How To Overcome Nervousness During CDL Testing

I have literally gone to the place down South and back within the last 1.5 days about my ROAD TEST. I have FAILED that thing TWICE NOW. The bad part of this is that I know I let myself down here, but even worse is I feel I have let you all down here. Yall have supported me throughout this and I really appreciate it, even if I dont say it enough. I NEED TO CORRECT THIS. I know the mistakes I have made have been trivial DUMB ones, but it is all caused by my GREATEST ENEMY: NERVOUSNESS. How do I overcome this? How can I not be so NERVOUS out there when I am taking my road test? What can I do to take the pressure off? Anyone who has gone through this, what got you through it? How did you overcome the NERVOUSNESS? Feel free to chime in here and let me know, because not even GOD has been able to help me through this. I don't know how to overcome it. I am honestly, legitimately scared here for my future, however GIVING UP AND FAILURE ARE NOT OPTIONS FOR ME. Please help me out here. Thanks. I appreciate it.

Most of my class has gotten in a circle and prayed together every morning of testing. On my road test day, I came in totally jacked with nerves, but after the prayer circle, I had a calm come over me and went out and did it. Even with a monumental screw up during my test, I remained calm. Your class should give it a try, but you gotta believe.

Well, to start off, remember that every CDL driver had to go through this rite of passage. So you ain't the only one.

You can search here for "failed CDL test" to read what I'm going to write for you. Legendary? No, I hope you do not get a "Legendary Fail"!

Your school and your instructor want you to pass. True, they don't need to produce driving dummies, they want to put driving professionals on the road.

The CDL test inspector is proud to get you to pass the skills test. I'm sure they don't want to give you any bad news, but, still, you need to meet minimum requirements.

Finally, is this frame of mind to help you relax. All the turns, shifting, stops and starts you've done before. Your school instructor figures you can do them again.

Suppose you are at some meeting, and a person you barely met asks for a ride home. Well, the they are, in the passenger seat, giving you directions to get to their house. Just follow directions! Oh, and maybe you want to impress them on how good a truck driver you really are. No stalling, no curb cuts - smooth driving all around.

You're already starting on your first million miles!

My advice to you is in a reply on the diary page. It's not nice or fun, some might think it's mean. But it's honest. I think you are your own worst enemy and are completely focused on negative energy to the point of blinding distraction. You cracked a curb with your steer tire on the way out of the yard. No other explanation for it cause you know how to drive.

Like I said on the diary page to you; step back, evaluate, give your self a day to clear all the negative trash from your head and if possible practice. Have someone take you out on a drive, with the intent of just driving, no testing or evaluations. You can evaluate yourself and attempt to relax.

I wish you all the best...what ever you need to do get a grip on this situation, pray, meditate, sleep. Do that. Bit taking the test a third consecutive day IMO is only going to make matters worse. Totally, brutally honest, give yourself a day to recover. You are not mentally ready to test again tomorrow. If I were in your shoes, that's exactly what I would do.

My advice to you is in a reply on the diary page. It's not nice or fun, some might think it's mean. But it's honest. I think you are your own worst enemy and are completely focused on negative energy to the point of blinding distraction. You cracked a curb with your steer tire on the way out of the yard. No other explanation for it cause you know how to drive.

Like I said on the diary page to you; step back, evaluate, give your self a day to clear all the negative trash from your head and if possible practice. Have someone take you out on a drive, with the intent of just driving, no testing or evaluations. You can evaluate yourself and attempt to relax.

I wish you all the best...what ever you need to do get a grip on this situation, pray, meditate, sleep. Do that. Bit taking the test a third consecutive day IMO is only going to make matters worse. Totally, brutally honest, give yourself a day to recover. You are not mentally ready to test again tomorrow. If I were in your shoes, that's exactly what I would do.

I appreciate your input. I replied back to your reply on the diary page. NADTA lets you get a practice drive in before they will let you test. Usually the practice drive is in the morning and they will retest you after lunch in the afternoon. Today, they did the practice drive and then 20 min later they retested me. I must not have been in the correct frame of mind. Do you think I should take a practice drive tomorrow and then just retest on Friday?

I haven't gone to CDL school, yet, but I was always a good test taker. Sometimes I'd study like crazy and make myself sick with nerves. But the day of the test I wouldn't think about it until I got there, totally relaxed. No cramming right before like some students did. It was in God's hands or the universe or fate or whatever floats your boat. I'd already done everything in my power to succeed, preparation wise. Whatever happened was okay. Then I relaxed, and I always did well.

From your posts it appears you have certainly worked hard to succeed, yourself. If you can practice more today, then do it, but then let it go. What else can you do?

My advice to you is in a reply on the diary page. It's not nice or fun, some might think it's mean. But it's honest. I think you are your own worst enemy and are completely focused on negative energy to the point of blinding distraction. You cracked a curb with your steer tire on the way out of the yard. No other explanation for it cause you know how to drive.

Like I said on the diary page to you; step back, evaluate, give your self a day to clear all the negative trash from your head and if possible practice. Have someone take you out on a drive, with the intent of just driving, no testing or evaluations. You can evaluate yourself and attempt to relax.

I wish you all the best...what ever you need to do get a grip on this situation, pray, meditate, sleep. Do that. Bit taking the test a third consecutive day IMO is only going to make matters worse. Totally, brutally honest, give yourself a day to recover. You are not mentally ready to test again tomorrow. If I were in your shoes, that's exactly what I would do.

I appreciate your input. I replied back to your reply on the diary page. NADTA lets you get a practice drive in before they will let you test. Usually the practice drive is in the morning and they will retest you after lunch in the afternoon. Today, they did the practice drive and then 20 min later they retested me. I must not have been in the correct frame of mind. Do you think I should take a practice drive tomorrow and then just retest on Friday?

Unless something changes, yes. Take your practice drive, no pressure, no expectations, make a game-time decision.

My advice to you is in a reply on the diary page. It's not nice or fun, some might think it's mean. But it's honest. I think you are your own worst enemy and are completely focused on negative energy to the point of blinding distraction. You cracked a curb with your steer tire on the way out of the yard. No other explanation for it cause you know how to drive.

Like I said on the diary page to you; step back, evaluate, give your self a day to clear all the negative trash from your head and if possible practice. Have someone take you out on a drive, with the intent of just driving, no testing or evaluations. You can evaluate yourself and attempt to relax.

I wish you all the best...what ever you need to do get a grip on this situation, pray, meditate, sleep. Do that. Bit taking the test a third consecutive day IMO is only going to make matters worse. Totally, brutally honest, give yourself a day to recover. You are not mentally ready to test again tomorrow. If I were in your shoes, that's exactly what I would do.

I appreciate your input. I replied back to your reply on the diary page. NADTA lets you get a practice drive in before they will let you test. Usually the practice drive is in the morning and they will retest you after lunch in the afternoon. Today, they did the practice drive and then 20 min later they retested me. I must not have been in the correct frame of mind. Do you think I should take a practice drive tomorrow and then just retest on Friday?

Unless something changes, yes. Take your practice drive, no pressure, no expectations, make a game-time decision.

Ok, I will talk to the instructors there and see if they will let me have the afternoon off to recollect my thoughts after tomorrows practice drive unless as you stated something major changes. Thanks again, I appreciate it.

The remainder of today, relax, go for a walk, workout, watch something funny on TV....anything but trucking.

The remainder of today, relax, go for a walk, workout, watch something funny on TV....anything but trucking.

Ok. I am going to get me some good dinner and unwind. I actually need to do some laundry. That will help me burn off some of this insanity. I sure need it. Thanks again.