Failed 3 different rd tests hitting curb each time, should I quit

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by notgood, Jan 20, 2026.

  1. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Only you can decide if the excuses you mention are more important than the goal. Things don't have to be perfect or easy to be completed.
     
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  3. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Some reasons why you should consider driving for Swift...& attending a Swift Driving Academy:
    • You have a Swift terminal close by -- this solves the problem of finding & keeping free, safe...& legal truck parking during hometime, & getting maintenance/repairs done while you relax at home (instead of wasting time with this while on the job).
    • Swift Academy graduates can go on to Swift's so-called, "Top Gun" school -- & get additional training on their backing & other skills; then you'd be that much more ready to do some serious OTR -- read more about that here:
    Gain the skills you need for the job you want. Swift Academy's truck driving school can help you earn your Class A CDL in as little as four weeks. Apply today!
    • Lately, I couldn't help but notice...Swift tractors are pulling Walmart trailers. Thus -- if you later got on a Walmart dedicated account with Swift -- this would be excellent "grooming"...to later step up to driving inside Walmart's private fleet -- which is easily one of the best gigs in the industry.
    • With Swift OTR -- you would ultimately drive to/thru & see all 48 lower states; with Schneider -- since you live in the NE -- you would be stuck just/only running loads east of I-35 (been there, seen that :sad3: :rolleyes:).
    Think about it....:scratch:

    -- L
     
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  4. '88K100

    '88K100 Road Train Member

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    Take your road test in a smaller town with no curbs, sidewalks or traffic lights
     
  5. Lonwolv54

    Lonwolv54 Medium Load Member

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    Your first year is going to be your hardest. Don't give up the goal though, keep pushing forward thru the adversity.. You'll look back in a year or two and pat yourself on the back. Trucking is a worthwhile career once you learn the trade, it takes time and effort..you can get it done!
     
  6. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Well, "giving up" is such a harsh phrase, maybe take a break from it is more in order. My concern is, if you failed 3 times on the same issue, it tells me you are not realizing the size of the unit you are driving, and people will give you all the advice in the world, I don't mean to be nasty, but it's not just that curb, you will encounter many situations where you might not know what to do, and we simply can't have that today. Experience is the key, but a Catch 22, you can't get experience and can't get a trucking job without it. If trucking is really in your blood, you find a way, and quite frankly, I don't think it's in the stars anyway. Don't beat yourself up over this, it could still happen, but not under the circumstances you say. You sound like a cool, ambitious person, and you'll be fine.:thumbup:
     
  7. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Honest talk, hand. That would bother me. Everyone else passed and I failed 3 times. On the same turn?
    I know the sign says No Right Turn on Red, but I wonder if they would fail you for making a right on red.
     
  8. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    My comment may not be liked, and I might get accused of passing out misinformation. I am going to share something I remember some old hands of my dad's generation talking about. I admit I only skimmed the question. The thing is, if you are in a tight place, DO NOT MOVE until you are 100% sure you can do so safely and not hit anything that could cause a preventable accident. I have lost count of the number of times I just pulled my parking brake and threw up my hands because a 4-wheeler was in my way. In these situations, if you move and strike another vehicle or fixed object YOUR company in almost every situation will be paying for the damage. I remember a time in Ft Worth having a cop clear an intersection after I refused to move.

    As a trucker, when you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING. A cop makes a threat to have you towed, :) let them! Because they have just cleared you of all responsibility and assumed it themselves. As a trucker, you need to do your best to avoid these situations. If you stay in this business after a few years, you will start to develop a 6th sense. The thing is, don't be scared to pull that brake and shut down if you have to do so. DO NOT become scared of being an (REDACTED) even with a cop. If you can't move that rig safely, DO NOT MOVE IT, PERIOD!
     
  9. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Ex-cel-lent advice. :D :hello1:

    THANKS! :occasion5: :-D

    -- L
     
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  10. Ddh77777

    Ddh77777 Light Load Member

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    Once you pass the test you will occasionally face situations where it's either curb the trailer or curb the steer. If the corner has been totally pulverized from year and years of trucks going over it and they haven't troubled themselves to fix it, that's generally a good clue.
     
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  11. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Fail him just for breaking the law?
     
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