How Much Drive Time Should A School Give You Before The Dmv Test?

Hey y'all,I've been in school for 4 weeks ( total of 15 days). Right now I have 3 hours behind the wheel and maybe 3 hours practicing skills ( bumper stop,alley dock and serpentine). I struggle with everything ,including down shifting. They want me to test on this coming wed. We get 2 chances to pass. A third costs $450 for use of their truck.am I just a slow learner or is the school pushing me to go too soon. I paid my tuition in full out of pocket. I can't afford to fail, feeling scared. My entire future is on the line.

Hey Wannabe, I know it sounds like a misnomer, but Truck Driving Schools don't really make you into a truck driver. What they do is help you get a CDL. They almost always want you to go ahead and test out before the end of school because that way if you fail they can give you some concentrated effort on the things that caused you to fail.

The folks at the testing site do this all the time and you can believe me when I tell you that they never see any accomplished drivers coming in there for testing. They understand that you are a beginner, and they are really just looking to see if you appear to have a basic understanding of how to operate a commercial vehicle.

Here's three things that I remember would cause you to fail, but as long as you don't do any of these I think you'll pass, even if you just squeak by. -Don't bump a curb with your tires. -Don't forget to put your seat belt on. -Don't stop in the roadway to start over in first gear if you're having trouble finding a gear.

The schools consider the time that you are in the truck with the other students as training time, and to be honest with you I always felt I learned a lot by watching the others anyway.

I think the times you mentioned are fairly typical. Don't let it discourage you if you're grinding a few gears while testing. Believe me they've seen it all, but the main thing is let them see some level of confidence in you that makes them feel that you will be a safe and competent driver once you've got some more experience. That's what they want to see.

Take a deep breath, and go get that test behind you, because a rewarding career lies ahead of you.

As a fellow rookie all I can say is, take a deep breath and try to relax a bit. It is not that serious. As Old School said, these folks have seen it all. I can attest to that, but, that is for another thread. You will do fine.

Excellent advice given already.

I wrote an article recently called Passing The CDL Exam: What Are The Examiners Looking For?. Read that - it will help you understand your situation quite a bit.

But it's true, the schools try to push you through as quickly as possible and nobody ever feels like they're ready. Your feelings are quite normal.

The school wouldn't tell you to test if they didn't think you had a good chance of passing. And you know what? Some people have to fail their test or the CDL examiners wouldn't have a job. They can't just show up for work, pass everyone every time, and go home! So there is a chance you'll fail the first time. But don't sweat it a bit. It happens to a lot of people, they get in a little more practice time, and ace it the next time around. It will have no affect on your career whatsoever.

Read through that article. It will help you out quite a bit.

Thank you all for the words of wisdom and encouragement. I'm gonna learn all I can on Monday and Tuesday, try my best on Wednesday.

Thank you all for the words of wisdom and encouragement. I'm gonna learn all I can on Monday and Tuesday, try my best on Wednesday.

I personally wish you the best of luck because even though I havent even begun to really dig into finding a school/company to train with, I am already slightly worried that I'll have trouble because after seeing all this terminology and references to things I don't know yet. But, with time I guess, right? lol'

Good luck!

Jerry, you just bury yourself in all the training tools that Brett has provided. Byt the time you are ready for school, you'll be talkin' like a real trucker...and it will make your schooling, and everything that goes with it ALOT easier.....study study study....

wannabeatrucker, you go there on Wednesday and do your very best. Walk tall, and keep telling yourself, "I've learned this...I CAN do this".. And if you get in a jam...BREATHE....RELAX...think your way thru it...You'll do fine. And even if you don't, you will know what areas you need to work on, so the next time, you can breeze thru it. but don't panic...thats the biggest downer....BREATHE....RELAX...THINK... and GOOD LUCK !! we will all be cheerin' ya on in our ethernet kinda way...

Like Old School and the others have said, all that school will give you is a CDL , and some time driving slow around a course. Your real lessons will come when you go out with a trainer. At that point, you will be doing it all real time. The risks will be real. You could be an idiot and kill someone, destroy the load you have been tasked to take. It does not take long for people who cannot do this to stop at this point. Now, dont think and be scared by what I just said, go out and concentrate on being safe, doing what is required and doing the job. Once you are with that trainer........ all things will be just that. That is where the real training is. Your trainer has to be able to sleep at night and if you are dangerous, he is going to let you know. Most of them, (the trainers) are just fine folks there to help you get ahead. Really, really listen to what that trainer tells you, be cautious and aware of the size of you ride, and before you know it, you will be through that part of it.

The school I went to was three weeks. They had a pretty big driving range so that helped. I was the same way though. With our school we probably had just a couple hours of actual driving out on the public roads during training. Then when we were scheduled for a road test they gave us two hours of one on one with an instructor. We could do whatever it was we wanted. I did my backups once each and then spent the rest of the time out driving.

Like others have said they wouldn't have you test if they didn't think you could pass. Our school wouldn't even let us onto the public roads until they were confident we would be safe and keep the truck under control.

The test itself isn't as scary as you think it is. I was so nervous waiting for my turn at the dmv I felt sick. Then it started and before I knew it everything was over and she said I passed.

I know it's hard to not be nervous but just do your best to be confident and go out there and just concentrate. You're not going to make any mistakes they haven't seen everyday. I missed a gear during my test and here in Minnesota if you coast in neutral more than the length of the vehicle it's an automatic fail. Well it sure seemed like more than the length of the vehicle!

Anyway just go out there and be confident and do the best you can. You will be fine. Good Luck!