Need Help On What I Should Do Now ?

I did not pass the co. Paid training. I have my permit and med. card. I had a lot of things going in my personal life at the time. I can do the backing at the school but when I get to the test site I choke. Should I try another co. School? Or keep looking for a job at home to finish my training? I just don't want to show my 16 year old to give up on your dreams.

You could try looking for a job at home to finish your train but I doubt very seriously that you will find a driving job without actually having your cdl. And your not going to get that unless you can pass the driving part which always includes the backing part.

You can try another school which you will have to do any way because you do not have your cdl yet. Not sure what school you went to but a Prime might be an option.

You also have to realize that not everyone is cut out to drive a truck for one reason or another.

Hi Mary,

I am going to put this the best way I know how. You mention that you had a lot of personal things going on. I have to ask, what are you going to do when you are 2,000 miles away from home and these personal things show up? I have learned that to be a trucker, you have to be in the truck (physically and mentally). I can say this after being on the road for almost a year because I have had some major issues back at home that I just could not change. We have to compartmentalize our lives and literally put the career first, or there won`t be one.

With that said, I say get your mind right, practice practice and when you think you have it, practice some more. Stop psyching yourself out and get your butt out there and do it. You got this far, DO NOT QUIT!!!!!

Good luck to ya!

Mary, congratulations on moving forward on your dreams. Unfortunately, you ran smack into one of the major challenges of company CDL training. It's very fast paced and while they have some patience for students that need extra help, they always have a ng list of replacements waiting to get started.

I don't know what your situation at home is, but you do need to get things settled while driving so it does not become a distraction. Also, have you looked into paying for a CDL training program? Since these schools only make money by getting students to enroll, their selling points for their training should be; percent of students that complete the course, percent students that pass the CDL exam and placement of students in driving jobs. To meet these goals, they usually work with you to get the practice you need.

Good luck on whatever choice you make.

Thank u for your input. My stress was living on the streets of mo. Due to dad leaving town in witch I lived with with no transportation back home. Had to go back to a verbale abuseive don't know what to call him of 17 years truck driver. And a school that tested me 4 times even though I failed . I lost a week in training due to this and the holiday . I work for the cafe in a school so I make no money, I have a broke down car and he hasn't filed our taxes in five years and not worried about it. I can do it! For the love of god give me a break and hope.

Mary, I see no reason you can't call up some of the Company-Sponsored Training Programs and start again with another one. That's pretty common. If it didn't work out the first time maybe it will the next - no big deal.

The biggest problem you're facing right now is the stress and uncertainty of your living situation and it's hurting your performance. The fact that you did well at school but poorly on the testing shows the pressure is getting to you. Unfortunately neither of these are easy to overcome. Luckily both of them can be overcome with enough determination.

So from the little tiny bit I know about you so far I'd say your success or failure at this point is up to you. Go out there and find more opportunities, keep putting everything you have into it, and never quit. You'll get there.

And believe me - your story is nothing compared with some of the people who have come through here. Heck, Old School (one of our moderators) who is one of the hardest working and most intelligent people you'll find anywhere. He even ran his own business for over 30 years. And let me tell ya - that guy had a mountain of problems to overcome in order to get his trucking career off the ground. He was sent home several different times by company-sponsored programs for health issues and the like. But he kept coming back and kept coming back. He even had to switch companies and try again. But he got through it and now he's been out there doing it as well as it can be done for quite some time now.

Perseverance is one of the key ingredients to getting your trucking career underway. Making smart decisions is another. If you'll take the time to think things through, make smart decisions, and stay fiercely determined you will get your trucking career underway. The question is how badly do you want it?