Week 3, Day 1: Double the Trouble, Double the Fun.
Welcome back, everyone! Glad to see you’re still with me here. Shall we get into the start of week three?
Okay, this week started like last week: in the yard at the beginning of the day. If you’ve been following this blog, then you know the types of things that I’ve been doing. The only change was the chance to do two different activities today. Those activites were coupling/uncoupling and 45-degree blind side backing. Both of those were fairly simple for me… but 45-degree sight side through me for a loop today. I just could not line up on the hole the first couple times I did it.
After lunch, my team (Scott, Willy and I for those who don’t remember) started with a different truck today. It was another Freightliner Century Class, albeit 2 years older than the one we were using last week. The other difference was the fact that we were pulling doubles today, not a single trailer. That was definitely fun, and we even had a different instructor. The route I took was different from Route 1 from last week as well. A lot more city driving, and much narrower streets. Factor in the Pacific Northwest Liquid Sunshine™, and you will get an idea of how much fun it was.
The biggest factor was trying to remember that I had extra length behind me. The first time I took a left hand turn with those things, I was very nervous. This was doubly true due to the fact that there was a car right on the white stop line. I had visions of the red pickup from Thursday (4/30), and it had me sweating bullets. Fortunately my instructor talked me through the turn, and slowly I’m starting to get the feel for the timing of left turns. I certainly don’t want a repeat of that near miss.
On the plus side, some of my scores did shift up from ‘Needs Improvement (+)’ to ‘Satisfactory (-)’. That does show that some of the basics I definitely have down, but I still have a large amount of room for improvement. I think I’ll be close to being ready by the end of the week. I know I feel far more comfortable and confident now.
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who gives you the actual test to get your CDL license and do they come to the school to test you? Did you pass the first time, and what if you don’t?
The state DOT gives the actual road and written tests. Where they give it will depend on the state – but from what I can tell, most of them come to the school to give the driving tests, and I think the written tests are pretty much always done at the school.
As far as what happens if you don’t pass first time, again, it depends on the state. Generally there is some sort of short waiting period before you can take it again – 24 hours in some cases, a little more in others. Most schools will work with you if you fail the driving test (almost nobody ever fails the written test – it’s really easy). If you fail the driving portion the school will usually allow you to stay and practice your skills for no extra charge with the next class coming through. You’ll usually wait a few days to a week to retake the test. If you fail it again, and now we’re really getting to a tiny, tiny percentage of the people, you will have to wait longer to take it, but the schools will usually continue to work with you.
Make sure you ask the school what their policy is, and what the state’s policy is on this matter.