CDL Test/Practice Pad Dimensions

We’ll help you determine the total length and cone placement of a CDL Practice pad. Your pad should have room for all 4 backing maneuvers. You'll start with 3 lines painted on a hard surface. Each line is 100'long. The distance between each line is 12’. You’ll place cones on each line every 10’. Check out our CDL Backing Lessons to help you gain perspective before you start to use your CDL Practice Pad.

A CDL Test Practice Pad must fit four maneuvers:

Straight Line
Off Set
Parallel Park
Alley Dock

Space Saving Configuration

The first three maneuvers are neatly contained in a 100’ long x 24’ wide box. You need some extra space for the truck to pull through. See the table below for the total area needed.

Maneuver	Width	Length
Off Set	48’	216’
Parallel Park	48’	216’
Straight Line	12’	240’
Alley Dock	180’	72’

The dimensions above are the TOTAL room needed for each maneuver. The boxes your driver backs into are smaller. You'll see the dimensions for each box further down the page.

Straight Line Backing

Straight line takes the least amount of space. Roughly 240’ long and 12’ Wide (to allow for the truck to pull, and back, all the way through.)

100’ long
12’ wide.
ADD one truck length in front of the box.
ADD one truck length behind the box.

Step-by-Step: CDL Straight Line Backing

A short, step-by-step guide to the straight line backing maneuver of the CDL Skills Test.

Download the Straight Line Backing Handout

Off Set Backing

Off Set backing can be performed in the 100’ by 24’ CDL Test Practice Pad. 2 lanes/12’ wide each The driver will need extra room to jack the trailer into the other lane while backing in order to switch lanes.

The truck starts in one lane.
Pulls forward and stops
Then backs into the lane next door.

A barrier made of cones is placed:

140' from the end of the box for a Class A Vehicle.
100' from the end of the box for a Class B Vehicle.
Plus the extra room on the sides to switch lanes.

Step-by-Step: Offset Backing

A short, step-by-step guide to the offset backing maneuver of the CDL Skills Test.

Download the Offset Backing Handout

Parallel Park

Parallel Park can be performed in the 100’ by 24’ CDL Test Practice Pad
The truck starts in the lane next to the parking space, pulls forward (Just past the space)and backs into the space.

The driver does not much space to swing out in preparation for the paralell parking maneuver. It’s similar to parallel parking your car downtown. You pull parallel to the car in front of your spot. You don’t start with your car angled in the lane. Trucks like to swing out a bit. They might need 15’ from the from the parking space.

10’ longer than the vehicle.
Lane 12’ wide
Need a truck length in front of the space.
Need 15’ to the side of the space

Step-by-Step: Parallel Park

A short, step-by-step guide to the parallel parking backing maneuver of the CDL Skills Test.

Download the Parallel Parking Handout

The Alley Dock

The alley dock is difficult to place in your CDL Test Practice Pad. This maneuver is much wider than the others. It always runs contrary to the neat little package of the straight line, alley dock, parallel park trio.

•40’ long

•12’ wide.

•A barrier 70’ from the front of the box.

Step-by-Step: CDL Alley Dock

A short, step-by-step guide to the alley dock maneuver of the CDL Skills Test.

Download the Alley Dock Backing Handout

CDL College LLC | 7505 Dahlia St. | Commerce City, CO 80022 | cdlcollege.com