New Hire. Road test

Swing wide, take things slow but not too slow. Be honest about backing up.
Are they going to give you training or are they looking for someone to send on a road solo?

 

A week shouldn't make that big a difference. The skillset of new drivers does fall of pretty rapidly and most places make allowances for that. Just BREATHE and drive the truck.. listen to instructions BEFORE and during the test, and repeat the instructions as they are given.. (Make a right turn at the next intersection, etc etc. If you were trained to "descriptive drive" do that, if you were not.. start. Just make verbal comments as you approach ANY relevant signs or hazards. Refrain from caffeine and tobacco before the test.. apply liberally after the test. Know that these people are not there to fail you! They are there to evaluate your skillset and whether or not you can be trained. You know how to do this... just go drive the truck

 

Do not go any slower than five mph under the speed limit. Check your mirrors, watch for the yellow speed advisory signs when taking the off ramps, most importantly is to remember you are pulling that big old trailer.

 

They are primarily looking for anything reckless or dangerous. They usually notice how often you are looking in side mirrors. I'm sure they will judge your backing, but they aren't looking for perfection, but carelessness when backing. Don't worry about taking a couple minutes longer to back than a veteran. But do not almost hit things on the left, then the right, and just barely get parked without hitting objects. I would think they are far more interested that you look like you are really paying attention and really careful. MOST newbies are none of those things. Too many newbies have the attitude expressed by "relax, you have plenty of other trucks, I'll drive one until the one i broke is repaired." Don't be one of those.

 

I feel your pain. I've been at 3 companies in 9 years. I still worried about it on each one

 

It it's for Magnum in Fargo, don't mess with it.

Company sucks out loud on their best day...

 

Take your time and don't rush things. Try to maintain the speed limit but don't rush backing or going around corners. If you curb a tire you will probably be failed. Unlike the DMV test, you have no limit on pull ups when backing. If you don't line it up correctly the first time, go around and try it again.

I took my test at Swift in the L.A. area in 2010 during rush hour.
There was no freeway driving, only streets in a big square.
As I was approaching the final right turn to the street with our terminal I realized it was going to be a problem because of the traffic and the fact that the small road I was turning on to was only two lanes, and I would need both lanes to make the turn.
I sat on the street for a good ten minutes before making the turn, holding up all the traffic behind me, until both lanes were clear long enough so I could make the turn safely. The tester just sat there silent the whole time.
After the test was finished the tester told me that the biggest failure point for most drivers was that turn. They would get impatient and try to use only the one lane, curbing the trailer tires. No real curb there, just dirt. But if you didn't stay on the pavement it was considered to be the same thing.

 

Oh god stop it, this is not a big deal.

You can have an easy test, you will be asked to point out a truck in the parking lot (not making that up, I had a test like that), or go through a test like what I give drivers.