Help!!! Need advice from an expierienced driver

I'm not sure what advice you are asking for. As far as your backing goes, it sounds like nerves as much as anything. Nothing out of the ordinary there. Believe me, even after nearly 20 years, there are days when I couldn't back into the grand canyon without a struggle. It happens. Sometimes it helps to get out of the truck and look at it head on from the nose, it helps to see your line of attack more clearly. How is your trailer set up? As often as not guys seem to think that a shorter trailer or axles pulled forward will make it easier to back up, especially the ally docking. Untrue. I have pulled trailers of 28' to 70' long and believe me you could put that 70 footer on top of home plate every time. The 28 footer is like herding cats. The extra length will make your backing smoother.

You have said already that you can pass the test 3 of 4 tries. Simple as that, take the test again and pass it. It's just "head-ology", you have it in your head that the backing part of the test is going to be difficult and so it is.

 

Try not to think of the Dot officer there, just relax, and concentrate on what your doing. Also don't be worried about it being in such a small area.. Remember even when taking you test get out and look if needed, you will score points there. I use to do my parallel parking with no problems in school, but failed on my first try on test day.. Just relax it will come to you..

 

actually in my state, and apparently in the original poster's state, getting out is an automatic fail.

our range skills were get in the truck, buckle up, run through the course and open the door when finished.

kinda screwy with all the goal stickers... but thats how it is for the test... and likely because they want to make sure you can do it without getting out because they know that's how you'll do it without a badge making you.

how many guys you see at the truckstop get out and look?

 

I get out if I need to. I would rather get out than hit something. I pull a spread and was heavy last week. I was 12 miles from my drop and had to shut down at this certain pilot. I pull in there and there is about 30 trucks looking to land with no openings. I make my way around and see one. I look at it as I approach. What is going to make it really tough is there is a btc truck parked illegally 1 truck past where the last truck is suppose to be. I need that room to back into the back of the lot. I look it over and decide I am taking it. Had he not been there it would have been a lot easier. I set up. Got out to look a couple times. I really struggled, but got in pretty straight considering. I still needed to pull forward to get straighter. I pull up and and btc and me look like a T-bone. On account of this goofball I have to pull up to inch over several times. I get it in there.
What happens next? Goofball btc comes out to his truck and leaves and then to top it off the guy beside me pulls out..... Thanks guys..... would have been nice if ya'll did that before I had to work for it.

Then along comes snidey in a van and struggles to get in the spot beside me...... If a loaded 10 foot spread can get in there with a btc obstacle in the way a van ought to slide right in there with no problem...

 

Aw man, you were just providing their entertainment for the day!

 

None, but I have alwasy got out an looked when needed.. Even pulling a tanker, delivering to construction sites which can be a real pain in the aers..

 

I guess we have it easy here. We don't have to go through the state to get a CDL - there are plenty of certified truck driving schools that also do the test for a fee. I went through the school - not the course, just the CDL test - they made it so easy, it was pathetic. Backing was done in the smallest vehicle allowed by Arizona law that still would pass you for driving any big rig - it was a small 6 wheeled dump truck hooked by pintle to a 20 foot trailer with air brakes. Lol. I laughed when I saw what they were making me do. For the driving test, we got into an OLD Ford - 2 axle tractor with automatic transmission pulling a 28 foot puppy-dogger. This was for the street/driving test only. I only went through a small portion of the pre-trip cause' the instructor got mad at me that I found something wrong with his truck, the guy turned blue with anger, methinks. lol. He lectured me for 15 minutes about how he checks his truck every day and he doesn't know HOW he could have possibly missed it.

I guess they don't have this kind of deal everywhere.

About the time you get tense, anxious and fearful of anything you are doing, that's about the time you are going to do the worst possible job you have ever done. It's ALWAYS harder to do a test like that when someone is sitting right next to you, scrutinizing your every move. Actually, in the backing test, the instructor for my test stood outside of the truck and was actually giving me hand signals!!! ROFL!!

Like others have said, just take the test again, you'll pass. Lots of people fail one portion or another of these CDL tests, you certainly are not alone.

Good luck!

 

.....and to put it another way, you don't really need advice, you just need a bunch of fans and supporters telling you that you can do it! You CAN do it!!