Need Help Finishing CDL - Just Road Test Portion In NY

Hi, I don't know how unusual my situation is but it sure feels lonely. l maxed out on the number of times my school was willing to help me test. I failed the road test portion of the CDL Exam. I'm willing to pay to have a truck and trailer and driver help me just take the exam one more time. My school did NOT prepare me well for the exam and I had to learn backing on my own during prep time, and the same for outside inspection. Driving they gave me plenty of and I have the inside inspection down - but I got caught on a very difficult banana turn. A very common mistake in the drivers test I took. Anyhow if anyone has any suggestions on how I can finish this portion of the test, I'd appreciate it. I'm not particularly looking for criticism, just advice on finishing the road test.

P.S. I have the training completed. So if it's not in their system it would be a minor paperwork hassle to make sure it is. But since I'm a return customer with NY DMV , they should know this.

You're not going to find a truck owner willing to rent out their equipment for you to take your test. It's a huge liability and the money you'd be willing to pay wouldn't be enough to cover the risk.

P.S. I have the training completed. So if it's not in their system it would be a minor paperwork hassle to make sure it is. But since I'm a return customer with NY DMV , they should know this.

Minor paperwork hassle and bureaucracy do not go together. I guarantee this would take hours over the course of weeks to get fixed, if it ever does. It's irrelevant what the people at the DMV know, it's what they're able to put into the computer system that counts. Nobody at the DMV is going to say "I know you did this, I'll just put it in for you" or say "have the trucking company call me, I'll vouch for you".

You're in a jam and it's not going to be an easy one to get out of. You picked a school that lacked proper training and there's nothing you can do it about because they've been paid. Company sponsored training is probably out because they don't like taking in students with training, but I say apply anyway. Worst they can do is say no.

you need to pass a road test that you're struggling with. Your only option is to see if the school would be willing to let you test in their equipment for payments.

Everything Banks said is correct. I see two options for you. Apply For Paid CDL Training everywhere you can. If that doesn't work then pay your school whatever they want to allow you to retest.

This idea is good in concept, however not practical anymore. The insurance companies have such a tight grip on what we can and cannot do. My insurance is very typical of what most if not all companies require for our coverage to be valid. A minimum of 2 years experience for a driver and listed on the policy, even if that driver is only going to drive that truck a few feet on a public roadway.

Maybe you can find someone, but my best guess is no O/O is going to risk it.

Unfortunately, your plight is not that uncommon. In my neck of the woods (Washington state) there are several truck schools where approximately HALF the students earn their CDL in the first two tries.

You know who has the trucks, the insurance and the ability to help you pass your CDL drive test? Truck schools. Call the schools in your area, explain your situation and see who is willing to help you out. It's not cheap. The going rate for a truck either to get additional practice with or to take the DMV test is $800+ PER DAY! It's up to you to decide if you're close enough to passing that it would make more sense to start over at another school or bite the bullet and pay for a truck.

What do mean by "banana turn"? Can you provide a Google maps screenshot or what city and cross streets? I have an idea what you're talking about but never heard of it referred to as much.

The way your school did it is the way most do. Pretrip is all memory. They can't teach that, all they can do is supply the material the rest is on you. Same with backing, many of us were shown once while taking notes and then it was on us to figure out. Consider yourself lucky you had alot of drive time. Most that go through private schools get only a couple hours.

In my area (Iowa) there are companies that do exactly what you're looking for. They call themselves 1 day cdl. They take you out in an auto daycab with a 28 foot flatbed. You pay $500 and you get 4 hours of practice before you go to the DMV. Whenever you're near the DMV check the trucks that are there, even check places where people tend to rent spots like Ryder, Penske, I've even seen them at Thermo king to see if there's something similar. The private school I went to it was an additional $150 after your 5th failed attempt I believe but it's been so long I can't say for certain.

Not sure if they exist in New York but Ohio has 3rd party testing centers that sometimes offer rentals. Pretty sure you can still test out of state.

It would be a drive but there is one in Cleveland that offers testing and equipment rental. Looks like for just a road test the testing fees and equipment rental would be around $285.

Cuyahoga Community College CDL Testing Center

What about the course completion certificate for the mandated ELDT?

Here is the turn I screwed up. I should have taken the red arrow, but didn’t. Next time.