My husband failed his road test thrice and I am worried

Sharmi2k · Dec 20, 2014

magoo68 said: ↑

Tell your husband to keep chin up .... Testing in winnipeg in winter is far harder then most other provinces .. We do such a poor job of snow removal that lines on the road are not always apparent the outer lanes are smaller on many major routes which sometimes makes it harder to swing wide enough to avoid rubbing a "curb" which in summer may be 2 feet more inward when the snow melts off and the fake curb disappears .. It's also harder to shift truck the first little bit due to oils in transmission being thicker until warmed up and trailers being harder to pull due to cold it's easy to slip a tire and miss a shift .. Many drivers who fail a few times here are good drivers it's just a harder place to test ... I took my training years ago from professional in winterpeg they at least had a partial load of bales in trailer to give the truck that loaded feel and improve traction .. Another thing is we don't "cheat" axle spacing to turn corners easier.. The testing is far stricter with many things being a instant fail a lot of little everyday habits we pick up over the years would fail a experienced driver .. Unlike Toronto or Calgary you have to earn your drivers on a route that many experienced drivers would feel uncomfortable on .. I know a few guys who failed numerous times in the peg but aced test in Steinbach or winkler with the same road tester due to easier driving conditions. PS we only have so many testers so they do a circuit often unless that's changed Tell hubby to be proud he's being tested in conditions that a lot of "professional drivers " would have a hard time nailing every time due to so many instant fail infractions here that would only be points off elsewhere ... Once he passes he will of earned his class 1 not been given it like some other provinces. merry Xmas
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Thank you so much for this message. I just saw it... was so disappointed that I wanted to come back only with good news ! Your message is very reassuring. I have never thought that testing here could be tougher ! It makes perfect sense now! My husband did say testing here seems tougher and I pooh poohed him. Feel a bit sad that I didnt understand this perspective earlier.. But happier for him now !

He just spoke to two of his friends who failed and conveyed your message to them. THink they will schedule their test in Brandon and Steinbach now.. Thank you once more for this message

Sharmi2k · Dec 20, 2014

mugurpe said: ↑

I was just telling my own experience, I'm no age researcher. I feel like I don't get rattled by a whole lot anymore, but I found it strange that having to take a test felt so weird. I've been on my own, running my own business for 10 years, and having to go in and take a test was odd to me. I remember thinking how weird it would have been if it had been twice as long since I'd taken a test before. Perhaps it's just me. I've always felt that being good at something isn't always the same as being good at taking a test for it. Being able to maintain yourself in a testing situation is perhaps a skill of it's own, and if you don't continue to hone it, it seems to go away. My mistakes the first 2 times I tested where absolute dumb mistakes. I screwed up on the stuff that to me seemed the easiest and nailed all the things I thought was hard. I felt like it took 2 tests for me to get used to the "test atmosphere" which admittedly sounds stupid. I was mostly trying to sympathize with the OP's husband, as he can practice truck driving all he wants, but you can't practice test taking, except by taking tests. Just another way of looking at failing the test I suppose. Coming at it from B-trucks I would imagine would be an advantage as you'd already have done some testing for driving in front of cops and have more of a sense of shifting, airbrake test, preptrip rather than coming in at it from a D-license. I think the suggestion of trying a different instructor/location might be a good idea. Maybe he just has bad chemistry with that particular cop and something about the guy throws him off.
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I think you are right about the bad chemistry. He had a trainee examiner and an examiner who was coaching the trainee. His instructor then suggested he takes the test on a Saturday and that meant it wasnt the duo but another guy !!! IT WORKED !!!!!!!

Its also nice to know Fuzzface was 54 when taking the test ! My husband is also 54 !!!

