Failed CDL-A skills test

Today I took my CDL-A skills test and failed. I blame myself because I allowed my fear of failure to impede upon my success. Allow me to explain. I was so fearful that on my straightline back, I passed without any errors. But, when it came time for me to do offset, everything seemed perfect until the examiner blew the whistle. At that point, the fear became so overwhelming to me that I corrected my error, was supposed to stop when my tractor passed the first set of cones but I continued until I back completely out the box. I didn’t even know that I did it until the examiner asked me did I understand the instructions. I wondered why he asking me this question until I looked at my truck. Automatic fail. The examiner allowed me to continue unto the third skill but I was so disappointed in myself that I messed up on the third skill which was driver side parallel parking. My tractor and trailer wheels were in the box. But the rear of the trailer was so close to the line that he said this too was an automatic fail.

I feel so defeated, disappointed and angry with myself because I felt confident going into the test that I was going to pass. Now I’m feeling that I need more practice than I thought and I’m really not as good as I thought I was. I’m also embarrassed because I’m seen as the brainiac on campus. I can recall what I read and do very well on homework and written test, but when it comes to skills, I’m good during practice and bad doing testing.

I also must add that I’m very fearful of this examiner that tested me today unlike any of the other state examiners on campus. I’m trying to get over this fear and not allow it to interfere with my goals of becoming a truck driver. But I feel like the only way to overcome this fear is not to make any errors in my skillsets.

This now sets me back 2 weeks and now I have to call all companies I have a pre-hire and explain that I will not be graduating on January 28th as expected. Maybe I’m really am bad at what I thought I’m good enough to pass. Thanks for reading my situation. Have a blessed day.

 

Thanks for this information. My straight line backing was perfect, my offset was only one encroachment, but I pulled forward and corrected the angle and backed up without any other encouragement. My final skill was site side parallel and I did 2 pull-ups before getting my entire unit into the box. I also had one encouragement on this skill. However, when I did my goal to make sure I had gotten into the box, I did realize that my tail end of my trailer ( not my tandem wheels) was just maybe a half inch off the line. So, I tried to correct this with 3 additional pull-ups and still was in the same position. I used my final free goal and assumed that it was ok since none of my unit was actually on the line. The examiner walked over did a couple of walk arounds and told me to come to the back of the trailer. He then took his pen and place it at the very last rear end of my trailer and dropped it. His pen hit the line and he made some comments and asked me why didn’t I just pull out the box and repeat the maneuver. I told him because I was afraid that I did not have any more pull-ups and that I had already failed. He then agreed that I had failed.

My school does not like to tell us how we are graded on the CDL test and they keep it a secret. They tell us if we hit a cone, run over any lines, or fail to follow instructions it’s an automatic fail on the CDL.

So, when I heard the first whistle blown during my offset test, I was under the impression that it was 10 points ( PA does not list CDL points online but rumors on campus is that if you hit a line or a cone it’s 10 points and all your other skills need to be perfect in order to pass). Since I did not stop at the first set of cones, I had failed my skills test.

 

Thanks for this information. My straight line backing was perfect, my offset was only one encroachment, but I pulled forward and corrected the angle and backed up without any other encouragement. My final skill was site side parallel and I did 2 pull-ups before getting my entire unit into the box. I also had one encouragement on this skill. However, when I did my goal to make sure I had gotten into the box, I did realize that my tail end of my trailer ( not my tandem wheels) was just maybe a half inch off the line. So, I tried to correct this with 3 additional pull-ups and still was in the same position. I used my final free goal and assumed that it was ok since none of my unit was actually on the line. The examiner walked over did a couple of walk arounds and told me to come to the back of the trailer. He then took his pen and place it at the very last rear end of my trailer and dropped it. His pen hit the line and he made some comments and asked me why didn’t I just pull out the box and repeat the maneuver. I told him because I was afraid that I did not have any more pull-ups and that I had already failed. He then agreed that I had failed.

My school does not like to tell us how we are graded on the CDL test and they keep it a secret. They tell us if we hit a cone, run over any lines, or fail to follow instructions it’s an automatic fail on the CDL.

So, when I heard the first whistle blown during my offset test, I was under the impression that it was 10 points ( PA does not list CDL points online but rumors on campus is that if you hit a line or a cone it’s 10 points and all your other skills need to be perfect in order to pass). Since I did not stop at the first set of cones, I had failed my skills test.