Comments By Dan C.

The one other thing I under estimated was how hard can it be to pass a CDL I have a college degree and am doing this as a life long dream I had as young man but my mother wouldn't let me be a driver she said you have to go to college I couldn't have been more wrong and have such a great respect for drivers that drive safe and are ambassadors of the highway now I plan on being a good safe driver and my goal is to drive for a couple of years and become a trainer Anyways thanks again for getting for your excellent advice

Brett Everything you said is so true Actually after each test I feel more confident I have learned to control my nerves a lot since I first tested I have made some silly mistakes in a couple of the tests but on my last test I only got 6 wrong on the Pretrip I actually have learned a lot from my failures and take each test as a learning experience I pass the Pretrip and parking a week ago but I didn't at that time truly understand the parallel parking I believe Jesus must have taken the wheel lol I messed up on the drive after that But learned a lot I am going back to test Friday I am pretty sure that Illinois will accept a passed Indiana CDL because I check that with the school before I started I choose the school even though it was more money than some of the schools in Chicago area because of there good track record I hope you are wrong about the transferring of the CDL Actually too I am moved to Indiana living with my sister to help her take cater of a sick mother I felt a couple of weeks ago that maybe I was dense and at 56 to old to remember Pretrip stuff and the whole trip I have been very determined to pass and work harder than any other student to overcome my slow learning curve The teachers see that and are more than willing to go extra mile to help me prepare Anyways I am running out of money and the 90 mile drive to the school I plan on passing on Friday I respect your opinion and love your website it has really helped me Thanks Dan

Why are you testing in Indiana if you're an Illinois resident? Last I knew Illinois doesn't allow CDL transfers into the state. You would have to do the testing over again unless they've changed their policy recently.

Also, Dan, I want you to consider something here. You're hunting around for the easiest way to get your CDL and you're telling us your nerves are getting the best of you during testing. I'm afraid you're entering a high pressure field where there are no "easy ways" of doing much of anything. Every moment of your life behind that wheel is a never-ending life or death test. What's going to happen when they send you into Downtown Chicago or Atlanta at 8:00 a.m. in rush hour traffic? What's going to happen when you're caught in heavy snow or a car starts spinning in front of you at 70 mph?

You're going to have to learn to focus your mind on the task at hand and get your mind off the consequences. Trust me, I know this isn't easy by any means. But if you're worried about passing the relatively simple CDL test under nearly ideal conditions because of nerves, what do you think will happen to your nerves under severe real world conditions?

You have to find a way to focus your mind on doing your job without worrying about the circumstances you're in. You have to take the bull by the horns and get excited about the challenges you're facing. If you were comparing the stages of your trucking career with the levels of schooling, getting your CDL is about a 1st grade level. Getting out there and doing it for real is like going to a University. It gets real in a big way out there.

Don't fear the challenge, accept the challenge with enthusiasm. Get yourself excited about showing them you can handle it. I would take the testing in Indiana or Illinois or wherever you have to. Get out there and make it happen. Show them what you can do. Pump yourself up with confidence and don't allow any doubts to enter your mind. Keep telling yourself, "I've got this. I've got this" and believe it.

Managing your nerves is something anyone can learn to do. I started a tree service years ago and I was the climber. I was rightly terrified of heights. It took months for me to get used to being a few stories off the ground hanging by a rope the size of my index finger. But I did it. Now I no longer have any real fear of heights and I can do things like rock climbing hundreds of feet up a cliff without an ounce of concern. It certainly didn't come easy, but I did it. You've just gotta find the ability to believe in yourself and take on this challenge with enthusiasm.

