Help with skills test for Illinois CDL

Go back and practice and park where you need to stop and note where your L/R mirror (or something) ~aligns with something on the ground or horizon.

 

Driving a year and cant do a 45? Hmmmm Do you work for swift lol. Now that my unhelpful mocking is out fo the way....


I'm assuming your tail swing is going in the red on the blind side?

I had similar problems when i started pulling vans. My trick was to pretend the spot was 5 feet in front of where it is. if you aim for a spot further forward, by the time you back it up those 5 feet, its straighter. Also come in wide, and be more aggressive on straitening it out. You will be tempted to come in tighter but that just makes the angle problem worse. Come in wide and the turn sharp to get the trailer strait before you get in the spot. As the trailer gets alined, then get back in front of it. Dont be afraid to turnt he wheel all the way when you need to. Go real SLLLOOOWWWW. It doesn't need to be fluid. Go a little, stop, adjust wheel go a little more. If you have a current CDL why not practice at a truck stop. You know how to back if you've been driving for a year. You just need practice. No need to pay for school. In real life, going int he red equated to hitting the truck next to you. generally test conditions are easier then real life. You should be able to master this and since you have a truck, just practice before the test. As for split axle, they dont have tail swing, but if you don't drive them often you will screw up the backing manuver. Its not harder, but its different. I tested in a 53 foot van but now pull a 48 foot split with a dunp valve. I can park that sucker anywhere, but when you first jump into it, its not predictable until you get used it it.

 

Illinois is the worst state for the skills test; they love to fail people.
They're running scared since the were caught selling CDLs.
They will even flunk you if it takes too long doing a pre-trip. I guess they have their own definition of a good pre-trip.

 

Is there a time limit on when you must transfer over?
If not just keep working and it'll come to you, when you feel ready then try again

 

How long have you been with this company and why don't they help you?

 

Look into Wolf Driving School. Their in Schaumburg, IL. We went there. It's probably the biggest CDL school that isn't at a community college in Illinois.

The skills test is done at Wolfs yard which is way easier than doing it at the DMV.

 

Just a guess but have you tried sliding your tandems all the way back. That should cut down on the tail swing. If I am understanding what you are referring to that is.