CDL Road Test Failed? How could you have done better?

I just wanted to start a thread about Road Test Failures, and how they could've been prevented. I'll share my experience in the hopes it will help someone else. Hopefully others will chime in as well. Realize folks I'm just a rookie, I make mistakes. I'm sure a lot of guys don't but here goes..

I took my road test today. Admittedly I tend to get nervous for tests and I consumed a little extra coffee this morning which im sure contributed to my poor performance.

How I failed:

I was doing pretty good, aced the PTI, made two perfect turns. I missed a shift, no big deal, quick rev, grab 6th and we're fine. My straight backing was perfect and my parallel park was dead nuts straight (no pull up) but a couple inches further out than they would like. docked a few points.

We pull away on an industrial park drive which is WIDE and has a painted double yellow center line, and a snow bank to my right. I positioned myself a foot or two from the centerline. I get going and am asked what lane I should be in. Confused I reply, "I'm not sure I understand the question." The examiner says you're in the left lane you should keep right. She got pissed because I did this on two separate occasions with similar circumstances. As I saw it there was only one lane in each direction as there was no lines indicating there was a second lane. With the snow bank literally taking up 1/4 of the "right" lane. So rather than utilizing the lane I fit in, she wanted me to keep right but utilize 1/4 of the "left" lane.

Now for the BIG one, and the one I didn't see a huge problem with. We were turning from a 4-lane right onto a 2 lane, I stage straddling the line in the right turn lane. there's a guy turning left toward me from the direction to which im turning. As I make my turn (slowly), I see that im going to clear the curb on the right by about 6 inches, but not the pickup in the turning lane in front of me. I come to a stop and the pickup backs a foot or two to allow me to clear. we proceed around the corner and the trailer clears

The examiner called this turn an unsafe act, and disqualification. Was docked on the same turn for: Poor judgment, Poor steering control, turning too wide, failure to keep right and blocking traffic/intersection. We use 48ft trailers in class and for the road test. if it were a 53 I'm not entirely sure how I would've made the turn. At NO point was there a safety issue, we pulled slowly around the corner, at no time was I not in control of the vehicle or situation.

As for what I could've done better. On the road with one wide lane, I could've asked the examiner if she considered it two lanes and if she would like me to keep right along the snow bank but advise that I would be consuming two lanes by doing so. And for the poor turn, I should've stopped and analyzed the situation prior to entering the turn. Maybe wait for a light cycle to see if I could get some more room next time around, although I'd be blocking 2 lanes of traffic by doing so.

In any event I marched right over to the DMV a few minutes later and signed up for another appointment and we'll hope for better luck next time around.

On a side note: The examiner was on edge from the moment she got in the truck, she was in a hurry and very edgy. I think she had a bad experience on the 4-wheeler test before mine. She pushed me through the PTI skipping most of it and I'm usually a quick talker on that.

 

Thanks Chinatown! That made me feel a little better

One thing I will add that I didn't know, is that the examiners (at least in the Peoples Republic of New York) are the same folks that do the 4-wheeler exams. They have no CDL requirement, just things they are taught to watch for. No real-world experience, or necessarily any understanding of what to do outside the normal circumstances of the road test. I understand that they have to judge someone they have never seen in about 15-20 minutes of drive time. I don't fault them for doing their job. It's just frustrating someone who physically couldn't push in the clutch much less drive the truck if need be is running the examination.

 

I can say almost certainly that she does not have a CDL. From what I'm told, most here do not.

 

Hey if that's what it takes... but I don't think I have what she wants if you know what I mean.