Page 89 - 2021-2022 Commercial Drivers Manual

SECTION 12

BASIC VEHICLE 12.2 – EXERCISES
CONTROL
SKILLS TEST 12.2.1 – Straight Line Backing

You may be asked to back your vehicle
This Section Covers in a straight line between two rows of
cones without touching or crossing over
the exercise boundaries.

Skills Test Scoring ... 12.1
Skills Test 12.2.2 – Offset Back/Right
Exercises..................12.2 You may be asked to back into a space

that is to the right rear of your vehicle.
Your basic control skills could be tested You will drive straight forward to the
using one or more of the following exercises outer boundary. From that position you
shown (Figures 12.2.1 through 12.2.6) off-road must back the vehicle into the opposite
or somewhere on the street during the road test. lane until the front of your vehicle has
passed the first set of cones without
striking boundary lines or cones.
12.1 – SCORING
12.2.3 – Offset Back/Left
If the driver fails the basic control skills test, You may be asked to back into a space
the test will stop and the applicant cannot pro- that is to the left rear of your vehicle. You
ceed any further in the CDL testing. will drive straight forward to the outer
• Crossing Boundaries (encroachments) boundary. From that position, you must
• Pull-ups back the vehicle into the opposite lane
until the front of your vehicle has passed
• Outside Vehicle Observations (Looks) the first set of cones without striking
• Final Position/Inside Parallel boundary lines or cones.

Encroachments – The examiner will score the 12.2.4 – Parallel Park

number of times you touch or cross over an ex- (Driver Side)
ercise boundary line or cone with any portion
of your vehicle. Each encroachment will count You may be asked to park in a parallel
as an error. parking space that is on your left. You are
to drive past the entrance to the parallel
Pull-ups – When a driver stops and pulls forward parking space with your vehicle parallel
to clear an encroachment or to get a better posi- to the parking area; and back into the
tion, it is scored as a “pull-up.” Stopping without space without crossing front, side or
changing direction does not count as a pull-up. rear boundaries marked by cones. You
You will not be penalized for initial pull-ups. are required to get your entire vehicle
However, an excessive number of pull-ups, will completely into the space.
count as errors (you will be advised the number
of non-scored pull-ups you are allowed for each 12.2.5 – Parallel Park

skill you are tested on). (Conventional)
Outside Vehicle Observations (Looks) – You You may be asked to park in a paral-
may be permitted to safely stop and exit the ve- lel parking space that is on your right.
hicle to check the external position of the vehicle You are to drive past the entrance to the
(look). When doing so, you must place the vehicle parallel parking space with your vehicle
in neutral and set the parking brake(s). Then, when parallel to the parking area; and back into
exiting the vehicle, you must do so safely by facing the space without crossing front, side or
the vehicle and maintaining three points of contact rear boundaries marked by cones. You
with the vehicle at all times (when exiting a bus, are required to get your entire vehicle
maintain a firm grasp on the handrail at all times). completely into the space.
If you do not safely secure the vehicle or safely exit
the vehicle it may result in an automatic failure of
the basic control skills test.
The maximum number of times that you may 12.2.6 – Alley Dock
look to check the position of you vehicle is two (2) You may be asked to sight-side back
except for the Straight Line Backing exercise, which your vehicle into an alley. You will drive
allows one look. Each time you open the door, past the alley and position your vehicle
move from a seated position where in physical parallel to the outer boundary. From that
control of the vehicle or on a bus walk to the back position, back into the alley bringing the
of a bus to get a better view, it is scored as a “look.” rear of your vehicle within three feet of
the rear of the alley without touching
Final Position/Inside Parallel – It is important boundary lines or cones. Your vehicle
that you finish each exercise exactly as the exam- must be straight within the alley/lane
iner has instructed you. If you do not maneuver when you have completed the maneuver.
the vehicle into its final position as described by
the examiner, you will be penalized and fail the
basic skills test.

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