TravelsinTrucking

The other 2 guys who had failed their first times, passed on their second times.  I was the last person to test the 1st time and retest the 2nd time.  I didn't want to be a three-peat!!!  Now, I should mention, everyone in the class besides me had owned and driven a manual vehicle at some point in their life.  I, the cheese, was standing alone.  So, for what that's worth, I did an amazing job learning to shift in the short time I had (5 weeks). When I got to school that morning (last Tuesday), I was looking for a useful distraction lol.  I found it in tutoring the new class of CDL students on the finer points of the pre-trip (which I, of course, loved doing!!!).  I felt like a proud teacher, imparting wisdom with every gesture I made.  Then...it was time for me to turn back into a pumpkin (another student), and do my retest haha. I retested with a different examiner, which was fine with me.  I made it out of the yard without running over ...

My first shot at the road test was about mid-morning.  First thing that morning, I went with my instructor and we tried all sorts of roads and turns.  I only made 1 mistake; everything else I nailed!  Annnnd then, I promptly failed the road test on the actual exam!!!  I was like, what the heck just happened?????  Again, it could have been nerves, but I also suspect that I was just plain confused.  See, there are things one has to think about with a manual transmission that one simply glosses over with an automatic transmission.   Oh, and did I mention I had to double-clutch???  I had to learn to press the clutch in slightly to come out of gear, then press the clutch in slightly again to put it into the next higher gear.  To downshift, do that and then add in a quick engine rev in the middle just for kicks and giggles.  Not gonna lie, the manual transmission was kinda my arch nemesis during class.  I was convinced the clutch w...

Hey everyone!! So, by now, most of you should know that I passed my CDL exams, and am now a licensed commercial driver!!!  I am beyond elated.  I can't describe just how good it feels to have made it all this way from where I started <3 .  I'll take this opportunity to share my insights as to how my testing went. There are 3 tests: pre-trip/in-cab (a verbal explanation of all the components of the tractor and trailer that need to be inspected every day prior to driving + a test of the brake systems); maneuvers (straight line backing, offset backing, and parallel parking); and the road test.  If you think about it, getting your CDL is 3x as hard as getting your normal Class C (regular license for cars and light duty trucks).  I had to take 3 tests to get my permit, and then 3 tests to get my license LOL. I passed the pre-trip/in-cab the first time I attempted it.  I named 88/90 components accurately.  My examiner said that I gave a thoughtful, ...