New drivers arrogance

If your ultimate goal is only for students to pass, I suppose it would be pointless to argue that point. However, an argument might erupt over whether or not teachin' students how to pass the tests without providing them with a more solid educational foundation is sufficient instruction.

Now that right thar IS scary.

Keep those books open and those minds closed.
If somethin' new comes along, ignore it.
Don't be distracted.
It may not be the right way, ..... but, by golly,
it's MY way.
Don't confuse me with the facts.

 

Yep that's true. Because no one has ever heard of driver's being able to pass the CDL test but having no idea what they're actually doing or why they're doing it because the only thing they were actually taught is how to pass the test. Whether you want believe it or not, pass results do not automatically mean your teaching effectively. They only mean the student has been prepared for that particular test. So if you want make claims about how your teaching technique is impeccable and has no room for improvement, you're going to have offer more proof than 'my students can pass a driving test'.

I wish this 'I know it all so don't tell me anything' attitude was unusual in CDL instruction. But unfortunately its the norm. And its part of the reason so many new drivers are as dangerous as they are. Sad really.

 

I went and read the Massachusetts CDL manual on pre-trip inspection for the skills test. It seems there could be two meanings to their statement in the manual.

Part Three number 10- Pre-trip Vehicle Inspection Test. Right after the Air Brake Check the statement reads as follows;

" Listed below are the 10 steps you must follow in order to pass the air brake portion of the pre-trip inspection"

This could mean you must follow the steps in order or (which makes more sense to me) you must follow the steps in order (or so you can pass).

I would agree 100% if the statement stated you had to follow the steps in sequence but of course it doesn't. Which brings the problem of interpretation of the tester. Of course you would want to follow what they require but it doesn't make it right.

 

Here we go again.
Mistaking the teaching and aquiring a CDL with driving ability.
One more time....
CDL Schools are there to get a student a license.
Period!
They don't teach them how to drive any more than is required to get their ticket.
A newbie learns on the job, a sort of apprenticeship.
That's why training companies are out there. Their primary goal is to teach new drivers, enable them to aquire experience, then finally, when the driver is (hopefully) adequately trained, they tend to move on to other companies that prefer to hire experienced drivers only.
My biggest beef in this area of the industry isn't the CDL Schools. It's the training companies that give a new driver two or three weeks training, then set them loose on the public.
I don't think the average driver can be safe to turn loose solo without at least 10,000 miles with a mentor/trainer, and I don't think a driver with less than two years or 200,000 miles can be considered 'trained'.
That doesn't mean they can't do a good job, are safe or corteous. Let's face it...it takes time to aquire experience!

 

you have to follow the air brake test to a T in massachusetts. you have to bring a stop watch and say you will be counting down, they dont actually make you count down the full time required but you have to bring a watch that counts seconds and say it anyway. they are very very serious about it in massachusetts. the pretrip and walk around arent as in depth but they mean business when it comes to the air brakes

 

I no doubt believe you no. Plus what I've read so far there's no discussion on post-trip. Go figure.

Years ago before the CDL California was known to have one of the toughest tests around. Not the road test but the written part. You really had to study because I remember mt Dad telling me the Richfield drivers that have been driving for decades had to crack the books. But since the CDL came in the wriiten test are a breeze.

 

thank you...actually a stop watch is not always allowed by some of the troopers i deal with...they prefer an ordinary watch with a "sweep second hand"...i know, i had a student fail because he brought a stop watch to Otis........

and the students are told, WEAR A WATCH when you go for your DMV test.....how many listen........

 

there is no post trip inspection, only the pre-trip.....a student has a chance to "redeem" himself if he misses something but remembers it later, AS LONG AS he is still doing the pre-trip..in other words, a student might forget the brake can on the right front (steer), then go to the left side, as he is explaining what he is looking for he can say, "oh i forgot to mention the brake can on the other side"....the trooper or DMV tester will mark it off as being called.....

now, the pre-trip can be done in ANY order the person wishes to do it in..however, OMD' s school and my school we generally start from the front, then move to the right side under the hood, move over to the left, then down the left side of the trailer....at the back of the trailer, the trooper will ask, "is there anything different on the right side of the rig that is not on the left"......student says, "yes, i have a city door, spare tire rack, exhaust system".......

then they do the in cab inspection...once a student says he is done, he cannot "redeem" himself by remembering any missed pre trip items..

as i said, and OMD backed it up..the brake test......MUST be done THEIR WAY.....one mis-step, you're done.

 

CA was this way about the pretrip and air brakes...any order as long as you covered it. But it was nice to say, since their score sheets are sectioned, "by the way, while I was looking at [area] i forgot to mention [item].

 

very well said Emulsified. Especially the last part. It takes time to aquire experience. Thank You.