Failed Road Skills Test Today

The school I went to had 5 trucks, 3 were empty 48ft vans, one was a 45ft flat with 20k or so of concrete loaded up and the last had a modified 40ft van with a couple of large water tanks in the back (dirt lot, we students had to "water" it twice a day). We had to learn how to drive all of them so we could at least have some understanding of how different loads affected handling (and shifting).

Magoo is right... I found it ALOT easier to shift in the loaded trucks than the empty ones. I tested out with the water van and still managed to fail on my first try... shortest trailer of the 5 yet I hit a curb one block from the yard (also an auto-fail in WA). I got it right on the second try but there were a few guys in my class that needed a 3rd (or 4th) test to pass. Just keep at it and don't overthink it. If you need more practice time ask for it. The only way you'll get it right is to practice (especially with shifting).

 

Start in 2nd gear.......a light trailer should take off at idle almost. Hell.........start in Lo/Lo if you need to. The clutch had probably had 2000 different students beating on it and the plates are probably looking like a big round wafers by now.

Good luck pards! You can do it.

 

If I'm emty I start out in 4th on a 10 speed, loaded 2nd and unless I'm really heavy I skip shift untill I'm in high range.

The clutch isn't somthing that is in or out. You should fether it untill you really get the hang of it, fethe ring is half way in half out till your rpms are up. It's not good on the clutch but it's better then kicking the teeth off.

 

You should be able to feel the brakes release, if you are on a bit of an incline, you will notice a little movement when you release the brakes. Practice starting on an incline so you know how long you need to wait to engage the clutch......your tractor is stalling because the brakes have not released when you let out the clutch, as it takes a second for the air to fill the airlines, especially to the trailer tandems, 53 feet or so behind you.

If you are concerned about rolling backwards, then start out in 2nd gear. If you stall the truck starting in 2nd gear, there is something really wrong.

 

To hell with the clutch and the gear teeth. You don't own the truck. Some knucklehead shouldabeenaburgerflipper is the mechanic. Watch the tach and feel the pull. Use the force, Luke. Ifn you can't get outta the gate flat n mt with a tenny you ain't gonna like a stoplight on a 6 degree uphill with 44000 in the can. Make sure you don't pay for the school unless you pass the CDL and get placed. Not everyone can drive a road tractor. It's the hardest easy job there is.

 

I pull doubles with a 10 speed and rarely start off lower than 4th gear even when loaded. Some exceptions like a steep incline or snow and i will go to 3rd, but I can't remember starting off lower than that even when I was pulling vans.

 

^^^^Try this.

If you start out in first (not Granny Gear, the first gear past Granny), you don't have to 'load the clutch up'. It's much less likely to stall. It will get you past your test, which is the IMMEDIATE goal.

 

i passed my pre trip and failed my road test never even got to the skills

 

is that the key to not roll backwards