Questions about a road test.

Hello all, I am new to the trucking world, and I just passed my CDL test. This was a huge weight off my chest and I was terrified of parellel parking a semi, but I got it done and now hold a class A license. By the looks of things, I will be joining the Boyd Brothers team in hopes of getting my year or more of OTR experience plus some flat bed experience. My question is-- Am I going to be tossed in a truck the first day and be expected to drive like a pro? I can shift gears pretty well with some grinding here and there. (10 speed) I am pretty confident in my backing skills (though they are still new to me) and my on road driving is not bad at all. I am worried I am going to get to this company and be tossed day 1 because I am not a seasoned vet and my driving while they will not be hazardous it will not be perfect.

 

Any company who hires newbies knows that a newbie knows nothing. So you will not be expected to drive like a pro. You also probably have never floated the gears. Most drivers do. You will learn but it takes time to learn. Just ask questions. The more you learn the more questions you will have. Some of them will even be good questions. Driving is easy once you understand it. It is a b..tch until you do. Give yourself time and relax. Welcome to our world, shut the lights off when you leave.

 

the company should send you with a trainer so you can learn the trade and practice on your needed skills. take it slow and easy till you learn what to do and don,t be afraid to ask questions.

 

^^^Agree with both above. Also want to add, I don't care how confident you are, if you've never driven a truck before now, your backing sucks. You may pick it up faster than others, but I guarantee you, you haven't the slightest clue the PITA holes you will put a truck into. Being flat bed is easier at shippers, because you don't put it in a dock, but there are still small truck stops and backwards parking spots that will eat you alive...Welcome to the wonderful world of trucking.

 

You will have to drive good enough to pass the company's road test as well. They know you won't be a pro. But they still send people home because of mistakes they made. Just don't get too nervous and don't make bad choices when doing road test like running stop lights, and cutting off cars. Try to stay off curbs if all possible and don't forget to use air horn and get out and look when you back. You are really not hired hired until you get back from training with the trainer. They will road test you again to see if you are able to handle it on your own. Good luck.

 

Most companies are happy if a new driver can:

1. See out of the truck and have a good grasp on where all the corners and edges of the truck are.

2. Can keep a truck at a steady speed in the middle of a lane.

3. Keep space around the vehicle (especially the FRONT)

4. Make legal and safe right and left turns

5. Has a basic grasp of backing at least straight and preferably at angles to the sight side of the truck

6. Is ready to work and accept the new career with an open mind.

 

7. Not act like a ####y-butt, as if he is the latest, greatest thing to hit the trucking industry since IdleAire (OK...bad example...but you get my point....)

 

You can usually completely irradicate #7 by simply setting up a situation where ####y-butt will be completely overwhelmed and will HAVE to ask for some help. Note: This works on old hands at least if not better than new drivers. It has been my experience that there are relatively few ####y new drivers.. There are TONS of trucking experts out there who have no danged idea what they are doing, pretend that they do, and are too proud or ignorant to admit that they need help.

 

Just be sure to take things slow and at your own learning pace. Don't let your team driver or trainer force you to do more than you are comfortable with. If for some reason this isn't acceptable to them then find someone else to drive with. Its not uncommon for a new driver or co-driver to switch partners so don't be afraid to speak up if you are uncomfortable with them.

 

Doesn't seem to matter. I cant find a job. TMC and Boyd have said no, and I dont understand why. I have never been pulled over no accidents on my record. I have no felonies or any type of convictions.