Earning your commercial driver’s license (CDL) is the key that unlocks a career in truck driving. To obtain your CDL, you’ll have to graduate from a commercial driving program, secure your commercial learner’s permit (CLP), and complete the necessary hours of training with your CLP. Once you’ve met these requirements and gotten a medical examiner’s certificate, one hurdle remains: passing the written and driving portions of the CDL exam. You will not be granted a CDL unless you pass both tests. Don’t let the pressure get to you: keep these CDL study tips in mind as you prepare so you’re equipped to pass your test, earn your CDL license, and finally start your new career as a truck driver.
CDL Study Tips for Prospective Truck Drivers
Plan Ahead
Don’t skip this step. The CDL study tips below will be difficult to implement if you do. While it can be tempting to put off studying and cram for the test the night before, procrastination will not help you pass the CDL exam. Planning is the best way to ensure you walk into your CDL exam feeling confident and prepared to pass. Create a schedule that allows you to spread your study time out over a few weeks. Designate small, manageable blocks of time you will dedicate to studying, and stick to your schedule.
Obtain and Understand Your CDL Manual
Once you’ve planned for when you’ll study, you can move on to what you’ll study: your state’s CDL manual. The CDL manual is a comprehensive guide to the rules and regulations that govern commercial driving in your state and will serve as the foundation for your study efforts. Even though testing requirements vary between states, all tests draw from topics covered in their state’s CDL manual.
Many states have their CDL manual available online for convenient downloading and printing, but you can always pick up a copy by visiting your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you download an online manual, take extra care to ensure that you’re downloading the official manual for your state.
Supplement with a Study Guide
Purchasing a CDL study guide or test prep book can also help set you up for success. Study guides provide a structured, organized way for you to review the material you’ll need to know for the exam, and many study guides will even include test-taking tips, practice test questions, and other supplementary resources that can be useful.
Join a Study Group
Working with others preparing for the same test can help you feel motivated, keep you focused, and alleviate anxiety. Studying with others makes it easy to quiz each other, which is a studying technique that works well for many people.
Take Advantage of Practice Tests
Many states offer free practice tests, which can be an incredible resource in your test preparation. Practice tests can help you understand the material and identify any knowledge gaps so you know which areas you should devote extra attention to. They can also help you build your test-taking confidence and feel more prepared on exam day.
Use Strategies to Alleviate Test Anxiety
Do you have test anxiety? If so, you aren’t alone. Test anxiety affects learners of all ages, with some studies estimating that between 25-40 percent of students experience anxiety before taking a test or exam. For some people, test anxiety can be severe and may even affect their performance on the day of the test. Thankfully, there are strategies you can use leading up to the day of the exam that can help reduce test anxiety.
The Week Before
- Map out a study routine and stick to it
- Engage in regular exercise and eat a balanced diet
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep a night
- Review practice questions
- Take time each day to engage in calming or relaxing activities (deep breathing, yoga, a walk, or any activities that help reduce anxiety)
The Day Before
- Make a checklist to review material and organize everything you’ll need for the next day.
- If you’ve followed your study plan and have done well on practice tests, you don’t need to stay up late and cram. Getting a good night’s sleep is more important. Do some light review throughout the day, remind yourself that you’ve got this, and prioritize getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep.
- Map out how long it will take you to reach the testing site and plan for traffic. Planning to get to the testing site early will help make the morning less stressful and rushed and ensure you get where you need to be on time.
- Eat a healthy, energizing meal, drink water, use the bathroom, bring snacks, and get to the testing site early.
Once you pass your exams and have your CDL, you finally can start working as a truck driver. If that’s your goal, contact the team at BLC Transportation today. We have opportunities for both company drivers and lease-purchase drivers. With our lease-purchase program, you can make 90 percent of the line haul while driving new trucks that provide comfort, fuel efficiency, and reliability. Plus, we offer bonuses and incentives, a health insurance subsidy, a friendly passenger/pet policy, assistance registering for an LLC, and more. Join our team today!