FAILED MY CDL ROAD TEST :(

I was going to ask if they tester or you're trainers told you to start in 4th but it seems clear it was the trainers. Not being allowed to shift through an intersection is new to me. The only place I was told not to shift was crossing railroad tracks. I could see stalling it or not being able to get it in gear in an intersection causing you to fail, but likely doing that anywhere would as well.

 

I was lucky, my school instructors held our test and it was not really a test at all. We did it in phases over the weeks and they checked off the skills as we practiced.

 

look at it as a learning experience. Now you have a feel of what to expect on a road test. As others have said 2nd or 3rd are better starting gears. Yes they’ll be slower to start but you won’t stall. In my experience those are the best to start from in a 10 speed unless heavy starting on a hill. Keep at it, and you’ll definitely pass it next go round just keep a positive attitude, take your time and you’ll be fine.

 

Here's the thing, if you are in a gear that causes the truck to buck as you EASE off the clutch, that gear is too high. You should be able to ease of the clutch, THEN apply throttle. If you are in a test scenario and making a turn from a standing start, then apply throttle on whatever gear you started in, THEN upshift before proceeding through the intersection AND before you turn the wheel.

Ask the DMV tester before you start your test if this procedure will be acceptable.

 

I don't care. If the engineers want us to start in 4th they would never have installed low, 1 2 and 3rd.

The only time I started that high is on downslope or 5th high in racing situations bobtail.

 

You were probably held to higher standards--had an unforgiving tester.

Us mega turds get helped through testing a little bit.

I stalled the truck twice in my road test and he still passed me. He said dont worry about it theres no one behind you. Second time he said what stall? I did everything else right. Turns were good. But those stalls should have been auto failures.

We got back to the yard and he said, you'll be fine.. Off you go

 

You should be able to move the truck letting out the clutch without hitting the fuel, if you can't gear is too high. Low R's, low range, click, click, click, phttt, high range, stretch em out. Try not to shift on a hill, bad for drivetrain, especially when loaded. Keep at it and remember no 2 trucks shift the same, it always takes time to figure each one out. Good luck and try to have fun, stressed driving is unsafe driving.

 

BINGO!! Don't step on the gas until the clutch is engaged.
Been a while since I took the test but I thought we were expected to use all the gears so we could prove to the road tester that we knew how to operate the truck as if it was loaded.

 

I'm pretty sure you are allowed to shift in an intersection if you're just going straight through. They don't want you to be shifting if you're going around a corner in an intersection. You should be busy checking your mirrors not grabbing gears, and if you've ever driven a truck without power steering you'll be plenty busy anyways...

 

OK here is a question may have been asked before, but didn't see it.

WHO is they?

Is it the examiner or the school?