Any tips for rookie driver getting ready to take CDL test?

Remember when making the right turn to watch out for the rear of the trailer which will swing left. You could hit the car next to you if youre too far to the left.

 

Practice a lot and then practice some more. It's not going to be easy your first time, nothing is. Just know how to back-up. Driving forward is the easy part. Backing Blind Side may be the toughest.

 

All I can tell you is approach the test with confidence and patience.

 

The mentor is there to teach you. You're still in school, so to speak.

 

I started asking "what do the new guys all do that you wish they didnt?"

The first job seems like 60 encyclopedias worth of new info to remember. At your next job you just need to remember the things not in those encyopedias of the first company..

I recommend you speak your next actions before you do them so your trainer has time to stop you if that isn't what he wanted. "I see Maple Street and will turn Left on Maple." Or "ok we go back into door 47 and wait for a Green light." Stuff like that. Do not worry about impatient traffic behind you. NOBODY wants you to hurry up and wreck. As slow as you need to go to not bump anything.

 

I would prefer you to look clueless than pretend to understand.
@tscottme gave you a good recommendation to call out your moves ahead of time. Do this and ask questions to clarify. If the trainer is a stressed out idiot, he will yell. Don’t take it personally. Don’t speak, listen, learn and watch carefully. Your goal is to be good at what you do. If an idiot can do the job you can’t, you can learn from that idiot.


One more time, keep your business YOUR BUSINESS. Many times, trainers and trainees dislike each other for personal opinions. Easily avoidable drama.

Luck in battle.