Didn't Want To Call Attention To Examiners Accent

I didn't want to sound like I was making excuses so I said that my failure in the skill segment of my state exam was on me. I had trouble understanding the examiners accent. The problem is that if I get the same examiner for my next test I may not understand his instructions on the road portion of the exam and risk failing again. I want to request a different examiner but I'm not sure how to tactfully make that request without sounding like I'm making excuses. The examiners at my school and the staff including the director of the program are friends so I'm not sure how the director of the program will react. Actually I do know how I think he will react. He will ask how come other test takers can understand him but you can't? I had to keep asking him to repeat himself because I just couldn't understand him. We drove to the range from pretrip and he said, "something something something pull up to that box." So there were the two offset boxes and the straight line test. I pointed at each box and asked ,"Do you want me to go to that box, that box or that box over there?" He became frustrated and pointed to the straight line. Throughout the test i kept asking him to repeat himself and it became very awkward. I finally failed on the last of my three skills because I misunderstood his instructions on what the rules were for the skill. I know this is all on me. I could have asked to look at the written instructions but i didnt. I don't want to risk getting him again on my next test. I have two more free tests before I'd have to start to pay for an extra test. Again how do I tactfully ask for a different examiner without sounding like I'm making excuses?

I think you could go to the director and say you think the examiner is a great guy, but for some reason you have trouble understanding his accent and it made it difficult to complete the test. Unless you *know* that he will react negatively to it, like if you've seen it before, then I think you should assume that he would be reasonable. If he says why can other test takers understand him, maybe tell him you don't know, it must be a problem only you have.

If you don't want to do that, then at least you could make sure you're familiar with the rules before you start. And I wouldn't be afraid to tell the guy that you're sorry but you have trouble with his accent, and could he try speaking slower or something.

Agree with Kurt - try being somewhat humble about it, elaborate that you were having difficulty communicating with him, and request a different examiner.

I'm assuming this is the yard skills? The "rules" for each skill should have been explained when you were taught/practicing each skill. IE: what was expected for each skill, how many pull-ups/goals you are allowed before points are deducted, how to indicate you are starting/completed the skill (usually 2 taps of the horn).

The state exams are pretty standard as to what is expected. Even if the school has their own examiners on staff - they still have to conform to the (pretty much) UNIVERSAL PROCEDURES for skills testing.

I had the mechanic from my school (certified examiner) do my pre-trip. Nice guy, Torres. I ended up doing my pre-trip 1/2 spanish & 1/2 english - and it kinda screwed me up (well, I only missed one thing), but a bunch of guys in my class had trouble understanding what he was asking for (in english).

Rick

These guys are nicer that I would be, My reality is this is your new career you don't need anything hindering you in your efforts. If you truly feel you failed due to his failure to communicate properly in the United States of America where our spoken language is English then speak up and get it resolved.

Kevin I read your post about the examiners accent and then I also reviewed a post you wrote the other day. I copied and pasted your original post as follows and highlighted key words:

I passed the pretrip and then failed the all skills. I got 100's for all of the skills but one on the range. The exam range is a little different and has a reputation for confusing drivers. All of the tests are kind of close to each other. There are dotted lines here and solid lines there and cones here and everywhere. In the end it's all on me. I was so excited when I finished the pretrip that I was thinking about the road portion of the test and didn't listen clearly to the instructions I guess. I thought the skills would be a breeze and lost focus thinking about the road final.

So,...which is it? The above, or the examiner's accent that contributed to the failure? Not trying to discredit your most recent post, just trying to establish some grounding on the issue you raised, not only for you but everyone reading this.

My suggestion to you: do not focus or dwell on the examiners accent. Based on what you wrote originally (above), his accent doesn't seem to be the root problem. It was (your words); focus, listening, and perhaps some confusion regarding the course layout. I agree with you when you say; "it's on me". Very true. So please take it upon yourself to clearly understand what is expected from you before you get into the truck cab. If the course is that confusing, ask to quickly survey the course before you get into the cab. Or if you are in the cab and moving, anything the examiner instructs you to do (with or without an accent), stop the truck, respectfully ask for clarification. Don't move another inch until you are clear on the examiner's expectations and do not worry if you think it's agitating the instructor. Not your problem...ignore it.

If the accent was that much of an issue then assuming you had the same instructor for that (not sure), it would have caused you a problem during the road final. According to your post, you passed that.

Good luck.

