Failed CDL-A skills test

femalecdla · Jan 17, 2018

Jim Harvey said: ↑

0 points so far.

Assuming you only did the one pullup following the encroachment, that pullup was a freebee so you only got 2 points for the encroachment.

First 2 pullups were freebees but the encroachment was 2 points. 3 additional pullups (assuming no encroachments) were 3 points. So far, you had a score of 7.

You were not completely in the confines of the parking area (10 points - Final Position) which brought you to a total of 17 points. (You could have done 5 more pullups (without encroachments) and still passed.) But the final position is what failed you.

And rightfully so. Grading criteria is not supposed to be divulged to the applicants.
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Thanks. That’s what I was thinking that the final position is what caused me to fail. So for the past 2 days, I’ve been focusing on making sure that my final position has at least a foot of clearance on each side of my unit. That way if I cut it close on one side (2 feet on one side), I still have 1 foot clearance on the other. So far so good. I’ll pass next time for sure.

Just a side note. Knowing how the test is graded helps me to stay focused. That way when I hear a whistle being blown it doesn’t scare the crap out of me. And, I know I still have enough to pull up and reposition the truck. Not saying that I should count points. But, it helps knowing that encroachment does not mean 10 points. Had I known this before hand, I would have passed my CDL skills test and been moving on to the CDL road test.

Concorde · Jan 17, 2018

Chinatown said: ↑

The parallel parking is useless in cdl school. You'll rarely, if ever, use it in the real world.
Which state do you live in?
Which companies do you have pre-hires with?
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Lol, I parallel park all the time.

Concorde · Jan 17, 2018

x1Heavy said: ↑

have parked in the Seaport towns up in Cape Cod area
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I lived my first 46 years there...maybe that's why I like parallel parking

Concorde · Jan 17, 2018

femalecdla said: ↑

Today I took my CDL-A skills test and failed. I blame myself because I allowed my fear of failure to impede upon my success. Allow me to explain. I was so fearful that on my straightline back, I passed without any errors. But, when it came time for me to do offset, everything seemed perfect until the examiner blew the whistle. At that point, the fear became so overwhelming to me that I corrected my error, was supposed to stop when my tractor passed the first set of cones but I continued until I back completely out the box. I didn’t even know that I did it until the examiner asked me did I understand the instructions. I wondered why he asking me this question until I looked at my truck. Automatic fail. The examiner allowed me to continue unto the third skill but I was so disappointed in myself that I messed up on the third skill which was driver side parallel parking. My tractor and trailer wheels were in the box. But the rear of the trailer was so close to the line that he said this too was an automatic fail.

I feel so defeated, disappointed and angry with myself because I felt confident going into the test that I was going to pass. Now I’m feeling that I need more practice than I thought and I’m really not as good as I thought I was. I’m also embarrassed because I’m seen as the brainiac on campus. I can recall what I read and do very well on homework and written test, but when it comes to skills, I’m good during practice and bad doing testing.

I also must add that I’m very fearful of this examiner that tested me today unlike any of the other state examiners on campus. I’m trying to get over this fear and not allow it to interfere with my goals of becoming a truck driver. But I feel like the only way to overcome this fear is not to make any errors in my skillsets.

This now sets me back 2 weeks and now I have to call all companies I have a pre-hire and explain that I will not be graduating on January 28th as expected. Maybe I’m really am bad at what I thought I’m good enough to pass. Thanks for reading my situation. Have a blessed day.
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I did the same thing you did on the straight line backing. I backed up all the way behind the rear cones...the exact spot he gave me the instructions at and he even pointed to those rear cones.

Technically he probably should have failed me but he just laughed and said great straight line backing.

Don't be down on yourself for failing the first time. Many people have to retest before they get it.

Now get back out there and get er done

BigBob410 · Jan 17, 2018

The skills test must have changed since I got my CDL back in 1988 when I got my B and 91 when I got my A. Some of the terms y'all are using I don't recall. But it has been awhile and my mind ain't getting any younger!!

skellr · Jan 17, 2018

Chinatown said: ↑

The parallel parking is useless in cdl school. You'll rarely, if ever, use it in the real world.
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Open deck, flatbed, uses it quite a bit.

Someone had to disagree.

