Trying to remain positive... But #### !

I was the same way. I would make a mistake and just loose it. What helped me was driving the truck from school to test site and my instructor riding with me told me he trusted me riding with me and that I would be a good driver and that really helped then when the officer got in the truck with me I just tried to pretend he was one of our instructors and just made small talk. That helped me out. Good luck and dont give up.

 

In the Immortal words of merchandising god Nikkie..'Just do it'!! It is not my intent to discourage any of you but I need to say something real and true. Do not be under the misguided notion this will be your biggest hurdle-if anything this is your easiest. You will have many,MANY more challenges ahead that will make this "shifting gears" thang seem like drinking a beer on a very,very hot Thursday afternoon in MN if in fact you stay with the "Trucking Game". #### that brewski is good..

B.S. Er P.S. It was Nikkie which coined that slogan isn't it??

 

It's good that you believe everything happens for a reason. I went through 2 different driving schools in my 25+ year career as a professional driver. The first was in the army when i was 17 yrs. Old. The 2nd was in 1996. The instructors and testers have the most difficult job in the industry i truly believe. They must determine whether or not if the person siiting next to them in the drivers seat is capable of handling the details of our type of work from driving to p.m. Check to parallel parking. Their judgement is entrusted to the whole industry of drivers and employers that count on them to certify the qualification standards necessary to be successful for everyone. The experience your going thru now will make you that driver that will someday be around many yrs down the road to help and assist the next generation of drivers the same way the guys on this forum care to see you succeed. The point i'm trying to make is you will be thankful for the confidence you'll gain when you get thru this, rather than not realizing the severity or consequences from getting qualified by someone who really doesn't care. I've seen this scenario, and within 6 weeks on the road out of driving school 2 people from the same class were killed and killed several other people in the process. They were written off from the same certifier and overlooked for their lack of skills behind the wheel. I'm sure your an excellent driver, but be patient for the right company when your finished. If this company wouldn't take you after a small blip like this, then think what they would've done if you made a simple mistake as an employee.. Patience, patience, patience. You'll be just fine. I own my own trucking company, pm me with the details of your situation and maybe we can talk..thanks, big country

 

I heard back today, I get to retest, but not until Sept 10. Missouri sucks, can't schedule for anything sooner. So Now I've got to just sit and wait..

 

I know this may sound goofy, but another thing I have done is in my automatic pickup truck I have a cup holder down by my leg so what I do is take a plastic 20 bottle and work on my gear pattern the rpms and road speeds will not be the same obviously, but if I am by myself I will talk myself through the gears, range selector, I would think about down shifting when i need to and would practice that. I would barley touch my parking break as the clutch. Not enough to set it of course but helps get that rythm down.

 

Had the retest today and passed. So much relief! The last couple weeks sitting around and waiting have been hell.

 

That is fantastic news. Congratulations!

 

Congrats!!

 

Congratulations