Testing out

I tested out at the Gary terminal after 12 days out with my trainer. The test-out consisted of:
1. Multiple-choice written test (I think it was around 50 questions) on rules of the road, Roehl operational procedures, trip planning, and the Roehl Way of Protective Driving. This test is open-book; you can use the Driver Reference Guide, Road Atlas, FMCSA regulations, training textbook, etc.
2. Pretrip checkout with a Roehl instructor, essentially the same as what you did for the DMV examiner when you got your CDL.
3. Road test with a Roehl instructor, similar to the CDL road test. Includes city and highway driving, left and right turns, lane changes, starts and stops.
4. Backing skills test with a Roehl instructor, perform a 90-degree back into a slot (marked either with cones or with concrete barriers, depending on location).

 

Now that would'nt be any fun using a cheat sheet,lol.It's all memory.

 

I tested out in Appleton, tester smoked a cigarette while I did pretrip, said he'd know what I was looking at, but...he was on the other side of the truck the whole time? Then I forgot to test the horns in cab, he didn't care. Expected me to roll down widow at railroad, never did that in Marshfield, he said no big deal. Drove around for 20 min then back to yard. Backed between two trailers in the yard with 2ft on each side.
Several guys there had passed everything but the backing and had been there for a couple days trying. Roehl was going to fail them both if they couldn't get it. From my few months perspective, the backing is as important as the other stuff because you are screwed if you don't get good quick out here. Some night in a P-lot with one tight spot with only a blind side back you'll want some ability & confidence.

 

Indeed. They day I tested out at Gary, I talked to a guy from our RDTC class who was also there but hadn't yet been able to pass the backing test; they were sending him out with a 2nd trainer for a few days to get some more practice. So even though it's possible to fail the backing exercise on your CDL skills test and still get your CDL (if you didn't mess up in a lot of other areas), Roehl doesn't want you out there driving unless you can demonstrate to them that you can back into a slot. Which in my opinion is the correct thing.

 

Good luck on the test Scott. As long as you know what you are doing for the most part you should do just fine. It's pretty low-key and relaxed as far as testing is concerned. I think they just want to make sure you are capable of handling the truck safely and know enough to get the job done without making a ton of mistakes.