CDL Road Test

I'm having a hell of a time with this. I failed my third road test today-- have passed pretrip and backing both times easily, but I keep getting snagged by auto fails while driving. All experience (or lack thereof) related. The first time I stalled the truck four times at one intersection and the instructor had to take verbal control of the vehicle. The second time I kept placing the truck (10 speed) in reverse while trying to come out of a dead stop. Today's test, I was coming off the highway for the emergency stop and accidentally flipped my splitter down trying to go from six to seven. Is there anything I can do to avoid things like these? I have the basic concepts down, it's just the mistakes I make are automatic fails so I don't really get to show that I know the rest of it.

It sounds to me that the majority of your problems are clutch control and shifting issues...... perhaps more time on the simulator...if they dont have one I would suggest "dry shifting" a truck ( not on but wheels chocked) with the various ideas your running into that could be called out via a recording on a phone or recorder...... good luck and you will get there but you have to really work to get rid of all the habits you have from your previous driving experience

Sorry to hear that, Keith. Most of that is called being "flustered", especially when you must do something correctly just after you messed it up.

Sit by yourself in a cab. Reverse is closer to you than first gear. The only difference you feel is, that to get to R, there's a spring tensioner pushing back as you move to the R position. Start in N, pull the shift toward you till it stops. That's the "door" to 1st. Now pull a bit more toward you, you should feel the spring pushing you back. Pull in more, that's the door to R.

Whenever you "blow" a maneuver, like the stall, you must quickly and consciously close a door in your mind so you start fresh. FOCUS and do what you're supposed to do. Don't even try to do it faster to make up the time - in fact if may be a good idea to move a bit slower.

You've done all this stuff "a hundred times" before, only now it's test time and the Examiner is sitting there. You've already nailed these things, ignore the "test" feeling and ignore the examiner as much as you can.

That's how one of my classmates passed on the first test, just held in his head that it was like another day of school. I forget to do that and start trying to move too quick. That'll be my focus next time around I think. I really want my CDL , makes me a little overeager come test day

Without trying to re-learn shifting, could you start in 3rd? If the trailer is empty I do it all the time when I'm not on an uphill. Also, to avoid the stalling maybe ease off the clutch a little slower? Again if your trailer is empty you should be able to do it. Splitter is just a matter of keeping your fingers away from it.

Has your Tester been with you when you do it right? If so, ask them if they notice anything different in the way you operate in the two different situations.

I hope this helps.

Also remember, it's not the mistakes that are getting you, it's the recovery. Examiners expect mistakes. What they want to see is how you recover. Once you're out on your own, you'll still make mistakes but you'll have to recover quickly and keep your composure while doing so. Take a deep breath, don't dwell on the mistakes you've made this far and go nail the test.

Without trying to re-learn shifting, could you start in 3rd? If the trailer is empty I do it all the time when I'm not on an uphill. Also, to avoid the stalling maybe ease off the clutch a little slower? Again if your trailer is empty you should be able to do it. Splitter is just a matter of keeping your fingers away from it.

Has your Tester been with you when you do it right? If so, ask them if they notice anything different in the way you operate in the two different situations.

I hope this helps.

Unfortunately, it's frowned upon in the school to start anywhere but first or second. That, and I've heard that starting off in higher gears makes it easier to stall the truck, which is most definitely not an issue I need right now.

As far as the tester being with me, no. None of the three testers I've had have been with me in the truck while out practicing-- where I do just fine, even in some sticky-ish situations. The only thing that bugs me about today's fail is that all I did was curse a bit when I realized it, but I fixed it as quickly as possible, didn't lose any other control over the vehicle, and brought it to a stop (not safely, I suppose, per the language of the test, seeing as I was out of gear for... eh, a hundred feet? I think. I know it was longer than truck length.) I've done it once or twice prior, but the instructor would usually point it out before I had a chance to realize what I'd done and what it feels like or acts like when that happens. The one thing I've been told repeatedly is that when I personally don't get flustered and take my time, I nail it all. So I just need to remember to stay calm the next time I take the test, but it's hard because I have a lot riding on this... if I don't get it and the school doesn't feel like retesting me I'm six k in the hole with no way of paying it off anytime soon.

Without trying to re-learn shifting, could you start in 3rd? If the trailer is empty I do it all the time when I'm not on an uphill. Also, to avoid the stalling maybe ease off the clutch a little slower? Again if your trailer is empty you should be able to do it. Splitter is just a matter of keeping your fingers away from it.

Has your Tester been with you when you do it right? If so, ask them if they notice anything different in the way you operate in the two different situations.

I hope this helps.

Unfortunately, it's frowned upon in the school to start anywhere but first or second. That, and I've heard that starting off in higher gears makes it easier to stall the truck, which is most definitely not an issue I need right now.

As far as the tester being with me, no. None of the three testers I've had have been with me in the truck while out practicing-- where I do just fine, even in some sticky-ish situations. The only thing that bugs me about today's fail is that all I did was curse a bit when I realized it, but I fixed it as quickly as possible, didn't lose any other control over the vehicle, and brought it to a stop (not safely, I suppose, per the language of the test, seeing as I was out of gear for... eh, a hundred feet? I think. I know it was longer than truck length.) I've done it once or twice prior, but the instructor would usually point it out before I had a chance to realize what I'd done and what it feels like or acts like when that happens. The one thing I've been told repeatedly is that when I personally don't get flustered and take my time, I nail it all. So I just need to remember to stay calm the next time I take the test, but it's hard because I have a lot riding on this... if I don't get it and the school doesn't feel like retesting me I'm six k in the hole with no way of paying it off anytime soon.

Deep breaths. Everyone is nervous on test day. God knows I was petrified. You spend so much time focusing on not screwing up.

Like Robert said recovery is key.

We were always taught from a stop just slowly let up on clutch until you feel it engage. It's mainly all mental right now for you. You know what you're doing but struggle with executing when the tester is beside you. Easier said then done but ignore him. Good luck

Passed my test today with 16 of 30 points! And most of them were grinding. Got 3 encroachments marked, one missed mirror check (r on turn), one wide right turn, and six or seven grinds marked. :D

Way to go Keith! Congratulations!