georgia cdl driving test. they have gotten extremely strict and anal.

I have for what it's worth. I've failed the pre-trip twice. The first time I took it at Dalton, GA and felt like there was some merit in my failing. The examiner said that "I can tell you knew everything but you only pointed to some of it but didn't touch it. If you talk about it, you have to touch it so I know exactly what you are talking about." I said OK, wasn't exactly pleased, but accepted it.

So I payed my $50.00 to retest a week or so later. When I went back to retest, I went to a DDS in Between, GA. The examiner there failed me because she said that while I gave her the correct verbiage about everything regarding the coupling section, I only mentioned that the coupling lines/glad hands (air line, electric, etc....) were attached properly, in good condition, etc....to the trailer but did not mention that that coming out of the tractor that they were attached properly, in good condition, etc..... That she says is why she says she failed me. Personally, I felt that was petty but what can I do. One of my instructors complained to the supervisor at the DDS, and she said that the examiner had a right to fail me for that and there was nothing to be done.

Now, in order to retest, I have to pay $350.00 and I've never even made it past the inspection and leak test stage. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth it. The testing appears to be so arbitrary and up to the capriciousness of the tester.

 

When i tested I accidentally said I was checking to make sure something “ WAS cracked, bent, or broken..” and the tested laughed and said “so if it’s not broke, you are gonna break it!?” He was a cool dude, knew I was hella nervous. Passed first time, thankfully.

 

Man, I know your pain. I worked in a truck shop for years, been around trucks and old school drivers for years, my grandfather, father, and three uncles are all truck drivers. The pre-trip should have been a slam dunk for me. I read the cdl manual, drove 3 hours to Albany, paid the test fee and failed. Never even got to the skills test. I didn't shut the engine down for the leak test....nervous mistake. I waited 3 weeks and drove 4 hours to Thomson ga and failed because i didn't use the right words when describing a hose or a hose clamp and didn't tell this person what color my lenses were. I decided that i was going to have to go to a school to pass the test. Im now waiting to retake my test the day after tomorrow after completing truck driver school. I dont think i would have ever passed the pretrip without going to school. The verbiage had me screwed and i didn't even know it.

 

I would suggest another place for tests if they fail there then you know it's just person. While I think they need some wiggle room on some the test instance pretrip. If I tell you what the part does and give you a name you the uneducated tester who w/o the checklist they themselves wouldn't know anything about the truck. Known several mechanics fail it and they even described the parts what they do and they failed because they didn't say an exact phrase out the checklist. That said on the skills test they should not be so lenient
They have truck drivers that are horrible drivers as is who pass we don't need more who can't even hold a steering wheel right and they get a flat and go into a ditch wondering what happened. Had another do just this recently another example bad drivers.

 

I think the tester should combust for his sins.

I don't know how many outer trailer tires Ive rubbed getting into and out of places not fit for a semi.

One town lined the curb in steel so we can rub that all day.

And don't worry about curbs I do break on orders. Those cost money.

 

I just took my test on the 10th of this month. Before the test started I was ask to give them time to look over the truck. So I went away from the truck 2 take smoke. When they saw me smoking. The female examiner committed: "That smoke is going 2 give me a headache" (not in a pleasant way). So I put it out (for at that moment I felt I was in trouble) and they were ready 2 start the exam. The male examiner was administering the test. So I asked him, how was the test scored and while he did not answer the ? The female said something. didnt know what she said but her face said alot. I was told to work on my terminology & that I missed the drum brake.

 

U should of challenged the 1st test. The DDS manual says, touch or point not both:
During the pre-trip inspection, you must show that the vehicle is safe to drive. You will have to walk around the vehicle and point to or touch each item and explain to the examiner what you are checking and why. You will have to point to or touch items under the hood or under the vehicle (this will require you to physically maneuver/crawl under the hood or under the vehicle). GA DDS Manual p.86