Question:
I have another road test this Thursday. A week to the day, LOL now I think about it. Almost a week to the hour from taking my DOT one the 23rd. At least is will be the last one to take this month. Have run out of days. And hopefully my last for awhile!
Oh and they want me to...BACK..oh not curved back. Which the instructors spent days with me on, including some days I did not need. But god forbid now I have to do a 90 or 45..yeepee. Never done one of them. Am told the 45 is a curved anyways, so thats cool. Also wish I had coupled a few more times. Yes folks I do know I would have to eventually back. But I really thought I would be taught how. But will read the hell out of everything I can ..and well do my best. At least I do know I can curve and straight line back..
But I went to the school to see if I could get some "guidance" in backing. One of the instructors who teaches nights and weekends was there. Told him what was up. He then realized I never got all the backing. But, keep asking me why I am so scared about everything. How come I do not have the confidence in driving the truck that I do in the bus. I mean they are very much different but the principles are the same. Keep right rear tires(tandems) off the curb. Dont run over anything make the blessed thing go forward and reverse.
He reminded me how confident driving the bus I am and how I can get that big ugly yellow into any place I want to. Made me say outloud. "Hey I am a good driver I have 11 years safe driving pins from the school system and a 10 year + clean driving record and +5 points."
Ya know what....IT WORKED! I am more confident today that I have been in WEEKS! I am going to read up again on what I need to. Pass this road test and get this job that I really really want! Simple as that. NO more being scaired. What is there to be scaired of. Now I will allow a bit of nervousness. But NO FEAR!
Can't wait to go see him this weekend and tell him he "did good".
Amazing what positive reinforcement can do. When it is heard and given at the right time. He had been trying all along to get me to see this.
Hope everyone is having a WONDERFUL day!!!!

Answer:
Heres my 2 cents. Sometimes its the guys that are over confident that might fail. When your backing your backing ( alley dock) always look where your trailor is, and where its going. Baby steps , a little bit 'o left, a little'o right, a little bit 'o left, a little'o right,. Keep that eye on the pivot point.

Answer:
I sure hope I did not come across that way. It was not my intention. Since the 2nd day of the range in school, then driving. I saw my confidence level sink lower with each passing day. To the point I was dreading going to school to do the very thing I have loved for over 27 years.
I believe it was all caused by the way I was taught. What ever confidence I had at the time. Was quickly lost in the "training" I was getting. What this instructor did today. And honestly I think had tried to do before. Was try to make me stop 2nd quessing myself, and do go out and do. But I wasnt only 2nd guessing I was 3rd and 4th, and really just plain thinking too much.
I realized today not one person anywhere ever said I could not do this. I was asked why I wasnt doing something right but never told I couldnt do this. The only one saying that...was me...and that was can i do this? I had no answer for me. Of course the more I was yelled at the worse I got.
Today I found the part of me that has the drive to succeed. Somewhere I had lost it. Yeah I know curved backing lol! I am by NO means as confident as I sound. But like I said I am not going to let fear mess me up anymore. I have the basic's of driving the truck down. I believe I have always had them. I just need to start fine tuning my skills and well my mind. And (grin) learn how to 45 and 90 degree back this guy!
I really did not mean to imply that I had all the confidence of someone who has "mastered" this. I sure dont! I hope I never feel I have mastered cause then the driving without having to think about it happens and I dont want to be there. I want to not have to conciously think about shifting. I want that to be 2nd nature. But I also want the ability to do what Hoss did last Sat. I feel as though I already have that, I sure hope I do. But I will not drive down the road thinking that its here.
Also wanna thank you for the tips on backing, I learned with curved a little goes a LONG way. And will try and remember that on thursday.
Again thank alot!

Answer:
The biggest mistake that new drivers make in performing backing manuevers is OVER-STEERING. Just like nofxn40s said, baby steps. A real good habbit to get into that is a guarenteed way to NOT over steer is this. Place your hand at 3 and 9 o'clock on the steering wheel and DO NOT MOVE THEM. This will limit the ammount that the wheel can be turned to only 180 degree's. It is when you start cranking the wheel to both stops that you get in trouble real quick.
Another "trick" that my instructor taught me in school. To get your steers centered. Turn the wheel all the way in either direction until you reach a stop. Straighten the wheel out, then turn it 2 revolutions (720 degrees). This will center you steer axle.
Just remember to stay calm, and read your mirrors. Do not push the go peddel, let it idle as you move. You have to anticipate the trailor also, when you put in a steering correction it will not happen right then.
I am sure you will nail it. Heck it took me 2 times for my state test.
Good luck.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
No you did'nt come across that way. That was my bad. Confidence is a good thing. When I posted that, I was just thinking of this russian guy who was in my class who thought he was all that with backing. He totally bombed. He had to pull up like 5 or 6 times. Needless to say he had to restest.
Seems like just yesterday I got my CDL. The day I left home with my trainer from Swift had to be be one of my greatest moments believe it or not. Its all about the accomplishment. Anyways Good luck .

Answer:
Buzz and No, I think I misled a bit here. I have my CDL.. got it last Thursday. Passed the tests with 100 on my curved backing, 84 on pretrip(still dont understand that when she said all I missed was the steering wheel play) and a 93 on the road test. I think I got points off when another student realized I had forgotten the horns and was making the horn motions (she saw this..I did not).
The roadtest I have this Thursday is for a company that I really do want to work for. I am really frustrated that I never got a chance to 90 or 45 degree back. Also I have been warned we learned on 48' trailers and the one I will test on will be a 53'. At least both trucks are 9 speeds. But in the time we used the 48 and the shorter trailers I really did not see any differance in the way things handled, for me that is. I guess only Thursday will tell if I DID learn anything in school.
Thanks a bunch for the hints guys! They have been read and trust me will be reread a lot before thursday. I also have my toy truck I had bought for curved, and that will get some more use too..
Oh I almost forgot learned with curved that a little goes a long way. Plus a little gives a chance to see if things are the way I want them to be. And I don't use the gas when backing. BIG BIG NO-NO in backing a school bus.

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I have never taken,nor heard of a company road test consisting of anything more than a trip around the block or a couple exits up the freeway just to make sure you don't run over nothing and you know what to do with that "stick" poking up out of the floor
CD
"I dont like small cars or real big women,but somehow I always find my self in 'em" (Kid Rock) recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

Answer:
You obviously never gone on a Roehl driving test. I started there as an experienced driver and still went the whole course, around the industrial park around about thru town thru a construction zone with a right hand turn in the middle then out to US 10 and go around town and back to the industrial park and back in to a driveway type dock. A little more than your average test to be sure. Also the first road test I'd taken in almost 5 yrs! Other co's just said "Hell with your experience why waste our time!"
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
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