Hope the 3rd time is a charm...

Long story short, after a going to the school and doing well, I've been otr now for almost 2 months with 2 different trainers. First trainer had no idea how to back up a truck, so he obviously couldnt teach me. So, when I went to take my cdl skills test for the first time, I did great until we got to the alley dock portion of the test, and I bombed. Then, as fate would have it, personal issues made my first trainer go home, so I got a new trainer, who within 2 days taught me to back the truck pretty well. Went for my second cdl test, and didnt even get to finish the pre-trip. The lady at the dmv said I was over my time ( not sure her watch was accurate...but nothing I can do about it), and I had only made it to the rear of the truck and hadn't started on the trailer. Didn't even get a chance to show off my impressive alley dock skills.

Stupid me gave up a miserable career in law enforcement to pursue the freedom of the open road, and I was very happy about my decision until I was informed by my trainer that if I fail my cdl test the 3rd time, I will be fired. Company policy. I expect that I will pass, as long as I keep my eye on my watch during the pre-trip and quit trying to over-explain things.

Now to the point, should I fail the 3rd time, is there any company out there that will give me another opportunity? Despite the fact my trainer seems to think pretty highly of my ability to drive a truck, its going to look terrible to a potential employer to have 3 failed tests on my record. Any sage advice out there?

 

When you do pass it will not matter. All they want is a clean driving record, a responsible person and for you to have the CDL. It is not like your going to be a brain surgeon and they want to see your college transcripts.
As soon as you pass, you send out to the different copies that hire new people to do OTJ. You want to avoid company's like CRST, England, Knight so on.
Good luck to you too. Come here often, lots of good guys on here with much better advice.

 

So you have been driving OTR with 2 trainers for a company and now you have to back to the DMV for a skills test? I had no idea companies did that. Or did I misunderstand what you are saying.

 

Who do you work for? You can hire a truck driver with a truck and trailer you can use to take the skills test with, some of them put out business cards at the state testing place. Don't give up!

 

I'm driving with my permit only at this point, with a trainer. Once I get my full cdl I will get my own truck.

 

I'm a bit confused as well. If you've been through school, you should already have your license. At least that's the way it's usually done. School for the license and then out with a trainer at a company for about 6 weeks or so.

 

This is some sort of independent trainer not affiliated with a company? Or is this being done with a company?

 

This is company training. 3 weeks at the school, followed by 5-8 weeks with a trainer. They wanted me to get my license in my home state, and they didn't have a school located there. (home state is SC by the way).

 

So you have finished the 3 weeks of school and now you are done with your 8 weeks with a trainer and you have to pass the CDL test?

 

thats about the size of it