Pass all three parts of your CDL skills test.
Pre-trip inspection, backing maneuvers and the road test, in one printable playbook. The backing cards show what you'll actually see in your mirrors and out your window, rendered from our 3D truck.
- Word-for-word pre-trip script, zone by zone, plus the in-cab air brake check
- Backing for the new and the classic test, with to-scale diagrams and 3D mirror views
- Road-test chapter: turns with a trailer, railroad crossings, downgrades
- Bonus: a separate Class B edition for straight trucks, in the same download
Three parts. Fail one, fail the test.
Most guides cover one piece. The skills test has three, and you need to pass every one of them on the same day.
Pre-trip inspection
- What to point at and what to say, zone by zone
- In-cab air brake check, step by step
- Coupling & uncoupling, step by step
- Say-it tables for every zone, plus a self-test
Backing exercises
- New test: forward stop, straight line, forward offset, reverse offset. Classic: offset back, alley dock, parallel parks
- Where to set up, when to turn, and 3D views of each mirror
- How encroachments, pull-ups and G.O.A.L. are scored
- Examiner's Notes: what each score-sheet mark means
Road test
- Right and left turns with a 53-foot trailer, off-tracking explained
- Railroad crossings, intersections, lane changes
- Downgrades, brake fade and runaway truck ramps
- The "talking" habits examiners want to hear
A routine for the walk. A routine for the backing.
You don't memorize 200 facts. You learn two routines and repeat them until they're automatic.
The Walkaround Map
The pre-trip as one fixed loop around the truck, always in the same order, so you never skip a zone under pressure.
- Engine compartment
- In-cab & air brake check
- Lights & front of tractor
- Driver side of tractor
- Coupling system
- Trailer, driver side
- Rear of trailer
- Passenger side, back to the cab
The L.I.N.E. backing method
One routine for every backing exercise on either version of the test, and for real docks after you're hired.
Everything on the test, plus the first week on the job
Walkaround zones with a word-for-word script for each
Backing cards with to-scale diagrams and 3D views, plus simulated mistakes for the hardest moves
One-page cheat sheets to print and keep in the truck
Yard Sessions: ready 20-minute practice plans with a result log
See what you'll see.
Most guides tell you what to look for in your mirrors. We show you. The backing cards show 3D views of your mirrors and your window at each stage, rendered from our truck model, so you know what "right" looks like before you get in the cab.
- Top-down diagram of the whole maneuver
- Left and right mirror views at every stage
- Examiner's Notes: the marks you'll get, and how to avoid them
- Every diagram drawn from a real truck simulation: no sliding, real steering limits
Mirror View: what your left mirror shows as the tail swings your way.
Why this, and not a backing-only guide?
| Backing-only guides | CDL Skills Test Playbook | |
|---|---|---|
| Backing exercises | ✓ | ✓ New test + classic test + job |
| Pre-trip inspection script | ✕ | ✓ 8 zones, word for word |
| In-cab air brake check | ✕ | ✓ Step by step |
| Road test chapter | ✕ | ✓ Turns, crossings, downgrades |
| 3D mirror and window views | ✕ | ✓ For the backing exercises |
| Simulated mistakes: what goes wrong and why | ✕ | ✓ Every major backing exercise |
| Class B edition for straight trucks | ✕ | ✓ Included, separate PDF |
| Free updates | — | ✓ Every new edition |
Testing for Class B? It's in the box.
Every purchase also includes The CDL Skills Test Playbook — Class B, a separate PDF for straight trucks like box trucks and dump trucks. A straight truck backs differently from a tractor-trailer — the back goes the way you turn the top of the wheel — so it gets its own book: 6 backing exercises with to-scale diagrams and 3D mirror views, pre-trip without coupling, air and hydraulic brake checks, road test and cheat sheets.
PDFs, one price
Is it for you?
It's for you if…
- You're in CDL school or about to take the Class A skills test
- You failed the pre-trip or backing and want to fix it fast
- You learn better with diagrams and animations than with long text
- You just got hired and still sweat at tight docks
It's not for you if…
- You need the written knowledge test — use your state's CDL manual
- You want endorsement prep (HazMat, tanker, doubles/triples)
- You're looking for a replacement for required ELDT training
About ELDT: Since 2022, first-time Class A applicants must finish Entry-Level Driver Training with a registered provider. The Playbook doesn't replace it. It's what you study between lessons and before test day.
Do the math
Failing one part of the skills test costs far more than this.
30-day money-back promise
Take it to the yard first.
You get a full month to practice with the Playbook. If it isn't moving you forward, there's an exit.
Download & print
Get the PDF right after checkout. Start with the part of the test that scares you most.
Practice with it
Run the walkaround out loud, do a Yard Session, log your result.
Not helping? One email.
Write to us within 30 days and you get every cent back. You keep the file. Refund policy
Questions
Is it for Class A or Class B?
Both. The main Playbook is written for Class A tractor-trailers. Your download also includes a separate Class B edition for straight trucks, with its own backing cards, pre-trip and brake checks (air and hydraulic). Read the one for the class you're testing for.
Does it match my state's test?
Every state tests the same three parts. For the backing part, many states have switched to the modernized test (forward stop, straight-line backing, forward offset tracking, reverse offset backing), while others still use the classic layout with offset back, alley dock and parallel parking. The Playbook covers both. Details like free pull-ups and looks vary, so it flags them for you to check in your state's CDL manual.
Is there video too?
Yes. Many of the cards match a free 3D lesson on our YouTube channel — offset backing, parallel parking, truck stop backing, tight turns, blind spots and mountain grades. Watch the lesson, then take the card to the yard.
How do I get it after I pay?
You'll see a download link right after checkout and get it by email. You can download it again any time from your receipt.
Can I pay with Apple Pay?
Yes. Checkout supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and all major cards. The options shown depend on your device and browser.
What are "free updates"?
When we add cards or improve the Playbook, you get the new edition at no extra cost, using the same download link.
Is this an official CDL manual?
No. It's an independent study guide and isn't affiliated with FMCSA, AAMVA or any state agency. Always follow your state's CDL manual, your school and your examiner.
What if it's not for me?
Email us within 30 days and we'll refund you in full.
Walk into test day knowing every part.
The pre-trip script, the backing routine and the road test, in one printable playbook with 3D mirror views for the backing exercises.
Get the CDL Playbook · $14.99