I Passed My Road Test!!!!!

Just wanted to let you all know that I passed my road test!!!!

I don't care how old you get, it's still nerve wracking taking a road test with the brownie sitting there watching your every move. Though honestly, he was pretty cool. He understood that we were nervous, and definitely took that into account. I only had two screw ups for a total of 25 points. The 1st was right after I finished with my blind side parallel park (which I managed pretty well, a little crooked from the curb, but not too far.) I had to cross a set of railroad tracks in the yard we were in, while at the same time trying to avoid hitting another big truck backed into a dock, sticking out more than half way across the street. It looked from my mirror like I was passed the tracks. However, I didn't take into account, the angle of the tracks. I was still on them when I shifted. 15 points! Then, on the final turn of the test, I was so focused on not hitting the curb with my tandems , that I almost took out the stop sign in front of me!! 10 points!

Other than that, it all went pretty well! Pre-trip was good, though he rushed me through because it was snowing.

All in all, it went well. 3 out of the 4 students from our school passed!!! The one who didn't was kind of a arrogant jerk, way too over confident. He messed up pretty bad, he said after he got back. When he got back, he was a bit humbled. Then started beating himself up over it. He said he was having trouble shifting, cut his turns too tight, couldn't parallel park, stalled out on a different set of railroad tracks (which the instructors warned us about, repeatedly.) It's a set of tracks in the middle of the city, at a busy intersection, followed by a traffic light. If there is more than one car at the light, you can't fit the truck in between the cars and the tracks! It was drilled into our heads, over and over. But, with two cars at the light, he went for it! Then stalled it right on top of the tracks. To top it all off, on the very last turn (where I almost hit the sign) He rushed the intersection, with a car at the light on the street he was turning on. Forcing the car to back up! (automatic fail in the eyes of NY state!)

Just goes to show, there is such a thing as over confidence!!!

A few minutes after I was done and sitting in my car with the instructor, I got a call from the recruiter at Melton Truck Lines! I gave her the good news and she confirmed me for orientation on 11/24/14 in Tulsa, OK!!!!!

I'm on my way, guys and girls!!!!!!! A big thank you to everyone here at TT.com!!!!! I probably wouldn't have gotten even half way to this point without you guys!!!

Tarren

Congrats I hope to be in your shoes in a few months.

Congrats I hope to be in your shoes in a few months.

Thanks, my friend! I really appreciate it!!! Best of luck to you!

Tarren

Way to go Tarren!!!! I know how wonderful that feeling is and congrats on starting with Melton!!!!!

Tarren,

Congratulations! I'm scheduled to head to Tulsa for Melton's training on 12/15. Hope to see you on the road.

Congratulations! Enjoy that high!

Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS!

Shifting on the tracks would have been an automatic fail anywhere I have tested. I failed a road test that way, actually. Luckily I was able to re-test the next day.

Also, am a little confused about the car having to back up being an automatic fail... unless they weren't over the stop line. If the car is already there when you approach the intersection then I will wait if I can't make the turn, but if you own the intersection and a car pulls up, they have to back up.

At least that's the way I understand it.

Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS!

Thanks!

Also, am a little confused about the car having to back up being an automatic fail... unless they weren't over the stop line. If the car is already there when you approach the intersection then I will wait if I can't make the turn, but if you own the intersection and a car pulls up, they have to back up.

At least that's the way I understand it.

Yeah, the car was there first. And, no, they were not over the stop line. I don't think he was really paying attention at that point. The look on the examiners face when he got out of the truck and headed toward our instructor said it all. That student was a real piece of work!

Tarren

Just got my confirmation to orientation on Nov. 24th!!!!! Got my flight booked. (it would have been a 1 day, 15 hour bus trip!!!!)

I'm going out on Saturday the 22nd, so I'll have a day to relax and get acclimated. I can't believe this is all happening so fast! I know that my wife is getting nervous about me leaving. But we've kind of been down this road before with my outboard training classes in the past. The 1st year of our marriage I went away for 3 weeks to Atlanta. Also, for the 1st 5 years we were married we spent roughly 6 months apart at a time because of our jobs.

Anyway. Just wanted to share the update!

Is anyone else headed to Melton for orientation Nov. 24th?

Tarren

Awesome!

Yeah, when it happens...

... it happens FAST!