Nervous When Taking My Road Test

Hello Trucking World, I am very new to this, so please bare with me. Any information to help me on my way is more then welcomed. I am studying in New York for my CDL A class. Both me and my instructor thinks that i am ready to take the road test. I have one problem. i get very nervous when i am taking the exam. this causes me to make big mistakes like hitting the curb, failure to clutch properly, and having the truck shut off on me during the exam because i didn't give it enough gas. The first time i failed was because i did not get out to check for clearance in the rear. I have done this a several times with my instructor and aced it. The second time around was the curb incident above. PLEASE HELP !! Thank You.

So, Dave, you know your stuff. Doing the test is no big deal, right?

Have you ever given a ride home to a stranger - someone that you just met - who has to give you directions to their house? The exam is pretty much the same.

Sure, the examiner is watching you, but just roll with the giving directions. Also, just drive the darn truck - you aren't showing off!

Also, remember the examiner has done this several times each day. Some of his examinees probably are so nervous they can't even put the key in the ignition! You can do better than that!

Best of luck. Get plenty of sleep the night before.

Thanks Errol, Information like this is well appreciated. I will apply this mindset to my classes and hope it works.

Only mistake I see is.................Quit trying to give it GAS lol Diesels don't like Gas

LOL , thanks Stevo.

Welcome David. Case of the jitters? We have all been there at one time or another.

Your instructor...is an experienced professional. Correct? Probably been an instructor and/or driver for years. If he thinks you are ready to test out for your CDL , then obviously you are. He knows what he is doing. Your "nerves" are primarily a result of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (aka: FUD factor). I think that you believe in your instructor and trust their judgment. Then you need to believe in yourself and trust in your ability to drive the truck.

And the test examiner? He is not there to fail you, he wants you to pass the test. I doubt he gets any joy in flunking people, so make his day and yours, take him for a good ride and pass with flying colors! Relax Man...you got this.

Good luck.

Fear of failure is a big thing with people. Hell, if it was not for failure we would not have as many successes. Imagine how many things we would not have today if inventors just gave up after a failure or were afraid to try again because of a failure. You have been trained, your instructor thinks that you are ready, time to put on the big boy pants and just go do it. If you fail? Well you can always do it again. Many people think so but it is not going to kill you if you fail. You can take it again. When I got my divorce, I literally came out with 2 suitcases of my clothes and a few tools. THAT was a failure but I have recovered from that dark time.

It can be frustrating and it can depress you and sometimes feel like you are trying to shove an elephant through a garden hose. One question, other than the testing portion, are you confident in your abilities? If you are confident, and I think that you are, then that is not an examiner it is another driver you are giving a lift to the yard.

David,

After taking and passing my CDL-A test on Friday, February 12, 2016, I had time on my hands. So, I stayed at the Technical Center and talked with Examiner who tested me. One of the questions I asked him how long he had been testing. Another question I asked was what part of the exam was passed and failed most frequently. Finally, I asked him if ever gets nervous. I learned that he had been testing for over 10 years. The Pre-Trip is failed nearly 95 percent of the time, especially with the recently enacted 67 of 90 point minimum required pass the pre-trip, and the road test is the most passed part - because the person taking the exam is often so relaxed by then that the test becomes more of a formality than an actual test.

Regarding the nervous part, the Examiner told me that being nervous is inversely related to the nervousness the "Student" feels. Specifically, as the "Student" becomes less nervous, the Examiner becomes increasingly nervous, because the Examiner knows that he or she is sitting in the passenger seat of a 33,000 pound combination vehicle that a person he or she met a few hours earlier is supposed to have under control. It's up to the "Student" to work through the nervousness during the pre-trip and the basic skills test while attempting to make the Examiner as comfortable as possible before the road test.

So, I suppose the moral of this lengthy response is that the nervousness "Students" might feel is natural between both the Student and the Examiner.

Good luck on your exam!

I took a midterm road test for my class the other day, sort of a dry run if you will. Normally when we go out and drive, my instructor is laughing, joking around and easy going. For this run however he was silent, clipboard in hand and only giving directions not instructions. It was nerve wrecking, however after a couple successful shifts and downshifts, smooth turns and takeovers I was much more comfortable. Also take lots of deep breaths, it helped me a lot. Best of luck to you.

David,

I remember being as nervous as a sore tailed cat, in a room full of rocking chairs.

I managed to ace the 135 item memorized pre-trip, but failed my backing tests twice. I spent most of my initial focus during training on memorizing the pre-trip, since during training, I was having few problems with backing and setting up. Then when I got in front of that retired State Trooper who was giving me my test, I fell apart.

Looking back on it, my problem was my own anxiety. By the time I managed to pass on my third try, my anxiety was even higher, as you can imagine. I think I got a little bit mad going into my final test. I remember using that technique when I shot archery tournaments. Getting that "mad mentality" helped me to focus, and instead of feeling inadequate, it made me feel empowered.

All I can really advise, is for you to force yourself to settle down, and put your brain into a laser sharp focus. Remember, most of what you are going to do during the test, is super simple to do daily, once you get some experience.