Brett Everything you said is so true Actually after each test I feel more confident I have learned to control my nerves a lot since I first tested I have made some silly mistakes in a couple of the tests but on my last test I only got 6 wrong on the Pretrip I actually have learned a lot from my failures and take each test as a learning experience I pass the Pretrip and parking a week ago but I didn't at that time truly understand the parallel parking I believe Jesus must have taken the wheel lol I messed up on the drive after that But learned a lot I am going back to test Friday I am pretty sure that Illinois will accept a passed Indiana CDL because I check that with the school before I started I choose the school even though it was more money than some of the schools in Chicago area because of there good track record I hope you are wrong about the transferring of the CDL Actually too I am moved to Indiana living with my sister to help her take cater of a sick mother I felt a couple of weeks ago that maybe I was dense and at 56 to old to remember Pretrip stuff and the whole trip I have been very determined to pass and work harder than any other student to overcome my slow learning curve The teachers see that and are more than willing to go extra mile to help me prepare Anyways I am running out of money and the 90 mile drive to the school I plan on passing on Friday I respect your opinion and love your website it has really helped me Thanks Dan

Why are you testing in Indiana if you're an Illinois resident? Last I knew Illinois doesn't allow CDL transfers into the state. You would have to do the testing over again unless they've changed their policy recently.

Also, Dan, I want you to consider something here. You're hunting around for the easiest way to get your CDL and you're telling us your nerves are getting the best of you during testing. I'm afraid you're entering a high pressure field where there are no "easy ways" of doing much of anything. Every moment of your life behind that wheel is a never-ending life or death test. What's going to happen when they send you into Downtown Chicago or Atlanta at 8:00 a.m. in rush hour traffic? What's going to happen when you're caught in heavy snow or a car starts spinning in front of you at 70 mph?

You're going to have to learn to focus your mind on the task at hand and get your mind off the consequences. Trust me, I know this isn't easy by any means. But if you're worried about passing the relatively simple CDL test under nearly ideal conditions because of nerves, what do you think will happen to your nerves under severe real world conditions?

You have to find a way to focus your mind on doing your job without worrying about the circumstances you're in. You have to take the bull by the horns and get excited about the challenges you're facing. If you were comparing the stages of your trucking career with the levels of schooling, getting your CDL is about a 1st grade level. Getting out there and doing it for real is like going to a University. It gets real in a big way out there.

Don't fear the challenge, accept the challenge with enthusiasm. Get yourself excited about showing them you can handle it. I would take the testing in Indiana or Illinois or wherever you have to. Get out there and make it happen. Show them what you can do. Pump yourself up with confidence and don't allow any doubts to enter your mind. Keep telling yourself, "I've got this. I've got this" and believe it.

Managing your nerves is something anyone can learn to do. I started a tree service years ago and I was the climber. I was rightly terrified of heights. It took months for me to get used to being a few stories off the ground hanging by a rope the size of my index finger. But I did it. Now I no longer have any real fear of heights and I can do things like rock climbing hundreds of feet up a cliff without an ounce of concern. It certainly didn't come easy, but I did it. You've just gotta find the ability to believe in yourself and take on this challenge with enthusiasm.

PS This is not a reflection of the school either The teachers there are great and always willing to go the extra mile I just have taken longer too understand I won't give up either

I have learned at a slower pace however because of this I feel that my skills have greatly improved and I have a better understanding of passing the CDL tests But I keep messing up on the tests I have one more try left in Indiana free I have passed the Pretrip and the backing exercises and messed up on the road Many tries later because of nerves I keep messing up on the parallel parking thru my failures I understand what to do but can't seem to get over the hump I want to work for Roehl Should I just start over in there program Or should I get tested in Wisconsin I am a Illinois resident Wisconsin will bank passed tests and they don't have parallel parking they have dock parking this will take a lot of stress off but cost a few dollars Can I go there a retake tests Any advice Thanks

I have learned at a slower pace however because of this I feel that my skills have greatly improved and I have a better understanding of passing the CDL tests But I keep messing up on the tests I have one more try left in Indiana free I have passed the Pretrip and the backing exercises and messed up on the road Many tries later because of nerves I keep messing up on the parallel parking thru my failures I understand what to do but can't seem to get over the hump I want to work for Roehl Should I just start over in there program Or should I get tested in Wisconsin I am a Illinois resident Wisconsin will bank passed tests and they don't have parallel parking they have dock parking this will take a lot of stress off but cost a few dollars Can I go there a retake tests Any advice Thanks

I am in the same boat yesterday I could not figure how to back up Today just as bad Also today we went on the road and I couldn't get the double clutching and was grinding the gear I feel like a complete failure

Any good tips on how to pass ? I have been studying a lot but fear I will freeze up on the actual test Thanks for any tips

Dan