Failed A Pre-trip Test Today. :(

I failed my pre trip but at the same time I got everything right.

I finished my air brake test and right after the final service break check I let off the clutch and stalled the truck causing me to fail. I failed after I finished, it sucks. Now if I fail my road test or final backing test I fail out if the swift academy.

The tester is just a scary nerve racking guy. He is a former marine sniper and he just makes you nervous when he's around. Oh well I will reset Friday and pass it and stay on school.

You should always brake and push the clutch pedal in at the same time. Or were you just nervous?

You should always brake and push the clutch pedal in at the same time. Or were you just nervous?

I think he forgot to put it in neutral after doing the tug test and dumped the clutch, at least that's the way I understand it. But, he's got a great attitude as far as getting back on the horse and gettin' er done!

I bet he doesn't make the same mistake again.

Don't let him be the excuse of why anyone fails the test. There's a ton of other more nerve racking things in trucking than a former marine sniper.

The examiner isnt the culprit, and even though it sucks about what happened it was still technically a fail and he's doing his job.

Get back on the horse and don't let this guy bother you. He shouldn't be an obstacle to begin with, you'll do just fine tomorrow.

I agree it was my fault I let off the clutch. I own that. I will not fail again.

I failed my pre trip but at the same time I got everything right.

I finished my air brake test and right after the final service break check I let off the clutch and stalled the truck causing me to fail. I failed after I finished, it sucks. Now if I fail my road test or final backing test I fail out if the swift academy.

The tester is just a scary nerve racking guy. He is a former marine sniper and he just makes you nervous when he's around. Oh well I will reset Friday and pass it and stay on school.

You should always brake and push the clutch pedal in at the same time. Or were you just nervous?

I relaxed too much and the spring in the clutch just pushed my foot up. It was on me for relaxing too soon after finishing. I was 2 seconds from him putting pass on the paper.

That`s rough dude. It is a small costly mistake and you will bounce back. My tester kept making noises while I was doing my thing with him in the truck. I guess he was trying to make me nervous and throw me off. It had the opposite effect. I actually kept trying not to laugh. Trucking is a mental game as well as driving. You just have to find a way that works for you to put any intimidation out of your mind.

Ha I kind of did the same thing a couple days ago. I stalled my truck at the Pilot truck stop fuel island. Everyone was looking at me and shaking their heads I am sure.

I have to admit, I know exactly how you feel sitting next to this guy. I received some training in the military from a Sergeant Major in the Army who had been a combat sniper most of his career. At the time, he was the most decorated SGT MG in the Army, which we all knew meant he'd whacked a lot of people. Just standing anywhere near him felt scary, even before you knew anything about him. But knowing that in a face-off with this guy, you, on the other end of your weapon, would lose ...and he did not care. Those guys are loners, they spend days and weeks alone without human contact and then the closest thing they come to contact with others is when they pluck the enemy out from afar without anyone knowing where their shots came from. They are a psychopathic bunch for sure. They like precision and they are mean. And I'm talking not just tough. They really are mean inside. Detached from humanity.

Here's what you can learn from one of these guys. No one is more aware of his surroundings than a sniper. Watch how he conducts himself every moment he's awake. He will know everything that's going on around him, above him, behind his back, beneath his feet, in all directions. He uses all his senses at the same time. His ears are tuned in to everything and he has eyes on the backs of his horns. (I do mean horns) These are good qualities to have as a driver (except the horns) Be aware of all things around you. Keep your eyes moving like a scared wild animal. Left mirror, windshield, dashboard, right mirror, windshield, dashboard, left mirror. I'll bet his eyes dart all over the place, all the time or they stop and size-up what they're looking at and move on. When you do this, (move your eyes around all the time) your reaction time shortens. You're keener. I'll bet he's cool as a cucumber, too. Cold as a snake and never gets his feathers ruffled. This is another good quality to have as a driver. When you're under pressure or something dangerous happens in front of you, you have to have nerves of steel to get through that situation without hitting anything or getting hurt. Learn as much as you can from him. Ask a lot of questions of him. He has a ton of knowledge and military guys love to teach. Stay firm, confident, respectful, but ask questions. Snipers don't talk much, but you can draw him out a tad.

My point is, while he's creepy as heck, he'll also show you respect when you stand up strong towards him. Believe me, back in the day, when he was training in the Marines as a young man, he made big boo-boos too. Hold your ground, use a command voice when doing your pre-trip in front of him, stay sharp, act sharp around him, keep your posture really straight but allow your mind to remain steady and cool. Stay really focused.

If you have to, for a brief moment, allow yourself to picture him wearing some pink Victoria's Secret under-things. That should put him into perspective. You never know. He might just be a closet panty-wearer. Maybe he's mean around you guys but a putty-tat at home, around his wife. He may not want you to know it but he is still human. His heart doesn't pump cool-aid, it pumps blood, just like the rest of us.

You can even say things like "OO-rah" to him when you're pumped up about something. He'll appreciate it.

You know what though? You'll never make that mistake again. Shake it off.

Good luck. You'll do great.

-mountain girl

It really is pressure. My test out yesterday, heh, backing was in front of a class of new students, in a beat up old truck, manual clutch instead of hydraulic, i stalled the truck a couple times letting the clutch out, just relax, shake it off and keep going. One of the criteria i saw on my trainers checklist was "is the student easily angered, frustrated " It's definitely part of the testing. Part of the job. Just keep your head high, laugh at your mistakes and move on learning from them. You will be fine. Promise!

It really is pressure. My test out yesterday, heh, backing was in front of a class of new students, in a beat up old truck, manual clutch instead of hydraulic, i stalled the truck a couple times letting the clutch out, just relax, shake it off and keep going. One of the criteria i saw on my trainers checklist was "is the student easily angered, frustrated " It's definitely part of the testing. Part of the job. Just keep your head high, laugh at your mistakes and move on learning from them. You will be fine. Promise!

Hey Andy! I wondered how you were doing. When do you finish up at Roehl?

You can even say things like "OO-rah" to him when you're pumped up about something. He'll appreciate it.

You know what though? You'll never make that mistake again. Shake it off.

Good luck. You'll do great.

-mountain girl

Make sure you say "OO-rah" to a Marine only and "HOOAH" to Army. Do not get the confused!

Mountain Girl, you may have just scared the s*** out of the dude!