BigBob410 · Jan 17, 2018

Jim Harvey said: ↑

Yeah, in 2005 the CDL testing changed dramatically. Then it changed again more recently (2009?) becoming, actually, easier yet. Before you were required to do:

A 105 item pretrip inspection which you had to inspect a minimum of 80% of the listed items.

1. Straight line backing down a 12' wide - 100' long lane,
2. An offset back onto an adjacent lane. (In South Carolina you also had to do a serpentine (S-turn) back starting initially both to the left then to the right.)
3. A measured right turn where you tried to get the trailer tires as close to the corner cone as possible,
4. A jack-knifed parallel park where you set up ahead and at a 45-degree backing the TRAILER into a parking spot that was 10' longer than just the trailer, finishing with the tractor jack-knifed 90-degrees to the left and the trailer DOT bumper over a 10' area on the rear of the parking spot with the entire trailer within the confines of the 12'-wide parking space. (In Georgia, you had to do a sight-side jack-knifed parallel park)
5. The ever-popular alley dock except where you had a 40' long by 12' wide parking spot with a 3 foot target box on the back for your DOT bumper but you could set up for it at 45-degrees to the parking spot inside a 70' x 70' diagonally maneuvering area.

A Road test that was about 1½ times as long as the one is now.

The Basic Skills test these days is MUCH easier as it only has 3 maneuvers, as are the Pre-trip inspection and the Road Test.
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After reading the OPs post I went online to look at what's required now. I guess since I've had mine for so long I hadn't really given it much thought.

BigBob410 · Jan 17, 2018

Jim Harvey said: ↑

Had a BLP Paint store that I used to deliver to that was in what used to be a railroad freight warehouse that had been subdivided as a multi-store mini-mall. The receiving area was where the track used to be along the dock that ran the length of the building and there was barely room to spin a tractor-45' trailer around. I had to parallel park along with the passenger side of the trailer as close to that dock as I could get, often having to jack-knife the tractor out if there were other tractors in front or back, drop my landing gear, and they would put a deck plate alongside the trailer, offloading to the passenger side of the flatbed onto the dock with a forklift. I winced every time that forklift drove onto the trailer from the right side going after that pallet on the left side of the trailer.
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You're not related to Paul are you? Lol!
That would make me a little nervous watching them drive on and off the side.

BigBob410 · Jan 17, 2018

Jim Harvey said: ↑

And NOW....for the REST...of the story. Good DAY!
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I miss that guy!!!

V c2c · Jan 17, 2018

Jim Harvey said: ↑

Yeah, in 2005 the CDL testing changed dramatically. Then it changed again more recently (2009?) becoming, actually, easier yet. Before you were required to do:

A 105 item pretrip inspection which you had to inspect a minimum of 80% of the listed items.

1. Straight line backing down a 12' wide - 100' long lane,
2. An offset back onto an adjacent lane. (In South Carolina you also had to do a serpentine (S-turn) back starting initially both to the left then to the right.)
3. A measured right turn where you tried to get the trailer tires as close to the corner cone as possible,
4. A jack-knifed parallel park where you set up ahead and at a 45-degree backing the TRAILER into a parking spot that was 10' longer than just the trailer, finishing with the tractor jack-knifed 90-degrees to the left and the trailer DOT bumper over a 10' area on the rear of the parking spot with the entire trailer within the confines of the 12'-wide parking space. (In Georgia, you had to do a sight-side jack-knifed parallel park)
5. The ever-popular alley dock except where you had a 40' long by 12' wide parking spot with a 3 foot target box on the back for your DOT bumper but you could set up for it at 45-degrees to the parking spot inside a 70' x 70' diagonally maneuvering area.

A Road test that was about 1½ times as long as the one is now.

The Basic Skills test these days is MUCH easier as it only has 3 maneuvers, as are the Pre-trip inspection and the Road Test.
Click to expand...

When I got my cdl reinstated a few years ago.( had it when turned 21 till 26 and drove with my dad until he retired and shut his small 5 truck operation down and I left for 13 years. Never have been to any school. Dad kinda taught me sink or swim style. So when got it again in 2013 I just took the test at the dmv, then got permit and scheduled test, borrowed buddy’s rig. Basically we had 2 do a straight line back like 40 yds inside a huge area, a brake check 2 start, and then a parrallel parking that didn’t even have 2 be good. No pre trip at all. Then drove about a 5 mile circle around town and back. Done and done. Easy as could be.

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