Company Road Tests

I just finished an employment road test. I pre-tripped the tractor, hooked it up to a 53', and finished the pre-trip. Then we went to a loading dock down the road where I was instructed to back up to a dock. They were primarily interested in seeing that since I had plenty of room, I would position the truck to avoid a blind side backing.

After that, down some rural roads, a couple of interstates (checking speeds on ramps), and some city streets to check that I stay off the curbs. Then back to the house. Drop the trailer and I was done.

 

Cliche but... When one door closes another will open; but when all doors are closed it means you have to open doors.

 

I'm not so sure this would have been the perfect job, since an employee's wife appears to be able to dictate his work rules, instead of the employer. Unless I'm missing something..?

 

Did a road test for a small company. No pre-trip (trailer had a wheel off I should have run right there)
I backed up to the trailer got out to check the height before backing under it. Pretty sure at that point I was hired.

Apparently several others had not with varying disastrous results. After hooking went on a little joy ride on/off ramp back roads to shop backed in where we started from shut er down. Go in sit down got job offer. All my nerves and jitters were for nothing.

Much easier then dot test for sure.

 

My road test was like 45 mins around the city then some back up stuff... don't over think it and just drive

 

My scores were so high that for Werner I didn't have to do one. J&R Schugel took me about 2-3 mile trip, tight corners and like a us highway. Also did a back into a dock and showed how I would set up for it. Get out and look of that happens. Extra bonus points for that, also check mirrors and everything else.

 

my current company's road test was kinda crazy.. Took 3 and a half hours.. had to do a pre trip, air brakes, uncouple and couple a trailer, several skills tests (including blind side, 90 degree-never had to do that on a road test), peripheral testing to prove I could recognize 8-12 inches above my tractor (another odd one) followed by a MINIMUM of 40 miles of driving... Did I mention my skills portion had cardboard cutouts of cars and kids that they moved around the course?

It's safe to say that my company road test was MUCH more involved than my DMV test..

 

I was a driver and trainer for an independent fleet hauling molten aluminum out of Benton Harbor under Matlack authority. Applicants were paid for an eight-hour round trip to Kokomo. The applicant did all the driving and observed the loading and delivery procedures. Some applicants failed the driving test. Others decided molten aluminum was not for them. The company paid me only $10 above my regular pay for the trip when I took a trainee.