Sharmi2k · Dec 20, 2014

Captain Canuck said: ↑

I tested in Winnipeg after completing my course with Professional. Failed twice. Once for scrubbing a curb, once for not being able to find a gear. I had the same examiner all 3 times. The 3rd time, there was a lot of construction going on, and the usual test route was blocked. The only alternative was to head down some VERY narrow streets with cars parked on both sides and low hanging power lines. The examiner voluntarily assisted just to make sure I wasn't going to hit anything. When we got out of the tight spot, he directed me to turn into a parking lot and stop. That's when he said "Technically, any assistance by me is an automatic fail, but since it was my fault we were there in the first place, I'm ignoring it. You got through there without a scratch and I didn't have to help as much as I thought I would. Now, all you have to do is get us back without killing anyone and you pass." I passed, and he told my school instructor that he had no idea how I got us through there without hitting anything.

Things the school instructor might have told him: if the examiner puts his clipboard on the dash, he is not planning on taking any notes and believes you will pass. If you make a mistake like scrubbing a curb, do not react. The examiner might have missed it. The more nervous you seem, the more likely the examiner is to watch like a hawk.

In Winnipeg there are generally 2-3 routes they take for the test. He could ask the school instructor for a little extra coaching on those specific routes. I did, and although it wound up not mattering, I was grateful for it.
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Thank you for your post...He has passed.. and OH what a stressful week it has been. Reading your post iterates one of my lessons from all this.. Examiners matter a GREAT DEAL !!!

Sharmi2k · Dec 20, 2014

FuzzFace2 said: ↑

There is a difference between ####y and confidence. Sometimes confidence comes across as ####y.
Being 54 and just passed my class A in the rain, the last time I took a driving test was my class B back in 1983, I passed the first time. Did the inspector give me some points on the road test I think so as I was not happy with how I did, but after seeing how I handled myself & truck in the yard test he knew it was because I did not have enough time behind the wheel in that truck. It showed when I missed a gear just out of the yard before the first stop sign!

If your other half could test at a different site with a different inspector it may help. The other thing is he has to take his time, relax & breath. Put all the bad tests out of his head and enjoy the test he is about to take. I know hard but stopping a few times (at lights & signs) and taking deep breaths should help. If he knows what he has issues with have the school work with him on that parts.

BTW I was 1 of if not the oldest in my class. On my test day the guy before me it was his 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] time he passed, the guy after me failed a 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] time. I did not stay for the other 2 guys after me but it was their 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] & 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] time to take the test.
Some just choke on test daymy wife is that way on tests she has to take.
Dave ----
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My husband is 54 too.. reading your message was reassuring.. I have often wondered about how it must feel to have to change tracks after 50..

FLATBED · Dec 20, 2014

Now comes the fun part FINDING A JOB , by any chance does the place he trained at offer a placement service to their students ?

Sharmi2k · Dec 20, 2014

FLATBED said: ↑

Now comes the fun part FINDING A JOB , by any chance does the place he trained at offer a placement service to their students ?
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They do take their own students whenever possible I hear...

Sharmi2k · Dec 20, 2014

FLATBED said: ↑

Now comes the fun part FINDING A JOB , by any chance does the place he trained at offer a placement service to their students ?
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Will know more on Tuesday... Yes he has to find a job...

FuzzFace2 · Dec 20, 2014

Sharmi2k said: ↑

My husband is 54 too.. reading your message was reassuring.. I have often wondered about how it must feel to have to change tracks after 50..
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Good to hear he passed his test. As said the fun starts now looking for a job.

They say you go thru 3 or 4 careers in your life, this makes #4 if you count the short 5 years I did with my dad in a full auto repair shop out of high school. Did 15 in HVAC in a hospital 10 as manager then 15 in I.T. computers. So this should be it till wife & I retire.

I did an interview with a local (1hr away) trucking Co. yesterday. It looks pretty good but will know more after they do the back ground checks. They dont normally hire anyone whit less than 2 years driving but school said I was good so he took my app. He did say I may need to be with a trainer for a month just to make sure I was OK to be let loose. I said I understand fully it is their truck & trailer ($$$) and I could hurt or kill people if I did not know what I was doing.

Keep us posted on how he does on the job hunt and we wish him luck.
Dave ----

mugurpe · Dec 20, 2014

congrats to your husband, glad it worked out.

Bry · Dec 20, 2014

Great. He passed.

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