Took my CDL-A Road Test

Relax is key. Just make it a rhythm
Know of a guy in Council Bluffs who took the test 4 times.. the last failure was because he up shifted as he was making a turn.

 

I remember when they claimed staying in gear when slowing down was called being in control of your vehicle, technically. I still think that the brake keeps me in control of the vehicle. I downshift four gears sometimes. I would have failed the DOT test, no doubt.

Now, backing, don't get me started. The DOT test doesn't even begin to, or wait a second, it just begins to introduce you to the BASIC CONCEPT OF BACKING. Pass it with flying colors, you've learned elementary mathematics. Hopefully you can learn Algebra on the fly. When precalculus pops in, just remember graphs, and when the hardest stuff comes up, well, pass or fail.

I probably exaggerated a lot, but I've found that backing can still make me sweat in the worst of circumstances. I'm only speaking subjectively, but I did talk to a 20 year veteran who still doesn't like tight docks.

 

When you are shifting play “shave and a haircut” in your head. Neutral on SHAVE, gear on HAIR

 

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