Complicated situations

You will probably be in the same boat as if you had graduated. You'll still be forced to run with the mega carriers and getting stepped on for a little while. Maybe just a little longer than normal. Maybe not though who knows.

You failed the pretrip, but why didn't you just keep trying? There were people at my school that failed the freakin permit tests so many times they had to buy multiple extra test packets. But they eventually graduated. There was even a lady that was there for 6 weeks and she still made it eventually. (3 week school) Even one guy with a prosthetic arm who could drive a truck better than any of us but the DOT was jerking him around hardcore. He had been there for months, might even still be there idk. But he could drive though thats for sure.

My point is, why didn't you just keep trying til you got it?

 

You have to admit that's kinda funny. Prime was like "nah don't try to come around now mofo"

 

The DOT will ask you to identify two things you should be checking for when you check the engine oil. I did not realize that until I was at the DOT doing the pre-trip....so I responded, I would check the oil to make sure it was in the proper range on the oil stick and check it for quality......well, that was acceptable. For every item on the pre-trip checklist you had to give at least two things you were checking the part for....and usually the answer would be "check for cracks or damage". A good safe answer on most items.

When I was a student in my cdl program, the most feared test was the pre-trip by most of the students. My school had a pre-trip inspection that was twice as long as a DOT pre-trip inspection. Our list was about 500 items....the DOT pre-trip was about 200 items, as I recall.

Newbies just don't have the familiarity with all the parts that are to be inspected and some, like myself may not have the best memory ability. While I failed the pre-trip inspection in the cdl school, I did pass the pre-trip inspection at the DOT on the first try. I am fairly mechanically minded, but my memory will not always recall the part names that I need at the instant I want to identify such part.

I also developed some memory aids for some of the tests, such as the air brake tests.

 

I memorized the pretrip word for word. I rolled through it so fast by the time I reached the back of the tractor, the examiner told me to just name the parts from there on. I forgot my bottle of water in the truck and drying out while doing it. 100% pass on pretrip, brake test and road test resulted in a lobster dinner, a beer and a couple shots as my instructor agreed to.

STUDY, STUDY, STUDY. If you think you know it, STUDY SOMEMORE! lol Have someone at home test you daily. A good thing also is having a truck to use with the study guide in hand for a visual.

 

The crazy thing is.... the way I was taught pre trip so I could pass the cdl test.. was pretty much just sayi g the right phrase at the right area of the truck... now, that I am actually driving and doing a real and practical pre trip it is not at all like the test.... not to mention that every truck I have driven has its own qwerks.. and my pre trip and post trip is catered to the truck... for example, on the first Peterbilt I drove it had wonky electrical issues and a starter that would go out.. but I learned what to look for and how to fix it... my second peterbilt would go through the oil... but it was wierd.. you would check it every day and it was fine... then the next time it was low.. only had the volvo a short time.. and now I am in a prostar... but each is their own machine...and I pretrip them accordingly.

 

I am guessing you failed the pretrip inspection at the DOT examiner. Therefore you do not have a CDL yet. Are my assumptions correct? If so, then all you need to do is retake your CDL test. Does your father own a truck and trailer you can use for the test? If so use it. Now what you have is a CDL after you attended the Central Refrigerated School. You completed the school. You did not fluke out. They charged you for the school. They did not return your money. They felt you were ready for the test. Now you have taken the test. The Insurance Company MUST except that as a complete. Central must except you as a graduate. They don't have to hire you but someone will.

You have a contract between yourself and Central Refrigerated. That contract cannot be based on a third party where neither of you have control over that third party. You completed the attendance at Central and they trained you to the standards they thought you were ready to test. Contact completed School Completed.

 

Those are not pre-trip things as you describe them, pre-trip is when you look for things that can be a safety issue and every truck has the same parts on it to look at.

I drive different trucks almost daily, sometimes a few in a day and I have yet to do a pre-trip differently - it all starts with the walk around and then from there lights hood up and so on. If I do a full pre-trip for a truck I never drove before, it includes a brake check with checking the hoses and free play. There are a couple trucks where I have to use a starter button and/or ether to get it going, a couple which have shifter issues and one that has a problem with all electrical items off or it will not let the alternator kick in. These things have zero to do with pre-trips.

 

Actually you do check the oil level, as well as other fluid levels in a pre trip.. also, faulty electrical can be a safety issue as it may blow bulbs or such, which is whh in a pre trip you che k for wires rubbing and becoming exposed.. it is a safty issue if your brake fluid is low or your power steering fluid is leaking... the drive before me actually got put out of service for the oil leak... the DOT officer saw it drip during an inspection.. he was put out of service for that and for the electrical glitches... this was when I was with the small mom and pop out fit... they had the truck towed to the shop, which was run by their cousin, and got the work signed off... then just had me run arou d the scalehouses...

Even being out of windshield washer fluid is a safety issue...

 

It is not that hard to fail the pre trip.. many have... so, no one need feel bad about failing it the first time... sometimes, one fails it just because they didnt us the right wording.. even though they were doing the pre trip right..

I think too.. we need to remember that newbies have a lot thrown at them and they are in new and unfamiliar territory. ?. So, often they dont know what options they have..

Also, keep in mind.. if you call prime and they say no.. it is no big deal.. you can try other companies..and even call prime back in a month and get a yes... drivers have been turned away from a company o ly to get hired by the same company weeks later... sometimes it is about timing....

The important thing is to not beat yourself up, and dont let anybody else beat you up either...

 

You remember when you were on the main page and you clicked the tab that read "Question From New Drivers"? Right below that there is a clickable tab that reads, "CLICK HERE For a list of companies that hire new drivers". Don't worry though, you're not the first and you won't be the last wannabe/student/new driver to miss that link completely.