legit beef or am i whining?

been a long time since i went to school. but it seems like alley and what not. were more for the company then the dmv test.

straight line backing was part of the test. but the rest was more for company purposes, that you can actually handle the equipment without causing damage. becuase of lot of places you'll go to. are going to be a real BEACH to back your trailer in to.

i could be wrong though, it's been almost 15 years since i did it. i do know, that what ever the test was. everyone passed first time. if i remember right. the parking in docks was the last thing we did. after we passed the dmv.

 

Doesn't seem like whining to me! If you don't pass at the DMV and money is tight, might have to consider additional training with a trucking company. I think KKW Trucking will take care of you for free and not positive, but don't think they have a contract you have to sign.

I realize this suggestion is an extreme, but at least it's an option if all else fails.
If you fail the DMV, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

 

I bet you're attending a for profit business school instead of a community college. That's one of the problems attending a business school is that theres no real oversight. If this was happening at a community college you could go to the dean of the college and he'd straighten thngs out. Did you pay for this program yourself or on a grant? If u paid for the program yourself yourself u got to stand up for yourself. If your on a WIA grant u better contact your counselor to put some pressure on the school. Sorry to hear about your situation. I went throught a CDL mill paid for by WIA and the state of Missouri. There was 30 students and 2 beat up trucks. The chief Instructor and another instructor started butting heads one day. Both were fired. Shortage of Trucks and a shortage of instructors. Supposedly a 19 day program. The first student to graduate took 2 months. I actually quit and never went back..........

 

Is there a manager or owner that you can go to with your concerns? I would not recommend going in and ranting and naming names. Instead, calmly explain that you don't feel that you're prepared to take the test and need some extra instruction this week. Try to get as much seat time as you can between now and Friday. Use more youtube videos if you feel that it has helped you. Maybe even talk with another student who seems to have the maneuver down, ask him/her to explain how they do it.

On the alley dock, remember to watch the trailer tandems. That is your pivot point, not the rear of the trailer. Start turning the wheel to get back under way before you think that you need to because it takes longer than you think for the trailer to react to your inputs. For the parallel, just think of it as two offsets in quick succession. Hope this makes sense and helps and I wish you the best of luck. Once you get that CDL, then the real training can start.

 

The most valuable thing I learned at trucking school came from a instructor whom I considered my nemesis. She said "Fake it to make it". That one statement has served me well throughout my career. Quit sweating what you expect of that DMV tester - confidence (real or imagined) will sell you and your skills. They understand that you are a rookie and need that CDL to start the real learning process. If all else fails, try imagining the tester in a thong covered w/ hearts, or have a benny or two at your disposal to insert in the guys' hand as you introduce yourself prior to the test. Both methods have shown success!

 

There are definitely some crap driving schools out there. Sounds like you landed in one, even if it wasn't one when you signed up.

 

1) The schools job is to get you thru that test...but you have to set yourself up to succeed.
2) All schools teach that you have to do this or that to the tractor to make the trailer go where you want it to.
You will set yourself up to succeed if you watch the trailer and forget the tractor in the school environment.

So, you want the trailer to go one way...you turn the wheel...the trailer goes the wrong way. You can't fix it till you go back to where you made the mistake. The schools are set up so you will run out of room....much like real life situations. Eventually, your muscle memory takes over and you stop turning it the wrong way.

The other thing all students do is over steering. This is a result of turning too much or holding the turn too long. Come out of the maneuver earlier and I bet you will find that you are still over steered. Read on...

Proper use of a pull up will make you look like an expert to the examiner. (someone mentioned faking til you make it) Pull up straight in front of your nose. Read that line again it is the most important thing you will ever learn about driving backwards. Pulling up straight keeps the trailer pointing the same way, just not as severe of an angle.

To finish a pull-up correctly, when you go back to reverse, you need to turn the wheel the same way it was turned before the pullup. Read that line again, second most important thing...

My original statement was, you have to set yourself up to pass. The instructors can help you with practice if you do the same thing wrong every time. You probably don't. So, watch the trailer, learn by your mistakes, and when you made as many as me, you will be as smart as me.

Practice... muscle memory will take over eventually. Muscle memory will also reduce over steering.
Pull up straight in front of your nose.
Turn the wheel the same way it was before the pull up to properly finish a pull up.

You can do it...practice.

 

Confidence. That is what you need.You get that by practicing, over and over.Put all the 'drama' out of your mind,and drive as much as you can. I think you are probably better at the skills than you think you are. You can do this.
After you pass the test, come back and tell us about it. You can do this.