Yes the original post was the politically correct response to what happened. I felt like I shouldn't make excuses and out the blame on me. After I thought about it I realized that I may get him again on my next test and then why happens if in out on the road and can't understand his directions. One other poster said the rules are standard. Yes that's true but we test on a different range then we were trained on and all of the tests are kind of piled up on top of one another which does create confusion for many students. So many students get confused back there that they held a special meeting about it a couple weeks ago. So yes I know that alley dock is a 90 degree turn into a box. I got a hundred on alley dock without using a pull up in the alley dock course and a hundred on alley dock in the all skills final without using a pull up. So it isn't that I don't know how to do it. I pulled to close to a dotted line on the right side of the course so that when I swung around to pull into the dock I went out of bounds. I misunderstood what the instructor said. I was going to blame myself because I didn't want to make it sound like I was making excuses and two we live in advert politically correct age where bringing up things like accents can get you in trouble ....ok? ....it said it!!!

Kevin I read your post about the examiners accent and then I also reviewed a post you wrote the other day. I copied and pasted your original post as follows and highlighted key words:

I passed the pretrip and then failed the all skills. I got 100's for all of the skills but one on the range. The exam range is a little different and has a reputation for confusing drivers. All of the tests are kind of close to each other. There are dotted lines here and solid lines there and cones here and everywhere. In the end it's all on me. I was so excited when I finished the pretrip that I was thinking about the road portion of the test and didn't listen clearly to the instructions I guess. I thought the skills would be a breeze and lost focus thinking about the road final.

So,...which is it? The above, or the examiner's accent that contributed to the failure? Not trying to discredit your most recent post, just trying to establish some grounding on the issue you raised, not only for you but everyone reading this.

My suggestion to you: do not focus or dwell on the examiners accent. Based on what you wrote originally (above), his accent doesn't seem to be the root problem. It was (your words); focus, listening, and perhaps some confusion regarding the course layout. I agree with you when you say; "it's on me". Very true. So please take it upon yourself to clearly understand what is expected from you before you get into the truck cab. If the course is that confusing, ask to quickly survey the course before you get into the cab. Or if you are in the cab and moving, anything the examiner instructs you to do (with or without an accent), stop the truck, respectfully ask for clarification. Don't move another inch until you are clear on the examiner's expectations and do not worry if you think it's agitating the instructor. Not your problem...ignore it.

If the accent was that much of an issue then assuming you had the same instructor for that (not sure), it would have caused you a problem during the road final. According to your post, you passed that.

Good luck.

Kevin, I understand your point. However mine, in summary was this:

My suggestion to you: do not focus or dwell on the examiner's accent.

...and everything that fell in behind it.

Yes I agree. I've decided to just keep my mouth shut and do it right next time. It's over and I have two more shots at it.

Kevin, I understand your point. However mine, in summary was this:

My suggestion to you: do not focus or dwell on the examiner's accent.

...and everything that fell in behind it.

Oh and for the most part we do not deal with the state examiners until we take the cdl state exam on the back course that is only for the state exam. I asked why they don't do yhe course final back there so we have an idea of what we're getting ourselves into and I got everything from they don't want to ruin the paint to that it is illegal to use the state exam course for anything other than state exam testing so I stopped asking.

Yes I agree. I've decided to just keep my mouth shut and do it right next time. It's over and I have two more shots at it.

Kevin, I understand your point. However mine, in summary was this:

My suggestion to you: do not focus or dwell on the examiner's accent.

...and everything that fell in behind it.

Kevin wrote:

Oh and for the most part we do not deal with the state examiners until we take the cdl state exam on the back course that is only for the state exam. I asked why they don't do yhe course final back there so we have an idea of what we're getting ourselves into and I got everything from they don't want to ruin the paint to that it is illegal to use the state exam course for anything other than state exam testing so I stopped asking.

Kevin, you will probably pass this time simply because you know the course.

I know it might be difficult to look past this,...but once you are solo, most every dock you visit will be for the first time, few are identical even within the same company and many will appear to be difficult. There is a lesson here that you can carry forward. If you look at the thought behind my suggestion and forget about the examiner and the test, the primary idea is real-time relevant once you are driving a CMV. If need be, check the situation out before you approach and set-up for your back. GOAL. Know what you are getting yourself into before you are actually "in it" and facing a problem because the approach was wrong. This is especially important when you are a new driver...lots of situations will look difficult.

Best of luck in passing this time.