'm checking that tire with a gauge to make sure it is at the correct 80 psi. I'm inspecting the wheel for any sign of physical damage, cracking, or corrosion. I'm visually inspecting all 8 lug nuts are present and appear tight. I'm inspection the brakes for corrosion and any sign of physical damage, leaking fluid, and pad condition and thickness if visible. I'm inspection the axle for physical damage and any leaking fluid. I'm inspecting the leaf spring and mounts for any cracks, corrosion, missing or loose hardware. I'm checking that the mudflap is present and attached firmly." And on and on all the way around the truck and trailer. When I passed that on the second go round, it was with plenty of study, working fast, and barely made the 30 minutes. You don't get a checklist, you have to do it from memory. All I am saying is be very prepared if you have to do the pretrip test. Again, you have to work smart and play their game. If you hurry and complete in 20 minutes, make sure you take the entire time you have left to go back around the truck and rack your brain to mention anything you forgot the first time around. It still counts as long as you hit the items on their checklist, does not have to be in any particular order.

Thanks, Hot Rod, for all that info. The test you're describing is definitely the CDL test. Nobody in Texas that I've talked to has had to do a very thorough pre-trip inspection, and (at least so far) nobody has been asked to do any of the backing maneuvers other than back in a straight line and, sometimes, parallel park. I'm pointing this out only so that other readers don't get so scared of the test that they avoid getting the proper license in Texas.

Regarding using a spotter when backing--I understand what you're saying, but just because you can do it without a spotter doesn't mean you should. As my wife is fond of reminding me, I'm towing our house, so anything I can do to manage risk to it is worth it. Even the Texas Commercial Driver's Handbook says to use a helper outside if you can.

All of that said, new RVers should practice as many of these maneuvers as possible. It will sharpen your skills, whether or not you ever actually have to do them. And I highly recommend taking professional RV driving instruction from an outfit like RV Driving School. We did 16 hours of in-vehicle instruction, and learned a lot that we'd otherwise have had to pick up just from experience.

Absolutely. I didn't want to infer you should not use a spotter whenever possible in day to day situations, only that a driver should certainly able to do it without a spotter, that is just real life on the road. I just know we've all seen that stereotypical driver out there pulling up 6 or seven times to get in/out of a gas pump, or is mortified to put the rig in reverse. We usually all laugh and pull up a lawn chair to watch, but it scares me those drivers are out there on the road from states that have no testing whatsoever for rigs that large.

  On 10/25/2016 at 11:56 AM, Hot Rod said:

Absolutely. I didn't want to infer you should not use a spotter whenever possible in day to day situations, only that a driver should certainly able to do it without a spotter, that is just real life on the road. I just know we've all seen that stereotypical driver out there pulling up 6 or seven times to get in/out of a gas pump, or is mortified to put the rig in reverse. We usually all laugh and pull up a lawn chair to watch, but it scares me those drivers are out there on the road from states that have no testing whatsoever for rigs that large.

Yep, I totally agree with that!

Your post made me wonder: do any RV insurers offer a discount for taking an RV driving course? If not, they should. It would encourage more people to get proper instruction and improve their skills, and without the fear of failing an official driving test.