Almost Done!

Just watch those corners during the actual test. There will be at least one that is barely doable.
I failed the first time because I ran the tandems off the pavement into dirt on a very tight left turn because I was concerned about a sign on my right side. I swung it wider the second time.
You need to watch your space, and use every inch and angle possible.

 

They can't take you on the actual test route.
Parts of it, yes, but not all of it.
There will be some surprises for you. And it is up to you to be aware enough of your surroundings that you make the right decisions.

And it is that way, all the time, when you go OTR.
You are forever on unfamiliar roads, and if you miss just one turn you may be in a situation that is very difficult to get out of - especially with 53 feet of trailer behind you.
It has happened to me more than once.

I missed a turn once, and my GPS was rerouting me.
I came to the turn and hesitated because it was a very tight turn.
As I was sitting there, in rush hour traffic, a cop pulled in front of me and came up to 'talk'.
You might guess the rest of the story.

Well, not so bad it turned out.
He knew the route I was supposed to take, and told me where I should have turned.
Too late, though, as he didn't consider it safe to try and hold traffic at that intersection long enough for me to make a U-turn. And several had tried, and ended up damaging things with the tandems.
He told me that the road I was about to take got very narrow, with many sharp turns, but that I might make it if I was careful - and also that I would be overweight on that road.
I considered that he might just be setting me up for a ticket, but he was actually friends with a Swift biggie.
I was able to make the turn onto the road and make it to my destination.
I had to stop a couple times on the curves to let traffic by, because I could not do it in just my own lane.


Another time I missed the entrance to the shipper and had to drive 20 miles on a 2 lane road until I could find a place to safely turn around.
And that was on a straight stretch of road, blind-side backing into a private driveway to get myself turned around.


The point is...
Never, never, EVER believe that you can 'do it easily'.
That is when you make your worst mistakes.

 

It gets easier with time on the road.
But for now, it's good that you are not too 'relaxed'.

I've been OTR for 3 years now, and I still pull in to docks and wonder if I can actually make it in.
The place I pulled into today was no different. It was very cramped, and I think my fairing actually touched the trailer a bit with the turn-around. It was tight!.
Every driver had the same problems, and many were much more experienced than me.

You might be a 'natural' truck driver, one that just knows what and how to do things.
Me, I'm that way with a car - but not a truck. With a truck I have to think every move through before I do it.
But it is getting better with time.
I think I am finally getting my 'trucking legs'.

And with that thought, well, I think I need to make sure I take just a little more time - because, as Han told Luke... Don't get ####y, kid!.

 

When you said you passed pretrip and stills test,what that at Roadmaster or the DMV?

 

Roadmaster, florida,

which location/city ?

thanks