Orientation Road Tests ( hitting curb )

You know.. I don't really see anything wrong with companies being selective..
And when it comes to a road test.. they should not only assess the drivers current level of skills, so they know what they have to work with.. but, if they feel the prospective driver or trainee has the aptitude to become a good safe driver..

I really don't understand why there seems to be a collective belief that companies must give everyone a chance.. or that just because we want to drive a truck companies should have to hire, train and pay us..

 

here in Indiana hitting a curb on the state exam is considered an auto fail even brushing it, tire scrub, it all counts, but crossing a double yellow line to make your turn only costs you a point, it doesn't matter if you cross with your bumper or with your entire tractor its still A point, always pay attention to your setup

when I hang those tricky turns I scan all my surroundings make sure I have space and time, if I don't I wait, it's safer to wait than to potentially kill someone, then pull way out, and watch my truck in the lower convex mirror on the side of the truck of the direction I am trying when I see the front of my rear tandems clear the front of a curb I cut that wheel the other direction and bring it into my lane and get on trucking

 

Making a turn, left or right, that forces an on-coming vehicle to change speed because of your turn is an auto-fail in Indiana. Braking to a stop before you get up to traffic stopped ahead for a light, is an auto-fail. You can slow down--fine. But only one stop or you're outta there. You can't stop and then pull forward and stop again. Stee-rike three!

Get out or into truck without 3-points of contact? Stee-rike three! And many more. Like get ANYTHING wrong on your air brake pre-trip. Stee-rike three!

 

Great response to the question. Very clear and concise. Much appreciated!

 

Philadelphia SUCKED! I have to drive there again next week.

Baltimore had some places just as bad because of curb-parked cars. I clogged an intersection for about 3 light cycles trying to left turn in the inner city. I needed that road for the interstate... I just wanted back on the freeway and out of that he'll hole.

 

Thays ccrazy. I went over 2 curbs on my orientation ride along... I had 1.5 years in.. Wasnt ised to the spread axle.. They said ill get used to it and was hired...

 

as far as I know... well, lemme tell you a story.

I used to work for Roehl, this big 1000 truck operation (not quite mega some would say, but cerainly not mom and pop) out in the midwest and they had me hop in the truck and do the road test, right?

I get to some narrow little intersection where if u stay in ur lane as per the posted sign ull run that curb right over, Iono what happened but I sure wasn't the only one outta 4 newly hired drivers to run over that curb.

Evaluator laughed and said "everyone hits that, just split the lanes next time".

of course, I and everyone else there in that truck had a year or more experience at the time, so maybe they went a little easier on us cuz they knew we had survived our first year out there... if a total rookie hit a curb? can't say...

Heck, I hit a curb during my cdl test. I got very lucky, the instructor was morbidly obese and couldn't stay awake. you shoulda seen how his govt issued ford focus kinda... bowed downwards when he got in. poor car

Honestly... just don't hit the freaking curb. I probably got lucky the first time, and in my situation at roehl it didn't matter the second time. take a deep breath, it won't help but take one anyway, and don't hit the curb.

 

Personally, you're viewing it wrong. It's a sellers market. Few people can endure the life of an otr driver. Desperation is what drives most to this career but it's a career even more desperate for workers. It's easy to lose sight of the fact you're a precious little princess and should expect to be treated accordingly. Seriously, get on the phone, talk to recruiters and get a job somewhere with proper training.

 

You turn when the trailer tires let you make the turn. that
is the only constant you can really rely on.

Once you get a feel for where the trailer tires are, without looking at them in the mirror, you will know ahead of time what will be required to make the turn. Pulling out further, or even the dreaded buttonhook has it's place.