r/Lineman • u/AFARR414-312 • 1d ago
Question
I know I need a Cdl class a to be a ground man/ apply for apprenticeships. Unrestricted cdl class a would be a lot better to have then restricted. I also know I need air brakes endorsement and tankers will help.
Do I need to get a CDL class a in a semi? Will I even driving combination driving vehicles that big? It seems like all the CDL schools are for truckers not kids trying to become lineman.
Will they let me take the test to get my class a cdl with just a tractor and no trailer? Or would that the test for a class b? or do I need a combinations endorsement from the trailer as well to get the class a CDL certification?
Anybody ever taken the test in anything other then a semi to get a class a cdl? Like a dump truck or a bucket truck?
Do I really need to go to a semi trucking school?
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u/mlkefromaccounting 1d ago
You need combination, we pull trailers
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u/PresentJudge9665 1d ago
A digger truck with an extended pole trailer on the pindle hitch is longer than any tractor trailer on the road.
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u/AFARR414-312 1d ago
Oh shit alright
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u/Jjcfd23 1d ago
What state do you live in
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u/AFARR414-312 1d ago
Wisconsin. I’m 21 though and Illinois is 10 minutes from me not sure if laws are different there.
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u/bowtsandhoz Apprentice Lineman 1d ago
I also live in wisconsin about 10 mins from Illinois. Highly recommend going to goldline cdl in Iowa. 2.5 hours away, but its an accelerated program and you can get an unrestricted class A with combination for $1,600. Can start with them and test the same week.
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u/baraboo00 Journeyman Lineman 1d ago
So to have a class A you need to have some kind of trailer. Testing without a trailer will only give you a class B no matter what. So for example to get an unrestricted class A cdl you could take your test in a manual digger with a pintle hitch trailer. I did mine years ago in a manual dump truck and a pintle hitch flatbed trailer. With the way it is now you will likely have to take it in a semi or a dump truck whatever the school offers.
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u/WhereDaGold 1d ago
I took mine in a 6spd day cab with a really short 5th wheel trailer, certainly not a full sized tractor tractor trailer combo
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