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Failed my road test, what are other options?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by insipidtoast, Mar 12, 2017.

Page 5 of 7
  1. Mar 14, 2017 #41
    White Dog

    White Dog Road Train Member

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    Or the OP doesn't know how to shift.
     
    White Dog, Mar 14, 2017
    White Dog, Mar 14, 2017
    #41
    Just passing by and TripleSix Thank this.
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  3. Mar 14, 2017 #42
    insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Heavy Load Member

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    It gets me wondering though... the director of our programs rode with me and another student the last week of school. He commented that our shifting was a little rough, but nothing the dmv would grade us down on.

    After my test, I read through the state dmv cdl manual about how the road test is evaluated. The section about shifting says, "does not rev the engine." How are you supposed to downshift I wonder.

    Another quote says, "Does not shift in turns and intersections."
    I knew about not shifting in turns, but not shifting in intersections!?

    Do they honestly expect you to cross an intersection after stopping at a red light by staying in the same gear you take off from? You'd be going like 3mph across the intersection until your trailer fully cleared the intersection.

    It just depends on if the examiner is an idiot and how literally they interpret the publications.

    I had my doubts about the examiner. He asked me to simulate an emergency stop. Where he
     
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    #42
  4. Mar 14, 2017 #43
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    I got my first job with the permit.
     
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    #43
  5. Mar 14, 2017 #44
    insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Heavy Load Member

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    Where he asked me to stop, I would've been blocking a driveway to a business. Another student I talked to who had the same examiner told me the same. He also thought he had passed the road test when he got back to the DMV, he told me it was the best he had ever driven. He was surprised when the examiner said he needed to schedule a retest because he "didn't check traffic enough, and scraped some gears."

    Is there a way I can avoid this examiner in the future? What if I get him the next time? Would it do any good to speak to the manager? I could say I don't want to go with him, because he wanted me to block a driveway, and examiners aren't supposed to ask you to do anything unsafe or illegal.
     
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    #44
  7. Mar 14, 2017 #45
    insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Heavy Load Member

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    What company?
     
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    #45
  8. Mar 14, 2017 #46
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    @Pedigreed Bulldog, @Ridgeline, @x1Heavy

    Walk this guy through shifting 101, cornbread language, please. I want you guys to put your 3rd party driving examiner hats on. And I want you guys to be jerks. No handholding.

    Mr @insipidtoast, do not be so quick to give up. Round 2. Is there anything about floating? You have a better idea than you did before. Odds are pretty good that you will pass, so let's go for it.

    You're at a light making a left. Light goes green. First, second. Hold second through the turn in the intersection. Yes, I know it's SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW, but you're trying to pass a freakin test with a jerk riding shotgun. If they will allow you to float, FLOAT the transmission. I didn't double clutch. It was 6years after I started before I first heard "double clutch."

    "But Six, what if I fail?"

    Odds are you wont. You're in the rhythm now. You know the examiner, you know what to expect. If you wait, you will lose your groove.

    Luck in battle.
     
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    #46
    x1Heavy Thanks this.
  9. Mar 14, 2017 #47
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Local. I started local. OTR by choice.
     
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    #47
    x1Heavy Thanks this.
  10. Mar 14, 2017 #48
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    The whole intersection thing is to insure that rookies do not mis-shift in a turn and cause an accident. There is a speed where the transmission gears are turning at the same speed as the engine rpm. It feels like the gears have stopped turning. The gear shift will fall in gear effortlessly. That window where all the planets have aligned and everything is in harmony is about 1 second. 1 1000. Plenty of time to shift. If you are grinding, you are trying to force the planets to align. Don't use the tach. Use your eyes to check your mirrors. Quick scan. Forward, left right, forward. You see outside. Everything. The engine speed and transmission gears, you feel.




    Rhythm. You FEEL rhythm, you don't see it. If you try to see it, you will probably miss time the move.
    Feel the engine speed build. Inhale. Exhale. Shift. Don't force it. Feel. Gentle touch. When your use force, she grinds her teeth. Examiner winces. Every driver here would wince. Trying to force yourself upon a lady? How dare you! The other driver that failed was looking at the gears and the tach.

    When you do it right, she will sing for you.
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2017
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    #48
    x1Heavy Thanks this.
  11. Mar 14, 2017 #49
    insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Heavy Load Member

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    You have to double shift. You'd lose points fast by floating.

    I was starting from 3rd a lot, and I also wasn't sure if the examiner liked that.
     
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    insipidtoast, Mar 14, 2017
    #49
  12. Mar 14, 2017 #50
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Funny thing about rhythm...it gives you the appearance of speed. It's not speed, it's timing. In all of the YouTube videos on shifting, all of the drivers have difficulty remembering what gear they're in while they're shifting. Rhythm is automatic. You do it without thinking. Get the YouTube videos going, turn the volume up, and close your eyes. You can hear the rhythm.


    Doesn't matter how many sticks on the transmission. Once you get the rhythm down, you won't miss.
     
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    TripleSix, Mar 14, 2017
    #50
    x1Heavy Thanks this.
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