Question:
I have been in school for 16 weeks. Friday is our last day. I am having difficulty with the road test. There is a very real possibility that I may not be able to pass it by the end of the week. Everything is fine when I am out on the track or on a road-trip with another student. But when I get in the truck with the tester, everything goes to hell. The first thing to go bad is that I will miss a downshift. After that, most everything goes out the window. I have three days to get it together.
Here's my question. Assuming the worst (not a good thing to do) and I do not pass the road test by Friday, is there a good company who will give me the necessary training so that I can pass the road test without me having to pay a bunch of money again? I am willing to sign a contract, if that is what is required. But I don't want to spend a year working for a bad company.
I live in central Minnesota. Some companies on my short list had been Transport America based in the Twin Cities and Roehl in WI. However, I am out of Roehl's hiring area.
I am looking for OTR, but would consider other possibilities.
Glenn

Answer:
I had problems downshifting in the beginning also. My problem was I was even though I let my RPM's drop to 1100 before taking the shift, I never got my RPM's high enough (to 1500 RPM) to prevent grinding the gears. So I took my RPM's lower (to 900) and then took the shift. For some reason it was easier to get the RPM's to 1300. This varied from engine to engine, truck to truck, but once I got my downshifting down, everything else fell into place.
I used to drive for Roehl. Currently on medical leave. Sorry to hear your out of their hiring area.

Answer:
When you are out with the tester try to think of it as a ride in the country with a friend. The tester is there to see if you can drive safe so relax and enjoy the ride forget about the tester and do what you do with another student, don’t let the test phobia get to you
I am a trainer with Crete and I have had a lot of students who have had trouble at first but I have gotten them over it, you are just beginning your odyssey there is still much to learn.
Seek to know God and Jesus who was presented as the sacrifice of full payment for sin.
Do the VI maintain your following distance maintain your lane position observe the speed limit observe the things around you and keep good records
Safe driving to you.
Joe


Answer:
I'm going to Think POSITIVE & say that I Know You WILL PASS the road test.
Immediately Before taking the test....
Close your eyes & Take a few Deep Breaths to Calm yourself down.
With eyes Closed, go over Everything in your head.
Even plan ahead: What will you do if you miss a gear?(how are you going to RECOVER if you miss a gear?)
While shifting....
Go slow enough so that you can "FEEL" the hole to put it in Before you actually put it in that gear...BUT....Fast enough so that your RPMs do Not Drop Tooo Much.
Making Turns....
While APPROACHING your turn......
VISUALIZE your set-up & manuever Before you actually make the turn.(have your turn planned out/mapped out in your head while approaching the turn....are you going to do a "Button-Hook" manuever or are there enough lanes that you do Not have to do the "button-hook"?)
Also, you should be "scanning" the area & "Noticing" WHERE the other traffic is & WHAT the other traffic is doing.(is there a car coming & about to "block" your turning path? is there a car trying to "Squeeze" you out on the right hand side, next to your trlr or blindspot?)
Backing....
VISUALIZE your Set-Up Before you actually start the manuever.
Remember to move the steering wheel in SMALL increments.
After you turn the steering wheel...WAIT & LOOK in the MIRROR to see What the Trlr is doing Before you move the steering wheel again.
***If you turn the steering wheel to the Left...the tail end of the trlr will go to the Right.***
(G)et
(O)ut
(A)nd
(L)ook!!!
***Check Your MIRRORS FREQUENTLY!!!***(while drving forward & when backing)
Pay attention to ALL road Signs & Clearance Signs.
If you come up to a set of RR trax while testing & the tester says to pretend that you have on a Haz-Mat load....
STOP(twice) Before Crossing RR Trax(50ft & 15ft) & Put on 4way flashers.
I have FAITH in You & I BELEIVE that you WILL PASS the test.
======================================================================
I'm sure that I've forgotten something, but I'm sure someone else will come along & ADD to my list of suggestions.

Answer:
Just to add on to Chocolit's list:
On the Hazmat load, make sure you roll down your window, look and listen.
On turns: Do not shift while in a turn, make sure you give yourself enough time before hand to downshift. Also, do not shift while crossing RR trax or any kind of intersection. This can cause your tester to really FROWN.
Here is something that I hope can make u feel a little better. I totally dumped my first road test. I was with a instructor that I didn't feel comfortable with. So while I was going down road I completely froze up. The next week, I had another instructor and I did feel comfortable with him. Maybe it was because he was SO HOT, who knows but I passed it with flying colors. I am not ashamed of dumping my first test, it just gave me more time to practice.
Sweet Whiskey

Answer:
You've been given A LOT of good advice! Get your mind 'right' and everything will fall into place.
Good Luck on your test! YOU CAN DO IT!
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." --> From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:

G)et
(O)ut
(A)nd
(L)ook!!!
Can you do that in a road and maneuver skills test?

Answer:
I don't know how it is in Your area....
But, when I took my CDL test in Oklahoma, the DMV "Tester" actually Complimented me on my Safety concern & said that I was the 4th person that he had tested at that time that actually did G.O.A.L.
I've NEVER had any of the carriers say anything Negative about it when I G.O.A.L. while taking a road test.
A few of the carriers actually said that they would rather for me to G.O.A.L. ...than...for me to stay in the trk & HIT something while backing.
Think about it....
If you are taking a road test(or state CDL test) and you do NOT G.O.A.L. & you HIT something, you will Automatically FAIL the test.
Whereas, if you DO G.O.A.L. while testing & you do NOT hit anything...you will more than likely PASS the test AND get hired.
***Which Scenario do YOU Choose? -->

Answer:
I was living in Fridley, MN... before I went to them (what seems like an eturnity ago, in 2001) and yes, they require a one year contract signing but if or when you complete that year your training is FREE.
They use Kirkwood Community College and provide housing during training. It's not a bad program, I learned alot and enjoyed the training. If you end up there tell (kirkwood instructors) Steve, Les, Dovey, and Mr Bill their favortite sixfoot redhead says hello Ha! Ha! They are good people... -->
NEVER drive faster than your gaurdian Angel can fly...
Angel

Answer:
Thank you all for your words of advice. I went in yesterday and decided it was time for strategy. I asked the instructor point blank if bad shifting alone was enough to fail me. He said no, it was worth 4 points max. He said if I missed a gear, forget it. Get my speed and position, etc right and worry about the gear later. Well, with that pressure lifted, the nervousness subsided substantially and everything went well. As a result, I am now the holder of a Class A CDL with endorsemnts for tankers, doubles/triples, and HazMat. I start work the week of January 5th with Halvor Lines out of Duluth/Superior, MN/WI.

Answer:
way to go glennw56401

Answer:
I Knew You Could Do It! --> --> -->
BE SAFE & HAPPY TRUCKING
SMYLE!


Answer:
Which division are you going? Van/Reefer or Flatbed?

Answer:
I'll be going van/reefer.
Glenn
Originally posted by Speed_Drums:
Which division are you going? Van/Reefer or Flatbed?

Answer:
Have a good Luck with Halvor Lines!